tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14676442064894237662024-03-05T23:37:49.791+11:00Journey Through Crohn'sWell pooh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-53056714792800164242013-07-16T18:40:00.001+10:002013-07-16T18:40:31.177+10:00Well those days took a while...Oops. <br />
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Well, things have been happening. Since my last post, umm... I've been on Pred (nearly off it now, thank the gods), and salofalk, and for a little while predsol suppositories. I've also ended up on Nexium thanks to the Pred. The Prednisone didn't affect me quite how it used to, but there were some similar effects (hello weight gain!) and a few new ones too.<br />
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The wonderful company who deals with the Humira here is Aus also decided to give me additional doses of Humira on compassionate grounds, so instead of one shot a fortnight I was on one a week. <br />
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All was going okayish until the last week to 10 days. I'm down to 2.5mg of Pred, so barely anything. Unfortunately it seems the Pred has been masking everything. My inflammatory markers are creeping up again, my gut's insisting on pooping more often, and making it liquid and slimey to boot. I'm fatigued, and for the first time as a symptom of Crohn's, nauseous too.<br />
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I saw the specialist this afternoon after work and discussed everything with him, and it's essentially lights out Humira. Three years of mostly good times with that, and it's all over. I see him again in three weeks to discuss how to go about getting on to Infliximab. I'm mostly okay with that, except for two things. One, it's one step closer to having bits of my guts hacked out, and two, there's the whole sitting in a hospital for a day every eight weeks. Guess if it works it'll be worth it though.<br />
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Anyway, that's the short story of the last few months. I'll try and put talk a bit more regularly, but really, who am I kidding? :)<br />
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Hope everyone's well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-1628490641773753872013-04-25T17:18:00.001+10:002013-04-25T17:18:21.522+10:00So when my lovely anaesthetic really started wearing off I started having a little fun. Monday arvo/evening I started pooping liquid like a trooper. Worse than the Sunday night when the prep gear was going through me. Pooping and pain and lovely pretty stars sparkling in my eyes while we're at it. Oh and nausea. Eventually doped myself on panadol and imodium and put myself to bed. Had Tuesday off work as well on the doc's recommendation, and for once I'm glad I listened. Still wasn't brilliant on the Tuesday, sore in the belly and quite comfortable to sook on the sofa for the day. From memory I didn't end up this sore with the last few, so fingers crossed there's nothing the matter in there.<br />
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Anyway. Today's a public holiday here in Aus (ANZAC Day, lest we forget), so no work today. Been giving the better half a hand with his uni assignments today, and baking. Made some choc chip, peanut, chocolate cookies, and have made up a batch of plain cookie dough and stuck it in the fridge for the weekend.<br />
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I used to bake a bit when I was younger, just simple cakes and cookies, but then towards the end of school assignments got in the way, and then when school was over life got in the way. I've been cooking a bit more recently, and I'm remembering just how much I enjoy it. When I'm cooking I'm looking forward to the looks on peoples' faces when they're enjoying my food, so I get the double enjoyment of imagining it and then experiencing it. Oh yeah, and the 'chef's treats' while you're cooking. :) Possibility of photos when I get off my butt and stick my photos on the computer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-39654690685838224592013-04-22T14:54:00.001+10:002013-04-22T14:54:40.741+10:00Update TimeOops. This is what happens when I leave it a few (a lot) days between blog posts. Things happen.<br />
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So. Med wise I'm still on the pred, still stabbing myself fortnightly with Humira, and have been bumped up to 6 tabs a day of Salofalk. <br />
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Am also currently sitting at home recovering after a probing. Yup, another colonoscopy. Prepped over the weekend; limited food intake on the Saturday and the ever so wonderful approved clear fluids on the Sunday, then nil by mouth from midnight and probing this morning. Glad it's over with. Apparently there's not much amiss up there though, so the doc is a little miffed. He did try to make mention of the enemas again, and I'm sorry but even when I'm doped to the eyeballs on anaesthetic I'm still going to tell you exactly where you can stick those, and it ain't anywhere near my butt. I get to go and see him in a week, so maybe there'll be a new plan of attack by then? Crossing my fingers.<br />
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I've been trying to keep myself occupied and keep my mind off things. I've been attacking the garden among other things, my greenhouse is now mended (had a few nasty holes in the shade cloth) and my pots have been moved into there from the older, more falling apart greenhouse. My vegie patch is now ready for plants again, full of poop and the walkways are now obviously walk ways. And the grapefruit tree got cut down. I feel a little sad by this, judging off it's size it's been here forever and a day, and the neighbours have memories of the little old lady who used to live here and her grapefruit. At the end of the day though, it's the second year in a row that every branch has been weighed down to the ground with fruit and it's the second year in a row that every single fruit has been riddled with fruit fly. Considering I don't really eat grapefruit, and I'd really value not getting fruit fly in the rest of my fruit and veg, I reckon in the long run I've done the right thing.<br />
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I've been making plans to redo bits of the house, take the carpets up and polish the floor boards (hello sock sliding!) and trying to work out just how to go about removing wall paper and wood panelling. <br />
