We are here at the start of 2012, like many people this has led me to lots of reflection on the past year. In general 2011 was hard for me as I learnt much to my dismay that my 2 year old girl also has arthritis as well as me. At first as you can imagine, this was heartbreaking as well as worrying of what the future may hold for her and for us as a family unit. As the year went on there was one person who coped with this better than me and my partner, that was my daughter. She has been so brave dealing with the pain and lots of hospital appointments. I know first hand how frustrating living with arthritis can be, so how a two year old must feel must be horrible. Out of everything to have happened this year my biggest inspiration has been my daughter and the way she has taken arthritis in her stride.
One of my resolutions for this new year is to raise peoples awareness to all forms of arthritis including juvenile arthritis.
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Friday, 23 December 2011
Happy Christmas
I would like to wish all my readers a very happy christmas. I have enjoyed putting my thoughts into a blog andI look forward to blogging more in the new year. Happy Christmas!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Winters on its way, Arthritis will make me pay
Over the last month or so, the weather has really dropped of and always seems to be chilly. Already my arthritis seems to be badly affected by this weather more than it has ever before, I literally do feel the cold in bones, I often say its like having tooth ache but in my bones instead of my teeth.
Aches, pains and stiffness are just some of the ailments that the winter chill brings in with it. Put all that alongside wet and slippery pathways and icy paths you can understand why this season doesn't fill me with cheer. A large supply of grit will be ordered to hopefully allow me out of the house in the ice, although it does annoy me having to buy it to grit a public walkway as the local council are unreliable.
My heating bills are astronomical, in my vain attempt to ease the arthritis I like to keep the house as warm as possible, even though it doesn't make a huge difference, it makes me feel happy locking myself away inside a warm house. I must seem like a right grump when I keep barking at people for leaving doors open around the house.
At this time of the year many people are busy planning for the festive period that is approaching, not me though. I'm looking forward to spring, this will hopefully signal my arthritis to ease up slightly and hopefully lessen this horrible nagging ache I have.
Would love to hear off anyone who has any tips on keep their arthritis in check during the colder weather.
Aches, pains and stiffness are just some of the ailments that the winter chill brings in with it. Put all that alongside wet and slippery pathways and icy paths you can understand why this season doesn't fill me with cheer. A large supply of grit will be ordered to hopefully allow me out of the house in the ice, although it does annoy me having to buy it to grit a public walkway as the local council are unreliable.
My heating bills are astronomical, in my vain attempt to ease the arthritis I like to keep the house as warm as possible, even though it doesn't make a huge difference, it makes me feel happy locking myself away inside a warm house. I must seem like a right grump when I keep barking at people for leaving doors open around the house.
At this time of the year many people are busy planning for the festive period that is approaching, not me though. I'm looking forward to spring, this will hopefully signal my arthritis to ease up slightly and hopefully lessen this horrible nagging ache I have.
Would love to hear off anyone who has any tips on keep their arthritis in check during the colder weather.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
12th October is World Arthritis Day
Today is World Arthritis Day, it encourages people to spread the word about this silent disease which can attack anyone. Such is the lack of knowledge about arthritis in the the general, most people think it only affects elderly people as well as vastly misjudge the affects the disease can have on a person and their life. Little Everyone has heard of arthritis yet very few really understand how devastating disease it can be. My arthritis is so severe that I have to use a wheelchair, yet many people still think arthritis is just an ache or pain. This kind of attitude and misconceptions of arthritis can result in people who have the disease can have difficulties getting help and services to ensure life can run as smooth as possible.
I really would like to see arthritis more commonly spoken about, so that people can understand what arthritis is rather than believe myths that undermine what it is like to live with arthritis. I have lost count at the amounts of time people have been shocked that my arthritis started at the age of 21, only to be shocked further when I tell them my 2 year old daughter suffers from juvenile arthritis. When my daughter starts school we are hoping that this may raise parents awareness to children suffering from arthritis, we would be more than happy to explain her condition so people can understand more rather than think of her as a grizzly, moody child.
People really need to hear more about arthritis and events like World Arthritis Day is an excellent idea. I really hope that days like this can gather momentum and really be a benefit to sufferers and their families all over the world.
I really would like to see arthritis more commonly spoken about, so that people can understand what arthritis is rather than believe myths that undermine what it is like to live with arthritis. I have lost count at the amounts of time people have been shocked that my arthritis started at the age of 21, only to be shocked further when I tell them my 2 year old daughter suffers from juvenile arthritis. When my daughter starts school we are hoping that this may raise parents awareness to children suffering from arthritis, we would be more than happy to explain her condition so people can understand more rather than think of her as a grizzly, moody child.
People really need to hear more about arthritis and events like World Arthritis Day is an excellent idea. I really hope that days like this can gather momentum and really be a benefit to sufferers and their families all over the world.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Inspiration, Support and Guidance
Initially, when first being diagnosed my specialist sat me down and went through the facts about arthritis. That was useful but through the shock of the diagnosis, I didn't really listen to as much as I would have liked to, and came away with loads of questions I needed answers for. The next time I went to see the specialist, I made sure I asked everything I wanted to know about arthritis. The specialist obliged with the answers, but for me who understands very little about joints, muscles, inflammation etc, the answers were too "medical" and I felt it very hard to relate to the answers
Desperate for some advice and more information I started searching the Internet for some kind of support and guidance. As I feared at first all I found was sites that explained things about arthritis, but did not really explain what it was like to live with arthritis. Then there were the sites that claimed to have the "only genuine cure for arthritis". Those sites upset me because I knew there isn't a cure that will make my arthritis go away, it just seemed to belittle what people with arthritis go through on a daily basis
Then finally I started finding sites written by people with arthritis or who have dealt with people who have arthritis. These sites were a bit of a revelation to me, finally I could discuss and learn what it is to live with arthritis. I found these invaluable and cannot overstate how useful these sites have been for me and my family through our journey of arthritis. One of my favourite sites is http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/ , this site is excellent and is something I read regularly. Its sites like his, that only helps sufferers but also informs non-sufferers what it is to live with arthritis.
I really wish that after being diagnosed with arthritis I was directed to sites that contained information from other sufferers. They are my modern day support group and have really been useful to not only me, but my family also. I thank anyone who has written about there experiences with arthritis, as I know its not easy to be open about something that can have such a huge impact on your life, you are all true inspirations to me and other arthritis sufferers.
Desperate for some advice and more information I started searching the Internet for some kind of support and guidance. As I feared at first all I found was sites that explained things about arthritis, but did not really explain what it was like to live with arthritis. Then there were the sites that claimed to have the "only genuine cure for arthritis". Those sites upset me because I knew there isn't a cure that will make my arthritis go away, it just seemed to belittle what people with arthritis go through on a daily basis
Then finally I started finding sites written by people with arthritis or who have dealt with people who have arthritis. These sites were a bit of a revelation to me, finally I could discuss and learn what it is to live with arthritis. I found these invaluable and cannot overstate how useful these sites have been for me and my family through our journey of arthritis. One of my favourite sites is http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/ , this site is excellent and is something I read regularly. Its sites like his, that only helps sufferers but also informs non-sufferers what it is to live with arthritis.
I really wish that after being diagnosed with arthritis I was directed to sites that contained information from other sufferers. They are my modern day support group and have really been useful to not only me, but my family also. I thank anyone who has written about there experiences with arthritis, as I know its not easy to be open about something that can have such a huge impact on your life, you are all true inspirations to me and other arthritis sufferers.
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