Health

Springing into April with My Chronic Illness Writing Prompts.

Each month I enjoy joining in with Sheryl’s Chronic Illness Writing Prompts as it gives me a chance to give my readers more of an insight to my life. There are both good and bad things living with a chronic illness and the prompts give me lots of food for thought. This months Prompts are; Springing, Grounding, Luxuriating, Daunting and Sustaining. Here are my takes on these prompts.

Springing

I love the Seasons we get here in the UK and this week alone we have definitely been springing into April. Last week we had glorious sunshine and this week it’s been snow. It’s quite surreal but I’m honestly hoping that the cold weather will soon be springing away and we will get our sunshine back.

There is not much else springing up here. I don’t know what’s wrong with my garden but it really doesn’t like flowers or plants. Even if I keep them in pots they don’t seem to thrive. It must be the sun, it comes up at the front of the house and the back garden doesn’t get the sunshine until later. We are so enclosed that the sun only really shines on our back garden just before it sets. So, I literally have seen one flower so far, that was on my rose bush at the top of my garden, so maybe that’s were we get the most sun?

I most certainly haven’t had a spring in my step, I’ve been really ill and my Little Man has had an accident. I think we need winding up for some fun in the next few weeks.

Grounding

I can relate to this prompt. I have practiced grounding in the past but now I focus on reconnecting with the earth through Reiki and Crystals. I may write more about my experiences with these in the future, but as I am currently taking a course in Reiki healing with Crystals and I don’t want to share until I’m completely up to date.

I do remember many years ago doing a meditation exercise where I would imagine roots growing through my feet into the ground and connecting me to the earth. It used to make me feel connected to nature and the world around me. At the time I was fit and healthy body wise, but I used to suffer with my mental health and along with yoga it would help me feel much better.

I think grounding is a great way of keeping your mental health in check, it certainly helps with anxiety. It’s a simple holistic approach to make you feel better.

Luxuriating

I know a lovely lady who recently started a Body Shop business and she gave me a fantastic tip. By using their Body Butter and a razor it is possible to shave your legs without water. I haven’t shaved my legs in years. I did have a No No but it’s really old now and it’s one of those gadgets that you need to use regularly to work well. Being chronically ill means I don’t have the luxury of spending much time on myself, particularly if it takes some effort. Using the Body Butter method I was able to shave my legs while lying on a towel on my bed. It worked lovely and my legs were left nice and soft and hair free. Plus I smelt delicious too, there are lots of smells to choose from but I used the coconut body butter.

I don’t really have much time for indulging in luxuriating but I do like to take care of myself when I can. The occasional luxury product can make you feel so much better. I love my new crystal facial roller, it makes it easier for me to massage in my face cream and it feels so cool and massages lovely.

crystal facial roller — Crystal facial roller

Daunting

It has definitely been a daunting few weeks for me. Not only have I been ill, but I had a bad reaction to my treatment which lost me two days. It’s probably the illness I had before that caused the bad reaction to the treatment. Sadly, the illness has not cleared up and has actually got worse. I’m currently waiting for test results. Fingers crossed I can get whatever it is treated properly soon.

Having my son break his arm has been daunting too, he’s not coped with it very well. When I think back to all the health problems and operations that Star had I really believe that children cope better the younger they are. The Little Man is ten years old and he is more aware of what is happening to him than Star ever was at just seven years. As daunting as it all might be, it can surely only get better from now on.

Sustaining

Sheryl gave several different definitions for sustaining…

Sustaining an injury, tick (well, the Little Man is)

Sustaining every day life, tick. Boy have the last few weeks been difficult, we have tried to sustain normality.

Sustaining an interest in learning something new, tick. I’m always learning, taking new courses, finding new things out. As I mentioned earlier I’m currently doing a crystal reiki healing course, so hopefully I can improve things in the future.

We have also been sustaining a better diet for the whole family. I have family members with food issues and family members with gastric issues, so healthy eating is the basic key to improve.

Returning to Normal

This isn’t one of the writing prompts but something I wanted to add as I don’t talk so much about my chronic illness on my blog now.

In the UK the lockdown restrictions are easing, you can go shopping, go to the pub (outside.) have your hair and nails done, go to the gym and meet up with friends and family (outside.) My Social Media timelines are filled with people talking about what they are going to do and what they are looking forward too.

Me, I’m looking forward to my next issue of my crochet magazine.

For a lot of people with chronic illness, lockdown life is something we are used to. Spending weeks at home, not seeing anyone, not doing anything, is our normal. We don’t get visitors, we don’t really want to see anyone when we are going through a rough patch. We don’t get out, and if we do it takes a couple of days to recover. I honestly haven’t missed much at all.

