I’m allowing myself to feel a bit smug this weekend as my first 'proper’ week of 2019 went better than I thought possible. I think I already felt more confident because the first week of the year allowed me to get a lot of rest and recover my strength.
This week was when I returned to volunteering, to the gym, to ‘real life’ again. I volunteered on Monday and Friday, as planned, and got so much work done that I surprised myself. I think having a two-week break from it was exactly what I needed to be able to make a comeback and smash it.
What surprised me more was my sudden motivation to fulfil my exercise goals. I exercised every single day this week - I went to the gym and did my workout (which includes strength training and cardio, using my whole body) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; on Tuesday I did a beginner’s yoga routine and attended physio; and on Thursday I followed an upper body workout video by FitnessBlender.
As a result of this utter madness, I am sore all over and my muscles don’t know what’s hit them. I also appear to have developed tendonitis on the top of my left foot, which is really painful and inconvenient. I’ve used the weekend to rest it and it’s gotten a bit better, so I hope it won’t become an Ongoing Thing. On a more positive note, my abs are sore for the first time in probably my entire life, which means they must’ve been working enough this week to make a difference. I also had an amazing revelation on Friday – I wasn’t absolutely dreading the gym! I won’t lie to you and say I was excited for it, but it’s just become another thing on the ‘to do’ list. Nothing to be alarmed about. And for me that is such a huge step in the right direction. I can only hope that I continue to feel neutral about it. I daren’t hope that I might enjoy it someday.
My new approach to eating has also been successful so far. I eat less at breakfast and lunch, and make sure to have vegetables and protein in my dinner. I have one treat (one piece of chocolate, one Jaffa Cake, etc), but this is only until my Christmas chocolate runs out, and then I won’t be buying more. I am still going to allow myself to have treats every now and then, but I’m being much stricter about it. I’m not counting calories, but I’d honestly be surprised if I was currently eating more than 1500 a day. And I think this, combined with my water intake going up again, is making me feel better already. I’m so incredibly worn out from the busy week, but I feel really proud of myself for being so productive.
At the moment, my naturally pessimistic brain is wondering how long it’ll be until I burn out, but I’m quite happy to ride the wave of feeling accomplished until that happens. Maybe it won’t. I can only hope!
I’m trying to get back into the habit of writing, which is why I decided to post this blog despite continually reminding myself that this is only interesting to me. Writing for an audience isn’t a priority at the moment; writing for myself and getting the writing bug back is my more reasonable goal for now.
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 January 2019
Monday, 10 October 2016
Dead Tired, Part 2
I went to Bath, to attend my appointment at what is probably the poshest hospital I've ever been to. The hospital is a grade-II listed building, and a group tour was being educated on the building's previous uses while they gawked at the lovely architecture, right next to the front door that I had to get through. Which was quite awkward.
The doctor thinks I have features of both M.E. and fibromyalgia. They're both very similar syndromes so it's quite hard to pinpoint which one it could be, or if it's some nightmare combination of the two. I've been offered a place in a support group starting next month, which I highly doubt I can afford to get to for six weeks. So I'm researching help that's a bit closer to home, as well as self-help and just more general information on both of the conditions. I don't really know what my next step will be, I think gathering information is the main priority.
As you can probably tell, there's not a lot to talk about. I've been either working or in an exhausted stupor, but I'm hoping to become a bit more productive soon (this is doubtful, but I can hope).
The doctor thinks I have features of both M.E. and fibromyalgia. They're both very similar syndromes so it's quite hard to pinpoint which one it could be, or if it's some nightmare combination of the two. I've been offered a place in a support group starting next month, which I highly doubt I can afford to get to for six weeks. So I'm researching help that's a bit closer to home, as well as self-help and just more general information on both of the conditions. I don't really know what my next step will be, I think gathering information is the main priority.
As you can probably tell, there's not a lot to talk about. I've been either working or in an exhausted stupor, but I'm hoping to become a bit more productive soon (this is doubtful, but I can hope).
