Working hard for Christmas

Just thought I'd update on my progress with the Christmas present I'm making for my Mum.

I'm doing a crochet granny square scarf.  The pattern was in a magazine a few months ago and I like it so much, that I might do one for myself.

It doesn't say how many squares you need to make the scarf but I'm thinking I'll probably do about 18.  I think I've got about 15 already.

I'm crocheting the squares together with black yarn to make the scarf.

Dieting

I don't like to say that I'm on a diet, but I'm...erm... watching what I eat and exercising more so, therefore, I'm on a diet.

I don't really know where it all started but I had a go on the Wii Fit and now I can't stop playing on it.
I've been using the Wii Fit for almost 2 weeks now.  I like the balance games which are very low impact in my joints and I love the tennis on the Wii Sports.  I have to play with my left hand because of my shoulder but I'm doing ok and burning a lot of calories doing it.

I've also been using an app called My Fitness Pal where you can log the foods you eat and how much exercise you do.  There is also www.myfitnesspal.com which syncs in with the phone app so you can use both.  The app has a barcode scanner so you can tell how many calories are in something straight away.  The only criticisms I have is that people can put in what they think the values are so therefore I think some of the values might be a little far fetched.  Also, people don't cook anymore so trying to find the value of a parsnip was a little tricky.  My Mum is a proper cook so working out what's she's made can be a pain.  I have to add everything together and divide by how many portions she makes.

My Mum and Dad are really helping me, my Dad bought me some scales to weigh my food which was lovely of him.

After first week I lost 6lbs but then then the next day the Wii said I'd put 4lb back on so I don't know what happened there.

I didn't have a good weekend with food as I went to see my friend from university.  She's using the same website as I am and she's lost 2 and a half stone.  We were a little naughty this weekend but according to the scales I haven't put any weight on so that's good.

I'm weighing myself every Thursday morning to take an average over the week.

So from here on, I'm trying to lose weight and now I've written it on here I've got to do it!

Shoulder News

So after all my waiting I finally have an appointment for my surgery.  I will be having the operation in the 4th January, 11 months after my initial appointment.

I'm so pleased. I think the rheumatology dept had a lot to do with bringing it forward.

So I have 3 weeks to get organised. Oh dear!

Knitting with Noro

Noro yarn is nightmare.

I'm knitting a scarf for my Mum but I think I've spent more time undoing knots than I have knitting.  I'm using Noro Sekku which is lace wight and a pattern I got free with the yarn when I bought it.

It looks nice but I'm not sure if I want to knit with it Noro again.  It all twists round itself and you keep having to untwist it.  I love the colours though.
 

The colours are so beautiful.

But here lie more knots.

Physio Appointments and shoulder replacements

On Monday I had a physio appointment.  This was the first one I'd had in ages.  I was so pleased to be back in the proper physio department at the hospital.

A few years ago, those in charge decided that it would be a good idea to close the bottom of Cannock Chase Hospital and either sell it off or lease it out.  Of course patient groups we dead against it and decided to join forces and fight against the decision.  The groups (which included Cannock Branch of Arthritis Care) managed to keep the hydro pool open.  The physio department wasn't fully reopened when I went down into the gym after having my hip replaced it was in a sorry state.  I'm please to say that my appointment on Monday was in the physio department and it look someway to being back and up and running again. 

Anyway, back to the physio.  I've had a popping heel for the last few months and I was told that it's a little bit of tendinitis.  I have been doing a few exercises over the last few weeks and it appears to be much better but I had some physio just to make sure.  I was given a few more exercises and she said that she would refer me to a podiatrist just to have a look.  I'm just praying for no more surgery, I can't take anymore. 

Speaking of surgery I had a little blip this week.  I'm so frustrated that I haven't gone in to have my shoulder done yet and that I’m going through another Christmas with not only this pain, but not being able to move my arm.

