Home My Journey Mini Me Update : Coronavirus & Cookies

Mini Me Update : Coronavirus & Cookies

by InvisiblyMe
A pink stem to the left and a green stem to the right, water colour style. The title 'Mini Me update' is in the middle.

Firstly, I started typing this up in bits a couple of months ago, and as I’ve added to it I realised what an epic update it has become! On the plus side, if you need sending to sleep then reading this may just do the job.

Weekend Knockout

Saturday 16th May, around 2pm.

Came downstairs for a shower, started getting a bit of a ‘heavy head’. Within minutes it became significantly heavy, so I sat on the kitchen floor. Felt like my brain was being pushed out of my skull and I noticed a small circular flashing floater in my vision. I thought it would just go away but the pressure was very intense and the flasher got bigger. Within 10 minutes I couldn’t see anything because of the squiggly and flashing things.

I lay down in bed and was getting pain in both eyes. It didn’t seem to take long (another 5 minutes maybe) before this got very severe. Not like a migraine and not like anything I’ve experienced before, especially considering what else came with it. I wouldn’t have been surprised if someone told me two metal poles had gone through my head and skewered my eyes.

I started vomiting and was getting feverish hot/cold sweats. I took one sumatriptan, not thinking it was a migraine but being desperate for some relief; this didn’t do anything. Maybe two hours later (at a guess) I took a second. Not sure if that did anything or it was just a matter of time for the episode to end.

My mum looked after me but I couldn’t talk properly and didn’t have a clue what was wrong with me. She wanted to get me to A&E but I couldn’t move. I was just grunting and she took that as a ‘no’. I told her afterwards that I don’t want her taking me in at all, what with the coronavirus situation. Kick me out of the car, literally, and I’ll crawl in. Not that I think I could get through this again. It was horrific. I just wanted someone to put me out of my misery.

Anyway, this went on for hours, maybe another 5, with the eye pain, vomiting, fever at significant levels. I don’t remember Saturday evening, can’t remember much of Sunday either. I know my heart rate kept going wonky, very loud and very fast, missing beats here and there. After the eye pain, visual flashing floaters, pressure and fever subsided a bit, I kept getting a funky heart rate and odd sweats. I felt totally drained, couldn’t move. My speech was slurred and quite difficult. I realise now looking back that the symptoms could cross over with things like a kind of stroke or an unruptured aneurism, so don’t do as I do and try to ride it out, but I don’t know what would have happened if I had tried to get help anyway.

I stayed in bed throughout Saturday until Monday lunchtime. When I moved I felt very weak and movement was very slow. My whole body hurt more than usual but I’m not surprised as I’m not good in the same position for long, and I’d been lying there for two days. Covered in sick and sweat and wanting to die.

The slightest sensation of a heavy head again now is terrifying.

A head/shoulders photo of me in my mask waiting in the hospital, with the light from the window behind me.
Patiently waiting patient.

I called the GP and got a call back on today (Tuesday) when I was able to talk properly again. She said I should have gone to A&E at the time but should still get checked out with a head CT to be on the safe side, especially given the slurring. I went to hospital within 10 minutes of talking to her. Guess what didn’t happen? A head CT!

Long story short, decent social distancing of seats but total waste of several hours, anti-bacterial dispensers all empty, with one nice nurse and one nasty one that made me feel like crap. I declined waiting a further 2 hours for blood results (all fine) and went home. Day wasted.

The seats in the hospital have yellow stickers warning 'virus' so that people must have to empty seats between each other.
Social distancing seats. Shame about the lack of anti-bac gel.

So yeah, what the hell was that? Ideas on a postcard if anyone has them, because I really don’t know.

On a side note, I’m now several days behind on everything having lost another 4 days. Emails, work, blogs, household stuff, everything is piling up. I usually try to catch up on blog reading but that’ll be over 1,000 blog posts to read and comment on and I just can’t manage it this time, and for that I’m truly very sorry.

A Bittersweet Anniversary

More bitter than sweet.

April 22nd marked the 5 year anniversary of my first surgery, of the procedure & surgeon that broke my body & ripped apart my life.

It’s something I’ve never discussed openly, still too ashamed & embarrassed to state what it was on my blog or to anyone other than my parents & those who’ve had similar experiences.

