Well think it’s safe to say a flare is starting! Whenever the skin starts to break out, especially on the fingers it seems to be the start of a flare.

To be fair it has been months since my skin has started to shred/split like this. Pain in the joints has started to kick in which is a nightmare especially with my day to day work.

As it has been 2 months now since started adalimumab, as my chronic illness affects my immune system, it could simply be the body going into overdrive and medication is starting to work.

Since being diagnosed with this chronic illness it had always been up in the air that I maybe able to in the future have more children. I currently have 1 daughter who was born 12 weeks premature nearly 7yrs ago.

Upon seeing a new consultant 2 years ago he actually put my life into more perspective. As I am a high risk with this illness and with what experienced with my daughter, he blatantly told me I am not able to have anymore children naturally as it would affect my body way too much.

So today I have taken the jump and contacted my local GP to arrange a consultation talk about being sterilised. This is something me and my husband have spoken about over the last few months as at present I do take quite a bit of medication. By having this procedure, would mean 1 less medication to take each day, 1 less thing being pumped into my body to alter everything.

Let’s see what 26th April brings….

If like me you have good and bad days, you never know when a flare is going to creep up on you.

You can see from the photos above, my one finger has started to have its own flare. It has started having small little clear filled blisters which are extremely itchy. This is the little bumps you can see in the 2nd picture.

This is the flare I really hate because of how itchy the small blisters are. It gets so bad that as you can see my skin has started to break and bleed. This is something I have not experienced for some months.

I havent had my skin flare this bad since my first diagnosis which is nearly 6 yrs now (only remember as my daughter was nearly one when I went to see specialists).

One thing living with a chronic illness is you never forget how things feel, even if you know you haven’t experienced it all in a while.

Well it is safe to say the last 12months have been completely different times to what we have been use to.

Living with an autoimmune disease during these uncertain times has been somewhat difficult and uncertain with everything. From not being able to leave at the height of the pandemic, to going back to work with a “New Normal” then back into a Firebreak (live in Wales), then work for a 2 months then all of a sudden Bang! A third lockdown with hardly any notice just before Christmas.

This lockdown though I have to say, has been more unsettling than the other lockdowns. It possibly has not helped with it being the Winter months and not able to go out much due to the weather conditions and dark evenings.

But a few good things have come out of this latest lockdown:- able to trial new medication while not coming into contact with anyone other than husband/daughter, 1st COVID vaccine received and even though was not very well 48hrs after was able to stay at home and rest until better and finally quality time with our daughter.

At least the lockdown rules in Wales are changing, so we are able to see family and friends.

Well living here in Wales, we have just had our lockdown eased.

Travel restrictions within Wales have been eased so this means that travel is permitted anywhere across the country. Family can be seen now, to be honest I haven’t really seen my parents properly since November. We are just grateful for how technology has come along these past 12 months. I am not sure about you, but I have become reliant on Zoom, WhatsApp video calling, Teams and Facebook Video calling.

With the travel restrictions lifted, it is an advantage for my place of work. As after being closed since December, we are now able to open and welcome guests back. Yes it is different to second lockdown, but we are able to welcome people and have them spend quality time with their family away from the same surroundings they have spent 16 weeks within.

From the lockdown restrictions, I am proud to say that I have received my Covid Vaccine. Since having the vaccine, I have been told that how you react shows how well your immune system is working with it. Safe to say mine is working well with it.

Well since my encounter with Otezla did not go well before Christmas (ended up not being able to walk), am now on Imraldi (Adalimumab).

First injection was done last Sunday, and have to say the only main side affect has been slight nausea which is common with all medication. It is safe to say so far so good that I am not feeling I was when I was on Otezla.

Having pre filled pens I find is easier than having to measure out the medication when it is due which is every two weeks. Lets hope the next few weeks using this medication helps with everything.

Well the jump has been made to now make video blogs talking about the daily struggles experience living with a Chronic Illness.

It was daunting doing the first video and putting it on to my Youtube page, but I am glad to say I have overcome anxiety and have published the video. Its not perfect being the first video but hopefully as time goes on I will improve the videos.

Thank you for everyones support

Well here we are a week in to 2021 – we are still being affected by this pandemic which has been going on since March 2020.

