I've just come back from my annual eye test which I need to check that the hydroxychloroquine I take for my RA isn't building up in my eyes affecting my vision. Thankfully everything is fine, both with the drug and my general vision too. No glasses needed (surprising, considering how long I spend staring at computers)!
It's so great to know that I can continue on my meds and that there are no adverse effects from taking them. It's sometimes worrying to be on daily medication, especially so young, but good to know I'm being monitored closely.
Also, as always I feel grateful for the good care provided to me for free by the NHS. So lucky to have this service!
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Monday, 3 December 2012
3 years
Oh my, how time flies. It was my 3 year RA-nniversary on Saturday. I think I also started this blog not that long after. I can't believe how quickly these few years have gone by. Must be getting old?!
Sunday, 25 November 2012
The joy of digging
As I mentioned in my last post, I've joined a community garden in my neighbourhood.
Today we had a group 'digging' day, to top up the soil and prepare the beds for next year. It was really good fun and between the 6 of us we managed to sort out the 2 TONNES (!!) of soil in a couple of hours. I learnt a lot about the composition of soil and what nutrients are required for vegetable growth. I also found some hidden veg in some of the beds from this year so I came home with a bag full of fresh carrots potatoes and beetroot.
It was really nice to spend an afternoon outside being active. Working in an office and living in a flat sometimes makes me really sedentary and i miss out on a lot of 'outdoors' time, especially in the short winter days.
I was also very grateful for the fact that I was able to take part in such a demanding physical activity like soil shovelling. Thanks to my meds (and a large amount of luck!) the RA seems to be at bay for now. Hooray, bring on the wheelbarrows!
Today we had a group 'digging' day, to top up the soil and prepare the beds for next year. It was really good fun and between the 6 of us we managed to sort out the 2 TONNES (!!) of soil in a couple of hours. I learnt a lot about the composition of soil and what nutrients are required for vegetable growth. I also found some hidden veg in some of the beds from this year so I came home with a bag full of fresh carrots potatoes and beetroot.
It was really nice to spend an afternoon outside being active. Working in an office and living in a flat sometimes makes me really sedentary and i miss out on a lot of 'outdoors' time, especially in the short winter days.
I was also very grateful for the fact that I was able to take part in such a demanding physical activity like soil shovelling. Thanks to my meds (and a large amount of luck!) the RA seems to be at bay for now. Hooray, bring on the wheelbarrows!
Thursday, 1 November 2012
Wee update
Things in Squirrel-land are pretty good right now, busy hopping around branches and collecting nuts for the winter and what not!
I'm just back from a short holiday in Berlin with my girlfriend (our first holiday together!) and I was in London before that for a work conference. Busy busy busy. This weekend I have a family friend staying with me but to be quite honest what I'd really like to do is just have a quiet one, sit around in my PJs and watch crap TV. Unfortunately all these social events seem to all happen at once. So hard to be popular and in demand, haha!
Something I'm quite excited about right now though is that I've joined a local community garden. It's a charity project which gives people in the neighbourhood a chance to get involved in growing our own vegetables. We're just planning what to grow next year and I'm really looking forward to it. I've never grown anything before so it'll probably be a bit of trial and error but there are more experienced members who will be on hand to help. The area I live in has mostly flats, so it's great to have a space and the facilities to grow our own veg.
So that's it really for now, nothing to complain about!
I hope everyone has got their Christmas jumpers on, not long now till Santa comes!!
I'm just back from a short holiday in Berlin with my girlfriend (our first holiday together!) and I was in London before that for a work conference. Busy busy busy. This weekend I have a family friend staying with me but to be quite honest what I'd really like to do is just have a quiet one, sit around in my PJs and watch crap TV. Unfortunately all these social events seem to all happen at once. So hard to be popular and in demand, haha!
Something I'm quite excited about right now though is that I've joined a local community garden. It's a charity project which gives people in the neighbourhood a chance to get involved in growing our own vegetables. We're just planning what to grow next year and I'm really looking forward to it. I've never grown anything before so it'll probably be a bit of trial and error but there are more experienced members who will be on hand to help. The area I live in has mostly flats, so it's great to have a space and the facilities to grow our own veg.
So that's it really for now, nothing to complain about!
I hope everyone has got their Christmas jumpers on, not long now till Santa comes!!