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And then I've been busy with the crocheting too. Yes, little old granny in a 25 year old body. Some days I even feel old.<br />
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And I've been experimenting in the kitchen and using my wonderful better half as a guinea pig. Poor thing, some of the flavours I throw at him I'm surprised he even lets me near the room, let alone do anything in it. The things that keep you sane huh?<br />
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Anyway. I'm off to snooze a little, still very tired and a bit woozy after my probing this morning. Thankfully was only one end this time and not both.<br />
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Hope everyone is well, and will hopefully update a little more often. (Though please don't hold you're breath, you should know what I'm like by now!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-87878565109234532392013-04-06T21:41:00.001+11:002013-04-06T21:41:36.310+11:00Just an updateI ended up taking myself off the flagyl after all. I was getting bad stomach pains and was over being sick all the time. After a week off it I'm glad I did stop it, the nausea and vomiting has almost completely gone away, and I've managed to work the week (hooray for an income!).<div>
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I think today is day 14 of Prednisone (50mg), I can't quite remember now but give or take a day. It's also day 4 of near migraine style headaches and extremely tight and sore jaws. It feel like there is a vice just below my temples and it just keeps getting tighter. The headache is all over, but mostly right in the middle of my forehead and temples. </div>
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And I've now been back on Salofalk for 4 days now (the headaches and jaw pain started before I started the Salofalk). So I'm now on pred (50mg), salofalk (2 tabs twice a day), and humira. Still getting stomach pain, horrid diarrhoea, slime and blood.</div>
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Also very tired and starting to have trouble with sleep a little. Heaps of hot flushes, though I'm over the moon that the munchies haven't kicked in yet. I haven't really been paying attention to my weight, but I've not gone ape with food so hopefully things won't get too bad like last time. I'm determined to turn the pred on it's head this time and <i>lose</i> weight rather than gain it. My joints are starting to ache a little, I just hope they don't get too bad.</div>
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The doctor is hoping that the combination of pred and salofalk will kick the humira back in, but in all honestly he doesn't sound confident. He mentioned the possibility of Infliximab infusions, and vaguely mentioned the possibility of surgery. I think he's hoping something will work before it comes to cutting me open. Fingers crossed hey?</div>
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I'm not dead in the water yet this time, but there's still the little voice in the back of my mind that sits there niggling, telling me it'll only be a matter of time before the meds turn it all ugly. I think I'm finding it easier to stay strong this time around though, having the wonderful man in my life that I do gives me the most amazing boost. He was aware from early on that I have the Crohn's and that it was treated with meds, but it's one thing to know that and another to experience someone flaring. He's being such a strong person, and his support is priceless. I asked him the other night what he thought when it all kicked back in, and was given an answer of "it didn't really phase me". I don't think I can convey exactly how much it means to me to have him here, all I can say is thankyou darling. I love you. <3 div=""></3></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-91053863904588798332013-03-29T10:00:00.003+11:002013-03-29T10:00:42.920+11:00Pred updateDay 4 of prednisone. Still not comfortable taking the stuff, but hey, when is anyone ever comfortable taking pred? Spent the night tossing and turning, woke up a million times. Had a headache yesterday and stupidly took nothing for it. Kicked in big time over night, had some panadol about 3:30 am, and the headache went away about half hour later.<br />
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Think the flagyl is still making me crook. Thinking about taking myself off it despite any protests from the GI, I see no sense in staying on a med that doesn't seem to be benefiting my health, if anything it's making me worse. Unlike the GI I don't earn enough to be able to shrug it off when I need to take weeks off unpaid (because of the side effects from flagyl).<br />
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Legs are also starting to feel like they're going to cramp, expect they probably will in the next few days.<br />
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Anyway, just trying to keep a vague track of things with meds, so probably just short posts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-71514071179062215142013-03-25T18:15:00.001+11:002013-03-25T18:15:46.110+11:00Well damn...Well I'm still crook. Haven't seen the doc, but he is adamant that I stay on the Flagyl which is depressing enough. He's also prescribed me Prednisone again, this time higher than the dose he gave me when I was first diagnosed. Oh yeah, and I get to stay on the Humira. Don't quite know how he figures I need the flagyl, the test results came back saying I don't have an infection. Eh. I'm not the doc, am I?<br />
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Don't really feel much like a giant post today, just feeling like complete crap and feel like the fight's gone out of me. Why bother fighting something that's only going to keep on coming back? I know I'll wake up in a few days time and feel a little better, but right now I just wanted to tell the world I feel like shit. Self centred I know, but hey. When you have any sort of ongoing health issues I think you automatically qualify for the right to mope.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-17446831618688803982013-03-23T19:28:00.001+11:002013-03-23T19:28:07.614+11:00Long Time No See...Well it's been a while. Things have been pretty good, until the last few weeks at least, so I guess that's why I'm back in the blog-o-sphere. Always thought I'd keep blogging even when things were good. Guess I didn't after all. Anyways.<br />
