2025 had started off very well. My muscle weakness from my myositis was well controlled on Myfortic and IVIGs. I was now on a strong anti-fungal to treat Invasive Aspergillosis, as well as Bactrim to treat a possible coexistent Nocardia infection in my lung.
The young woman who sat down next to me chatted away cheerfully with her nurses. The majority of people around me were usually being treated for various cancers and tended to be quiet and subdued.
My rheumatologist looked at me with a glazed expression, obviously puzzled by my ongoing episodes of my hip joints refusing to move against gravity. My fluctuating weakness pre-immunoglobulins made little sense to him.
It ended in the same way it had started. Eighteen months before I had randomly bumped into my rheumatologist at my doctor’s surgery.
I was anticipating my upcoming rheumatologist appointment with a mix of fear and trepidation. My General Practitioner and I had made the decision to increase my immunosuppressant dose due to a relapse of my myositis.
The Intensive Care Specialist looked at me and then glanced back at the monitor above my head. My blood pressure had been slowly creeping ever higher. Quickly weighing up the possible causes and their treatment options he asked if I was in pain.
Beauty for Ashes 