You don't have cancer, so what next?

Last June I had a migraine that lasted 11 days. I've had migraines since I was a small child. I present with auras, visual disturbances, metallic taste in my mouth, I start to slur my words. This happens anything from 7 days to 5 minutes before the migraine starts. I'll have an episode like once every 12-18 months. The rest of the time, I get migraines that last 2-3 days, at least once every 6 weeks. They've become part of my life, I accept them and work around and through them. I also suffer with chronic pain in my neck after an injury at work 24 years ago, this aggravates the migraines also.

But every now and then I get one so bad, I need medical attention and in the past when I've gone to the hospital, meningitis has been suspected due to my aversion to light and touch and I've had numerous lumbar punctures. I did have viral meningitis in 2000.

This time I decided to go to my GP, I had visual field tests and an MRI. There's a tiny lesion on my right temple but this is probably scarring from the migraines and not the cause. I also have a cough and experiencing shooting pains and numbness in my thigh bone and around my hip joint. I am tired all the time, not sleepy, not lack of motivation, just tired.

The Doctor ran routine bloods.

A week later and now in the UK, she messages me to say I need to get a repeat test carried out. The white blood cell count, platelets and neutrophils indicate at the very least I have an infection of some sort. The count is slightly decreased and then my father died. My health was put on hold.

I return briefly to Dubai, still coughing and saw a pulmonologist. I'm a smoker, the cough is bothering him. I'm diagnosed with pneumonia, given antibiotics and an inhaler. I was hospitalised for pneumonia in 2007. I return to the UK for 2 weeks.

My blood cell count increases, so back to the GP, more tests, an MRI of my hips and thigh. There is nothing there, a chest CT, change in antibiotics. We move house.

I'm referred to an oncologist. My body isn't absorbing iron, this is corrected, yet still my white blood cells and platelets remain high. She suggests the coughing may be due to a silent reflux and recommends I take a one a day tablet. The coughing eases.

I have a bone marrow biopsy. I wait 2 weeks for the results. I know the oncologist just wants to rule cancer and bone marrow disease out, she says it may pick up the very early stages of a problem that she can deal with. I spend 2 weeks stressing out. I can't help but think the worse. I'm still having more frequent migraines, stopped taking the preventative medication that was prescribed by the neurologist last June, it's not working. The biopsy was one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever had done in my life and 3 weeks on the site is still quite sore, doesn't help I keep banging it.

So I got my results last Tuesday, no cancer, no bone marrow disease, no known cause. Repeat bloods are taken, count still high, body still not absorbing iron so lifestyle changes to diet are put in place, another migraine, medication doesn't work and still having pains in my hip and thigh bone. I'm still tired, even after 8 hours sleep.

I been googling my symptoms, it seems I'm stressed. No wonder with all this going on and my father dying last year. But all this started before he died and still doesn't explain the high white blood cell and platelet count.

I'm back in the UK next week for the summer, I'll be monitoring my levels of tiredness, the bone pain and migraines. I've stopped drinking coffee and reduced my intake of wheat products and dairy as these are the 3 things that can prevent your body from absorbing iron. Other than that I am at a loss as to what to do. I'm glad its not cancer or a bone marrow disease, but it leaves me in the same position I was in last year, I'm just not well and no one knows why.

One Daily Positive - Week 25 In the UK

Anyone else spring clean their house before going away? I actually clean the house to spring clean standard every week, out of boredom. All the washing and ironing is done. I did a shop, wrote lists for Peter that he'll ignore then wake me up with a phone call at 4am forgetting the 3 hour time difference because he can't find the cat litter and he needs to go to work now, but it's what I do and I know when I come home, he'll have kept the house clean and tidy but I'll spend the first week, getting the house back into order, my order.

It's been a stressful few weeks dealing with several family and health issues, a bit of a scare this week, which needed me to register with a UK Doctor the day I arrived, a bit of drama with one of the kids and a few other things going on that I still can't blog about, not all bad though, just waiting for 2 of the kids to get around to sharing their news before I can share it.

169. Sunday. Dad. The teen bought a card and gifts when he was here over Whitsun but forgot to sign it, 2 boys sent a message on FB after a prompt and have sent cards but sadly they didn't arrive in time.

I had my BOGOF blow dry, so decided to take up the 'free' one in the morning before flying to the UK as well as a manicure, pedicure and new shellac polish. I then had lunch with a friend, finished packing my case. I got to the airport at midnight, ready for my 2 flight to the UK via Istanbul.

