Finished Everest, then all went down hill…

So, yep, I finished the Everest challenge. I set myself 3 weeks, but managed to finish it in 9 days. I am so happy that I immediately signed up for the next one, Mt Fuji. Yet, my body had other ideas. Apparently it has been telling me ever since that I’ve overdone it and now it won’t to anything I want it to. I have a huge list of things which need doing before Christmas, and I’m stuck on the sofa! Fibromyalgia flares and CRPS flares are ruling the days!

This is probably the worst thing for me. I’m not one who likes to sit and do nothing, or copes with it at all. I’m used to the crps flares. When these happen the pain is so intense that I don’t notice the world. Yet this new fibromyalgia thing is worse in a way. The pain is manageable, but only because the crps is so severe, that nothing else comes close. Its the nausea, the brain fog, the extreme tiredness and lethargy that I find impossible. Today, I hope to take my boxes to cats protection and little valley animal shelter. A thing I do every year. I put together boxes for the cats for Christmas. I can’t stand the thought of them having nothing on Christmas day, as well as having no home. I would give them all a home if I could. But because of my stupid illnesses I couldn’t take them. I’m hoping that I will be able to do it tomorrow. But I said I’d be there today… I have to change things, and rearrange things, and it’s torture. Anyone with these conditions will tell you. But there is literally nothing I can do to stop it, other than wait for it to pass, and hope it does so, in time for Christmas.

I’m one of those people who believes that christmas is all about tradition. We have lots in our house. As well as the boxes for the cats, we take some chocolates to age concern. We like to spend the lead up to Christmas turning our home into Santa’s grotto. I make gluten free brownies and banoffee pie (my favourite). We buy far too much cheese. 😋 I love to wrap presents and find the perfect gift for people. My mum loved Christmas, and I guess I got that gene!!

My tree, which I love, and my beautiful snowflake made by my good friend Maggie, next to our dedication to our boy, Winkeypoo ❤

So, what do you do when these stupid conditions treated to ruin it all? I honestly don’t know? But I’m hoping that they won’t. I’m hoping for a bit of good luck. 🤞. Our little family hasn’t has much of it this year… Maybe now it will be our turn? But I did wheel to everest (virtually) so that was awesome 👌

The sofa blues…

Oh how I miss wheeling, and handcycling… yes, as you may have guessed, I’m still not up to par. I’m currently awaiting more blood results which will hopefully tell me why I feel so awful! I’m extremely lethargic, to the point of wanting to sleep all the time. Nausea and lack of appetite kind of go hand in hand, and just feeling generally weak and feeble! So, what do you do when you can’t do what you want? Well if your anything like me, you get frustrated and annoyed with your body. It won’t buck up and get better in the timescale you want. The swimming pool is calling, and my body isn’t listening! I’d like to say that I’m a good patient, but I don’t think that I am. I want to feel better now…and don’t like having to wait for my body to behave! But that is what I have to do. So I’m sat watching the paralympics, wishing to be that good! (Maybe one day!). But it won’t happen from a static position on my sofa!! So for now, when I can I’m writing, and doing a bit of drawing, but finding myself falling asleep doing that! It was my 13th wedding anniversary on the 22nd. I managed to be out with my lovely wife for a couple of hours, but then had to go home. I could eat a tiny bit of my meal, but had to leave most of it. I felt like such a party pooper! But when things are like this, it reminds you to give it your all when you do feel well, and to embrace every moment.

So for now, it’s back to convalescing on the sofa, and hoping to feel better soon. Then watch out David Lloyd, for a will be in the pool as much as I can be. My mum would have said, ‘these things are sent to try us!’ And I completely agree. But still wish they wouldn’t!!

So good to be home.

I’m home, as you may have guessed from the title. I finally made it home at 7pm on Tuesday. I think it was probably the longest discharge in history! Saw the Dr’s o Tuesday Morning at approximately 9am. They said they’d have me ready for lunch time!!! My wife made her way after work at 2pm. I ended up sending her home before she even made it to the hospital, knowing I was nowhere near discharge. I had gotten myself dressed, and my bag was packed. By 3pm I gave up, and my pyjamas were back on!! 🤣 My wife then remade her way at 5pm, as we were told that things were ready! At 7pm finally I was discharged. I waited 10 hours for a discharge letter and a few tablets! But, to be honest, I didn’t care. By the time I got through my front door, and into my pyjamas again, and was cuddling my little Lily, nothing else mattered.

My experience on Wynard ward was thankfully very different to the disastrous 13 hours on AMU. All of the staff were lovely. I had a fantastic student, and I wish I remembered her name, (I’ve always been useless with names!), but she was incredible for her level. She’s only a few weeks away from qualifying, and I’ve met nurses who have been qualified for years who don’t sho her professionalsm, level of caring or expertise. She will make a fantastic nurse. I do know she had a job already, and will be mentored in it by my best friend from university, which is amazing. The Nurses were all lovely. The endless cannula attempts. I think I counted 24 attempts in total! My veins completely gave up, and ran for the hills!!

I am still a little weak, and on antibiotics. Am very much looking forward to getting back to training. My lovely wife joined David Lloyd whilst I was in hospital, so I can swim again. In a pool which will not be overcrowded. It also has a handbike in the gym. I’m hoping to do my first swim on Saturday, all being well. I’m also going through classification for Triathlon for next year. There’s one in May which I’d like to do. As for my half marathon on the 5th of September! I’m going to have to see how I get on with training. I’m desperate to do it, but I know I’ve been through alot in the past 6 weeks, so have to build up slowly, and accept it if I can’t do it. I will find another to do instead! So for now, I’m trying my best to eat when I can, and stretching. The antibiotics make appetite a challenge, and make me very nautious, so the only thing I can stomach at the moment is toast, cereal and midget gems!! Not the best diet for fitness!!! But again, I’m home…. 😁😁