What a way to go..

Now I don't want to worry you but I very nearly drowned this afternoon.

It was my weekly visit to the hydro pool at the hospital and I was really looking forward to it, after spending the last couple of days limping around like Captain Cook. I got in, the water is always "hot" just like a bath and you instantly feel better.The old Physio got me limbs working and I had various gentle exercises to do. I had been in the water for my allotted time - about 25 minutes, when she gave me a long tube of polystyrene to "sit" on. It was like a bendy pipe which when you sat astride it helped to keep you afloat. So there I was paddling one way across the pool and then cycling back the other way. Not with a real bike you understand, but an imaginary one. "Keep your back straight misses".

Must have forgotten myself and whoops I capsized upside down and flapped about in a panic. Not thinking I struck out with my arms, (as you do when you go to drown) and bang went the old Rotator Cuff - again. Ping.... so much for gentle exercise! Poor physio was beside herself that she had let me get into such a state. I felt such a plonker, and all in all, I had prompty undone everything I had been doing for the last couple of weeks!!!

Still never mind, I lived to tell the tale!

Sling anyone??

Take care

Julie xxx

[LavendarLady]

Ooh Julie, I cringed when I read the old rotator cuff had gone again. Poor you. You really should take more water with it (or perhaps you did!). Back to the exercises to get it back into shape once more.

This physio and hydro pool sounds really dangerous!

Love LavendarLady x

[Hidden in reply to LavendarLady]

Hmm yes - it wasn't dangerous until I got there!

What was the outcome of the investigations on your shoulder?

Julie xx

[LavendarLady in reply to Hidden]

Hi Julie, saw RA consultant last Friday and he is suggesting I see a physio. Apparently any operation is pretty horrendous and not recommended. So waiting to hear from GP. I would imagine he only wrote the letter today. Seeing surgery on Friday for blood tests and Vit B12 injection so may hear something by then. LavendarLady x

[Hidden]

Oh dear Julie, the sound of that warm water was great.....before your

mishap

You know the drill now - rest, painkillers & cold packs - hopefully that will soon have you on the mend,

Cece x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes it was nice until I buggered it up! I have ice packed it and to be honest is not as bad as thought it was going to be. Thank goodness!

Julie xx

[Tiasteph]

OMG Julie!

You were on a noodle, I use one whenever I go swimming (not often, need to go more!) They are good but take a bit of getting used to.

Why is it whenever a joint is bad its always the one to get knocked, pulled or agitated!?!

Hope it's not too bad Trying to help yourself, I dunno.

xxx

[Hidden in reply to Tiasteph]

No Steph I am a noodle, noddle! I know I am a danger to myself!

Julie xx

[Babs321]

Julie you had me smiling until the bit where you hurt yourself. Hope it's ok now. I'm thinking of starting swimming again but think I'll have swimming lessons first. I can swim but like a lot of people I never learnt properly. Don't think your brothers throwing you in and saying swim, counts as a lesson My son's physio has told me if you don't swim right ie head under water body straight it can do more arm than good. What does your physio say. Babs xx

[Hidden in reply to Babs321]

I didn't know i had hurt it until I went to get out. I would definitely recommend swimming lessons. I was in the pool last week with a lady who had only just learnt and she says they are so good at teaching us mature people, very patient. Give it a go.

Funny I only just hear this in the last couple of weeks, someone else was saying (I was eavesdropping) that they had been told to start swimming head down, because is strains the back?? I must ask the physios.

Julie xx

[Babs321 in reply to Hidden]

I'm going to go once my son is back at school, my life gets put on hold during school hols. I think the physios are right I don't go swimming very often these days but do end up with a sore neck, think that's from holding my head up during breast stroke. I eavesdrop too, glad I'm not the only nosey one

[cathie]

Oh dear Julie, I hope it won't put you off hydrotherapy because it's so lovely when you don't get attacked by noodles. I went for swimming lessons recently and they patiently taught me the right way to right myself when I started to sink.

[Hidden in reply to cathie]

Hi Cathie - yes the hydro is brilliant, I can only have 6 sessions, which is a bit of a whatsit. I think I need a couple lessons in "righting" myself

Julie x

[sylvi]

oh julie, what are you like. It is so easy to do though isn't. We have ra and everything else falls apart.

I hope that you soon feel on the mend again, as you say you have lived totell the tale.

Take care sylvia.xx

[Hidden]

Hi Sylvi. Yes it could only happen to me. I do feel a lot better this morning, but I lay on my arm in the night and it woke me up giving me some gip! So I did some puffing and panting, and rubbed on the old Biofreeze (I can highly recommend it) all over the joint and took a couple of co-dydramol and slept like a

log the rest of the time - only just woke up at 9!

Julie xx

[Hidden]

how about a rubber ring and arm bands in case of further mishap!!xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

might help! x

[larsonsmum]

Hydrotherapy was recommended to me by physio, but classed take a break over summer, so haven't been along yet. I was assured it was shallow water...as I can't swim!!

[Hidden in reply to larsonsmum]

In our pool the water comes just over the shoulders in the deep end (I am 5ft.3"), but I still went under because I was all tangled up in this here noodle thingy!

[larsonsmum in reply to Hidden]

Same height as you, but I think the hospital pool I'd be going to is all shallow!!!

[Hidden]

I paid for two private one to one sessions whilst more poorly and waiting for nhs space.. you get six sessions nhs for free(six or seven of you with one person assisting im 5'1" the pool is about 4' feet or so.

You can drown in a little as 1 FOOT of water (face first )if you cant swim!

I have now paid nhs not private! for a further six sessions.. for £25.oo total . all sessions half an hour.. two ladies in my group have RA very nice ladies.. v positive.. there on the top drug for cost I jest.. hydroxychloroquine.. they say they are having no problems with side effects..

yes its the cheap stuff all round, xx

[Hidden]

Now Julie.. I think there is something rather wrong with me because I have this most unfortunate reaction of laughing at peoples mishaps... You know the old laurel and hardy style slap stick thing. I have the most dreadful habit of laughing at the wrong times and if i had been at the Pool I am sure I would have laughed. Plus the way you tell it is always so funny. I am sure it wasnt at the time though.

Hope there is no lasting damage and you is all better now!?

fiona x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Sparkie - yes I am fine. I am a laugh a minute me!!! I know what you mean, we all laugh at others misfortunes, as it happens I didn't do much damage my shoulder is fine :-). Laughter is the best medicine!

Thanks

Julie xx