170. Monday. Celebrate. It's the little things. After her initial upset that Uncle Peter wasn't with me, my 6 year old niece was easily pleased with her Hello Kitty kitchen roll gift, last time it was Hello Kitty toilet paper, you wouldn't believe how much excitement loo roll can generate.....lol.

Arrived on schedule at Birmingham. My sister collected me, the first time she's ever been able to do it due to her health, makes one hell of a difference not to have to catch a train/bus or pay for expensive car hire after such a long flight. Collected child 4 of 5's car to use for the summer as he's away with work until February, so it saves me quite a chunk of money this trip.

171. Tuesday. Colour. I brought the sun from Dubai with me, you can thank me later. It's been so nice being able to sit outside and enjoy it.

A lovely lie in, in the flat, so nice to have been able to unpack and have my own space. The afternoon was spent pottering around Tewkesbury and at the teens school, with his teachers trying to sort out his future once he leaves in 2 weeks time. I called in at my mums for a slice of her birthday cake, sadly it had all gone by the time I arrived.

172. Wednesday. The letter S.......The face of stress. I'm not sure how much more I can actually take.

I didn't sleep well, just couldn't get off and woke at 6am. There are a few bits and bobs of paperwork to sort on this trip, but no time limit as I don't have a return flight booked, so I taking one day at a time while I can. I met my sister in town for a coffee and spent the afternoon with my ex SIL and ex MIL before visiting child 2 and 2a for a fish and chip supper in their new home.

173. Thursday. Leaps. Feel like I'm constantly being forced to jump through hoops, but I'm not sure for whose entertainment.

There's a theme going on here. Another restless night and up early. I'm not hungry at all, but I'm forcing myself to eat, but I'm drinking plenty. More Coffee with my sister and out for lunch to meet her boyfriend, we had a nice afternoon. I was in my PJs by 6pm, watching trashy tv and reading trashy tv mags, trying to switch my brain off.

174. Friday. Doors. Enough with this weather now. I will confess I have found it hot, but not Dubai hot, but now the temps have dropped back to normal UK summer, equivalent to winter in Dubai, I'm finding it cold, everyone has all the doors and windows open and I'm now shivering.

Grrrrr still no sleep, been getting plenty of exercise, going for walks every day. Off to Hereford with my sister for a spot of retail therapy, called in to see my parents in the evening and attempted another early night.

175. Saturday. Cool. Early morning walk around town and coffee shop visit at 8am, so lovely to be able to sit outside. Did I mention that?

Pool party at my sisters with my 6 year old niece, and my older niece and her 3 year old, 18 month old and 2 month old boys. My first meeting with the new great nephew, he was born the day I left the UK on my last trip.

On the blog this week:

P is for ..... - My Sunday Photo
My Top 10 places to visit and view wildlife in South Africa - PoCoLo and Animal Tales
Things I wish I'd done differently now my kids have left home - TweensTeensBeyond and TriuphantTales

Bob is feeling better

Well Bob is feeling a lot better and thank you to everyone who has commented on last week's post, face book, instagram and twitter.

Bob has only put on .2kg over the past week after rapid weight loss over the previous 3 weeks, it seems that the rash has something to do with the sand, the skin infection was probably due to the rats in one of the out buildings he showed a close interest in and we still have no idea about why he has been losing weight.

However this weekend we are going to a dog meet up on the beach. it's a private event with a small charge. Dogs are banned on the beach in Dubai, which is a shame seeing as we only live 1km from it.

We'll deal with any sand rash by taking a large container of water with us to rinse him with before we drive home and we have cream from the vets. As you know we live in Dubai so avoiding the sand is very difficult, almost impossible.

Week 19 One Daily Positive, Project 366 and SnapHappyBritMums

What can I say about this week? Bob is ill, Peter has been away, work has been ok this week, so that's a positive. The weather is too hot, I've woken up at the end of the week with what appears to be the flu and next week isn't looking any different other than Peter isn't away, but he's working late every evening. I really should just 'snap out of it' and accept my lot in life, I've a trip to the UK coming soon, reduced working hours during Ramadan, money in the bank, my health (apart from the flu) a loving husband and a wonderful family that live 3000 miles and a 7 hour flight away. I won't get to see child 4 of 5 on the UK trip as he'll be in the Falklands.

On the blog this week:
#MySundayPhoto Bob
#AnimalTales It's all about the cat
#HDYGG Township Gardening in South Africa
#PoCoLo Positives about expat life
#Photalife Dog walking in the desert

Sunday Day 129 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ ‪#‎WhatMakesMeSmile‬ ‪#‎May ‬‪#‎snaphappybritmums‬ Bob has made me smile this evening. His‪#‎ConeOfShame‬ is secured with his collar, so when I clipped his lead on to take him for a walk tonight he couldn't see where he was going as it lifted his head up. But his tail is still wagging, he's eating and peeing and trying to follow me round the house stopping to stare at the walls he bumps into until I move him along.

