2020. 2020 has been a true rollercoaster of a year. As we begin to approach a new year there is reason for optimism. We may have a vaccine sooner than I thought, a lot of us miss ‘normality’, but, we can’t deny that we enjoyed the birdsong in March. We, as students, HATE online university, …
Author Archives: ruthdale03
Well over a year
It’s been well over a year since I was first diagnosed. This blog feels as if it’s turning a bit doom and gloom, but then again, that’s 2020. Since my last post, about coronavirus and rare diseases, I have learnt a lot. I feared getting Covid and what that would mean for my EoE. This …
Covid-19 and Rare Diseases
It seems almost impossible to go a day or, indeed, an hour without mention of Covid-19. We’ve all had a lot more time to ponder what we consider what we value. I think most of us can unequivocally say that the health and safety of our nearest and dearest is a top priority. The response …
Back to Square 1
As 2019 comes to a close its generally a good time to take stock on what this year has meant. I brought in the New Year, last year, in A&E, choking. Following this, I got my Eosinophilic Esophagitis diagnosis in April. It has been an interesting 8 months since, comprising of… 2 Endoscopies 1 Nasal …
Much to do about nothing
What can you do when you feel there’s nothing you can do? Hope for the best? Wait for something bad to happen? Wait for nothing to happen? The problem with EoE, in my experience, has alway been that it is reactive. By this, I mean that any treatment I’ve received has been in response to …
Fibrosis (and what it actually means)
Fibrosis – Scar tissue which affects how an organ functions. Scary sounding? – maybe so, but let’s take a closer look. For me, I have fibrosis in (at least) the upper portion of my oesophagus. Unfortunately, I don’t yet know the extent of the fibrosis just that it is there. The reason this has happened …
The Tribulations of Misdiagnosis
Often, we put our trust into those we deem to have more knowledge than ourselves; parents, teachers, or doctors. I was 15 when I had s second food bolus lodged in the upper portion of my oesophagus. I spent over 12 hours in A&E unable to eat, drink or swallow my saliva. Instead, I spat …
Where it all began…
A rather dramatic title for a rather uneventful story, if I’m honest. Growing up, I’ve always been a tall, skinny, and somewhat sporty girl. ‘My’ particular sport happened to be cheerleading; we trained every Tuesday beginning at 5:15 pm. One evening, I was running late, so decided to wolf down my dinner. My mum had …
My First Blog Post
“Your Illness does not define you. Your strength and courage does.” — I have no idea but credit is due where credit is due This is the first post on my new blog. As some of my close friends and family members know, I have EoE or Eosinophilic Esophagitis (and yes I actually can pronounce …
Hi Everyone, a lil bit about me…
I am an 18 year old girl from Dunblane in Scotland, I also study Law at the University of Aberdeen. I begin 2nd year in September and I’ve also just begun to treat a chronic autoimmune disease called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) ((mouthful I know)). More importantly, I also have a sausage dog called Max. I …
My Chronically Class Life 