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The last year and a bit has been pretty amazing actually. I've had cold after cold but the Crohn's has been fairly under control, thanks to the wonder drug Humira. I've had luck at work, I've been on secondment for the last 12 months, and I love the team I'm in. The people are brilliant, the work is good and the pay is pretty damned sweet.<br />
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Today also marks 12 months since I exchanged contracts on my house. :) Worked hard, and got pretty much everything I had ever asked for in a house. A large block, a good house, a good location. Pretty lucky. <br />
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And to top it off a pretty amazing man walked into my life last July. He's a pillar of strength, and I'm still awed every morning when I wake up and realise it's real, that he is here and it's not just a dream. And the last few weeks I've needed his shoulders to cry on and he's been unfaltering in his support.<br />
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A few weeks ago I was carted off to hospital with chest pains, which thankfully have turned out to not be heart related, but have left a bit of a mystery as to what has caused them. The last few days that I was off work with the chest pains, I started getting the runs. With slime. And blood. So off to the GI I went. So far, about the best he can tell me is that it might be a flare. Might. The bloods all looked pretty good a while back when I first started feeling bad. Not sure what they're like at the moment, see the GI again in a bit over a week. In the meantime I'm on the beloved flagyl. So of course the stomach pain is worse, the 16 imodium I've had in the last 48 hours has doesn't nothing, the blood and the slime and the gas and the bloating has all gotten worse, and let's not forget the vomiting and nausea. Bad enough that I'm now off work, unpaid, due to the side effects of the flagyl. And the GI is insistent that I remain on the flagyl. At least I don't have the metallic taste in my mouth this time. <br />
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The next step is back on the prednisone in addition to the Humira. I'm dreading it. When the GI told me that on the phone I had a minor panic attack, for want of better words. All I could do was sit there and cry and rock for a while. And all the while I know that that's where I'm going to end up. The flagyl just isn't working, and I'm so pissed off that the GI is telling me I have to stay on it when all it's doing is resulting in me facing the possibility of not meeting a house repayment.<br />
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I feel almost like I'm back at the beginning of Crohn's. I feel I'm facing the unknown again. I don't know what's even happening a the moment. All I know is I'm in pain, mostly made worse by the flagyl. And the doc won't take me off it until he throws me back on the pred. And if that doesn't work? Facing maybe the possibility of surgery. <br />
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I dunno. Just feeling lost, so I guess I'm back here again for a bit.<br />
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Might take a holiday, but I guess you won't see the end of me for a while yet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-32069541397484232922011-07-23T20:07:00.000+10:002011-07-23T20:07:08.039+10:00The Spoon TheoryI figure it doesn't overly matter that I don't post here that often, seeing as I just do the same old stuff all the time. Recently though, been doing even less, just work, sleep, work, sleep, staggering around like a zombie, sleep.<br />
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Have been feeling kinda awful lately, the fatigue has crept up on me again, and I've not got the energy to really get out of the house. I have a shower, drive to the shops ten minutes away, wander around for half and hour, drive home and I'm buggered. And throwing in a headache that I've had for at least two months now just isn't helping. So firstly I'm feeling like crap because of all of that, and secondly I'm having to turn my friends down for so many things, even simple things like the book club that we have once a month just drain the bejeebus out of me. <br />
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Being all miserable with the tiredness has had me thinking, and it made me remember reading something awhile ago. Not sure if someone here on the blog-o-sphere linked to it, or if I staggered across it on google, but figured I'd link to it here. I think it's the best way of describing to people how I live, why I have to turn things down, why sometimes I can manage something, but mostly I can't. <br />
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The Spoon Theory. <a href="http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/">http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory-written-by-christine-miserandino/</a> Perfectly explained, at least in my eyes, and can very easily be used for other illnesses, not just Lupus. For me, my fatigue is the main "spoon user". And just for the record, I've used half of my last spoon of the day to type this, the other half will be used to get myself into bed and turn a few pages in a book. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-26235044248893361482011-06-19T18:43:00.000+10:002011-06-19T18:43:38.697+10:00Oops. Totally meant to update sooner. Really.Ummmm, yeah. It's totally only been a few days. Don't mind me, I got lazy. What have I been up to? Well, the usual mostly. Sweet bugger all. With a few exceptions.<br />
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I sent myself down to Canberra a while ago to visit some friends who recently bought themselves a house and got engaged. It was quite nice, cold, but nice. Went to my beloved Bus Depot Markets, enjoyed food (as I always do) and did a bit of shopping too (Hello Lush!). <br />
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Also hit the furniture shops with my friends, which got me excited because I'm one of those nutcases that actually enjoys furtniture shopping. Seriously. You know how some girls get their buzz from clothes or shoe shopping? (Both of which I despise, just for the record.) I get mine from things like furniture shopping, or appliance shopping, and going "OOOH! Look at that! When I've got my own house, I'm gonna get one of those!". I do a similar thing with paint colours. Occasionally I'll just get the urge to go to a hardware shop and browse through their paint colour charts and bring a mountain home with me. Honestly, there is a shoebox gradually filling up with these.<br />