I was due major surgery in April in London that I’d been waiting years for in the hopes of at least preventing my health from continuing to decline. That’s been cancelled due to coronavirus.

I began with one issue that I thought was bad enough, but then I had the first surgery & never could have imagined how bad things could really get.

Never think your current situation is so bad that it can’t be worse. Don’t tempt fate. Things could always be worse and we have to try to appreciate what we have, where we are right now & to always hold on to hope for brighter days ????????

A collage with two photos. To the left is a photo of me from years ago, before the 2015 surgery, out on a run in my running gear. The second on the right is me in hospital poorly.

Cookie Monster!

A photo of the baked cookies where they're all stuck together. They look a little like hot cross buns.
Cookies Pre-Separation.

Don’t laugh. These are not hot cross buns, despite how they may look. Because they expanded and joined together, they actually reminded me of the honeycomb-style of the Blockbusters TV gameshow. I think this is my second ever cookie attempt and it was on my ‘bucket list’. Not because I wanted to bake. I didn’t. My mother did. I’m just taking credit for the end result because they turned out okay (if they were inedible I’d of course say this whole thing never happened).

I’d already printed a bunch of recipes off from some time ago because I’ve come across them being recommended online or posted by another blogger.

Indecision hit when it came to choosing one and then I realised they all use slightly different ingredients, not all of which I had. I reduced it to those with just the ingredients I’d bought and then found that despite all seeming similar, they had some wildly different quantities. Between two, they may have the same amount of caster sugar but one has one egg and the other has four. One has 100g chocolate chips and the other has 300g (of course I’d go for 400g anyway). So I mish-mashed the recipes and… voilà!

A photo of the batter being mixed in a white tub on a red worktop cover in the kitchen.
This was a joint effort with my mother. She had the arm strength that I didn’t have to mix it.
A photo of the cookie dough going on to the baking tray.

Two trays worth of odd looking cookies. What’s more strange is that they actually tasted pretty damn good!

A photo of the freshly made cookies, both trays full, when all cookies are stuck together.
A photo of all cookies on the racks after they've been separated.
A close up of the cookies, showing the inside of some where they've been separated as proof that they are in fact cookies!
A photo of the cookies in a tin, ready to store for eating, though they didn't last long before they'd been eaten!

I should also note these were made months ago, well before flour became the new toilet roll. I can’t remember what a bag of flour looks like on a supermarket shelf any more, it’s more rare than gold dust of late. Do you think there are a few people with crates of the stuff at home? Where’d it all go?

My Sharona Corona

I’ll start this by saying I don’t know whether I had it or not because in the UK at the time you were only allowed to be tested if you’re admitted to hospital, and you’re told to only to go hospital if you think you’re close to dying, so I had no help and no tests during those early weeks.

In March I started to feel more unwell than usual. It’s hard to say when you’re always poorly whether you might have certain symptoms that you already have anyway. It started with a sore throat, which I never have. It wasn’t a scratchy throat, it was properly sore at the back; I could pinpoint a circle, perhaps 1cm in diameter, that was borderline painful. The only time I’ve ever had a sore throat has been when I then get a cold, but I didn’t get a cold and the sore throat didn’t go away. That was on a Monday.

Then my heart rate started going wonky, with rapid and loud heart beats that were very off-putting. I had a temperature but not a raging fever, but even that I wouldn’t say was too unusual given my weird temperature control, or lack thereof. Then my chest got worse. I have lung scarring, inflammation and bronchiectasis, so I thought maybe it was some kind of unusual flare-up. Despite using my inhalers, it didn’t ease up. I called 111 but they didn’t want to know because I didn’t have a raging fever or a continual cough.

Then on the Thursday, the world tilted. Literally. Everything seemed to go sideways and I felt incredibly dizzy and hugely nauseous. I figured it would just wear off within a minute or two. Turns out it lasted 36 hours.

I felt very rough, but again, I could explain some things away and talk myself around to thinking other symptoms were just bizarre and unrelated. But it seemed like quite a big coincidence. For several weeks after that I’ve been so, so worried because I live at home with elderly, vulnerable parents. I tried to distance as much as possible and be as cautious as possible. I stayed home for longer than the government suggest after the point where symptoms improve, just to be sure.

