2024 Week 4 One Daily Positive and Project 365

January 

22  Monday Peter drove me into work and I walked into town afterwards to meet him for a coffee. Afternoon spent taking up the hem of the lounge curtains and fixing a pair of trousers that had been falling down all day. Evening spent on video calls with child 2 and his wife, mum and MIL, blogging and reading.

23  Tuesday Took the car to work today, took some TOIL and left work at lunch time. Met Peter at the retail park for coffee. I'd been sick in the morning and at lunch time I'd had pins and needles and total numbness in my hands as well as chest pains. The afternoon and most of the evening was spent in front of the TV, I did take up the hem of one more curtain while watching TV, I did some blogging, reading and letter writing. Last lot of blood tests came back normal.

24  Wednesday Into work for 2 lessons then Peter collected me to go to Hereford to the skin clinic to get a growth on my leg checked out. We had a coffee afterwards and wandered around the city. Home for tea and watch the TV.

The diagnosis for the growth on my leg is Bowens disease, a form of skin cancer from sun damage, it rarely spreads and is easily treated at home with a chemotherapy cream over the next 4-6 weeks. I feel so much better knowing this and the stress has lifted.

25  Thursday Took the car to work, left an hour early for a Chest X-ray at Malvern hospital.

26  Friday Peter's turn to cook for me and my friend tonight, we had a curry and put the world to rights over a bottle of wine for her and baileys for me.

27  Saturday A lie in then packed the car and drove to Stonehenge, it was now a long walk to the stones after a new visitors centre has been built in 2013 so we caught the courtesy bus, walked round the stones and bus back as it was freezing. We then drove into Salisbury for the afternoon for a walk round, then onto our hotel back in Amesbury for the night. 

28  Sunday A leisurely morning and a drive into Wilton for a walk round, then home via a stop over in Bath. Van unpacked, washing machine on, football watched, and blog updated.

Books read this week: 

Better Off Dead - Lee Child and Andrew Child.                                                                                         My not so Perfect Life - Sophie Kinsella.

Words written towards book: 1371

Clothes bought: 0

On the blog this week: My childhood Teddy

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26th - 28th January 2024 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Welcome back to Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

I've had a week of medical appointments and I've been extremely stressed out by it all. Just waiting now for results, which is all out of my control. As there is nothing I can do about it, I'm trying my best to switch off from it all and do some fun stuff and try to relax a bit more by doing some of my favourite things. Starting with a visit to the nail bar tomorrow.

I've also been making cards and writing letters as well as just reading and watching TV.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

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My childhood teddy - Snowy.

June from FancyingFrance linked up to #pocolo a link I co host with Stephanie from BosworthLife with Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?

Meet Snowy.

I was given Snowy by my Aunt in America in 1972 for my 1st birthday. 

I can't remember a time that Snowy wasn't part of my life.

Snowy currently lives in our grandchildren's bedroom.

Snowy has lived with me in Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire, back in the Midlands, he went to live in South Africa, then Dubai and is back now in the Midlands.

Do you still have any toys from your childhood?

2024 Week 3 One Daily Positive and Project 365

January

15  Monday I woke during the night with a migraine. Meds resolved it, but I spent the rest of the night on the sofa, sleeping on and off. Home from work at 4pm, absolutley shattered, had tea, watched TV, video call with grandson, did some blogging, bath and bed by 10pm.

16  Tuesday Into work for 8am as per norm, then down the retail park for coffee and GP appointment at 5pm. Another blood test ordered, a chest X-ray ordered and a dermatology referral made. My stress levels with all the medical appointments and tests are causing me a lot of stress, which is impacting on my physical health. So dark at 7.40am going to work. 

17  Wednesday Home from work at 4pm to do the washing, then back in for 5.30pm till 7pm for GCSE options to support a couple of students and their parents. Home again to watch TV and an early night to read.

18  Thursday Into work then back out for a blood test, rest of the day was quiet, late leaving and met Peter for a coffee, did a food shop and home to watch TV and blog. Video call with grandchildren and long chat with my mate from uni days.

19  Friday Left for work at 8.10am, can't believe the difference in the light with 30 minutes. Cooked a roast dinner after work instead of chips with my friend for the evening.

20  Saturday Met mum in Gloucester, collected child 1 and went for coffee and a wander around the Range and B&M. Took mum to hospital for her 2nd cataract operation, dropped child 1 home then brought mum home with us for a couple of days while she recovers. Evening spent in front of the TV and reading.

