OK hospital you can phone back now…

Well I’ve sent off my form about how I’ve been in the last week, and this should lead to me being put on Humira fairly quickly. But I’m in pain and getting impatient! Come on…

I’m improving at last!

Well that was 2 months of hell, but finally I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, in fact I even managed to use the bike twice at the weekend, 22 miles in total. I still have a neck that’s sore, but it does at least turn now. Also I’m still waking up at 5am most days with a rib cage that’s in spasm and I have to get up for an hour before it eases. The new memory foam mattress topper we bought is more comfortable but sadly hasn’t cured that 5am issue. My consultant appointment is on the 25th of this month, and still angry that it was cancelled before because that would have been the first time he’d have seen my at my worst. As usual I shall probably feel fine when I go to see him grrrr.

“One injection ‘vaccine’ cure for arthritis within five years”

OK scientists, I’ve set my alarm and in five years I’ll have my £25k waiting for you…

Please let it work…

Must try and think of the good things at times like this…

Since I had my op on 4th July I’ve been having a horrendous time with my body. Neck pain. Back pain. Foot pain. Shoulder pain. Hip pain. A kidney infection giving more back pain. And now my neck is completely shot to pieces. And my coccyx is agony. So that’s over a month and all I can do is try and cope with paracetamol which does almost nothing, and upping my methotrexate back to 10mg a week from next Monday. The thought of riding a bike is just a distant dream at the moment. But I must keep remembering that I have a wonderful wife and son, and further support from my family. Work is still going well despite the pain of getting here, but I must take more time off and from next week I will. Long term who knows what will happen?

Weekly updates aren’t happening are they!

I’m still around, still taking the MTX. Assessment next week, we’ll see what they say. Having a bad spell at the moment, far more painful than the vasectomy I’ve just had!!

The joy of cycling…

Well, I’m still taking the tablets, but I think my current good form is partly down to the amount of cycling I am doing. If you have AS and can get on a bike, then give it a try as it’s a low-impact form of exercise that has the bonus of being enjoyable. I’ve ridden 99 miles in the last month, and I want that to improve each and every month if I can, with the goal being to do a ride for charity if I can (NASS of course).

Late again, as usual…

After more upset stomach episodes, I decided to go back to my GP and this time he has given me Lansoprazole 15mg to try, and so far it’s working well. Hopefully this will be the final tweak to my medication and I can just continue like this. The ALT blood test result never arrived because again, they didn’t bother to do the test, so next week they’ll try and right that wrong. Madness.

My fitness is improving as I am becoming slightly obsessed with cycling. My lower back can still be bad in the night and first thing, but that clears fairly quickly and I’m elated at being able to cycle. My wife and son also have new bikes so it’s a new lease of life for us, and our French holiday is just a month away now.

Not very good at posting am I?

New job etc has meant I’m much busier now, which is a good thing. Had some trouble with my feet lately but that’s improved, though my right elbow is prone to getting quite stiff. My new bike is great and likewise my new Canon 30D is keeping me interested in life. Just waiting on my ALT blood test result, whatever that is…

Looks like I might have the start of Dupuytren’s contracture too!

Oh joy. My mother suffers quite badly from this, and over the past couple of years I’ve been getting occasional very sharp pains in my left hand. I noticed this morning that a slight groove is developing so I think I now have something else to contend with perhaps! The page on Wikipedia explains I have a high chance of getting it, which my doctor agreed with when I mentioned it to him – he has it himself!

More info here: Wiki page

Oops, I kept forgetting to post.

I’m still alive and feeling not too bad at the moment. Since my last update I have resigned from my job and I’m much happier and looking forward to the future, 2008 is looking good. I hope to be buying a new mountain bike soon as well to try and increase my fitness, although the weather here is dire still. So, feeling good