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Have also managed a catch up with one of my best mates who lives on the other side of the country. Only get to see him maybe once a year these days if I'm lucky, so it was a pretty awesome day.<br />
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Been heading in to the lapidary club that I'm part of one Friday a month, and lately have been going on Saturdays too. Having fun shaping and polishing stones, and will venture into the silver work side of things again soon too. Itching to work with copper moreso, but I suppose the silver is somewhere to start. :)<br />
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Have discovered another author that I'm adoring the work of. I've noticed Robin Hobb's books in a lot of my friend's bookcases, but have never got around to reading them. Was just looking for something new to add to the library one day and figured why not? Fantasy type stuff, and I would highly recommend her books.<br />
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Have been cooking a bit more recently. Taught myself to make cheese sauce last weekend. Ever so proud of myself. Was making a lasagne/pasta bake (gluten free pasta, bolognese sauce with limited fructose containing ingredients, limited onion) and had made a bol before, was a little worried about the pasta (despite my love of cooking and food, I think I'd only cooked pasta once before), and was terrified of the cheese sauce. Turned out a treat though. Have had fun with rissoles, savory mince, meatloaf and a few other bits and pieces. Also planted a few cloves of garlic two weeks ago and they're growing like there's no tomorrow. I love using garlic in things and go through it fairly quickly, so figured I'd try my hand at growing it. Am going to experiment with growing chillis and capsicum (bell pepper) from seed too.<br />
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I suppose the best bit of news I've got is that I finally landed a permanent job!!! And govenment to boot! :) Absolutely stoked. It's the same one I started as a temp at last October. I put in for a permanent role that was going just before my temp one finished and missed out, but only just. They said I was at the top of the 'reserve' list which was disappointing at the time but hey. I was put on a three month contract with one or two of the other temps that had been there, and then the 12th of May rocked around and I was told a person had left which meant there was a position available and did I want it. I think I nearly passed out, I've been trying to get permanent work for what seems like forever now. There's so many benefits with this job; the pay, discounted uniforms, one day off a month paid (hence the Friday at the lapidary club), the leave, the people I work with and for, opportunities for training and education, and if I so chose I could be in this job until I choose to retire. The best bit? I will be able to buy a house. As a temp, you're laughed at if you try to rent or buy. Now? I should hopefully be buying my first house in about 18 months.<br />
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So yeah. That's me about summed up. Apart from a special shout out to one of my friends on the blog-o-sphere and her man, The Gutsy Girl, who announced recently that after so long of trying, they're expecting to welcome a new life into the world. Here's to hoping everything is absolutely perfect in every way imaginable, and every way unimaginable as well. You both deserve it. I just hope Penny learns to share her parents!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-33901536038200011872011-04-16T08:12:00.000+10:002011-04-16T08:12:49.453+10:00So it's Autumn. And it's the weekend. And it's raining. I find this scenario quite comforting actually.<br />
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Stay tuned, proper blog update on it's way. At some point over the next few days. Hopefully. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-80678074354359923132011-03-13T19:35:00.000+11:002011-03-13T19:35:17.658+11:00Hating the world tonight.So today's a year since my brother died. Had a bit of a meltdown earlier, now just recovering from downing a few glasses of Southern a tad quicker than usual. <br />
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I've had people tell me that time makes it easier. How much time? A year hasn't done much if I'm quite honest. Still hurts like hell, still mad as crap at the doctor that caused it. And just little things can trigger me off. Like the other night I started my photography course and the bloke teaching it starting discussing filters and such. Jogged the memory of my 21st, sitting in my brother's hospital room, unwrapping filters for my camera while he recovered from the anesthetic and an op. Don't quite know how I managed to make it home that night without writing off the car or a few others. And today, looking at fishtanks to try and get my mind off it and finding one with red sides. His favourite colour was red. Or hearing someone rev the daylights out of a car and knowing he never got to drive, despite being the biggest revhead I knew.<br />
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Eh. Figured I'd be better blogging than drinking, but I can't seem to get things out anyway. S'pose I'll try bed instead. Should be right in the morning. Kinda have to be, being Monday and all.<br />
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Hope everyone else is doing okay and that things are going to start looking up for those of you that I know are having some hard times right now, I know I'm not the only one.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-47729411019502815692011-02-10T13:46:00.001+11:002011-02-10T13:48:19.692+11:00Hmm... I think by the looks of things that an update is in order.<br />
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Canberra? Scratched. At least for now. Going through school I always had a definite idea of who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. Now though, I have absolutely no idea. I think this should be my priority, working this out, before I go running around the countryside (as beautiful as it is) like a chook with my head cut off. Maybe one day though.<br />