21  Sunday Peter took mum home and on to visit grandchild and I spent the day making cards, writing letters, wrapping and packing gifts to post, catching up with the shops and reading my book. I went for a walk in the afternoon. Evening spent watching TV, having a bath, reading and blogging.

Books read this week: The Missing - C.L. Taylor. A missing 15 year old boy and family secrets unravelling. Is the mother's instinct right that her family aren't involved in his disappearance?

Words written towards book: 1605

Clothes bought: Socks £2 Fatface

On the blog this week: Me and my migraines 

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19th - 21st January 2024 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

I've been struggling with my health again, more migraines and unexpected blood tests and I've not been sleeping very well. I don't make appointments with the doctors, they keep calling me back, it's all blood led and quite frankly causing me a lot of stress and anxiety which I spoke to the Doctor about and said I'd had enough. She agreed with me then promptly ordered more blood tests, a chest X-ray and made another referral. 

It does get me down, but I try not to focus too much on it and it doesn't stop me and Peter getting out and about, when work and weather permits.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Me and my migraines

I've had migraines since I was small. Until a few years ago, there was nothing I could do to minimise them. I am a regular visitor to hospital with migraines lasting up to 9 days. I've tried all types of medications and had all types of treatments from acupuncture to botox.

4 years ago I was diagnosed with a wheat intolerance and my migraine episodes have almost halved, but the intensity of the ones I do get are no better and aren't any easier to treat.

Lack of sleep, dehydration, long journeys, sitting too long, not eating regularly, over indulging with food/drink can all trigger a migraine. Cheese, chocolate, alcohol, caffeine aren't triggers. In fact the last time I was admitted to hospital in November 2023, I was given a can of coke and a coffee by the nurse whilst waiting for the consultant to see me. 

I keep a food diary, I used to keep a menstrual diary, there has never been a link with hormones/periods, I exercise regularly, but not excessively. I also keep a diary of my migraines, symptoms, been doing it for years. Finally I've been referred to a Neurologist so maybe they'll want to see it all, maybe they won't.

I'm 52. I've learnt to live with migraines, I've learnt to not let them spoil family days out, interfere with my work, activities, holidays. I've heard many times that if they don't interfere with the above then they can't be that severe. 

Let me try and explain what a migraine is for me.

It starts with one or several of the following:

The smell of burning toast

Amplified sounds

Lights hurt

Sensitive to touch

Slurred words

Inability to identify every day objects

Inability to answer simple questions

Nausea

These can last for 2-3 days and continue throughout the migraine and for 2-3 days afterwards. This is the point where I MUST take my medication. Triptans, anti sickness tablets, paracetamol. 3 times a day. If by the end of day 1 the pain has kicked in I then take 900mg of aspirin 3 times a day with the above, for up to 3 days, then seek medical assistance. The GP at this point usually sends me to hospital, but  sit for 7+ hours in A&E in pain with bright lights, loud noises, I'm put on a drip, the pain goes away. At this point I go off work sick and I'm literally smacking my head against the wall in desperation. It takes a further 2-3 days for me to recover fully.

I also take regular preventative medication, previously beta blockers, then pizotifin. After a while these meds stopped working and the dose had to be increased, side effects were increased appetite and inevitable weight gain.

I'm currently on topimate, side effects weight loss (which has settled now) but I'm still getting break through migraines, but without the pain. I still have to take the additional meds. I'm not sleeping on these meds, on the previous ones I was getting up to 10 hours a night.

In between migraines I get weird electric stabbing pains around my body that last for a couple of seconds and patches of skin that feel like it's on fire. I get dizzy, have pins and needles and numbness in my hands, but don't have a reduction in strength, I have a tightness around my chest, that squeezes me, I get breathless, especially walking up stairs, I have bad fatigue, but don't sleep and my eyes hurt and are tired (Ophthalmology and Retina Clinic involved for past 2 years) That could be the B12 or the ferritin deficiency or the cause of the migraines, no one seems to be linking everything together, or it might not be linked in anyway.

The pain of the migraines is one sided, usually right sided and forces my eye closed, the back of neck is painful and my shoulders hunch. Pressing on the site relieves the pain as does heat and strangely enough so does sleep, but when I wake up, the pain returns. The pain takes over everything, it is the only thing that is happening in my body. It is so intense that I often feel that the only way to relieve it is to hit my head against the wall. It makes me shout, swear, angry, it isolates me from people, it causes rows because I look ok, I'm functioning, I'm going to work, if it was that bad, I would go to bed. 

