2015 was the worst year of my life.
I entered it with lots of plans for the year ahead, and goals I wanted to achieve; none of these came to fruition.
Instead, I spent the first 3 weeks of the year in excruciating pain but hiding it from everyone around me and trying to study for an exam I thought I had no hope in hell of passing - luckily I did!
The next 7 weeks were spent in hospital battling my first serious flare-up of Ulcerative Colitis. My stay in hospital had some ups, but mainly downs. I almost lost my colon (large intestine) but thanks to the care of two amazing Consultants, their team of Doctors and the gastro specialist nurse I made it through those really tough times.
Thankfully, I was out of hospital in time for my 20th birthday on April 13 which meant I was able to finally see one of my favourite musicians live.
I was due to be a bridesmaid at my big cousin's wedding in May, and had been working at losing some weight to look good in my dress next to the other bridesmaids but thanks to my stay in hospital and the thousands of milligrams of steroids that were pumped into my body I had piled on the weight - over 3 stone - and was no longer looking forward to the occasion. I almost pulled out.
My mum convinced me not to pull out, and kept reassuring me that no one would care how much weight I had put on and that they would all just be so happy to see me there, out of hospital. I'm so glad I listened to her and didn't pull out, I had one of the best couple of days of the whole year that weekend!
I got to see family from London that I don't see nearly as often as I'd like and, of course, see my big cousin get married in a beautiful location.
Summer was relatively quiet. Being on many types of medication including one I have to get intravenously every 6 weeks in hospital, we decided not to go anywhere. Instead, I spent it reading books in the garden, eating ice lollies and going for swims in the local outdoor swimming pool.
I did take a trip to the Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Fringe during August with some friends. There we went to see Jon Cozart's show - Laughter Ever After which was incredibly entertaining. Emma Thompson was also in the audience!
September should've marked my return to university but I was forced to take a medical time-out and will be returning in at the end of January to pick up the second half of 3rd year where I left off.
November saw me being diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD as a result of everything I had been through at the beginning of the year and I'm now on medication to help with it. I've also taken up yoga as a form of dealing with my anxiety - I find it really relaxes and grounds me.
December was probably the best month of the year. It was the first month where I didn't spend it in pain. It started with a last minute trip to London to stay with one of my closest friends Helena who moved there for uni. Whilst there we went to see MockingJay Part 2 and I cried. Multiple times. Mostly we just hung out in her room watching (getting addicted to) Jessica Jones and catching up. I hate how far away she lives!
I also took the annual visit to George Square to see the Christmas lights, take the obligatory picture in front of the Christmas tree and, of course, go on the Giant Swings!
I ended the year spending Christmas and New Year with my family feeling very thankful to have made it to the end of the year in one piece.
I'm finally starting to feel like myself again.
Hopefully, 2016 will be much kinder to me than 2015 was!
Until next time,
AJ x
I entered it with lots of plans for the year ahead, and goals I wanted to achieve; none of these came to fruition.
Instead, I spent the first 3 weeks of the year in excruciating pain but hiding it from everyone around me and trying to study for an exam I thought I had no hope in hell of passing - luckily I did!
 |
| Before everything went downhill |
The next 7 weeks were spent in hospital battling my first serious flare-up of Ulcerative Colitis. My stay in hospital had some ups, but mainly downs. I almost lost my colon (large intestine) but thanks to the care of two amazing Consultants, their team of Doctors and the gastro specialist nurse I made it through those really tough times.
Thankfully, I was out of hospital in time for my 20th birthday on April 13 which meant I was able to finally see one of my favourite musicians live.
 |
| James Bay |
I was due to be a bridesmaid at my big cousin's wedding in May, and had been working at losing some weight to look good in my dress next to the other bridesmaids but thanks to my stay in hospital and the thousands of milligrams of steroids that were pumped into my body I had piled on the weight - over 3 stone - and was no longer looking forward to the occasion. I almost pulled out.
My mum convinced me not to pull out, and kept reassuring me that no one would care how much weight I had put on and that they would all just be so happy to see me there, out of hospital. I'm so glad I listened to her and didn't pull out, I had one of the best couple of days of the whole year that weekend!
 |
| Bridesmaids |
 |
| Bride, Groom, Bridesmaids and Ushers |
 |
| Wedding Party |
I got to see family from London that I don't see nearly as often as I'd like and, of course, see my big cousin get married in a beautiful location.
 |
| Cutting the Cake |
Summer was relatively quiet. Being on many types of medication including one I have to get intravenously every 6 weeks in hospital, we decided not to go anywhere. Instead, I spent it reading books in the garden, eating ice lollies and going for swims in the local outdoor swimming pool.
 |
| Burning the chimenea |
 |
| Gourock Outdoor Swimming Pool |
 |
| Twister ice lollies in the garden |
I did take a trip to the Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Fringe during August with some friends. There we went to see Jon Cozart's show - Laughter Ever After which was incredibly entertaining. Emma Thompson was also in the audience!
 |
| Udderbelly Tent |
 |
| Jon Cozart |
 |
| Edinburgh Castle in the rain |
September should've marked my return to university but I was forced to take a medical time-out and will be returning in at the end of January to pick up the second half of 3rd year where I left off.
November saw me being diagnosed with anxiety and PTSD as a result of everything I had been through at the beginning of the year and I'm now on medication to help with it. I've also taken up yoga as a form of dealing with my anxiety - I find it really relaxes and grounds me.
 |
| Yoga |
December was probably the best month of the year. It was the first month where I didn't spend it in pain. It started with a last minute trip to London to stay with one of my closest friends Helena who moved there for uni. Whilst there we went to see MockingJay Part 2 and I cried. Multiple times. Mostly we just hung out in her room watching (getting addicted to) Jessica Jones and catching up. I hate how far away she lives!
 |
| Helena and I |
I also took the annual visit to George Square to see the Christmas lights, take the obligatory picture in front of the Christmas tree and, of course, go on the Giant Swings!
 |
| Friends by the tree |
 |
| On the Giant Swings |
 |
| Christmas Day |
I'm finally starting to feel like myself again.
Hopefully, 2016 will be much kinder to me than 2015 was!
Until next time,
AJ x
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