Monday, 15 August 2016
Dead Tired
I've had concerns for some time now that I may be suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). My day-to-day life has been increasingly difficult over the last two years or so, and lately I've been feeling worse and worse every day. It's at the point now where popping out to the shops or putting out laundry is physically exhausting. If I'm not at work, 90% of the time I'm in bed. Not even sleeping, just in bed because I'm too tired to do anything. It's affecting my work life negatively too - I had to miss my shift on Saturday, and - when I am at work - I feel that my performance isn't anywhere near 100%. I've been feeling incredibly miserable because of it, and a bit like life isn't really worth it. What kind of life is it when you simply can't do the smallest things?
In the two years since the onset of the particular symptoms that led me to suspect CFS, I have taken any and all medical advice and treatment in order to rule out other possibilities. We've ruled out depression, as I've been depressed for many years and these new symptoms were only a recent manifestation (if 2014 is recent). My thyroid is fine, and - though I've previously suffered from anaemia and low iron - I've recently been treated with iron and my levels are normal again, with no change in exhaustion. My lifestyle now is better than it's ever been: I've cut down on sugar and caffeine; I eat way more fruit and veg than I used to, and eat home-cooked meals every day; I hardly drink alcohol any more and when I do it isn't to excess; I drink at least 1.5 litres of water every day. I've had anti-depressants, SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and CBT. I've tried practicing sleep hygiene, mindfulness, and yoga. Nothing has helped.
I went to the doctor today and told her all about the symptoms, what it has done/is doing to my life, everything I've tried and ruled out, and my own fears about it being CFS. She immediately said she's going to refer me to a CFS specialist; I didn't think I'd be taken too seriously but she was really on board, and I appreciate it so much. I have to have a virology blood screening tomorrow, just as a requirement for the place (doctor's sure nothing will come up, because what virus lasts for two years undetected?), and then she'll send off all of my bloodwork and a letter of referral. Hopefully I'll be hearing from them soon. I feel happier already knowing that I've gotten the ball rolling on either diagnosing me, or ruling out another possibility. I slightly lament the fact that I really should have seen somebody earlier, but I know they're very insistent on ruling out other possibilities before investigating for CFS, so on the other hand I'm glad I've tried other diagnoses and treatment.
I'm also planning a major overhaul of this blog. I don't know when it'll happen, but now that I've written it on here I feel obligated to get it done. I'm going to be updating the template and all of my pages, changing colours and fonts, and just generally tweaking it a bunch. I feel like this blog's a bit stale and I need to revamp it. The planning is going quite nicely but we all know that planning and executing are two very different things (especially if you take the word 'execute' literally!).
In the two years since the onset of the particular symptoms that led me to suspect CFS, I have taken any and all medical advice and treatment in order to rule out other possibilities. We've ruled out depression, as I've been depressed for many years and these new symptoms were only a recent manifestation (if 2014 is recent). My thyroid is fine, and - though I've previously suffered from anaemia and low iron - I've recently been treated with iron and my levels are normal again, with no change in exhaustion. My lifestyle now is better than it's ever been: I've cut down on sugar and caffeine; I eat way more fruit and veg than I used to, and eat home-cooked meals every day; I hardly drink alcohol any more and when I do it isn't to excess; I drink at least 1.5 litres of water every day. I've had anti-depressants, SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and CBT. I've tried practicing sleep hygiene, mindfulness, and yoga. Nothing has helped.
I went to the doctor today and told her all about the symptoms, what it has done/is doing to my life, everything I've tried and ruled out, and my own fears about it being CFS. She immediately said she's going to refer me to a CFS specialist; I didn't think I'd be taken too seriously but she was really on board, and I appreciate it so much. I have to have a virology blood screening tomorrow, just as a requirement for the place (doctor's sure nothing will come up, because what virus lasts for two years undetected?), and then she'll send off all of my bloodwork and a letter of referral. Hopefully I'll be hearing from them soon. I feel happier already knowing that I've gotten the ball rolling on either diagnosing me, or ruling out another possibility. I slightly lament the fact that I really should have seen somebody earlier, but I know they're very insistent on ruling out other possibilities before investigating for CFS, so on the other hand I'm glad I've tried other diagnoses and treatment.
