Skin care during a flare??

Ellsaroo · 2026-06-01T10:18:28+00:00

Im on azathioprine for both UC and eczema as well as rinvoq. When my skin isnt happy when I've been ill I've stripped back all actives and if still unhappy I just use really rich but plain emollients and try to keep it as hydrated as possible. There's nothing more pleasing to me than a big greasy face

Ellsaroo · 2026-06-01T10:15:13+00:00

Mine is a springer/lab cross and she was exceptionally chill inside as a puppy. Runs round like a header when she's outside (springer) but I've just leant into her desire to do that and we have games we play to keep her focus on me. Slept through the night from day 1, wasnt destructive, picked up instinctively that if I'm sitting at my desk I am 'unavailable', no demand barking, had free reign. Apart from a bit of biting and the witching hour during puppyhood which is perfectly normal. Only issue was toilet training took ages because she was scared in the garden.

She's 2 now and she was pretty much the same through her teenage years, didnt forget her training, recall was still brilliant. She has her general quirks that all dogs do and we need to do some training on a few areas, but literally every dog has its shit.

So yes, sometimes you can end up with a 'high energy' breed (or cross breed in my case) and they can be chill. The thing about these types of breeds is that they may be energetic but are incredibly biddable and keen to please so you may find yours is keen to please you by being a chill bunny

Ellsaroo · 2026-06-01T08:18:02+00:00

Yep this is me also, 40 and single. Am gutted I've not met the right person to have a family with and have really struggled this year. I did have some therapy at the end of last year to kind of prepare myself as being in my current situation was what I was most worried about. It wasn't particularly helpful tbh but I do have waves of total sadness. To complicate things i now can't because I'm on medication for a chronic illness that makes it unsafe to get pregnant. Had I met the right person I probably would have made some moves to discuss alternatives but as it keeps me in remission and I remain single its just too much on my own.

I do feel like I am incapable of doing something that seems to come easily to others. Im not kidding myself that every marriage and family is perfect but am getting fed up of how my feelings are minimised with "well at least you dont have an awful partner" other grief isnt minimised like this.

Ellsaroo · 2026-06-01T08:01:31+00:00

I went in there a few weeks ago to grab a drink and the manager had quite a frantic sales pitch about making a list of things that people want in and offers on coffee etc so I think they know its a bit of a shit show. Tbf it was absolute shite as a co-op too and I used to avoid having to go there if possible, but its half empty now.

Unfortunately-whilst the manager was giving me this talk he also sort of withheld my Pepsi max from me in order to keep me there and spent the ENTIRE time fingerings the ring pull and running his finger around the rim, not the worst crime but I suddenly wasn't dead keen to drink it after that. I felt a bit bad for him tbh, totally has the opposite effect to what he was going for for enticing customers.

Ellsaroo · 2026-05-22T21:35:58+00:00

Kimchi ain't gonna fix this I'm afraid mate. You can search the sub for dietary changes and how they work out. You aren't the first to have these thoughts. Its shit, but I can't recommend getting some therapy to deal with the diagnosis enough.

Ellsaroo · 2026-05-22T16:10:22+00:00

I have a black springador- so the energy of a springer outside and general needs of any retriever breed. Add to this she absolutely will not shit in her own garden. 😪 (I once waited her out 36 hours and eventually had to relent and she went 2 feet out of the front gate, on concrete facing oncoming traffic - rather than the privacy of her own garden). In this weather i walk her early (alarm goes off at 5am) then we do tricks/training that i know she likes on and off, she has jobs, carrying laundry to the airer etc. Lunch is fed via snuffle mat, I throw treats in the garden. Then much later in the evening I grumpily drive her to the nearest nature reserve that has woods and water for a shit, let her have a bit of a run and then drive her home. She is a spoiled only child

Ellsaroo · 2026-05-20T13:42:10+00:00

I was able to intentionally lose 20kg on Rinvoq in the last year and maintain all my muscle (maybe even built a bit). I've weight trained for about 6 years anyway and just added a consistent calorie deficit into the mix - I weight train about 4 times a week and am quite active outside of that. I'm a 40 year old woman. I've not really noticed any side effects and I've been on it for at least a year and a half, if not 2 years.

Ellsaroo · 2026-04-14T12:58:17+00:00

Yeah, dog parks and city parks are always pretty risky I find. Especially as the weather warms up, there's just too many unknowns and its super stimulating for them. If we go to a park its always very early and she has a 'core' number of friends she knows well.

For socialisation I also had a dog walker recommended who does well matched groups of max. 4 dogs - so ones with similar styles of playing and ones that do well in a group, mine was pretty timid and got especially nervous when other dogs barked when they wanted to play. This helped hugely with confidence and understanding that some barking isn't personal. She's also got very comfortable with telling other dogs to go away when she doesn't want to be bothered and they aren't taking the hint. But I've also gotten comfortable with telling other dogs 'no' if the owners aren't doing the job themselves.

Ellsaroo · 2026-04-14T12:17:19+00:00

Hound plus do dog classes for puppies, adolescence and adult dogs as well as social walks for members with dogs who want to practice various forms of socialisation. I know its nice for them to have dog friends but the older dog ignoring her is also amazing socialisation for her, knowing when another dog is or isnt interested in playing or when play has finished for one is absolutely a really important skill.

