Just under a year!

My last post was just under a year ago. Sorry but I have obviously been neglecting this blog. I will try to do better in the future!

Quite a bit has happened since my last post but the main thing is that I have started on biologic infusions and they have been a complete life changer to the extent that, at times, I barely know that I have RA at all.

The first time was in March. I went to the rheumatoid clinic at eight thirty in the morning and was there until around three. During this time I had a couple of drips before the main one which was a dose of rituximab which apparently attacks the B cells which cause inflammation. The first two infusions were of antihistamine followed by, I think, a flush of some sorts. This was followed up a couple of weeks later by a second rituximab infusion and was a wee bit shorter.

For the first few weeks there was no real difference but then things started to change. For a start there was a lot less pain in my knees and hands, then the pain more or less went away and that was that for a while, although I did have a few flare ups - but much less serious than before.

The whole process was repeated about six months later which was just as well as the pain was starting to come back. At the moment I am relatively pain free - from the RA at least!

Around six weeks ago I fell backwards down a flight of concrete stairs (possibly because of the alcohol that I had drunk). I definitely knocked myself out and damaged my ribs. I didn't go to casualty because all the advice says that the only thing that they will say is to rest.

Due to the pain I spent a week sleeping on a reclining chair. The pain has mostly subsided now but, at times, I still feel it. My new year's resolution is to stay clear of stairs when I am drinking!

As far as the rest of my life goes things are pretty good with lots of music festivals and gigs - too many to mention but the highlight was probably the Adriatic Cruise on a clipper ship with Fairport Convention and Richard Thompson.

May the 24th found myself, my two sons and brother-in-law, along with around 20,000 Dons fans at Hampden Park for the Scottish Cup Final v Celtic. We, and the majority of Aberdeen fans, were pretty sure that we had no chance and hoped that we would be able to keep the score down to a respectful level. But after 120 minutes of football and penalties we emerged victorious. This was the absolute high spot of the year.

To finish - whatever you think of the NHS, and I admit that there are flaws, nobody goes bankrupt in the UK due to medical bills. We need to fight to keep it out of the hands of those who wish us to move to an insurance based system.   

Please share this far and wide and I promise to update this more regularly in the future.

Best wishes for 2026. Take care of yourselves.

Rob