***
I'm also planning a major overhaul of this blog. I don't know when it'll happen, but now that I've written it on here I feel obligated to get it done. I'm going to be updating the template and all of my pages, changing colours and fonts, and just generally tweaking it a bunch. I feel like this blog's a bit stale and I need to revamp it. The planning is going quite nicely but we all know that planning and executing are two very different things (especially if you take the word 'execute' literally!).
Monday, 28 March 2016
A Stab in the Knee
I've been preoccupied with my ridiculous knees this week. On Tuesday I went back to the hospital to have them looked at again. The doctor decided to give me a cortisone injection in my left knee (the worse one of the two); I agreed because anything that might help me not be in pain is fine by me. Basically this big ol' needle gets poked under your kneecap and injects into the joint; the cortisone is a steroid-based anti-inflammatory that's supposed to help soothe pain. It was the most traumatising thing ever. I'm cool with needles and injections, but having one in the joint was the grossest feeling, and it hurt. It's not a permanent fix, but it's all they can really do. It turns out that my cartilage is soft and rough because of my hyper-flexible joints (I can bend them backwards slightly, it's really creepy), so basically my own body has screwed up my knees. Rad! Here's a photo of me looking miserable before the doctor returned with the biggest needle I've ever seen:
My knee felt so weird for days, like it was hollow and full of liquid. I had some pretty crap side effects, especially when I defied doctor's orders to rest and went to work on Thursday. I kept flushing (my cheeks went red, and my face was really hot), so much so that my boss actually sent me out back to sit down and have some water. My knee was killing me after standing on it for hours, and swelled up. I also had some pretty bad chest pains, which wasn't worrying at all (lie). I'm feeling much better now, but my knee is still hurting on and off. When it doesn't hurt though, it's bliss. My knees have been paining me since I was 15, I can't remember what not being in pain feels like. It's bloody weird.
On Wednesday, I baked some Easter nest cakes to take to work on Thursday. They've gotten positive reviews so far, so I'm happy with that. They were delicious, if I may say so myself! Mum has gotten me some Mary Berry books as an early birthday present, and I'm currently perusing those to decide what to bake next!
On the most adorable nephew front, Ethan has figured out how to get onto his hands and knees, and is beginning to learn how to shuffle forward (he could only shuffle backwards before). So he'll soon be crawling around, and his parents better watch out! I can't believe how fast he's growing - he's over 8 months old already. Here's a gorgeous photo of him looking very pleased with himself:
I've also finally made a start on the travel scrapbook I bought after my two months in America, in 2014. Yes, it's taken me this long to be bothered to do it. My problem is that I want the scrapbook to look as beautiful as all the ones I see online, but I know I'm not talented enough to make it that way (and I can't afford all the materials/equipment). So I end up putting it off because I don't want to spoil it by actually doing it. Does that make sense? I'm sure most of you understand unless you're ridiculously creative, in which case I hate you a bit.
Today, I also started my Yearly Purge. I only did a little bit, but today is the official beginning of the Purge, and I will do a little every time I have a moment/the motivation. I sorted out my toiletries hamper, first aid box, and expanding file for all my documents. I plan to be ridiculously brutal this year, get rid of everything that I don't need or will never use/wear.
It's 10 days until my 24th birthday. I can't believe how quickly that's come around this year. 2016 is flying by with horrifying vigour. I have embryonic plans to go to London and stay at Lana's for a weekend, a Bristol trip with Susie, and I'm planning to ask Mum and Caz if they want to do lunch/dinner/something with me around my birthday. It's gonna be gooood.
P.S. My Iwako collection has grown - I now also have a hamster, panda, and pig:
My knee felt so weird for days, like it was hollow and full of liquid. I had some pretty crap side effects, especially when I defied doctor's orders to rest and went to work on Thursday. I kept flushing (my cheeks went red, and my face was really hot), so much so that my boss actually sent me out back to sit down and have some water. My knee was killing me after standing on it for hours, and swelled up. I also had some pretty bad chest pains, which wasn't worrying at all (lie). I'm feeling much better now, but my knee is still hurting on and off. When it doesn't hurt though, it's bliss. My knees have been paining me since I was 15, I can't remember what not being in pain feels like. It's bloody weird.