Outing and holidays are restricted because of my condition and mobility. Even a trip to the hairdresser is a logistic nightmare.

The past year has been a strange one. To see people complain about not being able to go out when they wish, or go on holiday, or miss big family gatherings, makes you think even more about what you are missing out on. Usually I’m just seeing posts of gatherings that I’ve missed out on, but you kind of get used to that. When you hear about how much others are missing that it just brings it all home on just how much your life really sucks all the time.

I’m happy that everyone else is getting their lives back, no-one should have to carry on like this. I will never give up hope that there will be something that gives me my life back one day. I can’t wait to celebrate.

If you enjoyed this post you can read more of my monthly writing prompt posts here.

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Five Little Ways to Feel Good

by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage, but the ‘stay at home’ rule in England has recently been lifted, meaning the official lockdown has ended, and people can start to leave the house more frequently. This should be a boost to the country’s collective mood, as things seem to be improving – but there are still difficult times ahead. It’s important to find ways to feel good and to improve your mood wherever you can. Here are five small things you can do to keep positive in these difficult times.

1. Get Moving

Exercising every day could have a huge impact on your mood. If you exercise strenuously enough to raise your heart rate, your body will release endorphins – happy hormones – that reduce stress levels and make you feel good.

Find a type of exercise you enjoy and do it regularly. It might be something as simple as lifting small weights, or doing some seated yoga while dinner is in the oven.

Adding a social element is another way to make yourself feel good, so meet up with friends when it’s safe to do so and do some exercise together.

2. Relax!

Exercising is all well and good, but it’s also super important to find time to relax and put your feet up. Life can be busy and stressful, so carve out some time for yourself every week in which you can just do nothing.

It’s not always easy to relax with so much going on, so you might need some extra help. Some people love doing yoga or meditating to help them relax, while others swear by CBD oil. You can buy CBD products at vapecbdworld.com if you want to try them out. See what works for you and find a way to wind down.

3. Phone a Friend

Chatting with loved ones is a great way to boost your mood. By now, a lot of people are sick of Zoom and video chats, so remember, there’s nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned phone call!

Phoning a friend or family member who has been shielding is a great way to show you’re there for them. Don’t worry if you don’t have much to say; even a quick five-minute hello will cheer someone else up, and this will make you feel good too.

4. Have Some Fun

A lot of people are feeling the need to be productive all the time at the moment, but it’s impossible to be forward-thinking all the time. A great way to make yourself feel good is to make an effort to have some fun.

Find any way you can to have fun at home – that might mean digging out some board games to play with the family, playing video games, or listening to podcasts.

Do something you enjoy and make the most of your time at home!

5. Plan Ahead

The restrictions we’re all facing won’t last forever, even if it feels like that sometimes. Use this time to make some plans for the future.

Book a ‘staycation’ somewhere in the UK for the summertime, so you have something to look forward to. This will get you through the moments when you feel low.

It’s more important than ever to look after your mental health and find ways to cheer yourself up. Find out what works for you and keep your spirits up!

This is a collaborative post you can read my Disclosure Policy here.

Ear Infections and How To Treat Them

by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

Have you ever had an ear infection. I think most people have and they are pretty awful. I have always had bad ears, starting with Glue Ear as a child and having many Ear, nose and throat infections.

ear - lady lying on her sign showing an ear.

Symptoms of Ear Infections

The most common symptoms of ear infections include

earache or pain
fever
discharge/fluid from the ear
deafness or blocked ears
dizziness
noises in the ear/tinnitus

Ear infections can be caused by virus, bacteria, fungus or yeast and can affect the outer, middle or inner parts of your ear.

Taking Care of Your Ears

We all need to take care of our ears as we would do any other part of our body. Earing loss can occur at any time but prolonged exposure to loud noise or headphone use can exacerbate this problem. Here are some tips on how you can take better care of your ears and prevent infections and hearing loss.

Use Earplugs if you have to be around loud noises frequently.
Limit your use of headphone and earpods. Opt for headphones when you can just so you are not constantly putting objects into your ears.
Do not put things in your ears such as cotton buds.
Discuss medications with your GP. Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, can sometimes contribute to hearing loss.
Keep your ears dry particularly after swimming and bathing/showering
Manage stress as it is known to have an adverse affect on your hearing and can contribute to tinnitus
Visit a reputable care centre like Auris Ear Care if you have any worries about your ear health.