From the start of the sore throat to the end of the sore throat took 7 days. But that’s not where it ends because my chest still wasn’t right. GP prescribed antibiotics and increased my inhaler dosage, declining to prescribe the steroids that I think could have helped because they may make me more vulnerable (a point that seems pointless if I’m staying at home for 2 weeks). Instead, I just waited. And I’ve waited for over 7 weeks to get breathing closer to my usual level. Apparently this can be expected, especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Of course, it might not be the virus and in which case it’s been some other weird flare up. An antibody test really would be very useful!

My doc eventually sent me to the coronavirus pop-up pod. They think I had the virus in March.

A photo I took in the car, looking over the dashboard, while parked up waiting at the coronavirus pop-up pod. In front is basically a gazebo, split into two so that when you're called up you drive under the gazebo.

The outcome? It was rather disappointing and angering, after being in quite a state, to simply be told to rest for a week or two and I’ll be right as rain. Or at least back to as rubbish as usual. I sat in the car and cried. I just wanted some help and it felt utterly pointless asking for it.

To complicate things, I seem to have two different issues over these past few weeks. Alongside possible, and I say possible as I don’t know, virus complications, the GP and I think there’s something like thoracic outlet syndrome going on. Whether it’s this or not is anyone’s guess. It feels like my chest is being crushed, I’m getting spasms down the left side, the shaking in my hands and spasms in fingers is worse, pain under my left arm, my arms are heavy and I can’t lift them up, and I’m getting pins and needles. I’m now on Amitriptyline to go alongside Tramadol and Sumatriptan. I’d also been getting daily migraines for over three weeks, which really worse me down and I’ve lost a lot of time as a result.

The GP had already put in a referral to a vascular surgeon because I’d been getting strange things with my hands/arms/lower legs. Anyway, the vascular team sent me a letter to make an appointment online. Turns out, having made the appointment, that they’re not even going to do a telephone consult because of coronavirus. I’ll hear from them when the coronavirus situation is over; hopefully it’s nothing too serious otherwise they’ll have one less patient to see when the time comes for appointments. I understand not seeing patients in clinic (though you’d imagine vascular things would be quite important) but no telephone consult? Back to square one.

Back to Coronavirus – A brief note:

I didn’t say anything when I first got symptoms because I feel I’d come across as a hypochondriac. It’s sad and it’s sick that after years of being fobbed off, so many of us still feel like this.

I have a strict way of doing things when going out and I’ve made this stricter still in recent weeks. I use an N95 mask, regardless of what anyone says. I wear gloves, but only because my hands are so raw, cracked and bloody that I don’t want broken skin exposed. I have a routine for going out and coming home, leaving clothing in different places, wrapping the mask in kitchen roll, anti-baccing groceries.

Please don’t forget, whether you’re going out or not, to be mindful of things brought into your home, from groceries to the post.

I wanted to share a little of my experience in case it can be of any help, and to urge people to seek medical attention if you have concerns… push for it if you have to.

Coronavirus Antibody Testing

I thought I’d add this here as it may be of help for those in the UK wondering whether they’ve had the virus but have been unable to checked at the time and aren’t able to access NHS antibody testing.

Medichecks have just released their Covid-19 antibody home test, with a 3-day turn-around for results and 100% accuracy in the manufacturer’s study of positive antibody results. It’s a CE-approved immunoassay test and available for members of the public and companies in the UK to buy online and do with a fingerprick test kit.

The government have currently put this on hold as more tests are being conducted on the reliability of finger prick testing.

You can find out more about the test and about Medichecks, along with a further 10% discount code, in my Medichecks review. Take a look at the Medichecks Covid19 Antibody tests here.

Mum’s The Word

Her birthday certainly didn’t look as she’d ever imagined it, but my mother turned 72 years young in April! I managed to get a cake and I’d already bought gifts so that worked out well. What didn’t work out so well was my health problems and hers, too. Thankfully, after discussing with her GP we were able to get a prescription and now things are much better for her, which I am super grateful for. Love you, mum. Amazing lady.

To make up for lack of a birthday banner or balloons this year, I took to making some decor with her favourite TV hunk, Aiden Turner. She appreciated his big stick (in the photo, a real stick) but clearly she knows her daughter was never destined for a career in art.

A photo of a birthday cake with lit candles, some presents for my mum (shown in the photo are earrings, slippers and Malteser Teasers). Next to this is the poster I made, with a photo of Aiden Turner and me writing 'Mutter, Happy Birthday' with pictures of flowers over it.