Monday Day 130 #onedailypositive #project366 #Blue #May#snaphappybritmums it's been cloudy in Dubai today, no sign of the usual blue skies, but I'm grateful for the respite. Yesterday the temp in my car after work at 3.30pm was 47c, on my arrival home the air con was on full blast set at max 30c. In the UK today people are complaining about it being 26c, our minimum temps in #Dubai are higher than that. I guess it's all relative, was just a welcome break from the direct sunlight today.

Tuesday Day 131 #onedailypositive #project366 #father #May#snaphappybritmums my dads Father's Day gifts and card were sent back to the UK in January with one of the kids. When you live abroad you really do have to plan that far in advance, shame, the kids won't think that far ahead, but it's ok, we still love them.

Wednesday Day 132 #onedailypositive #project366 #symmetry #may #snaphappybritmums which ever way you look at it, it's the same. Work all day and work all evening. I really need to get on top of my game. Maybe I'm trying to hard, I'm only 2 weeks behind with evidencing the children's work and updating the tracking sheets, but it's too easy to fall behind and I don't do stress very well.

Thursday Day 133 #onedailypositive #project366 #flowers #may #snaphappybritmums it's the weekend in Dubai, I had my nails done and bought myself some flowers for the photo prompt, I was going to add it's been a long week, but every week feels like this now I'm back in work.

Friday Day 134 #onedailypositive #project366 #friends#may #snaphappybritmums we actually had a real person in our house yesterday, a colleagues of Peter's. Otherwise Peter and I are our own friends, with these two to keep us company and get us out the house.

Saturday Day 135 #onedailypositive #project366 #blog #may#snaphappybritmums I love my blog and social media name 'Chickenruby' it's about real life as an #expat #parenting #teens #specialneeds #charity #travel #education I'm not sponsored for my travel or to write any posts. I write about my experiences, adventures, thoughts and feelings. I try to inject a bit of humour into posts from time to time, I enjoy adding photos and I don't try to be or claim I'm anything else other than just a real person, living life day to day. I'm getting fed up with certain bloggers claiming to be experts in fields such as parenting and travel. How the hell does writing a sponsored post about an all inclusive, paid for holiday, give any advise to families traveling with children, or how does reviewing endless baby/kids stuff make one an expert on parenting? What these bloggers actually are, are walking bill boards. Advertising products that the average reader can't afford to buy, leaving some of them feeling inadequate and possibly getting into debt to provide these experiences and items for their children. Get real people please.

Enough is enough...no more moping

I've had it up to here with waiting for other people to get back to me.

I've had enough of companies failing to get back to me, individuals letting me down, by their lack of thought, effort and just dam right lies.

But no more...

I've been depressed, I've been ill, I've shouted, I've complained (telephone, email, letter and in person) I've cried.

And today it stops.

I've given up with my complaint against Vodafone for their complete lack of customer care, refusing to respond to emails, phone calls.

I will not dignify Britannia Movers with replying to their latest email that started....'without prejudice' and ended with 'we contacted the agent in the UK, they said they had no problems' so that's alright then.

I'm resigned to the fact that I don't have a volunteers role with The London2012 Olympics (if anything is offered now it will be accepted)

I'm not going to the Doctors for advice and guidance, they can give me pills, refer me for therapy, but they can't take away how I've felt for the past year, they can't magic me up a job (no one can, the laws of the country make it almost impossible for me to work her). No one can remove the damage that has been done to me as an individual from all the above.

It's my responsibility I've allowed these things to get to me in the absence of anything else in my life (work, study, friends)

I will continue with my quest for compensation with HSBC after I recieved a letter of apology for the fact their advisor and literature mislead us.

I will continue to chase Barloworld Toyota for my tyre pressure guage, even if I have to pay for it myself.

I've got out of bed, I've dressed, I've photocopied my passport to take to the police station to get finger printed so I can get my police clearance check and then I can call some organisations that people have recommend and start the voluntary work.

I'm going to sort Daniels provisional licence out, book Alex his scuba diving lessons, Go to visit the offices of Discovery Med Aid and ask them exactly how this bloody scheme works adn I'm going back to UNISA to find out what course I can study that is relevant to what I've already done and to living here. I've contacted the Open University to find out how/if I can continue with my studies.

But first of all I shall start with a cup of tea, after all I'm British and that's what we do in a crisis.