Ear Wax

Ear wax is one of my pet hates but it is a necessary by-product produced by your ears to protect them. It has a cleansing, anti-bacterial and lubricating properties and when produced in the right amount it is essential. Excess ear wax, however, can be troublesome. It can become impacted in your ears and cause lots of problems such as a feeling of blocked ears, pain, hearing loss, dizziness and in some cases tinnitus.

Trying to clean your ears yourself, with cotton buds for example, can cause even more problems by pushing the wax further into the ear canal. The best way to remove excess wax is to have it done by suction by an ear care specialist.

Finding Relief From Ear Infections

Ear ache is quite awful and I pity anyone who suffers from it. Middle ear infections may need anti-biotics to treat them, but a proper consultation with an ear, nose and throat specialist can help.

When I had ear ache as a child I found that a warm towel would ease the pain, but this can make some people feel worse. Ibuprofen can reduce any inflammation in the ear, so that might be a better option.

You can buy ear drops that help to decrease infection and loosen wax build up. But if it happens frequently then you need to see a specialist to determine the cause.

Do you suffer from ear problems?

When Did You Last Have Your Hearing Tested?

*This is a collaborative post

How to Relieve Stress by Baking Bread

by Anne Sweet 3 Comments

These are difficult times we are living in and one of the things Star’s teacher recommended to relieve stress was to bake some bread. So last weekend that’s what we did. Mixing the bread and kneading it is very stress relieving. Then you have to wait for it prove, knead again and prove again. Then it’s time for baking. It’s time consuming but there is nothing like freshly baked bread. It doesn’t last five minutes in our house.

Here is Star’s bread that she baked last weekend. We followed the instructions on the packet of bread flour.

Can a Bread Maker Relieve Stress?

A few years ago I invested in a bread maker and I love how I can throw the ingredients in and forget about it until the bread is cooked. It fills my kitchen with the most delicious aroma. You don’t get the stress relief from the kneading, but the smell is worth it. I haven’t been very adventurous with it though and I’ve only made a basic loaf.

I think you can get much more inventive with hand made bread and I’ve made a lot over the years.

Here is my Chocolate Plait that I made after watching an episode of The Great British Bake Off. (A lot of my baking occurs after watching GBBO)

Soda Bread For Those That Can’t Wait

If you want to make bread but don’t want to wait around for hours. Or maybe the kids want to make bread and we know how impatient they can be. Then Soda bread is the answer. It’s just as satisfying to make, but it’s so much quicker. I don’t love it as much as regular fresh bread but it’s a really good alternative. Here is our recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

250g plain flour
250g wholemeal flour
1tsp salt
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
about 400ml of buttermilk (If you don’t have buttermilk you can add a tsp of lemon juice to milk and leave it at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.)

METHOD:

Into a large bowl put all the dry ingredients and mix together

Make a well in the middle and add the butter milk, mixing it until you have a sticky dough and all the flour has been absorbed.

Tip the dough out and shape into a dome shape.

Put dough on a greased baking tray and cut a deep cross into the loaf.

Bake for about 30 minutes until golden and sounds hollow when tapped at the bottom.

Tips: Only add as much of the buttermilk as you need, as soon as all the flour is absorbed you have enough, don’t make the dough too wet and sticky. If you really don’t like the soda taste you could use just half tsp soda. This dough does not really need much kneading, just enough to bring it all together and shape the loaf.

Do you like making bread? Would you consider it to be a stress reliever?

What it’s like Visiting a Hospital During a Pandemic

by Anne Sweet 4 Comments

We have managed to avoid being near anyone with COVID or having any close calls. We have been more or less keeping ourselves to ourselves since the pandemic started. The Little Man went back to school, and the girl’s did a reduced timetable but we have not even had to self isolate because of contact. We have, however, had several hospital visits and I just wanted to write about my family’s experiences.

First, I do realise that not all people’s experiences will be the same but as a family that has had several different trips to hospital I wanted to record it here to show that it doesn’t have to be bad.

The Damaged Thumb and trip to A&E

Only Graham could go and nearly sever his thumb in the middle of the first lockdown. The washing machine broke and while trying to fix it, his hand slipped against a piece of sharp metal. My kitchen looked like a blood bath. We broke rules by getting a neighbour to take him to A&E, but it was deemed the better option than calling for an ambulance. Once there he was immediately taken to a section which was apart from the COVID admissions or suspected cases. His wound was dressed and he was given pain relief and told to go back to the main hospital first thing in the morning. On his return he was given a small operation to sew up a tendon he’d severed. He was in hospital both times for the shortest period possible. He saw no other patients and felt completely safe. I’m glad to say he made a full recovery and regained the use of his thumb.