A Sweet Surprise

I am so, so thrilled to say I won Charlotte’s recent blog competition. It’s an incredible giveaway with lots of goodies and I still can’t quite believe I won. A huge thank you to Charlotte for bringing her readers some brightness during these dark times. If you haven’t already, please do check out her blog Beyoutiful Inside Out.

The giveaway prize in a flowery gift bag, with everything inside it laid out on my dining table. There's lot of stuff here, including face masks, eye-shadow, face products, hair conditioner.

Spring Fling

I asked the cat what made the dirt so appealing to roll in. He turned around & stuck his tongue out ???????? Anyone else think cats can be cheeky little munchkins?

A photo of my cat in the garden. There's a patch of dirt in the middle of the grass, prior to flowers being planted, and he's on his back rolling in it.
A closer-up of where my cat has been rolling just as he's turned around to me when I asked him why he liked the dirt.
A close-up of my cat's face as he's sticking his tongue out.

It’s been lovely to have some sunshine, to feel a little warmth and to see the flowers blossoming. Sadly after the couple of nice days the grey skies and rain tend to return, but those brighter days will come back. I’ve been too poorly to be outside or do very much but I’ve sat out when I can and I’m very fortunate that we’ve got a garden here to enjoy fresh air safely. If you can do so safely, open the windows and let the air refresh you.

A photo fo a pink blossom flower in the garden.
A photo of some white flowers in the garden, against green grass and a blue sky.
A black scroll divider.

If you made it this far, congratulations! I decided to post this now rather than hold on to it for even longer, but I’m not sure whether it made much sense. I’m still rather fuzzy after the weekend.

So, tell me, how’ve you all been? I hope you’re all hanging in there okay and that this week treats you well. Stay safe everyone.

Caz  ♥

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52 comments

wendi May 19, 2020 - 5:06 pm

Oh my goodness, my heart aches and breaks for you! I try hard not to give advice but since you asked I am going to give you my thoughts. What I have heard from others that have had the virus, it can take some people months to recover. They will be feeling “fine” and then there is a sort of relapse. I don’t know if this could be the case, but maybe.
The other thing is I have had similar issues that you have described….vision squiggles, feeling like your brain is being forced out, and too ill to talk. I was always told it was my neuro disorder but I had a doctor that told me I had the inability to eliminate sulfur properly and I was put on a low sulfur diet…….it took a while but it helped quite a bit. It is hard to stay on do to all my other food allergies but it is something I am now doing again……Neither of these maybe helpful to to but just in case, I wanted the leave them here.
Sending you love……….

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Erin May 19, 2020 - 4:58 pm

Loved this long post, Caz! The cookies look delicious, and I’m glad they tasted nice too. Hope you are feeling much better now too. Your mum seems like a great character, and baker! So I’m very happy that she had a good birthday. I’ve had a very tiresome day but this definitely didn’t send me to sleep. I’ve wanted to go to bed since I woke up haha!
Take care,
Erin x

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Terri, Reclaiming HOPE May 19, 2020 - 6:00 pm

Oh Caz, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough go of it lately. Having all those awful symptoms must have been terribly scary. I really hope they don’t reappear. I’m with you on the whole not even doing a tele-consult for your vascular problem. You’d think they’d at least want to do a check-in with you to give them a feel for whether you have something serious going on. On a lighter note, happy belated birthday to your Mum! She’s lucky to have such a wonderful, loving daughter. Also, your cat is adorable! Hang in there and take care of yourself sweet friend. Sending lots of love and hugs!

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Ashley May 19, 2020 - 5:13 pm

That’s horrible all the crap that you’re having to go through. Sending lots of hugs. ❤️

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Margaret May 19, 2020 - 5:20 pm

