Belle, I just want to send you a giant hug... I know all too well what it's like.

For me, it's severe rheumatoid arthritis. But a form that isn't destroying my joints, which I guess is a small blessing. I remember how hard it was when Sam was young - I remember leaning over him and wrapping my arms around him to pick him up, because I couldn't trust my hands to hold him. Even now at 2 we have rough days. He doesn't quite get that mummy can't do a lot of stuff that daddy does. But we manage.

I haven't done the whole pain specialist thing, we're still pursuing an arthritis treatment to manage things and hoping that it will give me relief, but I have been told of a very good one in Sydney - not that it helps you much! But I used to live in Newcastle, and I can't imagine that there is only one pain specialist there. Could still be a drive, but it's not as far as Sydney!

BW