It is that time of the year when we reflect on the year that was. I hope that you had a brilliant 2013 ... I know I did!
After four years battling ill health, I finally got control over things in 2013. The year started on a high with me feeling well enough to sell my Electric Wheelchair and begin driving again. Off the high doses of pain killers I was thrilled to once again be able to participate in the world. My GP has been wonderful, and we worked together to find the right dose of medication to control the Fibromyalgia that developed after failed hip surgery, and a diagnosis of aggressive Psoriatic Arthritis. At it's worst I was unable to function at all, and can now admit that I became quite suicidal. What a difference a good specialist and a patient GP make. A switch in specialist at the end of 2012 and a barrage of tests helped the doctors know what to do with me.
It wasn't all good, as the Fibromyalgia medication now meant that I piled on weight! So now the poor joints that were so inflamed with arthritis now has a heavy load to bear ... literally! So in April I signed on at Weight Watchers at my local Myer, and so began the "big push". My Weight Watchers Coach has been brilliant, encouraging me even when my loss was very small. As the weight slowly came off I did a bit more walking, and then a bit more. By October I had lost 10% of my body weight, and felt well enough to sign up for swimming lessons.
Swimming lessons can certainly add humour (or was that horror?), especially since the only other "learners" at the pool were toddlers!
I increased my walking bit by bit, and in the last few weeks I have been able to manage 2.5km - still with my walking stick and still in lots of pain, but I did it!
In 2014 my goal is to get down to my ideal weight, continue with swimming, and be fit enough to walk on the Great Wall of China!
If you are battling with health issues, take heart, sometimes it really does get better!
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