On Wednesday, I baked some Easter nest cakes to take to work on Thursday. They've gotten positive reviews so far, so I'm happy with that. They were delicious, if I may say so myself! Mum has gotten me some Mary Berry books as an early birthday present, and I'm currently perusing those to decide what to bake next!
On the most adorable nephew front, Ethan has figured out how to get onto his hands and knees, and is beginning to learn how to shuffle forward (he could only shuffle backwards before). So he'll soon be crawling around, and his parents better watch out! I can't believe how fast he's growing - he's over 8 months old already. Here's a gorgeous photo of him looking very pleased with himself:
I've also finally made a start on the travel scrapbook I bought after my two months in America, in 2014. Yes, it's taken me this long to be bothered to do it. My problem is that I want the scrapbook to look as beautiful as all the ones I see online, but I know I'm not talented enough to make it that way (and I can't afford all the materials/equipment). So I end up putting it off because I don't want to spoil it by actually doing it. Does that make sense? I'm sure most of you understand unless you're ridiculously creative, in which case I hate you a bit.
Today, I also started my Yearly Purge. I only did a little bit, but today is the official beginning of the Purge, and I will do a little every time I have a moment/the motivation. I sorted out my toiletries hamper, first aid box, and expanding file for all my documents. I plan to be ridiculously brutal this year, get rid of everything that I don't need or will never use/wear.
It's 10 days until my 24th birthday. I can't believe how quickly that's come around this year. 2016 is flying by with horrifying vigour. I have embryonic plans to go to London and stay at Lana's for a weekend, a Bristol trip with Susie, and I'm planning to ask Mum and Caz if they want to do lunch/dinner/something with me around my birthday. It's gonna be gooood.
P.S. My Iwako collection has grown - I now also have a hamster, panda, and pig:
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
From My Bed of Pain
I'm stuck here for the day having just had surgery on my big toes. They have such large dressings on them that I look like I'm wearing huge marshmallows, it's pretty hilarious. The anaesthetic is wearing off though, so they'll soon be stinging away. The upside is that there's a 95% chance of me never getting an ingrown toenail again. Which I think is a fair enough exchange for a few days of pain and rest.
I am utterly dreading going to the dentist tomorrow morning, for a few reasons..
I am utterly dreading going to the dentist tomorrow morning, for a few reasons..
- I've not been to the dentist (apart from back in 2013 for my wisdom tooth blues) since I turned 18. That's a good 5 years of just winging it, which is dreadful.
- I'm scared of being told off by the dentist, because my old dentist (who was the last straw for me not going for so long) was so rude to me all of the time.
- I have a huge, inexplicable phobia of that hook-shaped scrape-y tool that the dentist uses to scratch and poke at your teeth - pretty sure it's called a scaler?? I was talking to my psychologist about it the other day and was actually sweating and shaking just thinking about it. Luckily, Caz is an angel and is coming with me for moral support (and to tell the dentist off if he's scary).
But the dentist's office I'm registered with is housed in a gorgeous Victorian building up in Old Town, so that cheers me up somewhat. At least I'll be in a pretty environment while I'm tortured with the hook-shaped scrape-y dentist tool.
It is 6 days until Ashleigh's due date, which means we'll soon be welcoming my new nephew into the world! I'm so excited to meet him - this year has been so crap in so many ways, but the thought of a new little life beginning is buoying me up. I made Ashleigh a gorgeous dark and white chocolate layer cake when Mum and I went to visit her last Sunday (and it was delicious, I have to say!) just to give her a lovely treat. We're all just hoping and praying that baby stays put until Liam gets back home on Friday!
I'm looking forward to the weekend because Susie and I are going to be having a brilliant day/evening out in Bristol. It'll be so much fun - I love Bristol, and haven't been (for leisure) in aaaages.
Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Misogyny at the Pool
I was at the pool today, and I'd stopped swimming to have a breather, when I overheard a guy and a girl near me. This guy was telling the girl that she had 'put on a bunch of weight' this year, and how she needed to stop treating herself and exercise more. Bear in mind, this was in the pool where she'd been swimming for longer than I'd been in there. There was literally nothing wrong with this girl's figure - she looked perfectly healthy! Further to this, the guy berating her was legitimately very overweight, and a lot of what he told her about protein and carbs was completely wrong (I may not know tonnes, but I actually read up on things before I started trying to be healthy).