Few weeks before Christmas I had started on Otezla but after being on this medication for just over a week my body decided it did not like it at all. The rejection was quite bad within my body, it resulted in not being able to walk for days. Knees went bright red, sore and very hot to the touch which is not good. Not only suffering with not being able to walk, it also was not nice to not be sleeping and then every morning being sick due to the medication. After all of this and speaking to my GP, it was without a doubt taken off the medication as an emergency due to the side effects.

Now Christmas and New Year is out of the way, going forward now along with Rheumatologist, will now be looking at going on to Adalimumab (Humira). Which will be injection form in a sort of epi pen. When was on Methotrexate in this form, it was good and less side effects. Only downside was my partner had to administer the medication, which I am grateful he is always willing to help.

As Wales is now in another full lockdown, means no seeing family as they live 100 miles away. Home working & jugging Home Schooling at the same time along with doing things when I can around the house 🙁 It is always all go!!!

Lets see how this month goes as I know I have something to look forward to towards the end which is our hot tub being installed. Cannot wait!!!!

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas and New Year even though we are in uncertain times

Well since my last blog its been 10 months since we all went into a national lockdown.

Have to say, having a chronic illness during these uncertain and challenging times has been a mission in itself. I have had to be more aware of everything that is going around me, I have been back in work since July but as I work in an office with another person, we keep more than our 2m distance from each other.

My days/weeks/months consist of the same thing really – food shopping is done all online and delivered to the house, school run with mask during drop off/pick up, work 8hrs a day 5 days a week with relevant PPE in the office that is needed. Alcohol hand gel bottle sitting proudly on my desk used every half hour while sat working.

Since the start of this pandemic, it has been hard to get back on medication to help with my Psoriatic Rheumatoid Arthritis. Consultant has tried to have health at heart by not putting me at a higher risk than I am to this disease. Well November has come round and have done a week on Otezla but have suffered severally with joints in excruciating pain which resulted in not being able to even walk. This is something since being diagnosed 5 1/2 yrs ago I have never experienced, which has left me feeling uneasy about trying this medication again as do not want to experience a few days like that again.

Well it has now been 11 weeks since the country went into lockdown and I have to admit it has not been an easy time for any of us!!!

Since lockdown started I have been lucky enough to get home delivery to save any of us going to the shops especially as the other half is working Monday to Friday, it would be unfair to ask him to spend time on his days off queuing and getting food for us for that week. So without a doubt it has been a blessing for this once a week delivery. I also cannot fault local businesses also who we are supporting. Have been able to place orders and get these delivered straight to the house keeping to social distancing.

Battling the changes of being on Furlough and not in work has been hard on my mental health which it would play a big part of everyone also. The hardest thing I have found and think it affects them more, is the drastic change it has on children. My daughter is 5yrs old (Reception) and to see how she is becoming shows she is missing School, Friends & Teacher.

Yes we are doing home schooling Monday to Friday for around 3 hours each morning (find this is easier and also acts as a bargaining tool – afternoon is free play then) She knows me as being “Mummy” not as her teacher. The first few weeks settling into it all where fine, but lately it is becoming noticeable that she knows I am not the teacher, I should not being doing this work with her and that it should be her teacher doing it. We do sit there after her getting upset and I do explain why Mummy is currently her teacher and that the work we do each morning has been set by her teacher and that her teacher monitors everything she does through the school learning app. For the age she is, she is fully clued on to what is going on in the world and knows it is not safe.

Back to me!!!

Since last post, I am still currently on no medication for my arthritis as I had an appointment the day that we got put into lockdown. So currently awaiting for another appointment to be given. I am just so grateful for the weather we have been having, as I know when the weather is as warm as it is, it does help not just my skin but also my joints. The pain is eased and I can get about more around the house. Before the lockdown I did attend Pain Management Clinic where I laid it all down how I am actually feeling with being in constant pain and how it is affecting me mentally, physically and emotionally.

Upon the hour session, it has been agreed for me to attend groups (when everything is back to a more normal) and start on Duloxetine which I am finding does block out the constant nerve pain. Back at the beginning of the year I suffered badly with Nerve Paralysis due to medication side effects and Fibromyalgia flaring up constantly. This all now feels under control with Duloxetine as it blocks the nerve signals to my brain constantly. May only getting issues now and again instead of constantly 24/7

Stay Safe everyone during these times x