Cordy update... | Arthritis Information

Hello to everyone...

I have only been back a week and a bit. We moved house and my internet got stuffed up big time by not one but 3 telephone companies.

I was offline nearly 6 weeks, and as anyone here knows me well could tell you, as a geek girl...that's like having both my arms chopped off. My whole life is done on the internet so it was sooooooooooooo frustrating.

I haven't posted an update because I have just not had the energy too yet. Moving and RA not go together and I have flared badly but not as badly as I could, thanks to some good people supporting me - Neve was a big help, my partner Ken who did montrous amounts of moving things over several weeks. Neve's Grandma, my ex-mother in law, has been endlessly supportive and Neve spent time with her so I could rest. And a dear friend, who suffers with fibro herself...so she KNOWS how nasty an auto immune disease can be. Leanne packed us up virtually and is still continuing to help me to set up. The four of them made the move manageable somewhat and it would have been awful without them.

For 3 years Neve and I lived in a small 2 bedroom flat not even up to basic standards because it was all I could afford being on a limited income because the severity of my RA, working is just not an option.

My Dad had the fortune to win a beautiful, fully furnished prize home that was being raffled off for charity. Dad is 84 and rattles around in a 2 bed apartment so he bought Neve and I a house in the same area we lived already. It's just beautiful and I may post some photos down the track.

So that was why we moved. I own it outright and I keep pinching myself as it's still surreal but is beginning to feel like home. And it has relieved my mind that Neve will be financially...as this house is her future.

No more inspections by landlords, worries about rent and bad plumbing.

For months it's been stressful with all this stuff going on - buying and selling and organising but we moved in the second week of December and lovely for Neve to have her first Christmas here.

That's a small 'sound byte' of my life in the past 6 months. Neve is good. Ken and I have now been going out for 8 months and he is so perceptive to my RA needs. He was put RA friendly taps in the new house, put a whole amazing shower set up for me. After being alone for 3 years, quite happily, it's been strange but wonderful to have someone in my life who supports me and  tries to make things easier for me whenever he can.

I have walked this RA journey for so long alone so it's been a very weird thing to have to learn communicate with someone about my experience with this darling disease in an ongoing way.

RA wise, I'm garbage - painful, swollen, stuff and exhausted but I have had my first infusion of the new drug they call Actemra here in AU. US and UK may have a different name. My first infusion was a couple of weeks ago and had no apparent side effects but as usual with any anti-rheumatic, it's a waiting game as we wait for the drug to assimilate into our systems. I 've been told a 4 to 5 month response is what is expected with the Actemra. Thank goodness, for new drugs. All I have left was Orencia until this new one was approved and neither my Rheumy or I believe Orencia will be effective for me.

I will copy this post and make a new thread for anyone who would like to read an update.

Hugs to all.  Cordy, so pleased to see an update from you - thought u had vanished off the face of the earth!    And what wonderful news about the move to a new place, that is truly yours and no more rents and battles with rental agents and landlords.