Friday, 5 October 2012
Vit D
As the winter nights draw ever closer, I got to thinking about my RA flare pattern. I've only had it 3 years so maybe not long enough to draw any real conclusions but it started in December, and every year since then I've felt really good June-Nov and flared post-Christmas only to settle down again in summer. I don't know if this is just clutching at straws, but maybe the lack of sunlight has something to do with it? I don't think it's the cold because when I've travelled temperature changes didn't affect me and to be honest the difference in temperature between the Scottish summer and winter is only about 15 degrees! However, we're pretty far north which means we get super long summer days and super long winter nights!! From the end of Oct when the clocks go back until March I don't see any daylight Monday to Friday as it's dark when I leave for work and dark as I go home. REALLY DEPRESSING!! Even at the weekends it's easy to sleep in until about 11-12 (I like long lies!) and then you only get about 4 hours of daylight before it starts to get dark again. And that's only if the sun can peek out from behind the thick rainclouds!!
I've therefore decided to take some Vitamin D supplements this winter. I'm starting from today and have enough to last me 3 months. I've been 99% symptom free since June so we'll see if this year I can avoid the dreaded 'winter flare'. Probably not, but worth a try (even if it's just to satisfy my curiosity!).
I've therefore decided to take some Vitamin D supplements this winter. I'm starting from today and have enough to last me 3 months. I've been 99% symptom free since June so we'll see if this year I can avoid the dreaded 'winter flare'. Probably not, but worth a try (even if it's just to satisfy my curiosity!).
Monday, 27 August 2012
August updates
How strange it seems that August is almost over, and with it summer. Not that we get much of a 'summer' in the typical sense, but I do love the long light nights, the greenery and the milder temperatures. This year seems to have flown by!
A couple of little updates - my girlfriend has moved in with me temporarily, which is really fun. I've never lived with anyone before but I'm really enjoying it. She'll only be here for a couple of months until she saves up for her own place but it's still a nice 'trial' for the future!
We are also cat-sitting for my flatmate's sister so we have a little bundle of fun called Bailey for a few weeks. Last time she was visiting us she did a little naughty poo on my bed quilt, so this time my door is staying firmly closed!!!
I've been doing a bit of freelance work lately in an effort to get some more money and expand my skills. It's going quite well and I hope to keep it up.
And finally, I'm away to Bulgaria next week for 8 days. Unfortunately it's more of a 'work' trip than a holiday, as we're dealing with some family stuff but hopefully we'll get some nice evenings out inbetween. Also it's sunny! I'll get my Vit D in before the long dark Scottish winter begins..
A couple of little updates - my girlfriend has moved in with me temporarily, which is really fun. I've never lived with anyone before but I'm really enjoying it. She'll only be here for a couple of months until she saves up for her own place but it's still a nice 'trial' for the future!
We are also cat-sitting for my flatmate's sister so we have a little bundle of fun called Bailey for a few weeks. Last time she was visiting us she did a little naughty poo on my bed quilt, so this time my door is staying firmly closed!!!
I've been doing a bit of freelance work lately in an effort to get some more money and expand my skills. It's going quite well and I hope to keep it up.
And finally, I'm away to Bulgaria next week for 8 days. Unfortunately it's more of a 'work' trip than a holiday, as we're dealing with some family stuff but hopefully we'll get some nice evenings out inbetween. Also it's sunny! I'll get my Vit D in before the long dark Scottish winter begins..
Monday, 13 August 2012
Adventures
This weekend we had some lovely weather (for once!) so myself and a few friends went for a wee road trip to the countryside. We visited an abandoned Ironworks factory and steam railway. I'd seen the location in a BMX video last year and really fancied visiting it myself (although without a BMX!!)
We had a great time exploring the old buildings and trains. It's quite sad to think of how many people must've worked in the place for so long and now it's falling apart. Although it is strangely appealing in its decay. Here are a few photos I took:
Also if anyone's interested, here is the BMX video shot there. The rider is a mad fellow! Amazing stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShbC5yVqOdI
We had a great time exploring the old buildings and trains. It's quite sad to think of how many people must've worked in the place for so long and now it's falling apart. Although it is strangely appealing in its decay. Here are a few photos I took:
Also if anyone's interested, here is the BMX video shot there. The rider is a mad fellow! Amazing stuff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShbC5yVqOdI
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