Here's what’s happened so far:

You may remember back in February I was told I needed surgery to resurface my shoulder.  My Mum and Dad paid for me to have my first consultation with the surgeon and 2 x-rays as I was in so much pain I needed something doing as quickly as possible.  As I was already on the waiting list to have my hip replaced the surgeon said that I should have that done first and that he would do the shoulder surgery as soon as I was off my crutches.  I had my hip replaced on 5th April.  When I had heard nothing by about July, I telephoned the secretary to see what was happening and she said I wasn't even down as one of his patients.  An appointment was then made to see the surgeon again on the NHS in September, when I got there they hadn’t got my notes from the private hospital and nothing more was decided other than I needed the operation, which we already knew.  The problem is that the 18 week deadline now starts from the 2nd September and not from the original date of the 3rd February.  

I feel so let down by the surgeon when all other departments that I've had dealings with have been nothing short of amazing.  I’m not sure the surgeon realises how hard the last year has been for all of us.  I can’t eat, drink, wash, dress, go to the loo etc on my own, anything to do with that arm is useless as I can’t move my shoulder and they pain is excruciating.

Three weeks ago my rheumatologist did a nerve block to help me control the pain and it worked so he did it again yesterday after I phoned them in tears.  I just can’t believe they’ve just left a young woman to suffer like this for a year, my whole life feels like it's on hold.

Still Awake!

I met up with a few of my friends tonight and had a fab time.  I'm so tired and sore now that sometimes I don't think the pain and fatigue is worth the hassle of going out, but then I see my pals and realise that yes it is.

It's fair to say that my family are number one and without them I would be a lost soul.  My friends also mean a lot to me, they're the ones I can talk to when I feel I don't want to burden my family.

Tonight my good friend Helene told me that she thought I looked better and that 6 weeks ago she was really worried about me and apparently spoke to some of our other friends too.

I love Helene, she knows me so well.  She knew when I was down and I didn't even have to tell her.

The truth is that I have been struggling of late and I wasn't sure what the problem was but now I think I know.

Just over a fortnight ago I went to have my Tocolizumab infusion and also wanted to speak with my rheumatologist while I was there.  On my way to the hospital I though about the conversation over and over again.  I wanted to talk to him about my shoulder and just how debilitating it really is.

In the next week or so it will be a year since I lost movement in my shoulder and therefore a year since I washed my own hair etc etc...It is so debilitating and also very frustrating.

Yarn of Ale Christmas doo

Last night was my knitting group Christmas meal.  We went for a meal at Granvilles in Stone and it was lovely.  I ate so much more than usual which was good.  Lots of people with RA struggle with eating.  My weight is no indication of how much I actually eat, although last night, I went all out.

I also went all out on my outfit. I was wearing my new spotty tunic, leggings, red wedges, fake eyelashes and bright red lippy to match my red shoes. I did feel pretty good I have to say although I'm paying for the half inch heel today!

We had a secret Santa where we had to knit something out of 100% wool which could be either a scarf, hat or gloves.  I've spent the last 2 weeks knitting a beautiful scarf, or what I considered beautiful, but when I came to wash and block it yesterday morning, disaster!

It looked awful and I mean it looked bloody awful.  I couldn't possibly give it to anyone as a gift, I didn't take a secret Santa.

Well, when I saw everyone's creations I'm so glad I didn't take one, everyone else's were so beautiful and they'd put so much effort into them.   I would have been embarrassed to take my little gift along.

Now, I do consider myself to be a reasonably good knitter, I'm not amazing but I'm alright.  I'm told by several different people that my tension is good so all my stitches are even, and I choose nice yarns in my price range, I don't skimp too much unless its something I know will get chucked around.

Therefore, I think the reason why my knitting looks different to everyone else's is the way it's finished off, I'm just not very arty!  People tell me I'm arty all the time because I can knit but I'm not.  I can follow a pattern but I can't go that extra mile to make things look that little bit sparkly. I'm not that clever.

I was disappointed though. Looking at the knitting again this morning, it doesn't look that bad. Oh well, I suppose I can save it for next year!