Oh my goodness Caz. I had to put this down a couple of times for 2 reasons. 1 it hurt my heart for you. 2 it was slightly triggering and Ive learned to step back . take a breath, and continue 🙂 🙂 Its a tough time for every one, and makes it challenging when you have existing invisible illness and you don’t know, it this the virus, or my everyday feeling like crap, crap? 🙂 Every time you get the slightest flare up, you wonder, ok is this my normal everyday stuff or a symptom? It has kept me inside more than the fear of catching the virus. I pray you will find out soon what caused it. I pray you get some relief from everything. Happy belated birthday to your mom. Your artwork is wonderful. As far as the cookies go, I learned a long time ago with baking/cooking. It doesn’t matter what it LOOKS like, what matters is what it taste like 🙂 I found a recipe for an oatmeal cookie that has only 3 ingrediants. Bananas, oats(you know, oatmeal to make cereal) and chocolate. Yeah thats it. The reviews say that it tast like banana nut bread. We will see hahaha 🙂

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USFMAN May 24, 2020 - 8:58 pm

Sorry to read about your Corona Experience f waiting for a proper diagnosis. Over I think the cookies and the cat writing brightened your spirits some. I hope your immune system strengthens now.

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Liz May 19, 2020 - 5:32 pm

Hi Caz. Blimey, it sounded serious what you was going through, but I can’t say you silly bugger for not going to the hospital at the time, because I know I would have been the same. So yes, as you have said, important message not to ride it out.
Sorry to hear you felt like shit. I hope that’s ok to say, because it’s something I would have said myself to people, feeling like that.

On the positives, it’s nice to see your garden and that you have a garden to go out in and enjoy. Very important when you feeling washed out, let alone when it feels more safer to be in your own garden than outside somewhere else.
I would have been shaking my head thinking what’s the cat playing at, when witnessing having a good roll about in it.

And congratulations on your prize. Looks lovely. Enjoy.

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Masha Ellman May 19, 2020 - 6:00 pm

Oh my, my heart goes out to you, I don’t have anything to say other than sending you lots of hugs and love. Glad you’re enjoying some sunshine and looking forward to brighter days. xoxo

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Anne Fraser May 19, 2020 - 6:05 pm

You have been through the wars. It sounds as though you should have gone to hospital. Corona virus or not. I actually managed to buy flour in Sainsbury’s today so it might be reappearing in the shops. I hope so. Just take care.

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Kim May 19, 2020 - 6:13 pm

You sound like you’ve been through he’ll. 🙁 I’m sorry to hear how the NHS 111 team treated you when you wanted a diagnosis. My dad went through something very similar – 9 weeks later he’s starting to feel ‘normal’.

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Eliza May 19, 2020 - 6:23 pm

I can’t ‘like’ this post, as I don’t ‘like’ it. It brought me to tears. You awe me with your strength. Vulnerability and the ability to feel it all is one of the greatest strengths I know.
The cat looks cute! And your garden pictures are awesome.
I think of you often.
You don’t need to catch up on posts or comments, just yourself.
Sending hugs and sunshine… the sunshine is definitely awesome.
Love, light and glitter

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Svet May 19, 2020 - 6:32 pm

Hi Caz, thankfully, you are home and recovering. I love the cookies that you made. And the beautiful blossom in your garden with your cute cat. Hopefully, you will get some time to rest. Kisses, Svet

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Lindsay May 19, 2020 - 6:39 pm

Oh, Caz. My heart breaks reading this. I can’t imagine how scary it must have been for you with the squiggly vision, vomiting, slurring, etc. And to last for so long! I’m so sorry you had to experience that – I hope you get some answers soon. For me, the worst part is always not knowing, because then I don’t know how to prevent it from happening again.

Those cookies look delicious! Well done Caz and mum! I have been baking a lot during the coronavirus, mostly muffins and bread. I might have to make some cookies next!

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Barbara McLullich May 19, 2020 - 7:01 pm

Oh Caz you have been threw the mill lately. I hope you start feeling stronger now. Please take care xx

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Rachael Emma Tomlinson May 19, 2020 - 7:18 pm

Caz, I am so sorry to hear what you have been through, bless you I can’t begin to imagine how you felt. I am not sure why you can’t have an appointment because I had mine with Neurology today over the phone they really need to care for you better after all you have been through.

Please take great care lovely lady and if anything like that happens again 999 nevermind 111 it’s not all COVID-19 and most A&E are quiet at the moment.

xxx

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Laura Beth May 19, 2020 - 7:44 pm

You’ve been through the wringer, and then some. Thanks for sharing your story. Get well soon!

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Robyn May 19, 2020 - 8:36 pm

My goodness, that is a lot for a person to have to go through. I would have cried too. Sending lots of hugs!