It's just pure misogyny. He had absolutely no right to make her feel like shit for putting on a couple of pounds when he clearly wasn't athletic himself. It came across like it was totally ok for him to be overweight, but if a woman dares to put on weight, it's the end of the world. It just really riled me because it was completely unfair, and I imagine it was pretty humiliating for the girl. Even if she was overweight, it doesn't matter! She's obviously trying to stay fit and healthy by going swimming, which is the most important thing.
Aside from actual, medical opinions on people whose weight (overweight or underweight) is significantly affecting their health, or a personal trainer who knows what they're talking about and has been employed by somebody to tell them what they need to work on, nobody has the right to dictate to other people what they 'should' be doing with their bodies.
Why do people still think it's ok to act like this? I bet if she'd said something about his weight, he would have been pissed off. It's completely ridiculous. And for the record, I'm not a """Feminazi""" (I hate that expression - fighting for equal rights is actually the complete opposite of the Nazi system, please go to a history lesson) - even if it was two girls, or two guys, or whatever, I would have still been pretty disgusted just because of the sheer hypocrisy of it.
Sorry about this rant, just needed to get this out because seeing people treat their so-called friends like shit makes me cross.
It's just pure misogyny. He had absolutely no right to make her feel like shit for putting on a couple of pounds when he clearly wasn't athletic himself. It came across like it was totally ok for him to be overweight, but if a woman dares to put on weight, it's the end of the world. It just really riled me because it was completely unfair, and I imagine it was pretty humiliating for the girl. Even if she was overweight, it doesn't matter! She's obviously trying to stay fit and healthy by going swimming, which is the most important thing.
Aside from actual, medical opinions on people whose weight (overweight or underweight) is significantly affecting their health, or a personal trainer who knows what they're talking about and has been employed by somebody to tell them what they need to work on, nobody has the right to dictate to other people what they 'should' be doing with their bodies.
Why do people still think it's ok to act like this? I bet if she'd said something about his weight, he would have been pissed off. It's completely ridiculous. And for the record, I'm not a """Feminazi""" (I hate that expression - fighting for equal rights is actually the complete opposite of the Nazi system, please go to a history lesson) - even if it was two girls, or two guys, or whatever, I would have still been pretty disgusted just because of the sheer hypocrisy of it.
Sorry about this rant, just needed to get this out because seeing people treat their so-called friends like shit makes me cross.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
A New Semester
I said I wanted to blog more here. It is now the early hours of January 22nd - so much for that resolution! I have accumulated several things to talk about, so here goes...
I have started the utterly terrifying process of looking for and applying for jobs, internships, etc. I've found several media companies that sound promising, and I'm going to see one of the Careers Advisers at uni to talk about whether there's more I can do to find graduate positions. One internship I'm especially excited about is a travel writing one! Obviously, that's the area I want to work in, so that's a good start, but it's also good because it's online/home-based so I can start immediately and fit it around my university work. I applied last week, and received an email yesterday saying that somebody would be in touch with me. So, fingers crossed that that works out! In the meantime though, I'm going to continue poking around and seeing what I can find in the way of other opportunities.
I've also started the ball rolling on going over to the USA in the summer to be a camp counsellor! I had my first interview via phone yesterday, and I've been filling out the application today. It's quite daunting, there are a lot of things I need to think about (renewing my passport, going to the US Embassy to apply for my visa, medical and police checks, etc), plus it's quite a bit of money that I'll have to part with to make it happen, but I am determined! The camps run for around 9 weeks, so I'll spend that time helping the kids with activities and games etc. Then afterwards, I'll have a chance to travel to some places in the States with my little wage packet that I'll earn at camp - I haven't decided exactly where I'm going to go yet, but my top 5 currently stands at: New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, maybe venturing to Canada or Mexico. So, watch out America (more like, watch out Kayleigh you are a pasty English girl and you will melt in the unforgiving sun)!
