Round 2 Week 13 - OUCHIES - Broken thumb

So this is a non MS . Lemtrada update and really just to give you all a bit of a giggle.


I woke up yesterday morning with a sore thumb on my right hand. It was fine when I went to bed so I just thought I'd slept funny on it and went into work as normal.
By lunch time it was the size of a butchers sausage and it had that deep inside pain that I can only describe as feeling like tooth ache or ear ache but in my thumb.
I've broken a few bones before and started to wonder if it might be something more sinister and decided to drop Gareth a text .....

A quick trip to A&E at the Royal Berkshire hospital and an X-Ray later and I'm now sporting a black thumb splint type affair to protect the damaged digit as apparently I've chipped off a piece of bone from my knuckle - in my sleep it would appear. They've also mentioned that I have 'degenerative bone disease' in the offending thumb - arthritis

 - now before everyone gets all excited and thinks this could be anything to do with my MS or Lemtrada I should point out that both my Mum and Grandmother had the hereditary form of arthritis so it has always been on the schedule for somewhere along the line.

So I did what any loving wife would do in these circumstances - I screen shot the text message and posted it to Facebook whilst tagging my husband to name and shame Gareth in his 'Text Confession' to give everyone a giggle and mentioned his aim must have been 'a bit off' since he only managed to chip the bone not squish it completely LOL


I suspect I've dropped a LOT of Wife Points in the last 18 hours


Pass the ibuprofen please.

Round 2 - Week 13 Summer Party, Traditional Pizza and a call to the police

Well here we are again week 13
This time last year it all went quite manic with the house sale and purchase finally being set in stone for the end of the month, we were franticly packing and cleaning and the guys at the tip (dump) knew me by name.
This year is significantly less manic. Saturday's party was a fine event with lots of fun. We've made new friends and apparently are now attending a Halloween Party in Amsterdam at the end of October. Schipol airport whilst technically in Holland when you are captive there for a few hours in my opinion does not count as having 'been' to a country so if it all comes off I can put another pin in the map for somewhere I've visited.
Gareth and I visited a wonderful Herb garden centre yesterday and purchased some lovely things including some Catnip and Catmint. We got home and put these out on the patio for our cat's and if I'm brutally honest I think BamBam cat might have been 'stoned off his ass' ever since. He literally stuck his head in it, rolled in it and ate some leaves and then spent a long time just rolling on the floor, followed by the raging munchies (he's got some Bengal in him - he's quite vocally demanding - actually his nickname is 'Whinge-Bag') 
Just the work week to get through and then we are off 'Oop Norf' for the weekend to visit Gareth's family for the weekend. It's his mum and dad's 40th Wedding anniversary so hopefully Gareth will get his thinking head on for an appropriate wedding anniversary gift for them - 40 years is the Ruby Wedding anniversary - I'm not entirely sure what would work for his Dad in relation to 'Ruby' though - a nice pair of earrings are simply not his style LOL.
In other news I was interested to read that apparently the NHS are now planning to trial the 'Medipen' which is an inhaler (think eCig type device) which delivers only the CBD oil extracted from the cannabis plant (not the THC stuff which gets you stoned) from the reviews I've read it seems to be a real help with MS symptoms like pain and spasms.
News Article : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/medipen-the-nhs-are-testing-a-cannabis-product-vaporiser-for-the-first-time-a7191511.html
Supplier Website :https://medipen.co/
I'm wondering if it could also help with the random neuropathic stuff like the constant 'buzzing' which goes through my left hand. My neurologist thinks it's from a prolapsed disc in my neck (and it doesn't hurt). My left hand feels like I'm holding a phone which is constantly vibrating and it over-rides my ability to feel other sensations. I've sent them a message asking if the CBD bit will help for this - perhaps they will send me a sample to try so I can confirm if it works in that way???? (well I can live in hope can't I)
The heat over the weekend has been insane here in the UK, I actually had to retreat inside on Saturday afternoon at the party as the world went quite grey and started to tip sideways. Something cool to drink, some time in the shade and a quick trip home with the AirCon set on 'arctic blast' to feed the pups and empty them put everything right again - plus by the time I got back the sun was setting the garden was in the shade and it had dropped about 10 degrees.
Back now in the nice comfy air-conditioned offices at work and life is good now if those nice people at the Euro-Millions would just get with the plan draw my numbers (all of them) and transfer me a few million ..........


I can dream can't I, stay well peeps xxx

Week 12 post Round 2 -A thoroughly British Celebration

Week 12 already and I’m feeling great, if a little tired after the weekend’s exertions. Battle Proms as always was just EPIC, we went with great friends, the weather as fantastic (from what I could see from under the shade of the gazebo – gingers and sunshine are not a great combination never mind the MS – LOL). Baby Jasper was an absolute dream at 3 months old - even the people around us with gazebo’s were raving about how beautifully behaved he was.

I was standing in the queue for coffee when the Battle Symphony happened (this is 3 years in a row my timing has been incredibly rubbish) I got to hear but not see the cannons being fired, but the fireworks were spectacular. It’s quite telling that the queues for coffee were huge but there were no queues at the bar really – middle class celebrations of ‘Britishness’ by the ‘Waitrose’ set ….. all terribly sober, well behaved and forming orderly queues.