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John Rieber May 19, 2020 - 8:36 pm

SO sorry to read what you have gone through…I hope for every possible positive thing for you going forward. Very bravo of you to share all of this.

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Nisha May 19, 2020 - 9:37 pm

You are truly an inspiration Caz , in spite of all the things you are going through. I can tell the cookies tasted awesome even though they stuck together .The blossoms and the cute cat definitely brings cheer in this post .Take care and hugs.

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da-AL May 19, 2020 - 9:38 pm

dear Caz, so glad you’ve made it through! just this weekend, my husband cut his fingers while cooking — l-o-t-s of blood, but with the virus situation, we decided it was better to risk ugly scars than venturing into land o’germs… makes me wonder to what extent others aren’t getting care they truly need.
on another note, the style of this post brings back sweet memories of when I’d send real letters to friends, the collection of things we’d squeeze into our notes…
wishing you & your mom all the very best, dear

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lavenderandlevity May 19, 2020 - 10:33 pm

Ours is also technically ambiguous, as we don’t have a car and we didn’t want to potentially infect people trying to get to a test using alternate transportation during the period where we only had drive-thru testing locally. I ended up losing my sense of smell, though, which was telling enough for us to be counted in our local case count. What you describe does seem to fit our experiences, including the weirdness with the “fever.” And, yeah, I don’t make a big deal of it because we are both slowly and steadily getting closer to our respective “baselines,” but a two-week experience only it sure wasn’t! We’re still more easily exhausted (post-work naps are a thing!) and need to stop to catch our breath when we walk outside. (My sense of smell is back, though!) I’d be cautious about any new symptoms. There’s still so much we don’t know about the toll covid-19 takes post “recovery” for those with underlying issues. Increased risk of stroke or other vascular issues is one thing we’ve been hearing about as a potential post-recovery complication. It could *also* just be the standard spoonie “body off-kilter from foreign invaders, ahh must flare forever!” But, don’t chance it. Those symptoms of yours on the 16th are scary! Be safe, and many hugs! (Also: oh flour of any grain variety. How do I miss thee? Let me count the ways in what will probably end up being my next post.)

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Michele Anderson May 19, 2020 - 11:09 pm

Caz, continue to get well! We all love you 🙂

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Sandee May 19, 2020 - 11:26 pm

Yikes on feeling so horrible. Terrible way to spend a day. I’m glad you’re better.

I took a couple of those cookies and they were good.

Have a fabulous day, Caz. Big healing hug. ♥

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carol hannah May 20, 2020 - 2:01 am

Wow Caz, sounds like you’ve really been in the wars and having a crap time. Still, I love the cookies and glad you had your mum’s birthday bits and bobs to organise. Stay well my lovely xx

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Greg May 20, 2020 - 2:28 am

I hope you’re ok!

I’ve been hanging in there, but I’m still pretty messed up in the head from everything going on…

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Annie May 20, 2020 - 3:22 am

Dear, dear Caz—

Consider yourself hugged. So very sorry you’re going through all these mysterious and scary episodes. One positive to me is that if you survived COVID with all your comorbidities, you are made of much stronger stuff than you or your doctors thought—and you will be with us for a long long time!

Annie xx????

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B May 20, 2020 - 4:52 am

Jesus, Caz! It’s horrible what you had to go through. I do hope you’re feeling better now.

No head CT? Fucking hell!

Sending you lots of hugs, and please take care.

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Sandra May 20, 2020 - 9:05 am

Oh Caz, what a time you’ve had. I’m so sorry – and so admire that resilient spirit which keeps you blogging and looking for the good. I wonder if you intend to try the medichecks test – no need to reply to that of course. I may very well have had the virus early-mid March. Thankfully nowhere near as grim as your experience but still an unpleasant couple of weeks. I dithered about the medicahecks test for several days when it first came on the market. Would knowing make any difference? In the end I’ve ordered one. At least I’ll have an answer even if it doesn’t help with anything. Please take care and enjoy the sunshine when you are able ????