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Speaking of running around the countryside, I've been treating myself occasionally to mini holidays, one day on the weekend where I disappear somewhere holiday-ish. One weekend I went up the coast, found some beautiful little coastal towns, and just generally enjoyed the drive. A week or two later I went south, found Somersby Falls, and fell it love with the place.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSVUakgdku2jpL_OaTlxcxrPEg_crBFopntb_Phj4bptdolizPEwJ8u94nKG653kzy6FzKrwVmDguKBD8vntRbXT2x_R29_5Q6lKxmKE-issxCRIeusYopzwjvTXil35oiIg7ajbQ1e6C/s1600/P1020397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSVUakgdku2jpL_OaTlxcxrPEg_crBFopntb_Phj4bptdolizPEwJ8u94nKG653kzy6FzKrwVmDguKBD8vntRbXT2x_R29_5Q6lKxmKE-issxCRIeusYopzwjvTXil35oiIg7ajbQ1e6C/s320/P1020397.JPG" /></a></div><br />
I have plans for other places, zoos, aquariums, more waterfalls, but honestly I've been very lazy and boring since. Work, sleep, more work, attempting more sleep, work, whinging about lack of sleep.<br />
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Which leads me to bitch about my gut doctor. He is unable to find a reason in my blood tests to explain why I am so tired all the time, so rather than send me to a sleep specialist or someone who may have a clue, he's come to the conclusion that I'm depressed and need to see a shrink. Based solely on the fact that I'm tired. Never liked this doc from day one, now? Just hate him. Consequently, have not booked myself into the shrink, and have no intention of ever doing so.<br />
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Currently, sitting at home nursing a gastro bug. Not the Crohn's, that's under control with the Humira, blood tests back me up. Not the fructose either, been avoiding that. But gastro? People at work have had a similar bug, and despite them being able to take paid sick leave they didn't, and now I've got it. And I don't get paid sick leave. So I'm missing out on a weeks pay because people thought sharing was caring. I'd rather they didn't care. Went to see the doc yesterday about it, just a GP in a bulk billing place, and the moment he heard "Crohn's" he ignored everyting else I said. Didn't bother trying to diagnose me, and the certificate for work says a Crohn's flare. Bastard. At least I didn't have to pay, it's just so infuriating that they feel they have the right to put everything down to that. Seriously, I get the feeling this doc would have put a sore toe down to the Crohn's. Maybe even grey hair. Eh. I hate doctors. Is it any wonder?<br />
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Enrolled in a photography course to start in March, only goes for four weeks, one night a week, but thought it might be nice. S'pose I'll find out in March. :)<br />
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Anyway, hope everyone is well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-58573574190725636052011-02-05T07:56:00.000+11:002011-02-05T07:56:07.743+11:00Fructose HangoverFeeling after too much fructose = horrid hangover + bad case of gastro. Yuck.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-47520957850655156732011-01-01T14:59:00.000+11:002011-01-01T14:59:46.709+11:002010 / 2011So it's a new year. New dreams, new hopes.... What's around the corner?<br />
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Last year was a roller coaster. Goods things happened. Paid the car off, got a job that pays the money I'm after, got the meds I needed to keep healthy. Bad stuff happened too, and because of that I'm grateful to leave last year in the past. It hurts somewhat though that in leaving that year behind I'm leaving precious people there with it. They never got to see this year.<br />
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Anyway. This year. 2011. Resolutions. Sometimes I make them, sometimes I break them, sometimes I don't bother even thinking about them. This year I think I'll make them, and do my best to keep them.<br />
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I want to be (and need to be) more focused. I need to make decisions and not continually waver from them. The "What if...?" game needs to stop. Hopefully I can do this.<br />
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I want to move to Canberra. It's about time I moved out of home. I will need a new job soon anyone, one with some permanency, and why not try down there? I need to get away from where I am now too. There are too many heartstrings attached to this place and I think a change of scenery will help.<br />
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I will be better with money. I will not buy things on impulse everytime I see something shiney. Hopefully this will lead to more money saved.<br />
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And I sort of want to take up walking or something. Just something gentle that doesn't make my body attack me, and something I won't get sick of in a hurry.<br />
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Anyway. Hope everyone had/has a fantastic time bringing in the new year, and may 2011 give you everything you could ever dream of asking from it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-46539460437454902572010-12-25T15:43:00.001+11:002010-12-25T15:43:20.066+11:00Merry Christmas all!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-88895689869266786502010-12-19T16:56:00.000+11:002010-12-19T16:56:04.057+11:00Have a postSo. Me. I exist, apparently.<br />
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Health. Had to take some time off work the other week, just a couple of arvos and a whole day. Was too dead to be at work. Managed to squeak in to see the gp and he sent me to get blood tests. See the gi this coming Wednesday and apparently need to chat to him about my lipase enzymes and ask him why they're getting a little on the high side again. Otherwise I appear to be alive.<br />
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Work is still going okay, they've shuffled us around a bit and put me in a team doing stuff rather different to what I had been doing, and then leant me back to the team I had been in. Do wish they'd make up their mind as to where they want me, but hey. I am working and being paid for it. They've also brough the start time forward so I now get to start at 7:30 and finished at 4, 2 on Fridays. Loving it. See no point sitting around waiting to go to work when I wake up early anyway.<br />
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Outside of work, I'm burying my nose in random books, and I started going to a lapidary club - jewellry making and playing with stones. Enjoying it, but it's shut down over the hols, so I get to go back early Feb. Looking forward to going back.<br />
