I began writing with the best of intentions. I wanted to share some stories from my imagination with others, and last year, I was able to publish my first novel. But towards the end of the year, a few things happened that meant I have been unproductive for some time.
I have some long term health issues, and my Crohn’s Disease reared its ugly head again about a year ago. With the problems that caused, and – as usual – the even greater problems caused by the treatment, I was more or less wiped out for months. Steroids are wonderful drugs; they almost always reduce the active Crohn’s. But for me, having had to take them so often over the years, they have now become a nightmare.
I started taking a new drug in August, and after a slow start, it has been working well for me. But coming off the steroids is another story. My adrenal glands no longer work very well, so reducing the prednisolone is a long, long struggle. And every small reduction comes at a cost; weeks of physical and mental fatigue. I wasn’t even able to read any books for about nine months. As you can imagine, this has not been a happy time for someone who normally reads two or three books a week.
Then towards the end of last year, my mum was diagnosed with an ongoing condition that will slowly progress. I had to make the decision to move nearer to her home, so that I could give her a bit more support to live independently for as long as possible. Thus in the middle of trying to get better, I’ve had to move home as well, using far more energy than I actually had.
So just before Christmas, I made the decision to stop writing for a while. With everything that was going on, I couldn’t give it one hundred percent, and those of you who write will know that that is a recipe for disaster! Plot holes, shoddy editing, and boring prose; a second rate result.
But now, I think things are finally improving! I’ve moved, settled in, and in the last couple of weeks, started to read again. Although I’m still getting problems from the steroid reduction, I am beginning to feel human again. I have to ration how much I read – and most of you will know how hard that is – but it feels so good to be able to pick up a book, or my Kindle, and lose myself in another world.
That also means that I’ll be writing again very soon. I’m currently updating my websites and blogs, and then it’s back to the fun stuff. Marcus and Sally are up for it, and raring to go, and I’ve had lots of other ideas too!
I hope I’m back for good, but certainly for a while. As long as the new drug continues to work, and I can get off the damned steroids.
