A diagnosis!

For a few months now I have been suffering with crippling pain in my joints. Not all of them at the same time and with varying degrees of pain. Some days my wrists and fingers have been so bad that I've been unable to lift my baby, drive or even turn a tap on. Other days my hands have been fine but I've struggled to walk because of the pain in my knees and feet. Worrying indeed for a 34 year old!
Anyway, I've finally been diagnosed with having something called psoriatic arthritis. Basically, my immune system is a little over enthusiastic in its bodily defences and so sees anything and everything as something to be attacked with gusto. Unfortunately, this includes its own cells! The symptoms are pretty similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis but with a slightly more optimistic outlook in the long term.

 Whilst I'm not exactly thrilled with the prospect of having what I consider to be an 'old person' disease, at least I am now able to be treated. The long-lasting steroid injection in my derrière has done absolutely nothing at all for me though, rather disappointingly. Before starting on my medication (a rather strong drug called methotrexate - an immune suppressant) I had to have a pneumonia vaccination which left my poor arm in a state somewhat reminiscent of Wesley's limbs when he is recovering from being "mostly dead all day" (The Princess Bride - world class movie :D).

So, I have started my medication and haven't reacted to it, so that's good! (Crippled) fingers crossed that things will improve soon and that my (beaten down) immune system won't now be bombarded with nasties from the germ-monsters darling children.