Feeling more positive

I was at the Dr's at half 7 yesterday morning to see someone about this stupid shoulder of mine.  My Mum was with me so she was able to help me describe what was going on.  I felt he really understood the pain I was in and he suggested that I needed to have an ultra sound scan of the joint to find out what is going on with the ligaments, and then to see a shoulder surgeon.  I have booked an appointment at the private hospital as I can't really wait for the NHS.  Although last time I made a private appointment my NHS appointment came through a week earlier than the private one, so I'm not dissing the NHS here at all!

I've felt much more positive yesterday and today as I know there is something being done and I haven't got to put up with it.  It also could have something to do with the copious amounts of Oramorph I've been taking at night to ease the pain. 

I'm getting my head round the pain now.  I was so annoyed with myself as I couldn't cope with it and I should be able to.  I lead self management courses for www.arthritiscare.org.uk but me...a self management trainer couldn't cope with the pain.

Then I realised, that I don't always have to be brave.  I can cry sometimes as it can make you feel better.

Here is some self management info for those of you living with long term health conditions.  http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/LivingwithArthritis/Self-management

Even More Shoulder Pain

I have paracetamol, dihydrocodine, diazapam, oramorph, some sort of gel, heat packs and a tens machine and I'm still not feeling the love. I'm just tired.

I want to go and do something but if I do I'll get cold and then it'll hurt more. I was supposed to be going to the football today but it's way to cold and I really shouldn't aggravate things.

I'm going to try and get the pain under control and then do some knitting if it doesn't hurt too much.

More Shoulder Pain

The pain in my shoulder is getting worse. My Mum and Dad are trying their best to keep me as comfortable as we can but it's very difficult. The pain is down the whole arm at times. I can lift my arm now but it's very creaky and I can feel every crunch and creak every time I move.

Oh well, only 2 more days till I can ring the hospital and sort out seeing someone. I don't care how much it costs, this hurts.

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Coronation Street

Now I know my blog wasn't supposed to be about my watching the soaps but I've just caught up with Coronation Street.

So Tracy Barlow turns up in a taxi on Christmas Eve after being inside for murder and all she says is: 'I know, it’s the most exciting new arrival in 2000 years.'

What????

Did the script writers go on holiday after they'd written the tram crash or something?

And when Gail and Tracy had the scrap in the Rovers, Becky shouting 'don't hold back Gail, pull her hair out!' Hilarious.

Peter Barlow looks remarkably well. He hasn't moaned about the cobbles once either, which is a surprise as cobbles are a nightmare for wheelchair users!

Our Christmas

We had a fun Christmas.

My brother, his wife, the dog and bump came for Christmas dinner and my Mum triumphed again. She's Stafford’s answer to Delia.

This is my Dog Nephew all dressed up for Christmas.

Most of the day was spent laughing at my Mum and Dad on the Wii.  Santa bought it for my Mum and so far she really likes it.  I had a go at the yoga for a few minutes as I thought it was the most gentle and apparently I burned 18 calories so that's good. I might try to have more of a go if I can keep my balance.

My stocking didn’t have much in it as I’ve had some money.  I had some chocolates and the two things I'd asked for, some dry shampoo and an ice scraper for my car!  Apparently when Santa went to the shop to buy one for his sleigh he bought me one too.

My brother, his wife, the dog and bump bought me An Idiot Abroad Diaries by Karl Pilkington and Now Christmas on Cd.  The fella got me series 4 of Brothers and Sisters which I love so I may keep that for when I’ve had my operation and I want something to watch.

The pain in my shoulder is still really bad.  I’ve been really grumpy all day because of it and have been in bed this afternoon.  I’ve decided that I need to phone the hospital on Wednesday and try and get a referral to see a surgeon.  It’s been bad for several weeks, I've had it injected but it's getting worse.   The only way I can cope with it is with the painkillers but I can't keep taking morphine.

Knitting wise I haven't done any.  I was finishing my Sirdar cardigan so I might do some in a bit if the shoulder holds out.

Blogger

Yes! Blogger works on my phone. My last post was really to check if it worked and how.

This phone really annoys me sometimes but I do love smart phones. Very clever.

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Kenneth!

I love that Kenneth in Coronation Street told Leanne that it's going to be difficult when Peter comes out of hospital.

He said, 'we'll need to install a hand rail!' Like that's the only thing Peter Barlow will need to help him continue to function, having almost been killed in a tram crash and on deaths door last week.

I think you'll need more than hand rails love!