But if I went to bed, I would spend half the month in bed, half the month not going to work, not going out, not doing anything and I won't let the migraines control my life.

2024 Week 2 One Daily Positive and Project 365. A selfie a day.

January 

It's been getting harder to persuade Peter to take a selfie a day, especially as we rarely go out together during the week.

8  Monday Back to school for me. It was almost dark when I left at 3.30pm and some snow in the air, very tired. Blood results back and platelets higher, but white blood cell count back in normal range. Watched quiz shows, had dinner. I finished putting Christmas decorations away, Peter watched Man U, bath and early bed to read.

9  Tuesday In work for a couple of hours and took some TOIL to meet mum in Gloucester to take her to a hospital appointment, I did some shopping and brought mum home for the rest of the week, until her eye appointment on Sunday. Afternoon and evening spent in front of the TV, blogging, reading and just chilling out.

10  Wednesday Work for the day, then Peter collected me with the two mums and we all went for coffee. Home for dinner, TV and just chilling out.

11  Thursday I'm exhausted and we're not even at the end of the first week back to school, thankfully it's a short term. Home by 4pm, cooked dinner, had a nap and watched TV. Peter took the 2 mums out shopping during the day.

12  Friday It's been a long week and I feel exhausted. Home by 4pm, late afternoon spent resting. Friend came round at 6pm with chips and we caught up from since before Christmas with a bottle of wine till 10pm.

13  Saturday I woke at 5am and finished reading a book. Peter took MIL home and mum and I went to Worcester on the train for coffee and some shopping. Home to do washing, ironing, catch up with the soaps, start a new book and just relax.

14  Sunday Took Mum to the opticians, for a food shop and home via a visit to Gloucester and a Starbucks. Afternoon and evening spent getting ready for work in the morning, watching TV and blogging. I had a dizzy spell where I felt like I was falling over even when I was lying down, it lasted 15 minutes.

Books read this week: The Long Forgotten - David Whitehouse.                                                                   A long lost black box from an aeroplane found in the body of a dead whale, a crime scene cleaner on an adventure around the world to find the rarest flowers, leads to a young man named Dove discovering his identity. 

Words written towards book: 1308

Clothes bought: Black bobble hat £3.75 in the sale Accessorise. Curling iron £9.99 from Asda using a voucher. 

On the blog this week: Living in the moment

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12th - 14th January 2024 Post Comment Love

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

We've got both our mums staying with us this week. One is poorly and needs some TLC, the other was a planned visit with a follow up appointment on Sunday at the opticians after a cataract removal prior to Christmas. I also returned to work this week, so Peter has done the bulk of the tea/coffee making, running around and entertaining, so I took over the cooking to give him a break. 

Normally I like to come home from work and just chill out on the sofa and do nothing in the evenings, but as they've all been stuck indoors during the day, we've met for coffees and shopping, started a jigsaw puzzle and played a few games, rather than just sitting in front of the TV all evening, which is my preferred choice.

We'd also appreciate your help spreading the #PoCoLo word on Twitter, tag us and we'll RT. You can find us on twitter here: Stephanie - @BosworthLife and Suzanne - @ChickenRuby 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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5th - 7th January 2024 Post Comment Love - Happy New Year

Welcome back to #PoCoLo with Stephanie from Bosworth.Life and I.

Post Comment Love #PoCoLo is a friendly weekly linky where you can link up any blog post you've written this week. If you're new or a regular visitor we're sure you'll find something of interest.

I hope you've all had a good Christmas and New Year. We've had a lovely relaxing time with family and friends and finally time to catch up with all the little things we've been putting off. We've also been reminiscing about our time abroad and talking about our future plans and deciding as to whether I should quit work at the end of this school year so we could have more opportunities for travel as we are feeling slightly tied and it led us to think about how we've dealt with disappointment in the past and truly believe that as one door closes another opens. I've linked up this week with a post exploring this further.

We don't have to travel far to explore. The Malvern Hills on Christmas Eve, looking down on our house.

Want to find out more about Post Comment Love #PoCoLo? 

I'll be catching up with reading your posts, sharing and commenting over the next few days. 

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