Second semester started this week. I had two classes on Monday - History of the English Language and Online Journalism. History of English was so interesting, and I'm really excited about the module, plus the lecturer is really nice. It'll be good to know more about where my language originated and what changes it's gone through.
Online Journalism is also a great module that I'm really excited about. Basically, we all have to set up a site about a topic that will be relevant to the sort of career we want. Of course, I immediately decided that mine should be about travelling! I'm going to review places I go to (places of historical interest/natural beauty, museums, landmarks, etc), and talk about lesser-known destinations in order to clue people in to places that are a little different to the usual holiday locations. I'm really excited to start working on it - I already have a page set up, but I'm looking forward to actually writing on it.
I am starting to swim in earnest now, as part of my 'get fit or die tryin' lifestyle kick. Yesterday I did 30 laps of the pool and felt great when I was done. I'm really enjoying the swimming now I've realised I'm not as unfit as I feared. I'm going again tomorrow, and then next week I'm going to up the ante and go swimming three times a week, like I originally wanted to.
Therapy is also going well; my counsellor is a really nice guy, and we get along well, so I find it quite easy to speak to him about any difficulties I have. I'm going to be seeing him more or less once a week right up until I finish uni, in the hopes of giving me a bit more peace of mind. I must say, having a neutral space to fight out all of the conflicting thoughts and negative feelings is a good thing. When I saw Richard on Monday, I came out of the session feeling incredibly light and less downtrodden than I had before I'd gone in.
I'm excited today because Lana is coming over on Friday for the weekend! I'm really looking forward to seeing her as it's been a good long while since the last time, and Friday is the day after her birthday! So this weekend will be a kind of birthday celebration too; I have posh scotch for the special occasion. On Saturday, we're going to go to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in London - I've never been before, so it's going to be a lot of fun and really interesting. Plus I'm going with one of my favourite people in the whole world, which makes it a thousand times cooler. A feature/review on the Grand Museum Outing will quite possibly be my first post on the aforementioned travel site for Online Journalism.
I also get to show Lana The Counterfeiters, a new favourite film of mine (and not just because it contains my favourite German actor - and possibly favourite man - August Diehl); I'm looking forward to that because I know she enjoys World War 2 stories. The Counterfeiters is based on a true story from the war, and it's an absolutely great film. Also, August Diehl.
I will attempt to blog more. Note that I say attempt. I'm hoping there will be enough going on in the coming weeks to be able to have plenty to talk about, but I can't make any promises.
I have started the utterly terrifying process of looking for and applying for jobs, internships, etc. I've found several media companies that sound promising, and I'm going to see one of the Careers Advisers at uni to talk about whether there's more I can do to find graduate positions. One internship I'm especially excited about is a travel writing one! Obviously, that's the area I want to work in, so that's a good start, but it's also good because it's online/home-based so I can start immediately and fit it around my university work. I applied last week, and received an email yesterday saying that somebody would be in touch with me. So, fingers crossed that that works out! In the meantime though, I'm going to continue poking around and seeing what I can find in the way of other opportunities.
I've also started the ball rolling on going over to the USA in the summer to be a camp counsellor! I had my first interview via phone yesterday, and I've been filling out the application today. It's quite daunting, there are a lot of things I need to think about (renewing my passport, going to the US Embassy to apply for my visa, medical and police checks, etc), plus it's quite a bit of money that I'll have to part with to make it happen, but I am determined! The camps run for around 9 weeks, so I'll spend that time helping the kids with activities and games etc. Then afterwards, I'll have a chance to travel to some places in the States with my little wage packet that I'll earn at camp - I haven't decided exactly where I'm going to go yet, but my top 5 currently stands at: New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, maybe venturing to Canada or Mexico. So, watch out America (more like, watch out Kayleigh you are a pasty English girl and you will melt in the unforgiving sun)!
Second semester started this week. I had two classes on Monday - History of the English Language and Online Journalism. History of English was so interesting, and I'm really excited about the module, plus the lecturer is really nice. It'll be good to know more about where my language originated and what changes it's gone through.
