Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Here is my mums story.

When I was diagnosed with late onset Antiphospholipid syndrome back in 2016, there was little knowledge of the condition amongst my doctors. Some had heard of it, and the association with pregnancy and miscarriage, but that was little help to a 50- something woman with grown up children!

I didn't present with many of the typical symptoms, mine were more neurological and it was, in fact, a neurologist who diagnosed the condition. I will always be grateful that he had that knowledge, but there are still many who don't.

"Sticky blood" causes a host of symptoms, often very different from one sufferer to another. I had a minor stroke, which could have been so much worse had I not been prescribed Warfarin (a blood thinner. Newer thinners that are safer and enable a better quality of life are not yet approved for us APSies). I have to pace myself daily because of debilitating fatigue - made worse by random pains that wake me during the night. I have to bargain with myself: "If I go for a coffee in town, I won't be able to cook dinner later." When I'm tired, my arms have a mind of their own, flailing randomly (and often dangerously close to a random stranger!). This has meant I no longer feel able to safely drive. So yes, debilitating and life changing.

Please support my son Martin in his endeavour ... APS Support UK needs so much more support to fund further research into treatments, diagnosis and awareness.

Thanks for reading

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