My husbands damaged thumb in a bandage at hospital

The MRI

I’d had a worrying MRI on my brain in March and my consultant wanted me to have a repeat one a few months later. I had to wait a little longer than three months but my next MRI was a different but not unpleasant experience. The first one I’d waited in a large waiting room before being taken down to the Scanner, I’d had to go in alone but my husband waited with a cup of coffee while I was in there.

The second was taken place in a portable MRI scanner in a car park. There was no waiting room. I arrived by car and was taken straight inside. My husband waited in the car while I was scanned. It was less waiting around for me, but my husband didn’t get to read magazines and use the coffee machine. He did get to listen to his car radio.

Consultant and GP Appointments

Consultant appointments have taken place by telephone, like GP appointments. This hasn’t been a bad thing really, I haven’t had to get dressed or leave the house. I have still been able to convey all my concerns and he has arranged the appropriate treatment.

My teen had a GP appointment which meant we had to go in for blood tests. As she is 15 the GP said he would ask the nurse to take the blood at the surgery, which was more convenient as it’s on the corner of our street. However, my daughter isn’t very good at having her blood taken and it didn’t go very well so she had to be referred to the Children’s hospital. Her Dad took her and she was in and out in 5 minutes, despite having to travel a little further.

Hospital Appointments

Boo and the Little Man both had hospital appointments which had been on hold since March. They finally got around to going in September and they were seen in porta cabins so they did not have to visit the main hospital. This meant that they had no contact with any other patients and were seen quickly.

Star had a follow up after her blood tests showed some anomalies and I took her back to the Children’s hospital. All precautions were in place, one way systems, screens, social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer. Star was seen by a nurse within five minutes of arrival and by the Dr within 20 minutes. In all the years we have been visiting hospitals it has never been so quick.

The other side of the coin must mean that some children are having to miss out on appointments or are having to wait longer.

My Treatments

I had my infusions in September, October and January (I’m midweek my current treatment.) The hospital day ward had been open as usual for treatments and they have a lot of support staff in to help. There are extra precautions taken for safety. I have to be buzzed in one door, then at the second door my temperature is taken before admission to the ward. Masks are given out to those who don’t already have them and there are hand sanitizers available. The treatment chairs are more widely spaced out so you are never closer than two metres to another patient. The rooms are well ventilated (And a bit too cold) but blankets are available if needed. In September and October the staff all wore masks, but now they are also wearing PPE. It feels different to the community atmosphere we used to have, but it does feel safe.

Hospital During a Pandemic

I’ve seen a few videos posted on Social Media about how deserted hospitals are and that the pandemic is all a hoax. It drives me crazy although I tend not to respond. People just don’t seem to get it. Most hospitals are now feeling overwhelmed with the number of Covid patients they have. Staff are working day and night to help these people to recover. Since this pandemic began they have learned so much and are managing to save many more lives, but still it’s a harrowing time and people are still dying. The Covid wards are closed to visitors and other patients because of how easily the virus is transmitted so of course you can’t record there without permission.

The rest of the hospital is trying to continue as normal but with extra spacing to keep patients safe. Wards have been moved around and some places look deserted because there simply are not the staff to look after patients there. It doesn’t mean that the staff are not working though, they are just somewhere else. Minor operations are delayed, but anything serious is still being done. People still have other serious illnesses and there are still accidents happening on a daily basis.

I saw one video of a row of empty wards at a hospital taken through a window. The video maker was stating that the hospital was not busy at all, there were no Covid patients and we were being lied to. The video was of the Children’s section of the hospital which had been closed down and the children were being cared for at another hospital to protect them. Did the maker of the video tell us this? No!

WHY? Our NHS has enough to deal with without the public turning against them.

Another woman was arrested after filming empty day wards at a hospital and posting them online to ‘prove’ there were no Covid patients.

Please be thoughtful of our wonderful NHS staff who are working so hard to make things safe and keep things running. Some are seeing the most dreadful sights that they can’t talk about it. It’s getting to the stage now where nearly everybody knows of someone who has had Covid and recovered or died. It’s real and it’s a threat. In all my years I’ve yet to have someone I know die of flu, even though I know it happens regularly. Covid is much more deadly, and even though those dying may have other illnesses it is still a threat. We need to take this virus threat seriously and do our part in eliminating it. If you think the government is just making rules to keep people under control then you must realise that they are not very good at it by now.

In the meantime, don’t be afraid to go to hospital in an emergency during this pandemic. They know how to deal with it now and you are very unlikely to catch Covid while there.

Take care everyone, and fingers crossed we’ll be out through the other side soon.

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