A Brighton Branch member gives her impression of the 12 day residential AS course at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases RNHRD
in Bath ( November 2010 )

 

I was unsure what to expect and I confess, a little nervous. But here I was at 12 noon on Sunday outside the Royal Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases (RHRD) at Bath, clutching my suitcase stuffed with newly acquired fitness gear. I was directed to ‘Bath Heights’, the penthouse apartment with stunning views that was to be my home for two weeks.

It seemed an age ago since I heard about the Bath AS course - not from my rheumatologist but from fellow Brighton NASS members. I was newly diagnosed and confused about what was happening to my body, confused about medication, confused about what exercise would help. In fact I was confused about most things and therefore a prime candidate for this course.

My Consultant Rheumatologist’s efforts to get me on the course were rebuffed by a budget holder – ‘we do not have the funding arrangements within secondary care to send patients to this unit’. So my supportive doctor referred me to Bath using the NHS ‘Choose and Book’ system. After a consultation at Bath in the summer, I was put on the next AS course.

To find out more about the 'Choose and Book' system for patients click on the following link
www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/patients

So I started the course – with five other participants - with a degree of trepidation but much excitement. We met the three physios that would be guiding, supporting, cajoling, and teasing us. From the start it was clear that this course was designed with a great deal of thought, responding to prior feedback. It was paced well.

Each day involved exercises - a hydrotherapy exercise session and gym-based sessions. These were interspersed with talks and discussions. Some were lead by the physios - such as on the mechanics of AS, healthy bones, posture, sleeping. While other sessions were run by specialists, such as on occupational health, podiatry, and the social aspects of AS. We could also elect to have a session with the counsellor.

And we each saw the Consultant Rheumatologist twice – once in the first week, and once in the second. Having time to ask questions - and I had quite a list - was invaluable. Being shown, for the first time, the MRI of my neck was quite extraordinary. Actually seeing the bone growth on the screen was fascinating. It explained a lot. And funnily enough, it felt validating. It somehow made me feel that I wasn’t imagining it all.

Just describing the work programme does not do justice to the course. It enabled me to acknowledge and accept that I have this condition. It made me take it seriously. But most importantly, it enabled me to feel that I was in control – giving me a plan of action. With a new regime of anti-inflammatories, paracetamol and exercise, I felt I could face the world anew. But I would not be facing it alone, but with the support of my fellow participants who had become friends and allies.

So a big thank you in particular to the dedicated, supportive, wise and funny team of physios at Bath. It was a real life-changer.

By 'Hazel'

Brighton NASS branch member.

Updated 25 January 2011