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Also thought I'd found someone worth my time, someone that might have given a crap, but as per usual as soon as I let my guard down I'm proven wrong. So I guess he can go stick it where the sun don't shine. Crazy old cat lady, here I come. S'pose I should be used to it. I'm just starting to feel like the wrong end of the magnet, things get vaguely close but get to a certain point and then run away. Eh. Shit happens I guess.<br />
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Anyway, that's my rant over for a while, though I'll bet there'll be something else to rant about soon enough. It is me, after all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-76559037306219430292010-11-22T20:43:00.000+11:002010-11-22T20:43:11.802+11:00Post ScriptReally hope everyone is okay out there, and if you're down at all over anything, know that I'm sending massive big hugs (although we all know internet hugs are kinda sucky compared to the real thing). :DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-87944592319424594572010-11-22T20:40:00.000+11:002010-11-22T20:40:45.470+11:00Random gloop.Next time my body tells me it needs Red Bull and pain killers I am not going to ignore it. For real. Promise. Haven't been sleeping well lately, on top of all the normal fatiguey crap. Had someone have a go at me this morning about the amount of meds and stuff I'm on and they seemed to pull up very short of calling me a druggie. So I sat there at work the whole day with no Red Bull and no pain relief. I managed to keep my head off the keyboard, though my colleagues were under strict orders that if they found me face planted on the desk to just leave me there. Also didn't have any pain relief. My head doesn't like me today, so that was a challenge, and my back and hips are arguing with sitting still for 8 hours, but I did it. I am however caving, as damnit I need sleep! Also managed to get my mitts on some Phenerghan which should knock me out for a good few hours.<br />
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I really don't think it's fair to be treated like crap just because you have health issues that someone else doesn't have and doesn't/can't/won't understand. I mean, to get the meds to keep you in remission you basically have to turn yourself into a contortionist who doesn't care about their dignity and can leap blindfolded through flaming rings. And then there's not just the 20 questions, but the gazillion questions that the chemist throws at you if it isn't a prescription med (hello codiene), which stop very short of asking you about your mother's sexual history. Well okay, not quite that far, but bloody hell. I don't get why people treat the ligits like druggies, and the druggies get it all for fricking free, along with the sympathetic "Oh, you poor thing, it must be so hard giving up those live destroying drugs". *Insert worn out scream here* Just so fed up with it. <br />
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Work is going well. Money is good. Just wish the job had some degree of permanency to it. And I wish I was capable of making up my mind. One minute I've decided I'll move to Canberra, then I change it to Queensland, then West Aus, then somewhere completely random. All I know is I'm tired of where I am, and yet I'm too chicken to leave it.<br />
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Gagh. Anyway. I'm gonna bugger off now before I keep on ranting. Hadn't intended to. Really. Honest. <br />
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Oh, and I think I've developed an allergy to alcohol. Seems just recently everytime I drink any booze it starts playing up with the airways. All tight and swolen feeling, at least on the inside, as if they're closing up. Rather bothersome. Eh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-85570789471164323802010-11-16T19:34:00.000+11:002010-11-16T19:34:41.245+11:00Random babblings of a tired person.asdjfbgniapbrshBVatewnv zd.<br />
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Ahem. Yup, quite fluent in gibberish. :D<br />
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So, since last time. Am apparently anaemic now, down to 5 as opposed to somewhere low in the normal range of 10 to 30. Doc jumped on this to explain my fatigue and steered me in the direction of iron tablets. I wasn't going to tell him I've been tired for a year now and my iron levels have only just dropped for this blood test. Still dosing myself on redbull and tea, making it through the day.<br />
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Glands have gone down, apparently there wasn't any GF/mono, which is great, but still don't know what it was.<br />
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Got the humira script, it took near two weeks, and then when it did rock in at the doc's and they phoned and left a message, my phone neither rang not took said message so it was another four or five days before I could get the script. That in addition to crappy service after a merger in the last year or so sees me talking with my feet. Have a new sim with a new phone service provider rocking up sometime this week. Fingers crossed it works out better.<br />
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Have had my contract at work extended, am now employed until the end of Feb next year. Fingers crossed something permanent comes up.<br />
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Haven't been doing a great deal of late, just getting by I suppose. Reading a lot, and curling up withs the odd dvd, but otherwise, it's just the lovely cycle of work and sleep.<br />
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Bought a new fishtank recently, and have decked it out with all the modcons, new filter (shock horror, a proper one that works!) and plants. Letting it get stable before I go getting fish to put it in. The remaining fish is still kicking/swimming, however his tumour seems to be growing a bit, and I don't want to run the risk of it being infectious and infecting the tank before new fish go in, so for now he's staying put in his current home.<br />
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Also bought a couple of second hand coffee tables on the weekend, about two foot square but in rather good nick and only set me back $50 for the pair. Will probably spend the next few weekends sanding them back and staining them to match existing furniture. Should be a fun little project (see how boring my life is?).<br />
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Anyhow, off to bed (at 7:30.....). Wishing everyone health, and everything they could want. :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-41375464319857421372010-10-22T16:47:00.000+11:002010-10-22T16:47:40.816+11:00Eh.Soooo.... A fortnight on antibiotics and I'm able to speak and breathe and generally exist again. Finished said antibiotics a week ago, so have been back in the land of the living for a while.<br />