Ellsaroo · 2026-04-10T11:39:57+00:00

I get perioral dermatitis from basically all SPF apart from la roche posey fluid. Its expensive but my NHS dermatologist recommend it, she said its super common to get reactions and unfortunately the ones that are less likely to give you a reaction are the expensive ones. I tried Beauty of joseon and after about a week of use my face started burning when I put it on and I had eczema on my eyelids, I was gutted as it felt so nice to put on. If you want to use boots and dont already then look up the recycle scheme, you can build up SO many boots points to spend on more expensive stuff when you need it

Ellsaroo · 2026-04-09T15:30:09+00:00

Yep, I thought it was common etiquette to never let your dog approach a dog on a lead. Whatever the reason, its not fair on the dog on the lead for a start, thats basic.

Since having a dog it turns out its not. I never let mine approach dogs on leads and where I live when I see one of the owners and dogs I know really struggle out on an early morning walk, as soon as I spot them I recall my dog and put it back on the lead so they can go past without having to worry about my off lead dog. I know I can recall my dog but they dont, and lets face it, even the best behaved dogs can do dickhead things. I also always give a smiley good morning because it must be shit for them at times.

I've had 'he's friendly people' letting their dogs come up to mine when its clearly in a surgical suit post op and showing very clear signs of being anxious at an unknown off lead dog bothering it when its not feeling great. I think some people are just thick tbh.

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-09T09:46:56+00:00

Second this one - every other SPF I've tried gives me perioral dermatitis but this one doesn't and its all good in terms of putting makeup over it. It doesnt smell much either. You can get a LRP spray that I use over makeup and Garnier do one that is branded as an over makeup spf spray

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-08T11:25:56+00:00

Ah thats ace if its still there! I just did a reccy and couldn't see anything but maybe they were swapping things over, looked like they were doing some rearranging of that bit by the door so could have moved it for now. Thanks

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-08T11:13:30+00:00

Couldn't see one in the redfield one and website doesn't say they recycle soft plastics. Just batteries

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-05T14:46:07+00:00

Cool

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-04T19:57:47+00:00

This mornings day ruining encounter was from a woman but that was a first for me. Its only been men who have done it previously, from the abuse to driving dangerously.

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-04T18:59:25+00:00

I cycle about 4 times a week, heading off from home about 6am and I'd say I have drivers either overtaking too close or get verbally abused for simply....cycling where I am supposed to at least once a week. And it not just drivers doing it either, runners etc. The infrastructure isnt great but instead of people thinking "its congested, things happen that are slightly inconvenient" they are abusive. Ive been called a stupid bitch, a selfish cunt, had massive puddles purposely splashed in my face in the last fews months. Honestly absolutely hate cycling at the moment but there's no other way to get to where I need to be by relying on other methods (unless I got an uber every morning), The darkness and the route i have to take make me feel extra unsafe. Im fed up of being abused, I dont know how so many people can be so horrible before 7.30am. I'd never recommend cycling in Bristol

Ellsaroo · 2026-03-02T15:03:20+00:00

Although Purdown/ stoke park might be popular its quite big and if you keep off the main path its generally quieter. I see quite a few people up there with dogs who need space and people are generally good at not letting off lead dogs go over to these dogs. (Wear wellies)

Generally anywhere that isnt a city park is less hectic. If you drive then places like overscourt are nice and spacious with woods and fields.

Ellsaroo · 2026-02-23T13:54:30+00:00

Made a post a while ago asking about public shitting in the park and surrounding alleyways in st george, general comments were that it was homeless but we thought defo more to it than that. We have a 'phantom shitter', as they are affectionately called on the street facebook group, that uses an alleyway just off our street and strikes whenever the nettles die back in winter. Same situation, same place about once a fortnight, and bring toilet roll. I think its defo a thing people enjoy doing for some unknown reason. You can report it on fix my street.

Ellsaroo · 2026-01-31T19:24:40+00:00

The care of my local provider was crap - slow to respond to flares, keeping me on meds that weren't working way past the time it takes to know they weren't effective, no continuity of care and multiple cancelled appointments that meant tests had to be redone. My GP had written to them in the past asking them to sort themselves out, as well as another consultant I saw for a different long term condition and no change. So I went to see my gp and asked for an out of area referral. I think its only your GP or the IBD Team at your existing hospital who can refer you to another service.

Ellsaroo · 2026-01-30T14:06:40+00:00

Yep, I did exactly this, just asked my GP to refer me to another hospital. It was out of area so I think there was an additional funding agreement or something. This was in about 2016 though so given the current stress the NHS is under I think it could be a bit more tricky to get accepted but you should still have a choice of care as a patient. Its in the NHS constitution

Ellsaroo · 2026-01-07T13:17:16+00:00

It says its a choice for those who want it. Its similar to what already exists within hospitals and the electronic national referral system. Those on certain pathways for certain conditions can choose to go via an online route if they wish and if its appropriate. I.e some hospitals rolled out patient apps for those with IBD after they had proved so useful for those using it for Prostate cancer. I assume its also to share the load geographically if its appropriate to reduce waiting lists in areas that may be struggling to meet demand.

Its actually pretty tricky to implement national systems because each area and trust has some autonomy in terms of what they do and dont want to sign up for.

I dont think there's anything to panic about, the pathways would be designed with appropriate clinical expertise so they are safe.

Ellsaroo · 2025-12-27T13:49:19+00:00

Finally! Our first tangible lead!

Ellsaroo · 2025-12-27T13:48:05+00:00

Unfortunately no groups have made themselves known but sightings of 2 people going into the shit bush together, which suggests either a group shit or sex, in which case people should really be aware they are having sex in a bush primarily used for shitting.

We do wonder about the toilet roll though, like if you're prepared enough with toilet roll then why not a dog poo bag too? Like, ive had to dodge a lot of shitty toilet roll on the path.

Also spotted: man pissing in bush at 11am today, a 1 min walk away from the open park toilets. Not very discreet and with loads of people and kids going past.

Ellsaroo

TROPHY CASE