Incredible - 2 1/2 Hours Snowboarding!

[ShellyWelly]

• Last week I went to the gym 5 times

• I snowboarded for 2 1/2 hours on Saturday

• On Sunday I walked for 1 1/2 hours

The last few days have been weird. Amazing, but weird. I'm not pain free, but i'm as close as i've ever been in the last 8 months. My stiffness and aching is worse than ever, and i'm struggling to turn over in bed, to get out of bed, to sit down, stand up, get dressed and so on, BUT I haven't had a pain flare now for 6 days. My pain has been constantly low.

I never, ever thought i'd manage even an hour on the slope on Saturday. I took 3 Tramadol and 2 Ibuprofen before I went on (naughty I know). I wore my wrist supports and dressed more warmly than usual. I spend 20 minutes doing Yoga to warm my body up before hand.

The adrenaline kicked in and whilst bending to take off and put on my snowboard hurt every time, I still did it. I spent 2 1/2 hours snowboarding! I won't lie. My ankle joints were screaming at me (and still are) and my fingers were stiff and aching, but I gritted my teeth and did it, the adrenaline and my love for the sport carried me and I had an amazing time.

The next day, not a single muscle ache. All the swimming is obviously having an effect on my overall muscle tone and fitness, just my joints.

Yesterday I honestly felt 85% like my normal self.

Palindromic Rheumatism is reported to come and go, and reading back over my pain diary, I can see that I tend to be in high amounts of pain for around 3 weeks, followed by a few days when the pain drops off a little. I've never had so many days in a row without a flair though.

I'm delighted (maybe i'm one of those people who finds PR just magically disappears one day?) but scared (this happens every few weeks and each time I convince myself i'm better and life can go back to normal, then BOOM it hits again).

I'm trying not to overthink it though, for now I am SO very grateful for this reprieve, and long may it last!!!

Fingers crossed for a good week for me, and for all of you lovely people xxx

[Hidden]

Just great! What to say .....? It's just great. Full of admiration that you got out there and did what you love doing.

[ShellyWelly in reply to Hidden]

I feel very lucky postle2 to have managed to arrange to do something and have a good spell (finally) coincide with it! It's certainly lifted my spirits! x

[allanah]

So so delighted for you, is this the girl we know a few weeks ago, wow!! It looks great fun and I'm so glad you were brave enough to try it. Well done you, what an inspiration xxx

[ShellyWelly in reply to allanah]

lol allanah I sound like a totally different person don't I? I did push myself, probably a little too hard, but i've always been a bit of a thrill seeker, so it was great to get back out there and at least I know that on a good day, I am capable of doing some of the things I love!! xx

[Hidden]

Great news re your thrill seeking with snow! Palindrome means something that mirrors itself so it flares up and then reverts back to where it came from - do you think that phone call from the rheumy has really helped? It would definitely have helped me - feeling that people were taking things seriously and investigating thoroughly. X

[ShellyWelly in reply to Hidden]

Twitchy, I really do think that helped massively you know.

I know that how we feel mentally has a big impact on our physical selves, but I really think hearing from him did me more good than I consciously realised.

Even after my scan last week which didn't show any significant inflammation, I bounced back very quickly. Within 24 hours I was feeling positive and in full fighting spirit again.

I think a combination of having you all here for support and hearing from my Rheumy, really has made a massive difference.

xxx

[nomoreheels]

Well done you....rub some of your energy onto us if you would please!!!!

[ShellyWelly in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you nomoreheels

I read somewhere recently to grab the good days with both hands and fit as much of your living into them as possible, so I think that has really struck a chord with me and given that my symptoms fit PR, I am massively lucky to get a few days respite every so often.

Sending everyone lots of happy positive vibes xx

[hatshepsut]

So pleased for you! Sounds as if you had a great time!

So perhaps you will be able to look forward with more confidence now, and see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. I do hope so.

Keep positive! M x

[ShellyWelly in reply to hatshepsut]

Thank you. I'm hoping that once medicated I can have more days like this for sure hatsheput - it's really helped lift my spirits for certain and made me even more determined to push for a swift resolution so I can enjoy the mountains in March 2015! x

[Hidden]

That's fantastic ShellyWelly! So pleased for you.

Beverley (NRAS Helpline)