I don’t post much but thought I would give a brief resume of the past few months - really to assure you if any of you ever feel at the end of your tether.
Diagnosed in March this year, i found it hard to take in, as I’ve never been an ill person. However, Methotrexate and hydroxychloriquine soon brought the RA under good control. Alongside this I had a kidney cyst ( simple benign cyst picked up in a lumbar MRI scan in 2013) scanned as a routine follow-up. Result? Low grade renal cancer rather than the simple cyst that gave no symptoms. I spoke to no-one for 3 weeks while I worked it out in my head. I continued working up until last Friday and on Monday I had a partial nephrectomy, here in Kirkcaldy. I’ve never experienced so much pain in my life but I’m through it, and can now resume my life. My surgeon (note the proprietorial wording!) was young and quite frankly amazing and his attitude towards the whole thing has been positive all the way. Fortunately the tumour was contained so no further treatment envisaged.
I’m going home tonight if the drain can come out today, 3 days ahead of schedule. All I need now is to resume the Methotrexate, as my joints are now beginning to inflame a bit - I only had to miss one injection.
Writing this, and re-reading it, it sounds a bit blasé, which, I assure you is merely the way our body deals with trauma. Blase I was not in July - I was sure I was going to die. Never having had an anaesthetic before, it was terrifying to think I might not wake up. The pre-op assessment made sure all was well, so if anything like this happens to any of you, don’t worry. My fears in July seem ridiculous now - but they were very real.
All best for now
Surgery and RA
Ankle Fusion Surgery, Aftermath
Bunion surgery
Recent interaction with my awful surgery
Surgery and biologics 
Thank you for your post. It is always super to read such posts.
I wish you well for the future. Take care. ☺