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Am however only getting by with my cans of red bull. The fatigue has gotten so much worse since I was sick, the sick went away but not the fatigue. And my glands are up, especially in my neck, and hurting like crazy. I had glandular fever/mono a few years back, and it's one of those fun things that likes to hibernate in your body and can reappear. Seeing as Humira can cause hibernatey things to reappear, I'm placing my bets on that.<br />
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Had general blood tests done a couple of days ago, and see the doc on Monday. Keeping one of those CDAI diaries at the moment, have to be reassessed for the Humira to see if it's helping any (trust me, MAJOR improvements). Forms to be filled in again and then get the script and back on the merry-go-round.<br />
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Had a kinda shit day today with work. Still loving the money, and being busy, and the people I'm with, but went massively down hill when I had to put an order in for baby sized body bags. Got halfway through putting the order in over the phone, reached the baby ones and starting bawling. Too many memories that are still too raw to handle things like that. But I'll be back there on Monday, and hopefully nowhere will have a shortage of body bags again any time soon.<br />
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Anyway. Off to enjoy my weekend. Have had a bubble bath, now to attack the bottle of Bundy. Tomorrow, maybe a sleep in, maybe a drive, who knows? And Sunday? I'll worry about that then.<br />
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Hope everyone is well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-12449005453478101512010-10-04T15:29:00.000+11:002010-10-04T15:29:38.444+11:00Ooooh look, another blog entry.So I was reading blogs as you do and then a thought popped in to my head. Why don't I actually write in my blog every time I sit here reading some? So I'm making an effort and writing again. Keep in mind, I am a rather boring person so the posts will likely be on repeat.<br />
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Since last time? I went to my company's annual charity golf day. Me. With a golf club? Yeah I may or may not have been literally rolling on the floor with laughter. Me and sports don't usually mix, and I was rather afraid of the ball staying put and the club going flying and collecting someone on the head. Fears were baseless though. Didn't end up playing. Instead got to enjoy the golf course at a leisurely pace, enjoying the birds and the trees, and attacking people with the camera. Got paid my usual wage for it, plus 2 bottles of decent wine, and also had the charity request the use of one of my shots in a new publication they put out. Paid and published in a day. I like it. :)<br />
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Have since finished with said company however, and it's their loss, not mine. I start a new job tomorrow, a contract role in a (hopefully!) nice cushy government job. Thinking about it, it's probably what I've been aiming for for quite some years. It's good hours (I get to leave early on Fridays for now), and it's damn good pay for what I'll be doing. I remember thinking when I first started work, fresh out of high school, that when I hit a certain figure with my pay then I would be doing well and would be happy. Well, I've hit that figure. Recently thought it wouldn't happen but hey. Let's just hope the smile stays put. :D Car should be paid off in a few weeks at most, then a few costs involved with it due at the end of the year. Should also be able to afford all the tech gadgets I'm after too before the end of the year. It feels nice to have enough money to be comfortable with.<br />
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Been laid back with a cold/flu thing the last week or so. Started feeling a bit blank last Saturday, then the sore throat hit on the Sunday. A cough started creeping in with headaches and a snuffly nose about Wednesday and then the voice disappeared. Managed to drag myself to the doc on Saturday just been and got some stuff to hopefully help, also hit up the chemist again today for more cough meds (spent three hours awake barking last night) and some nasal decongestant. Need to be awake/healthy for tomorrow. This weekend, just been going through the dvd collection, the odd bit of a book here and there, and icecream, not because I want to eat, but because I know I have to eat something. Mind, it was nice icecream. :)<br />
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Anyway. That's me over and out for another blog. Hope everyone is well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-35359667792984748402010-09-19T16:28:00.000+10:002010-09-19T16:28:02.996+10:00Blog? Oh yeah....Ahaha. A blog? Yup. Got one of those. Honestly I remember it now..... :D<br />
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So, brief sum up. Fatty didn't make it. Found him dead in the tank a day or so later. Still don't know what it was, but whatever it was that killed the fish tried to kill the filter too (the intake tube had also grown white fuzz by the time I discovered Fatty). Tank has since been cleaned with a mild solution of bleach, and the remaining fish is still in it's little bowl, just because I still don't trust the main tank.<br />
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Also had a birthday. At 23, I feel old. :P Or at least a poop load older than I should a lot of the time.<br />
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Work is ending. Been there since early May, was meant to be a short term temp bit then permanent but they never worked out if they actually wanted to employ me or not. Actually, about the only two decisions they made were not to train me (still sit there doing jack all), and to let me go. I have 2 weeks left. So I'm now trying to scrub up my cv so it looks somewhere near presentable. Getting rather bored with it, so here's a blog. :)<br />
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Humira is going well. Helping the gut and the joints, flared the psoraisis to buggery, so I can walk, and eat things again (within reason, the fructose can still be an issue), but I'm continually itching/burning/stinging/etc. Got a few site reactions for a few weeks, just a bit of a red patch around the injection site, not itchy though. No mark last time, and get to jab myself again later today. Glad it's working, about time something did.<br />