Online Journalism is also a great module that I'm really excited about. Basically, we all have to set up a site about a topic that will be relevant to the sort of career we want. Of course, I immediately decided that mine should be about travelling! I'm going to review places I go to (places of historical interest/natural beauty, museums, landmarks, etc), and talk about lesser-known destinations in order to clue people in to places that are a little different to the usual holiday locations. I'm really excited to start working on it - I already have a page set up, but I'm looking forward to actually writing on it.
I am starting to swim in earnest now, as part of my 'get fit or die tryin' lifestyle kick. Yesterday I did 30 laps of the pool and felt great when I was done. I'm really enjoying the swimming now I've realised I'm not as unfit as I feared. I'm going again tomorrow, and then next week I'm going to up the ante and go swimming three times a week, like I originally wanted to.
Therapy is also going well; my counsellor is a really nice guy, and we get along well, so I find it quite easy to speak to him about any difficulties I have. I'm going to be seeing him more or less once a week right up until I finish uni, in the hopes of giving me a bit more peace of mind. I must say, having a neutral space to fight out all of the conflicting thoughts and negative feelings is a good thing. When I saw Richard on Monday, I came out of the session feeling incredibly light and less downtrodden than I had before I'd gone in.
I'm excited today because Lana is coming over on Friday for the weekend! I'm really looking forward to seeing her as it's been a good long while since the last time, and Friday is the day after her birthday! So this weekend will be a kind of birthday celebration too; I have posh scotch for the special occasion. On Saturday, we're going to go to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in London - I've never been before, so it's going to be a lot of fun and really interesting. Plus I'm going with one of my favourite people in the whole world, which makes it a thousand times cooler. A feature/review on the Grand Museum Outing will quite possibly be my first post on the aforementioned travel site for Online Journalism.
I also get to show Lana The Counterfeiters, a new favourite film of mine (and not just because it contains my favourite German actor - and possibly favourite man - August Diehl); I'm looking forward to that because I know she enjoys World War 2 stories. The Counterfeiters is based on a true story from the war, and it's an absolutely great film. Also, August Diehl.
I will attempt to blog more. Note that I say attempt. I'm hoping there will be enough going on in the coming weeks to be able to have plenty to talk about, but I can't make any promises.
Thursday, 4 July 2013
"The Blood Is The Life!"
Trust me to use a quote from Dracula about today's experience! I went to donate blood for the first time in my life this evening; it was definitely exciting and interesting. Because I've had so many blood tests, the needles didn't bother me, and all of the staff were clear and instructive, and made me feel at ease. I would occasionally peer over at the blood bag to see the blood, as it comes out of the body so dark it fascinates me. It was amazing to think all of that came from this little needle in my arm!
Afterwards I felt a little bit wobbly, like when a baby antelope has just learned to walk. I soon perked up after a big glass of orange squash and a Penguin bar. I also took two stickers to wear proudly on my way home! Here they are:
I'm glad I went to do it, as it didn't affect me badly, and I was thrilled when I was told I am able to give blood while on my medication; it's something I've been interested in doing for a long time, and I think I will make this a regular thing. Just knowing that that bag of blood, which wasn't a huge loss to me, may save someone's life one day is an amazing feeling. My little brother Ryan (who came with me to keep me company) seemed both fascinated and slightly revolted, but maintained afterwards that giving blood is something he really wants to do when he's old enough, which he is in just under a year!
Afterwards I felt a little bit wobbly, like when a baby antelope has just learned to walk. I soon perked up after a big glass of orange squash and a Penguin bar. I also took two stickers to wear proudly on my way home! Here they are:
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| (the top one says 'Be nice to me' on it - I accidentally cut it off) |
I just wanted to make a blog about this because it's a new experience, and I would like to say that it's not at all scary or uncomfortable; once you have that initial needle scratch, it's plain sailing! As long as you follow the staff's instructions, you'll be fine afterwards. I would recommend people go to donate if they are able to and if they meet the criteria for healthy blood giving; blood is always needed in the medical world, and even one donation of just under a pint could potentially keep somebody alive and fighting for longer.
Because I don't have much money, giving blood is kind of like charity to me (like filling the donation bags that get posted to our house with items I don't want/need any more); it's free to do and makes you feel really good about potentially helping others. Here's a photo of me looking pleased with myself to finish off this entry:
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