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Sophie May 20, 2020 - 10:13 am

Caz, You are amazing!! Love the cookies 🙂

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Simply-me. May 20, 2020 - 1:22 pm

Hey Caz,
I’m sorry that you’ve had such a rough time lately – I hope you’re okay and feeling better soon!!
The cookies look great – glad you enjoyed them!
Stay safe.
xx

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Kymber Hawke May 20, 2020 - 2:04 pm

You’ve been through the ringer, girl, and I’m so sorry. I hope you continue to feel better and get back to baseline soon. xo

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Jo May 20, 2020 - 6:29 pm

Sorry to read you’ve gone through so much. Apart from the cookies they look yummy. I’ve been lucky with flour as I use gluten free and I’ve been able to get it on both occasions. Now eggs is another story.

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Joe May 20, 2020 - 8:28 pm

The Cat ! ! ! ???? I love cats more than anything … when I see one, like here in the pictures, a meow comes across my lips. Cats rule the world. 🙂

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Ann Coleman May 21, 2020 - 2:21 am

I’m so sorry you had to go through this, Caz, and that you got so little help from the medical community! The response to this situation hasn’t been good, to say the least, and it’s worse for those with other illnesses at this time. I hope you get more testing available soon…it’s finally come here, we can go to a walk-in clinic and get either the Covid 19 test or the antibody test, so that helps. It took a while before we got to that point, though. I really hope you are feeling a bit better now!

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Brian G Lageose May 21, 2020 - 5:43 am

I always enjoy your posts, but this one is especially terrific…

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Animalcouriers May 21, 2020 - 10:35 am

Considering all your underlying health issues it was hugely lucky you didn’t have a much worse experience with Covid-19! Thank goodness.

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Michelle May 21, 2020 - 11:00 am

Caz, darling. I’m so sorry you’ve been suffering so. I’ve heard now about several people dealing with similar issues post-COVID, myself included. I think the virus is causing neurological inflammation and likely what you experienced this weekend was hemiplegic migraine, if I read your symptoms right. Unfortunately, I don’t have much to offer by way of help. I encourage you to rest and work as little as possible and use blue light filters on everything. Believe it or not, using cold packs on my head several times a day helps a little. You’re in my thoughts, love.

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Gemma Orton May 21, 2020 - 8:25 pm

Those cookies look yum!
Having the flour struggle here now, but overflowing with loo roll.
Sorry to hear you’ve had so many struggles lately. Hope you feel better soon.

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Wendy May 21, 2020 - 10:17 pm

CAZ! That first experience you described is terrifying! It’s horrible you didn’t get a head CT, yes you still need one. I had a somewhat similar experience when I had a cerebral spinal fluid problems. Actually, it was really similar. My pressure went too high and I had a “blow out” when that happened I had those symptoms, when the pressure stabilized I felt better, but it was still leaking some so I still felt not well for quite some time. It was a long time before they figured all that out…long story.
I sure hope you never have that happen again.

Your cookies are the bomb!! From someone who makes a lot I can tell you one mistake, your cookie mounds were just too big and too close on the cookie sheet, so of course they spread together. It also looks like they may have a little too much rising agents (baking soda, or powder…did you by chance have self rising flour and then also add one of those)? Now I want cookies.
I think a lot of people are baking more since they are home, and they are preparing for the apocalypse, they must have flour, beans, pasta….ugh! Our stores are pretty well restocked now. Can even get toilet paper just not the best brands all the time.
But people are dumb and out shopping again, like it’s all over. So stupid.

Happy Birthday Mum!! ????????????????

You have been so very cautious and still got it!! That scares me!! I don’t really go out except to one doctor, but Stuart brings stuff in. I’ll be even more careful.
Always my heart is with you.

xoxo Wen

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violaetcetera May 22, 2020 - 9:01 am

To say it sounds like you had a rough time would be an understatement. I hope you can at least recover in peace now! The cookies look delicious though. Best wishes to you and your parents, Caz xo

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Despite Pain May 22, 2020 - 2:12 pm

That sounded so worrying, Caz. I hope you’ve been okay since, but I hope your GP arranges for the CT scan. You should have had one. Please, go to hospital if it happens again or at least let your Mum call the NHS number for advice. We all want to avoid hospitals just now, but sometimes, we have no option.
Those cookies look delicious. They wouldn’t have lasted long in my house, lol. I’ve been baking lately (and ending up in agony – but worth it). Now you’ve put me in the notion for choc chip cookies.