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Anyhoo. I'm a rather boring person really, so I've pretty much updated everything in those few paragraphs. Guess I'm heading back to that cv.... Darn. ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-39950953571002276632010-07-27T18:20:00.000+10:002010-07-27T18:20:51.694+10:00I'm a real girl!Yup. Pinocchio voice and all while I'm saying that. Had my first lot of Humira today. All four injections. I gave three of them to myself!!!! Trust me, when you realise how terrified of needles I am, you will understand that the exclamation marks are necessary. <br />
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The three that went in my gut surprised me. I had a good howl and sob prior to the first one, dried my eyes, and then went, huh? Is that it? Didn't feel the first bit of the needle, and it's more just a pinching feeling (and even then not bad) towards the end of the needle. Finally, I approve of my belly fat. As a matter of fact, I've found a newly discovered love for it. Then the one in the leg. In a movie, a reversing truck would have been conveniently placed at this part. NEVER AGAIN! I do have lovely flabby, wobbly legs, but clearly I must have found the one spot that didn't have the cotton wool protection of flubber. It hurt, I cried. I highly recommend the stomach. Feeling slightly nauseous a few hours after, took a maxalon left over from the 6mp fiasco and seem fine with it now. No itching, redness, soreness what so ever.<br />
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In other news my darling black moor gave up the ghost on Sunday morning. Thursday night he was black and scaley, by Friday morning he was white and fuzzy, particularly near his head. Dad finally decided on Sunday that I'm permitted to get a larger tank. This morning (Tuesday), I notice Fatty is looking slightly less calico and slightly more white and fuzzy, particularly around the head. Have everything crossed, but seeing as the moor didn't respond to medication in the iso tank, I'm not holding my breath. Also, I know most people are thinking 'Who cares, they're just fish'. I love animals, and would love to have a cat or dog or multiples of each. My dad isn't so much an animal person (see: views them as a waste of time/money/space), so to me, my fish have become something like surrogate cats and dogs. Rather attached, so it kinda hurts when I'm unable to look after them properly due to unfair restraints.<br />
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Anyway, otherwise life isn't too bad. Still absolutely dead on my feet, and the joints are still sore, but fingers crossed things will improve with the Humira.<br />
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Hope everyone is well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-2691355197754165572010-07-18T16:56:00.000+10:002010-07-18T16:56:34.059+10:00All aboard the Humira train!Not dead! Promise.<br />
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Managed to poop in a jar. Still don't know the results of that. And had the ultrasound thing done. Ultrasound shows everything in the upper abdo to be normal. Blood tests? Thing that's meant to be under 6 is back down to 9. From 179 a week before (a few days after the oh-Gods-I'm-dying pain originally kicked in).<br />
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In other good news? Humira! Yay! The dumbass government finally decided that seeing as I couldn't keep food down (or brush my teeth properly without heaving) and had what was a very good dopelganger for pancreatitis with the 6mp, that they'll let me go on Humira. Scraipt is apparently in the mail on the way to the GIs and hopefully I'll be starting it soon after that.<br />
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Downside? Doc is insisting that I get taught how to use it by nurses at the hospital my brother died in. Considering I've been told that any chemist/pharmacist with half a brain is capable of showing me how to use it, I'm rather tetchy with the doc over this. He just would not budge on it, even when he knew the reason why. Eh. Shit happens I s'pose.<br />
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Still fatigued a fair bit/normal for me, and the joints are still twinging, but fingers crossed (everything crossed really) that the Humira will help that too. <br />
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Bring on the world! I'll be human again! :DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1467644206489423766.post-63614577836757952282010-07-11T08:57:00.000+10:002010-07-11T08:57:27.177+10:00So after various appointments with the doc and multiple blood tests, he's come to the conclusion that I don't have pancreatitis. Thank the gods for small mercies. Pain had pretty much gone since stopping the meds, but the nausea is still there to a certain degree. Am managing food, but still feel rather off, even after the maxalon. Have to get antoher ultrasound done on Monday morning, which means more time off work, just to confirm that it isn't pancreatitis, even though he's already decided it isn't. Then have to go get yet more blood tests (will be the fourth lot in a week) and poop in a jar to rule out infection. Downside to that is I'm still having the varying swings between constipation and diarrhoea. Fingers crossed I can poop on cue hey?<br />
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Very worried about work. Doctor ordered me off work last week, and as I'm a temp/on a contract I had to ring in every day (not to mention not get paid for it). By Friday the boss seemed a little bit on the cold side. Doc seemed to be about to order me off work for the coming week too, until I told him I'd probably lose my job if he did that. Still seems rather not happy with the idea of me being at work, but what can I do about it? It's work now and maybe save my job, or not work now and possibly not work for quite some time, and with no savings, that's just not an option.<br />
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Oh, also was mentioned that the doc will try again for Humira seeing as the 6mp failed. Theoretically they can't turn me down, but we'll see. It is the government after all.<br />
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Anyway, I'm off to find my anti-spew drugs in an attempt to shut my stomach up. Hope everyone is well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0