Mental Redhead
@mental-redhead.bsky.social
| Physically and mentally broken 🤕 🧠 | Bipolar, cPTSD, Psoriatic Arthritis, hEDS | Possibly Autistic | Ginger and proud 🧑🦰 | She / Her ♀️| Volunteer | Northerner in the South 🇬🇧 |
Radio silence has been caused by GP listening to my call for pain meds & doubling my dose of gabapentin, adding tramadol 4 times a day and nefopam 3 times a day. I have been a zombie. Weaning myself down to a more manageable level of tramadol (to PRN level) so I can function more effectively.
November 8, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Radio silence has been caused by GP listening to my call for pain meds & doubling my dose of gabapentin, adding tramadol 4 times a day and nefopam 3 times a day. I have been a zombie. Weaning myself down to a more manageable level of tramadol (to PRN level) so I can function more effectively.
In a somewhat ironic twist of fate I've had to change my in person GP appointment to discuss more effective pain relief to a phone call as I'm in so much pain I can't walk to the surgery. Let's see what he fobs me off with this time.
October 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
In a somewhat ironic twist of fate I've had to change my in person GP appointment to discuss more effective pain relief to a phone call as I'm in so much pain I can't walk to the surgery. Let's see what he fobs me off with this time.
Got back home last night. Had an amazingly friendly & funny conductor on the train back from Gatwick who made everyone laugh. Got to unpack & do my washing. Just had a shop delivered so at least I have food now. It's grey & overcast. Definitely missing the sun & the warmth, it did my joints good.
October 18, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Got back home last night. Had an amazingly friendly & funny conductor on the train back from Gatwick who made everyone laugh. Got to unpack & do my washing. Just had a shop delivered so at least I have food now. It's grey & overcast. Definitely missing the sun & the warmth, it did my joints good.
Made it to Madrid. Gatwick was really busy & anxiety provoking but I was very glad to have booked special assistance. Have a picture of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree which is the symbol of Madrid. It's warm & sunny which is lovely. Doing culture, shopping & people watching in cafés.
October 15, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Made it to Madrid. Gatwick was really busy & anxiety provoking but I was very glad to have booked special assistance. Have a picture of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree which is the symbol of Madrid. It's warm & sunny which is lovely. Doing culture, shopping & people watching in cafés.
Sorry for radio silence but I've been adjusting to no out of hours support & have been at my dad's for a week (in which he called me a "nasty piece of work" frequently). Anyway I'm quite excited bc I'm off to Madrid on Monday which is a trip I thought I'd have to cancel when I was in hospital.
October 11, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Sorry for radio silence but I've been adjusting to no out of hours support & have been at my dad's for a week (in which he called me a "nasty piece of work" frequently). Anyway I'm quite excited bc I'm off to Madrid on Monday which is a trip I thought I'd have to cancel when I was in hospital.
Adult social care have made the decision to remove the enhanced support they've been providing. This means no more phone calls, no access to an out of hours helpline and I'm back to administering my own meds (this bit I'm fine with) and they made this decision on a Friday morning. Great planning.
October 3, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Adult social care have made the decision to remove the enhanced support they've been providing. This means no more phone calls, no access to an out of hours helpline and I'm back to administering my own meds (this bit I'm fine with) and they made this decision on a Friday morning. Great planning.
My key worker and I have a meeting at 10am with adult social care about the enhanced support they've been providing and to review it. I knew this was coming, they said they'd review it after a month post discharge but now that date has arrived. Also my laptop has stopped working which is great as /1
September 30, 2025 at 8:22 AM
My key worker and I have a meeting at 10am with adult social care about the enhanced support they've been providing and to review it. I knew this was coming, they said they'd review it after a month post discharge but now that date has arrived. Also my laptop has stopped working which is great as /1
My car passed its MOT but the service cost me £500 that I had to put on my credit card which isn't ideal. The good news is that I survived 2 nights at my dad's which was awkward given I hadn't seen him since March and I'm not ashamed to say I was glad to get home.
September 25, 2025 at 7:35 AM
My car passed its MOT but the service cost me £500 that I had to put on my credit card which isn't ideal. The good news is that I survived 2 nights at my dad's which was awkward given I hadn't seen him since March and I'm not ashamed to say I was glad to get home.
Just dropped my car off for it's MOT & service. Turns out my service plan has expired so that's a lot of money I can barely afford (thank goodness for credit cards). I seriously hope they don't find anything wrong with it. I don't think they will but there's always that fear & anxiety.
September 23, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Just dropped my car off for it's MOT & service. Turns out my service plan has expired so that's a lot of money I can barely afford (thank goodness for credit cards). I seriously hope they don't find anything wrong with it. I don't think they will but there's always that fear & anxiety.
Finally got back to sleep at 5am. Then was woken up for my meds at 8am. Just getting a bit of a nap to be woken up by a phone call from my dad who was very grumpy & put me in a bad mood. Now I'm in a crap mood, tired & unable to nap as I'm wide awake with zero energy to do anything constructive.
September 20, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Finally got back to sleep at 5am. Then was woken up for my meds at 8am. Just getting a bit of a nap to be woken up by a phone call from my dad who was very grumpy & put me in a bad mood. Now I'm in a crap mood, tired & unable to nap as I'm wide awake with zero energy to do anything constructive.
Urgh why is 1am in the morning *the* worst time to wake up? Thanks to my housemate for coming back in, slamming his door & then thumping on the wall between his room and mine. Now nearly 2am & no sign of sleep. Still at least I have nothing on tmrw so I can chill, if my brain allows it.
