A Bad - Good Day

 

I start my day feeling very unwell.  I have been up in the night and taken 2 paracetemol;  I rise in the morning and take 2 more.  My head feels like the insides are trying to burst out.  I am tired, I need to sleep and snooze for most of the morning.  I look at a list of side effects from the dye from the scan, and conclude that it is not from the dye.  Mum phones the radiologist at Christies for help with this and to find a contact for nutrition, at the hospital.  The radiologist is not available.

 

When she calls back, I tell her how I am feeling.  She checks if I am nauseous (I am not). 

 

What has happened is that I was told to stop taking steroids, and I have followed this guidance.  My radiologist concludes that they have reduced my steroid dose too quickly, and that I must continue to take 2mg of steroids for the next week.  I feel relieved to know this.  I am worried also, because I clearly need the help of the steroids.

 

I then completely muck up my steroid diet.  I am meant to take the omorazole before food to protect my gut from steroids.  The steroids have to be taken with food.  What happens is that I go upstairs and take a steroid (with joy).  I come down to eat my food, and then my mum reminds me of the omorazole and to take steroid with food.  Urgh, I have already taken it.  We puzzle over what to do next and I decide to take the omorazole and live with the outcome.

 

The outcome is that I do start to feel better.  By 4pm I am able to go out with my family and friend Helen, for a pizza. 



 



 

Here is Helen with a cupboard that she has reorganised. 



 

 

Helen is a very good friend of mine and is Martha's guardian (godparent).  She has come up to see me from London for the afternoon, and to help as much as she can.  Helen was able to help with things that my mum simply can't tackle.  This cupboard used to be my storage cupboard for dishes, and it now my organic cupboard.  Helen took all the dishes that I rarely used and stored them in my cellar.  I have not made it into my cellar since Whit half term.  (I remain shocked that I flew to Jersey during half term).  Helen took my mum to Unicorn and returned to feed me organic cherries (delicious).  When my Mum went out, and I slept (in the afternoon), Helen took herself to school to pick up Martha and Katy (and really enjoyed it).  No doubt that Helen did other things too, but I am afraid I was asleep.

 

When Helen gets back from school, I am perking up.  It was a delight to go to Croma, a local pizzeria, and have a meal out.  Martha and Katy love Croma - we eat healthy pizza, and play little games at the table, like hang man and squares.  This we repeated today, alongside enjoyable and engaging conversation. 

 

I loved seeing you Helen.  Thanks for your help.  Helen is walking to Everest basecamp in October, and is training for this event.  She will walk up Snowden over the weekend.  I know you will enjoy it.

 

Martha gets an A for her homework

 

Martha has been completing a homework about the Rio Olympics over the last half term at school.  She has consistently applied herself to every homework, and has tried her best all the way through.  I am so proud of her.  She has achieved an A grade, whilst I have been causing her lots of distractions through being ill.  Martha, you are a wonderful young woman, and I love you.  

The juicer is working :)

This is the juicer that got a good review from Which.  The only negative that Which was that the tube was narrow, and this is correct.  However, I made the decision that it was worth saving £150 and having a narrow tube.  I am happy to cut the food before making a smoothie.

 

 This is the pith - this is for the bin.  It is very dry.

Hooray, Sarah and a spinach, orange and apple.  Mum says she put in the whole orange, including the skin. 

Thank you for the gifts - updated

 

Also, Tommy brought over some tomato sauce that he has made.  Tommy is a chef that lives in the house opposite me.  I am really looking forward to trying it, and really appreciate its arrival.  Thanks Loads.  Sarah xxx

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for these.  What a huge surprise.  A gift voucher, and these beautiful flowers arrived as a gift from Flixton Girls' High School. 

You may be able to tell from the snap that I am not feeling well today.  I have discussed this with my radiologist, who has advised me to continue to take 2mg of steroids every day.  Yesterday, I was told to stop taking it.  This decision has now been reversed.  love you all.   Sarah xxx

 

 Thank Bev, these bells are intended for my bad days.  Bev is worried that I cannot use my phone at night.  She is correct.  In the night I struggle to coordinate my fingers and find it difficult to find my mum's number to call for help.  If I have a bell, I can ring for help. 

 This is an electric footpump.  It came addressed to me, but I am sad to say that I do not know who sent it.  I am already a regular biker, it is just that now I have to bike, rather than choose to bike, so this will be a great, thanks. 

Aha, Lance Armstrong, deposed champion of Le Tour, and very out of favour...  However, his book is about his diet and how he beat cancer.  Thanks Jackie for sending this - it is going to be very useful.