It is real though.

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Keep Singing!

I had so much pain yesterday I didn’t know what to do with myself.  I’d arranged to go to my mates and luckily another friend drove for me as I was in no fit state to drive.  I wouldn't have been able to go if it wasn't for her.  For an hour or so the pain in my shoulder was total agony and every movement I made was just horrible.  When the painkillers eventually worked and it all settled down I started to relax and enjoy pizza with my mates.

The same pain came again today.  I was supposed to be singing in Stafford this morning in aid of Katherine House Hospice.  I’m part of www.cantemuschoir.org.uk ; yes I sing! Every Christmas Eve I sing in Stafford for an hour to raise money for the local hospice.  I think in the last 10 years I've missed a couple because of the old bones and I had to miss this year too because of the cold and not wanting to make things worse. 

So instead I stayed at home and sang along to my new Stevie Nicks CD (my Christmas present to myself!)  I got into bed this afternoon and my Mum and Dad looked after me, I don’t know what I’d do without them.  I feel much better now but I just hope I have a good nights sleep tonight.

More Morphine Please

PAIN...That is all I have to say about today.  I’ve taken lots of pain killers and I’m about to take some morphine.  I’ll try and get comfy with lots of pillows and catch up on my soaps in bed.  I don’t think I will get much sleep tonight but at least I can rest assured that a tram won’t crash into my house like those poor buggers in Coronation Street...It is real you know!

Just undo it and Keep Calm Sally!

So I’ve been knitting these Noro leg warmers which are for my trip to the Glastonbury Festival next year.  A Knitty friend very kindly bought me the yarn for my birthday.

I’d almost finished leg warmer number 1 but I didn’t like the ribbing...and lets face it, who does!

The pattern said 12 rows of rib at the beginning, which worked out as about 2 inches but then the pattern said to knit until 3 inches of rib has been worked at the end.  I thought this was a bit odd so I frogged down to the ribbing and decided to do 3 inches each side of the pattern as I had loads of yarn left.

Sounds simple enough so far?

I was at knitty friends yesterday, finished off leg warmer number 1 (sewing and everything!) and knitty friend said ‘I don’t think that’ll go over your heel Sal’.  After a lot of debating and knitty friend on the floor trying to squeeze the bloody thing over my heel as of course the arthur won’t let me put my OWN leg warmers on...we decided that I cast on way too tight.

Thanks to knitty friend I haven’t had to undo the whole thing again as she unpicked the sewing and helped me unpick the cast on edge.  It’s really made my shoulder hurt as I was hunched over the yarn trying to unpick it all so today I feel like poo.  I don't think I'll be doing any knitting, which is a good job as I'm going out with the fella, that's if I can drive with this shoulder pain.

I should have taken more of a break and listened to my body (and knitty friend!) but I couldn’t put said leg warmer down as I’m quite excited to finish.  I don’t know why, Glastonbury isn’t till June so there's plenty of time and we don’t know if I can go yet!

Here is the leg warmer so far.

So the moral of this story is....you’ve always got to worry about the length of yer rib coz it might cause you trouble in the future!

Christmas Stocking.

My Christmas stocking is complete.  I did it on 2 circular needles instead of double pointed as my hands are so badly affected by my arthur I can't use them.  I have used DPN’s before but I find it a right faf.  It needs stretching out a bit where I have pulled the yarn tight but I think it will be ok. I have also done my first i-cord (The cord to hang it up with.)  Again, a bit of a fiddle but it looks fine.  The video on http://www.knittinghelp.com was brilliant again.  I can’t believe I’ve only just found this website.

What you can't see is that my Dad was on the floor behind the chair holding onto the stocking so I could take a good picture of it.  Bless him!

UFO’s

Unfinished Objects.

I have so many things that are unfinished.

1. A pair of Noro legwarmers.  (I have almost completed the first one.)

2. A pair of Regia Sock Yarn gloves.  (First glove is completed and halfway through the second.)

3. A Rowan Cardigan that I did actually complete but I have unpicked the sleeves twice because they aren’t right and have kind of lost interest now.

4. A Sirdar extra chunky tank top that I started 2 years ago.  (I only have to do the neck line and the sleeve tops...oh and the sewing!)

5. A baby thing that I also started about 18 months ago but I think I might undo it and start something else with the yarn like a little baby cardie or something.

6. A big chunky pink and white scarf out of Sirdar Big Softie.  (It won’t take me long to finish, I just never get round to it.)