September 20, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Urgh why is 1am in the morning *the* worst time to wake up? Thanks to my housemate for coming back in, slamming his door & then thumping on the wall between his room and mine. Now nearly 2am & no sign of sleep. Still at least I have nothing on tmrw so I can chill, if my brain allows it.
Hair cut in about 90 minutes (I'm having some highlights too as a treat for having such a bad year) and although I'm really looking forward to having decent hair again my anxiety has gone into overdrive at having to leave the house. It's so bad I've even thought about cancelling. Anxiety sucks.
September 19, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Hair cut in about 90 minutes (I'm having some highlights too as a treat for having such a bad year) and although I'm really looking forward to having decent hair again my anxiety has gone into overdrive at having to leave the house. It's so bad I've even thought about cancelling. Anxiety sucks.
Rheumatology went well yesterday. Biologics nurse accepted that my current biologics aren't working for me so need a change but apparently that can only be decided by the medics so I hope they agree with her. Also being referred to podiatry for the arthritis in my foot so hopefully that'll help.
September 18, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Rheumatology went well yesterday. Biologics nurse accepted that my current biologics aren't working for me so need a change but apparently that can only be decided by the medics so I hope they agree with her. Also being referred to podiatry for the arthritis in my foot so hopefully that'll help.
Got a phone call from the hospital. They have a cancellation to see rheumatology today at 4pm (my appt wasn't until Nov). I have accepted but now realise that means getting dressed, brushing my teeth & dry shampooing the hell out of my hair (no spoons for washing). It's hard being chronically ill.
September 17, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Got a phone call from the hospital. They have a cancellation to see rheumatology today at 4pm (my appt wasn't until Nov). I have accepted but now realise that means getting dressed, brushing my teeth & dry shampooing the hell out of my hair (no spoons for washing). It's hard being chronically ill.
I'm going up to my dad's on Monday. It's an enforced visit as my car needs servicing & I have a service agreement with the manufacturer & the nearest dealership is in the next town to my dad's. I haven't seen him since March as he never came to visit me in hospital so we'll see how it goes.
September 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I'm going up to my dad's on Monday. It's an enforced visit as my car needs servicing & I have a service agreement with the manufacturer & the nearest dealership is in the next town to my dad's. I haven't seen him since March as he never came to visit me in hospital so we'll see how it goes.
So the costochrodritis pain is easing slightly to be added to with a migraine. I wish my body would just give me a little bit of a break at times (well most of the time).
September 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
So the costochrodritis pain is easing slightly to be added to with a migraine. I wish my body would just give me a little bit of a break at times (well most of the time).
Why is it when you're physically incapable of doing anything due to pain you're restless as hell & get bored really easily but when you're physically well & have things to do you really can't be bothered? Conundrum of the day.
September 9, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Why is it when you're physically incapable of doing anything due to pain you're restless as hell & get bored really easily but when you're physically well & have things to do you really can't be bothered? Conundrum of the day.
Well that wasn't me just leaping out of my skin and almost throwing my phone across the room cos I forgot about the test alarm at 3pm 🙄
September 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Well that wasn't me just leaping out of my skin and almost throwing my phone across the room cos I forgot about the test alarm at 3pm 🙄
Spent most of yesterday in A&E with horrendous chest pains. After lots & lots of thorough testing it was deemed it's costochrodritis (sp?) which is inflammation of the sternum & ribs attached to it. Psoriatic arthritis, the gift that just keeps on giving. Having to accept I'm in massive flare rn.
September 6, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Spent most of yesterday in A&E with horrendous chest pains. After lots & lots of thorough testing it was deemed it's costochrodritis (sp?) which is inflammation of the sternum & ribs attached to it. Psoriatic arthritis, the gift that just keeps on giving. Having to accept I'm in massive flare rn.
Feeling sorry for myself today. My neck & shoulder have flared meaning I can't turn my head or raise my right arm. Looks like a day in PJ's given I can't get dressed. #ArthritisLife #PsoriaticArthritis #ChronicIllness
September 3, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Feeling sorry for myself today. My neck & shoulder have flared meaning I can't turn my head or raise my right arm. Looks like a day in PJ's given I can't get dressed. #ArthritisLife #PsoriaticArthritis #ChronicIllness
Really struggling to get up & go this morning. Much caffeine needed.
September 1, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Really struggling to get up & go this morning. Much caffeine needed.
Someone tell me to cook some of the food I've bought please and not to waste my dwindling funds on a take away.
August 31, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Someone tell me to cook some of the food I've bought please and not to waste my dwindling funds on a take away.
The amount of post / letters to get through when you've been away from home for 4 months is almost unmanageable. Lots of junk to go in the recycling bin but I have to be vigilant not to bin anything important. It's tiring.
August 31, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The amount of post / letters to get through when you've been away from home for 4 months is almost unmanageable. Lots of junk to go in the recycling bin but I have to be vigilant not to bin anything important. It's tiring.
Meds delivery woman turned up at 7.45am and it is safe to say I was not awake or in any way semi conscious. So that was a good awakening. Time for coffee and a chilled out day. I'm fully unpacked & my room looks a lot better thanks to my key worker although it's still a work in progress.
August 31, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Meds delivery woman turned up at 7.45am and it is safe to say I was not awake or in any way semi conscious. So that was a good awakening. Time for coffee and a chilled out day. I'm fully unpacked & my room looks a lot better thanks to my key worker although it's still a work in progress.
It was really nice to shave my legs just now without someone supervising me #SimpleThingsInLife
August 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
It was really nice to shave my legs just now without someone supervising me #SimpleThingsInLife