Back to work today for a rest, a lot of sitting down and just exercising the brain. I’m pretty tired, there was a lot of walking up and down hills at Battle Proms, so as usual I’m having a little sensory disruption and balance problems, but over the next 48 hours that will settle down and sort itself out assuming I actually follow up on my plans for early nights (I’m still quite rubbish at that)

Wednesday evening we are doing some baby photographic work which I suspect will involve a lot of me talking to Mummy while Gareth works hard (well that’s my plan). The weekend will be fun and games with friends at a summer get together which I suspect is going to be another late one – on a bright note I will be designated driver for the evening so at least I know there won’t be a hangover Sunday morning even if I’m tired.

I’m starting to get into holiday preparation now, a few more things to arranged, Dog care, hire car and parking / overnight stay at Gatwick (our flight takes off at 06:10am and I really don’t fancy a 02:00 start that morning to drive to Gatwick - we just stayed up and didn’t go to bed last time and it was exhausting). I’ve even invested in some more ‘summery’ tops to wear (not that my skin will see much sun). I might even see if one of my colleagues has the time to give me an early crash course in Portuguese (it’s one of my objectives this year at work but not planned until later in the year)

Round 2 Week 11 - Sunshine, Wedding, Holiday booking and Love

I did mention that August is pretty frantic didn't I? I know I thought about it but blonde brain doesn't 'actually' remember doing it.


I'm feeling very 'loved up' this week, it has been one big week of romance, and celebrations of love.


The week has been like a headlong sprint from one end to the other.


We had another amazing meal at L'Ortolan on Thursday (and as usual the bill was a bit 'ouchie' but hey it was our wedding anniversary dinner so it's allowed. We did wedding anniversary gifts at midnight on the 30th (so very late Friday night really), the main present to ourselves of 'wood' was an awesome wine rack carved from a single piece of tree with bottle shaped swirls on either side. It was just as well we sat down and had a pre-emptive chat about gifts this year as it turned out we were both planning on buying exactly the same thing for each other which would have been both amusing and rather silly at the same time.


The trip up to Knowle on Saturday morning went off without a hitch, we arrived in time to visit with a couple of friends who were not invited to the wedding before quickly checking into the hotel at 2pm and then showering, hair washing, getting dressed and made up then walking up to the church to arrive at 14:40pm.


The wedding was lovely, both the bride and the groom looked amazing, everything went perfectly and the reception was in a massive Tepee at a farm in the countryside. Awesome food, a fantastic band and perfect for the happy couple. We got to catch up with my Sister-In-Law and old friends (another one of whom has now declared we are 'brother and sister' in spirit - that brings my 'honorary' brother count to 7 - and I love the lot of them)


Fortunately I had my 'sensible' head on throughout the Wedding Day, I decided after the meal, the wine and champagne that I needed to be a good girl. I switched to Vodka and Diet Coke which made it really easy to hide that only 1 in 3 of my drinks actually had any Vodka in it at all. We made it home for lunchtime on Sunday to relieve my friend who had moved in overnight to look after the dogs and to chill for the rest of the day.


Today I'm back in work for a rest, it's a bit like the Marie Celeste here this week, so many people on holiday that most of the desks are empty. It gives me time to catch up on some admin though without back to back meetings all day.


My last Gas Chamber was 3 weeks ago on the 16th of July so I've now gone more than 3 weeks without super oxygenating my red blood cells. My head doesn't 'feel soupy' but then it's only afterwards that I realise if I was. I'm booked for tomorrow morning so I guess I'll know then if I've left it too long. I have been super tired the last couple of days but then I've also been extra busy - so swings and roundabouts I guess.


I booked our holiday last Friday, 2 weeks in Portugal from September 24th onwards. Our last 'proper' 2 week holiday was our honeymoon in 2011 so it's well and truly overdue. We have the same house we booked last May for the first week in the village of Algoz, then another house near the beach in Guia for the second week.  (Any Portugese readers out there in the area, please get in touch happy to meet up for coffee)


I am determined this year that I WILL do the horse riding in the surf at sunset (I'll be taking my riding hat with me in my suitcase). It's one of the things on my 'bucket list' and this year I don't have to worry about cannula's and the like immediately afterwards. It's been a LONG time since I was on horseback though so I'm hoping they have a gentle old soul who's a bit slow and lazy for me to ride.


It's Battle Prom's time of year again this weekend. 'The Usual Suspects' will be gathered for a day of flag waving, patriotic 'British-ness' and we have a couple of my other friends joining us this year too.


Sunday once again will be all about 'recovery' as BP means a lot of walking, carrying Gazebo's and camping chairs, setting up, breaking down, picnic part-deux in the car park while we wait to get away in the dark.


MS wise everything remains as awesome as ever, no setbacks to report or further improvements post round 2. It's all just nice and simple and MS free, and long may that continue.


As always :
Year 1 in the easy to read book version is on Amazon for £1.99 with all proceeds donated directly to the marvellous people at SHIFTMS
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GE1V00M
(please leave a kind feedback xxx)