7. Oh and there is a surprise bit of knitting that is taking up a lot of time at the moment but I can say no more!

8. I just found a baby’s hoodie in blue that I haven’t finished, (oh dear the list just keeps getting longer)

9. I have to sew some buttons on a pink cardie also for a baby.

So the moral of the story is... STOP casting on new knits until you have cast off the old knits!  I am going to have to prioritise and this will be my New Year’s resolution.

Someone at my Thursday knitting group told me that you must complete all your knits by New Year or it's bad luck or something...I'd better get cracking then!

Winter Solstice/ Lunar Eclipse

So there was a lunar eclipse this morning which hasn’t happened on a winter solstice for nearly 400 years.  I set my alarm for 7 so I could have a look at the red haze that I’d read about on the guardian website, but then did my usual thing of turning the alarm off and going back to sleep.  To be honest I only would have watched it from my bedroom window anyway as I can never get down the stairs early in the morning.  It’s nearly midday and I still haven’t been downstairs. 

I’m lucky that the bbc have captured the eclipse for me. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12042984

Happy Solstice.

Cold cold cold

The cold is really getting to me.  I’m finding it worse than ever.  I had to go to the bank after I went to knitting this morning as my card wouldn’t work in the machine at the car park so I wanted to get it sorted.  I stupidly walked to the bank, it’s not far at all, but for me it’s like walking 10 miles.  When I got there the pain was so bad I had to ask a girl if she wouldn’t mind moving so I could sit down, she didn’t so that was good.  People with arthritis forget to ask for help sometimes even though they should do because no one minds at all.

I get a bit panicky if I have to walk or stand in places like this.  If I just pop to the co-op and there are only 4 or 5 people in the queue in front of me I will put my things back and go home.  I start to panic and get all hot and start sweating, it’s horrible.  This wasn’t too bad today but the cold really got into my joints so I’m going to have to be careful and keep warm over night.  It all got sorted at the bank.  It turns out lots of card machines were off due to a problem with the connection so no one had used my card in the end...thank god!

Anyway, onward with the Christmas stocking.   Only the toe to do now.

Knitting I have done

To give you an idea of what I knit and the sorts of colours/yarns/textures I like here are a few photos of the knitting I have done over the last 3 years.

My first attempt at a cabling.  I found it so hard to do as the yarn tightens (or maybe it was me pulling it too tight) and my hands and fingers are very sore from the arthritis.  The lady in the wool shop didn't tell me that you shouldn't use a variegated yarn as the pattern won't show up.  Good one Mrs Woman!  I still like it though and use the bag all the time.



This is a hand towel I made out of Peaches and Cream yarn bought from First 4 Yarns in Wales.  I made it for my Mum and Dad's caravan and they love it.



 

I love knitting socks.  My hands are so affected by arthritis I cannot use the DPN's so it knit them toe up on 2 circular needles.  I love the fact that you have no sewing up and they are so transportable...most of my knitty friends carry a sock in their handbags!  Great for sitting waiting to see the Dr!



This is the Girrlfriend Bag from Ravelry.com A sort of Facebook for knitters.  I made it out of Peaches and Cream.





This is the first thing I ever knitted back in January 2008.  It was for my friend Rae's baby boy Charlie and is made out of Sirdar Snuggly DK.

 

Hello

Well here we are...my first EVER post.

Very tired tonight and getting ready for bed so won’t be writing or knitting much!  Joints are sort of behaving themselves today.  I am noticing my hip pain more and more this evening as it’s getting colder.  I have never really noticed the cold affecting my arthritis before but I’ve really noticed it this winter.  I am also noticing that I can’t bend my hip as well as I could and the pain is all the way down my leg now...and the stairs in the house...well that’s another issue entirely.

The snow is still here but we only have about an inch so it’s not too bad.  If the ice gets much worst though I won’t be able to go out of the house again, this really annoys me.  I don’t mind driving in bad weather but I’m too scared to walk in it...My google gadget says it is around -9 here at the moment so I think it will be another electric blanket and heat pack on the hip night for me tonight!

Tomorrow is my knitting group, Stafford Knit Chicks.  We meet every week and tomorrow is our Christmas doo, we are having a secret Santa so I may be tempted to have a mince pie with my coffee!

I’m knitting a red and white Christmas stocking at the moment from a pattern I found on the hobbycraft website.  It is my first attempt at fair isle type knitting and I’m really pleased with it.  I’ll hopefully finish it either tonight or tomorrow and there will be photos to follow.