Mini Me Update [ 24/06/2018 ]

Hellooooooo! How is everyone doing this sunny Sunday afternoon?  It’s sunny in my small spot of the UK so I hope you’re getting a little extra Vitamin D where you are, too. This will be a fairly short update, and a small apology for not being around too much recently due to having a lot on and generally being unwell. Without any further ado, here’s my self-absorbed Mini Me Update!

Health / Life Updates

I’ve had a rough week in terms of health with a few days having been lost to migraines. It has infuriated me no end feeling so rough and exhausted, then unable to do anything with a migraine in full swing, so I’m glad it’s starting to lift today and I can tackle a few things I’ve needed to do.

I’m still loving my Levoit air purifier, and I’m using it in conjunction with a fan from time to time in my room to help with heat, breathing and headaches. I’m also in the middle of an excellent Greg Hurwitz novel, I See You. It has just the right balance of mystery, intrigue and sarcasm that makes me wish I could keep reading for hours!

Stress is still something I’m going for a world record for, apparently. I do it to myself, I don’t even need anything of particular importance to stress about half the time. I still hugely overthink and over-plan and I know my anxiety levels haven’t been well managed by myself. Being ill, especially with migraines, also means a change in medications, so it’s perhaps not surprising things have been somewhat rocky. My uncle has also died and despite him being unwell for some time, it is painfully sad. I’ll be driving to the funeral this upcoming week, and I’ve booked a b&b for my mother and I as it’s a long drive (4hrs with a short break). It’s frustrating that nothing really helps with the pain and that taking anything stronger, such as Tramadol or Codeine, isn’t something you can do when you’re a driver. Does anyone else struggle with longer drives?

Since my pre-op assessment, I’ve had a date through for my surgery (stoma revision, to ‘straighten things out’ a little) which will be July 9th, all being well. I’m still debating cancelling this and booking a one way ticket for a holiday in Spain. Anybody want to join?

Iron Woman

My blood results from my pre-op assessment showed my iron was low, which wasn’t a surprise to me as I was iron deficient back when I was 19, and the tablet supplements caused problems. As I can’t take oral iron now, and I needed a boost quickly prior to surgery, my GP called the IV team. Unlike any other appointment I’ve probably ever had, this was super quick and they fitted me in within a matter of days. The team were lovely and my first ever iron infusion went pretty well without any side-effects at the time.

The only downside was that for 2 days afterwards I felt totally whacked, more so than usual. This exhaustion then eased up to my usual level after that. Apparently it can take 10 – 14 days to feel the benefits, if you do at all. The infusion itself was painless and straightforward, with the appointment lasting around an hour and a half in total (answering questions and going through the procedure verbally first, then 15 minutes for the infusion itself, and then being observed for about half an hour afterwards prior to driving home).

Pretty Potty!

The pottery that my mother & I made as part of a gift for her birthday from my brother was ready to collect earlier than anticipated. Our abominations works of art have been glazed, but the inside of my apple, for some unknown reason wasn’t, so I took to it with some clear nail varnish. No rude comments as to what my half an apple looks like inside. These are going straight to the curators of London galleries, who, I am almost certain, will want to snap these bad boys up!

Weather Update : Sunshine!

That’s right. Rare sunshine is hitting parts of the UK – get it while you may!  I walked to the local park today to write a little, call my ex for a little chit-chat, and people watch while probably burning my legs. If I can stop my atrocious over thinking, I’ll go for a little day trip tomorrow and try to get a change of scenery for my mother and I prior to more tests for me and then the the trip for my uncle’s funeral this upcoming week.

The thing I don’t like about this is that sense of mad panic, the ‘need’ to make the most of it because you know it’ll likely be washed out with coldness and rain in the blink of an eye. Please remember to do whatever you can, not what you feel you ‘should’. Treat yourself well, stay hydrated, and enjoy the small but glorious things that you can.

I hope that however you have been, and whatever you have been up to, that you are okay. Just keep swimming… Have a positive, healthy-as-possible week ahead!  ♥

Caz