... you get knocked back down again! This ruddy disease has such a lot to answer for!

Got my Methotrexate back last month, restarted on 7.5mg, and stopped the Leflunomide which didn’t seem to be doing anything anyway. Enbrel was so pleased to see his buddy, Methotrexate, back and I thought to myself jolly dee a few weeks and we’ll be out on the town again , well, slight exaggeration but you get my drift! Naproxen is down to 250mg twice daily and Prednisolone is about 7.5mg a day plus the folic acid, Omeprazole and assorted pain killers. Heyho, Rome wasn’t built in a day, they say.

Went to the Coordinators conference and NRAS birthday lunch returned home pretty weary but no worries that’s life with RA and you have to adapt or you sink. I have at least learned that much in 23 years! Busy time ahead ‘kids’ going here, there and everywhere, jobs need doing on the house, but take it in your stride lass these things are sent to try us. Then out of the blue, Thursday morning dawns and ...

... What is this dreadful pain in my right leg? It’s not particularly warm nor is it swollen but boy does it hurt, like long term cramp. Oh well, life in the fast lane no time to be fiddling about today we have our local NRAS meeting tonight and much to do before then. By lunch time I take myself off to bed, can’t stand it any longer. Leccy blanket on full and pain relief maxed out. This really isn’t me!! Two hours later out of bed must plod on so best leg forward, at least I can see rheumatology nurse at meeting. Meeting brings light relief and I try to forget about leg, so much easier when my mind is otherwise occupied; I’ve never been able to multi task!

Nurse has a look at bad leg and wants me seen by vascular nurse to rule out DVT. Oh heck! Two hours in GP surgery on Friday (vascular nurse can’t see me ‘til Monday!). Three Tinzaparin (anticoagulant) injections over the weekend. A badly bruised stomach to boot, goodness knows where I’ll put the Enbrel tomorrow! Two hours in DVT clinic today including three tubes of blood letting and a vascular ultrasound. No sign of any DVT!

Seems I now have a ruptured popliteal cyst (Bakers cyst), groan! Have to phone the rheum nurse on Wednesday when she’s had chance to speak to consultant. Seems like the Synovial sac in the knee has finally given up the ghost and spread its contents all down my leg. Nice! Already have problems with this knee (well both actually!) and now it seems likely it will need surgery to repair rupture. It’s not going to need aspirating as the mush is now everywhere it shouldn’t be south of my knee!! Bother, surgery means stopping meds ... groan, groan and thrice groan. This is where the problems started twelve months ago! More groans

Doesn’t life just belly up? Wasn’t planning on a hospital stay just now. For goodness sake, if I didn’t laugh I’d be sat in buckets full of tears. Life is so exciting being an RA patient just not a very patient one in my case!

Lyn x

Blimey Lyn. You are very stoical. I noticed you limping on thursday evening but thought you had a bit of stiffness like we all do. I don't know how you kept smiling all evening. You did a great job. I hope you are sorted out soon.

Sheila x

Hi Lyn

Keep your chin up. You give so much positive support to others on this forum, you deserve our support now.

Take care.

Louise

That explains why I haven't heard from you. Will give you a bell as soon as it's a decent hour. MUCH love xxxxxx

Blimey! You are really not having much luck are you. I do hope that you are treated quickly as you don't deserve more pain and gaps in your meds. Good luck & best wishes. Polly

Oh Lyn you poor thing you.

hi Lyn,

never rains but it pours eh.

pleased to hear it's not a DVT but the alternative isn't great news either !!

this illness certainly isn't straight forward for sure,

hope things settle down for you soon,

Suzanne x

Hi Lyn
Sorry to hear you are in the wars at the moment, i really hope things get better soon for you.
Best wishes
Judy x

Lyn

You poor thing. I take my hat off to you for keeping going. You have the right attitude - do or die. As you say the most awful thing about this dratted disease is it's unpredictability. When I wake in the morning I lay for a while wondering what today might bring and nine times out of ten I am normally wrong. Good days turn to bad, bad days will be brightened by something unexpected. Life is NEVER boring with RA.

Keep going Lyn and hope that your new condition does not involve too much surgery and pain.

Jackie
xx

Oh Lyn, so sorry to hear about all this, but glad to see you're trying to keep your pecker up, as we all have to, but darned tricky at times. Still learning about all the sideswipes like a very painful jaw thing this morning that stopped breakfast in its tracks pretty quickly. Husband was here to see the tears with the jaw thing, he's getting the full monty at the minute having finished for the summer hols so a bit more reality for him too. Not on the same scale as your flaming knee but its the sheer cussedness of this disease which gets me. As you say just when you think things are on the up you just get reminded that its not all just a dream!

Take care Lyn, thinking about you
Sara
x