What a weekend it has been with the weather! I know it’s not unusual to get snow at Easter. But really does feel like we’ve gone back a season!
We attempted to go for a walk yesterday in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds. When we left home, it was 10°C and sunny. 40 minutes down the road, in a remote hamlet at the bottom of the valley, the weather had very different plans. As parked up, the heavens opened to a big hailstorm, which then turned into snow. The temperature dropped plummeted down to 1°C. Within 30 minutes of a mixture of snow and hail, everywhere turned white. As it stopped we headed out onto the trails. However, as quickly as the snow arrived, it melted. As it did, the paths turned into fast-flowing rivers. Surrounded by more storm clouds, we decided to abandon the walk and head back to the car. I didn’t fancy getting stuck in this remote little valley, in my little 1-litre Citron C1.
We decided to take my car for a run instead of Alex’s, as it had been sitting around for too long, not moving. I only tend to ever use my car now if I have a flare-up and am too ill to walk to work, or for medical appointments. If I knew the weather was going to be as wild as it was, Alex’s car would have been slightly more suitable. If the snow didn’t melt, I’m not sure if my car would have got us out up the steep hill out of the valley.
The weather might have been wild and the walk may have been abandoned but we still had one great day. Instead, we made the most of the situation and spent the time messing around with our cameras.
Shingles Update
I still have shingles. The pain doesn’t bother me so much now but it is still there, just mild pain. My rash is still there too, but past the contiguous stage which is good. It did look like it was getting smaller but in the last few days I’ve noticed no change. I know it’s one of these things that can take weeks to heal up. At least the pain is only mild so I can’t complain. It could have been a whole lot worse!
Steroid Increase
Last week you might remember me writing about how I was upping my steroid dose for 7 days from 7mg to 20mg, to help to give my body a boost and help fight off the shingles. 2 days into my dose increase, I had to stop. I noticed the rashes on my face and my fingers were starting to clear up. Normally, I would be over the moon about this. I hate being covered in rashes. They just don’t look nice and plus my finger is swollen and painful where the rash is. However, at the moment I cannot let my rashes heal as I am waiting for my skin biopsy. So I need my rashes to be present for them to be able to do one.
Luckily, even though my dose increase was very short, I did feel a benefit from it. It has given my body a little boost. Just unfortunate it wasn’t a full boost. My body is still feeling weaker than normal and not quite right.
Stopped My Methotrexate
I did also decide not to inject myself this week with my methotrexate as I found last week, you’re advised not to take it until my body has finished fighting the shingles off. Not sure what I am going to do next week. I don’t want to stay off it for too long as it’s one of the main medications that make me feel well.
Mental Health
I’ve been feeling a bit brighter this week. I’ve really enjoyed being back at work again, having social interaction again, and having my normal routine back. Shielding got ever so lonely. I’m not sure if I could shield again. This time around, it affected my mental health too much. You’ve got your mental health to deal with while you shield and then your mental health with returning to work. It’s all just too much, especially when you have your chronic illness to deal with on top of. I’m just hoping cases don’t rise too much, where there’s a need to shield again. To be honest I’m hoping for an end to it all, just like most of us.
I also think the steroid dose increase helped my mood to an extent, helping me feel a bit better with the wolf. We’ve also had some promising news this week, which has really given me some bright hope for the near future. I will tell you more about this in the coming weeks. I don’t want to mention anything yet, as with the amount of bad luck I’ve had with things recently, I’m scared this is going to fall through too! But hey, let’s stay positive. Hopefully, this is the start of better days!
Asthma Nurse
I had an appointment with the Asthma nurse this week. She wanted to check up on how I was getting along with my new Beclometasone steroid inhaler. I told her how much of a difference it has made. How I hardly ever need to use my blue inhaler now. The only time I need to use my blue inhaler is out on my runs and that’s it. I say runs, but recently they have been more walking than running. But I know that’s just because my body isn’t right at the minute. It’s trying to fight off the shingles, dealing with low iron, and now confusing it with my dosage of steroids and stopping my Methotrexate. I bet the wolf is so confused about what’s going on!
I can’t complain though, being outdoors running or walking, it doesn’t matter which, it’s just about spending time outdoors. Spending time in the place that makes me the happiest!
Anyways, that’s it from me this week. If you are after a podcast to listen to next week, I was invited as a guest speaker to The Wellbeing Wanders Podcast. I talk all about my adventures as a kid, how I nearly binned my walking boots when I thought I had been completely defeated by the wolf, and how to get into walking with or without a chronic illness.
Here’s the link:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4wCJ9Bo2kke8MM3aqeNLn4?si=MIAHYCgETvmmkNe6ubyL-g
Until next week,
Goodbye for now
Emma
xox
p.s. need the hospital to sort my glasses out with the prism for my double vision. I didn’t realise how obvious it was, until going back to work. Everyone has been asking me if I’m ok, asking if somebody has punched me in the eye. One of my lenses is darker than the other. At certain angles, it looks like I have a black eye! Honestly, guys, I haven’t been in a fight, it’s just so I can only have to see one of you all!
