Yay! Sorta...

[ladytelita]

Well I saw the rheumatologist yesterday. First time I've been to that hospital (Trelisk, in Truro). It was easy enough to find although with no pain killers in me I was not at my best, lol. My mother had to keep waiting for me! Anyway....had my blood pressure, weight and urine tested. Turns out I've lost half a stone this summer, which I'm pleased about, considering I haven't tried at all and am doing so much less....go figure. BP fine thankfully, although having the thing on really hurt.

Saw the consultant only slightly late and she was very thorough. Asked me to talk about how it all began etc in my own words and took a photocopy of the things I'd written down. I tried to be honest, not exaggerate or anything. My mother said I was making less of it than it is. I had a physical examination (eurgh) in an open-backed gown, lovely. She schecked for inflammation in my joints but despite how gentle she was, it still hurt. I kept quiet but she said I was grimmacing most of the time and I had tight muscles in my neck (so I shall look into having that sorted).

I'm still flexable, can touch my toes etc. I did have a really awful dizzy attack during the examination, one of the worst. She was patient and gave me time to get past it. Felt so embarrassed!

The upshot of all this is that, due to a number of factors (such as my bacterial infection in May and a fall I had last year (fell off a horse and suffered a really heavy blow)) I have post viral syndrome and fibromyalgia. She seemed quite upbeat about and that I would recover (which makes a change). I can quite happily live in the hope that I will get better given time, but at the very least it means, not only will the gp now give me pain killers to help (yay) but that it is official and I can start to come to terms with it.

I don't want to have this condition, far from it, but maybe my brain will finally accept this and work on making me better rather than fighting me the whole time.

I had 3 vials of blood taken after the consultant and joked with the nurse about the fuss I used to cause when I was a child. I was very honest and said she would need to use the back of my hand with a butterfly needle. She told me anyone trying to get blood from the hand without a butterfly needle shouldn't be allowed to take blood! Did not know that! She went to take the blood and I nearly hit the ceiling it hurt so damn much. I apologised and laughed about it, kinda embarrassed after joking about such things, but she was excellent. She said this is how I feel without pain killers so of course it hurt more than normal. Point taken.

Now getting through the booklets they gave me and relaxing in bed under my brand new bed set. Bliss.

P.

[Fibrofoggiest]

Drat, I typed a long reply and my iPad gobbled it. basically I was saying I'm so pleased that you have now got a proper diagnosis and that you can begin to come to terms with it. I know the examinations can be both painful and embarrassing , but at he end of the day it is worth it to come out with good information. I hope that the rheumy will be in touch with your GP and that you can get some proper form of pain management sorted out !

I had to give up riding some time back after a few too many unscheduled meetings with terra firma , I miss it, but I know how much damage it has done, so I still love horses, but no more riding (or mucking out for that matter, it would surely kill my back nowadays !)

Best wishes ladytelita

Foggy x

[ladytelita in reply to Fibrofoggiest]

Thanks Foggy, yes, the rheumy is writing to the gp and I will also get a copy of the letter as she asked if I wanted one.

I don't do the hard grafting stuff any more. I was, stopped earlier this year in order to concentrate on the training. I'm not doing the training now although I do still ride at a high level, I'm sticking to the flat until my body says it's ok to try jumping again. I love jumping so hopefully sometime next year I'll try again.

I think in many ways the riding keeps me going. Without it I might curl up under the pain of all this, so it acts as a focus point. Both my kids ride too, which they love, so it's good that we all do something we all enjoy.

P.

[Hidden]

So pleased you got a proper diagnosis and feel better about things x

[Ginsing]

Thats a really good positive post Telitia thank you for being so informative it is really helpful for all the new people who have joined our club

Do you still ride do tell or is it a no no now ?

xxgins

[ladytelita in reply to Ginsing]

Thank you. I do still ride, although I doubt it's entirely sensible. I suffer for it for days afterwards, but sometimes you have to do the things you enjoy for the sake of your mental health, no matter what it does to your physical health. So I won't give it up. As long as I can get on a horse and do it I will continue to do so. <3 Even if I do need copious amounts of pain relief and bed time after!

P.

[Ginsing]

I an envious I broke two bones well damaged them in my neck I am never to ride again sometimes I miss it. Do take care when you are out no falling off happy days

xgins

[ladytelita in reply to Ginsing]

Ouch! I changed where I ride and haven't fallen off at this place since starting. I'm happy to say they have really decent arenas inside and out with very good surfaces so even if I do fall it won't be a disaster. I also use a back protector for jumping, not that I'm doing that right now!

Why are you never to ride again? There are a number of top event riders that have broken their necks and gone on to win olympic medals! Mary King for instance. Was it a doctor that said it? Personally if I was told that I'd ask for a second opinion. Even if it means no jumping and keeping it calm, lol.

P.

[Ginsing]

Thanks it was some thirty years ago now and since I have had another accident which troubled my knees and hip so now it is just wonderful memories of when I was young and had my own horse. thanks for the thoughts xxgins

[Midori]

I had to give up riding astride some years ago, (pain was causing me to 'grip up' and loosening me in the saddle). I switched to Sidesaddle and the difference was amazing, I could do so much more without the pain, including jumping!

Cheers, Midori

[ladytelita in reply to Midori]

Wow! I've not tried side saddle. I will bear it in mind should it become too much.

P.