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Charlie May 22, 2020 - 8:41 pm

Wow, Caz, quite a journey. Hope you’re feeling a little better and I doubt any of us would ever consider you a hypochondriac. Here’s me moaning about a knackered Achilles lol. Hugs ???? X

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Marilyn Long May 23, 2020 - 12:00 pm

Hi there Caz,
Wow – and double wow. Does going to hell and back come anywhere close? Thank you for sharing what have been dreadful times for you because it puts things into perspective of just how serious all this stuff is.
Cookies amazing! When I get round to clearing all the craft work off my kitchen table I’ll have a go. Hubby would be pleased to have the smell of strong glue replaced by subtle wafts of baking. ????
Take care; love Maz X

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The Oceanside Animals May 23, 2020 - 9:53 pm

Charlee: “Cheeky little munchkins?”
Chaplin: “Us?”
*both blink innocently*

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James Viscosi May 23, 2020 - 9:56 pm

Yeah, I was growing increasingly alarmed while reading your description of that headache, because it was sounding just like what I experienced at the start of The Event when my undetected cerebral aneurysm ruptured. In a way, I’m glad the aneurysm hit me as hard as it did; if I hadn’t lost consciousness I probably wouldn’t have called 911 and that wouldn’t have worked out well for me. Anyway, I’m glad it wasn’t something like that with you. I like having you around. 🙂

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Alice May 24, 2020 - 5:34 am

You’ve had a rubbish time lately and I’m so sorry to hear of everything you’ve been through and how tough it’s been. And don’t apologise for not getting through your blog reading. You’ve had other priorities and need to focus on self care and time for you. Thank you for sharing your experiences of being at the hospital too. I’ve often wondered what it was like and it’s just scary to think that there’s no hand sanitiser available. Stay safe and look after yourself xx

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Tiziana Olbrich May 24, 2020 - 8:57 am

Oh I’m so sorry that you had to go through such a hard time. I hope you will get better soon and send you lots of love.
Thanks for sharing all your thoughts with us, must have been not easy.

Have a good start in the new week
Tiziana

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Louise May 25, 2020 - 11:22 am

Sorry you’ve had such a tough time of it 🙁
Hope you’re feeling a little better now. I can’t imagine how many people have probably had Covid 19 but didn’t have access to a test. Those home test kits are looking tempting!
Your cookies look delicious and I’m glad you were able to have a mini celebration for your mum’s birthday 🙂

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Terre May 26, 2020 - 11:49 pm

I hope you are feeling better. This was posed a few days ago and I haven’t read any new posts yet.

But, yes, I do feel that cats can be cheeky. And silly, they are very silly!

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Sharon Bonin-Pratt (Shari) June 21, 2020 - 3:41 pm

I’m so sorry you suffer from migraines and now from this poorly understood but frightening, painful, and debilitating experience. Below is a link to a fascinating article that may explain the root of your recent problem. It suggests that Covid 19 may be a vascular disease. I hope it offers some insight that might lead to long term help for you.
I’ve also read that those who survive Covid continue to endure long-term ill effects which would explain why you are going through so much post trauma health issues. I’m not a doctor or anything related to the medical field, so don’t listen to me, but read the article. And please, be gentle with yourself. Wishing you good health.
https://elemental.medium.com/coronavirus-may-be-a-blood-vessel-disease-which-explains-everything-2c4032481ab2

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InvisiblyMe June 24, 2020 - 3:40 pm

Thank you for taking the time to share this, Sharon, it’s much appreciated. I’ve been reading more recently about how the virus isn’t just a respiratory illness, it’s a vascular one, too. I’ve also seen stories of the lingering effects of the virus, which can go on for weeks or months, and some are even reporting symptoms similar to ME/CFS a few months later. I would like to know whether I definitely did have the virus as this would give me more confidence in putting the issues underneath this heading and giving it more time. Hopefully the government will introduce the antibody testing, but who knows when. Thank you again for sharing this. Take care & stay safe lovely xx

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Carolyn Page June 28, 2020 - 5:01 am

Oooh, Caz, I missed this one!
Certainly sounds like you probably have had it (the virus). Not such a bad thing though. I hear that once it’s been had the body has a better immunity to it. Hopefully, a reliable antibody test, when available, will ease your mind one way or the other.
In the meantime, keep up with the masks and the cookies; they look fabulous!
And yes; pussycats are definitely cheeky little munchkins. Such a cutie-pie… 🙂
xoxoxo

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