How things change.

When I blogged on Monday I said that the previous two weeks had been about the fastest on record, then this week came to a grinding halt. I’ve spent the week off work and even managed to spend a night in hospital as apparently I’m incapable of looking after myself or heeding any advice I would give to others in a similar situation…there’s a shock!

I started the weekend with a sore throat and assumed it was another bout of Strep, saw the Dr on Monday for antibiotics (due to a white cell condition I get given antibiotics straight away as my body is a bit rubbish at fighting off infections), went back on Tuesday for stronger painkillers as over the counter ones weren’t touching it and then on Wednesday, due to not being able to talk I wrote everything down and headed back to the Dr’s again.

I didn’t expect him to know what was wrong immediately, I still thought it was just a really bad sore throat but since the initial diagnosis I hadn’t eaten for 3 days or had much in the way of fluids apart from what it took to get tablets down my throat four times a day, add to that my voice was so bad that it hurt when I spoke and the whole of the right hand side of my throat was blocked he took one quick look and asked me to visit an Ear, Nose and Throat Consultant at Southmead Hospital in Bristol about 20 miles away as he thought I had Quinsy.

Sorted the kids, packed a bag ‘just in case’ and headed up to the hospital with Hubby. It might be worth noting that I hate hospitals almost as much as I hate hypodermic needles!

We were seen really quickly, the consultant had a look and confirmed that it was Quinsy which is an abscess behind the tonsils and that he need to aspirate it to get the pus out and prevent further infection, which he did with a needle the size of a straw into the back of my throat, twice! admittedly I might be exaggerating slightly as I didn’t see the needle till afterwards but I did nearly break my Hubby’s fingers where I was squeezing his hand so hard. When the consultant was happy he’d cleared as much as he could he started to fit me with a cannula for an IV, the problem there was I don’t like needles, my veins aren’t too keen on them either and I was very dehydrated from being unable to swallow so about 20 minutes later I left with the nastiest cannula ever, not due to the consultant but due to the fact that my veins weren’t surface visible and he was having to do it all by touch.

On the ward I was left with Hubby to get sorted for bed but by this time I was suffering from chills again so all I wanted to do was get warm, he managed to get me into my P.J’s and into bed and the nurses who were amazing started me off with all my IV fluids, 3 bags of antibiotics, a bag of paracetamol, I didn’t even know that came in liquid form, 2 bags of saline, 2 lots of steroids and something else that I really can’t remember throughout the night.

I’m still not 100% but I’m a hell of a lot better that I was on Wednesday and very grateful to the staff at Southmead who were all really nice, I’m back at home, there was no way I was staying another night when I didn’t need to be there and I’m following the biggest course of tablets ever, very strictly. I’m still a bit wobbly but that could be due to meds more than anything and I still don’t have my appetite back which isn’t all bad, I just need to remember to drink more often throughout the day as I’m only taking on fluids when I take tablets.

Hopefully my next blog will be me running around like a loony and telling you all about my secret trip I’m taking with Froad next week (it’s only a secret because it’s on a school day shhhh….)

16 September, 2011 | Leave a comment

Time Flies

I really don’t know what happened to last week. I was going to post on Monday after the Organic Food Fest and the week just got away from me.

A quick round up of the last two weeks. Organic Food Fest was a blast and we made out like bandits with freebies. I was on a  tight budget this year so my purchases were sparse but that was more than made up for by the goodie bag you get for joining the Soil Association and the generosity of the lady who runs Scarlet Angels

She needed something to sample the sauces with so Froad and I went to Hobbs House Bakery, explained what we were up to so we could get the best bread for the job and Tom very kindly let us take two loaves with us. I took his card and promised to let the lady at the dressing stall know to meet up after.

I returned with my haul, explained what had happened and gave her Tom’s card so she could meet him later for a bit of bartering, she very kindly gave me the two dressing flavours that I hadn’t picked up which was more than generous of her.

When it comes to food and my kids I always believe that they shouldn’t be forced to eat something they don’t like but how do they know they don’t like something if they’ve never tried it?

With this in mind I tried Olives for the first time in my life. I’ve always avoided them like the plague so when we came across a stall selling Olives, Oil and Balsamic I thought it was about time I practiced what I preach and gave them a shot. They guy in the stall was great fun and took me through a range of Green Olives from plain to garlic flavoured.

I’m not going to be buying them at every deli I come across but I’m no longer scared of the small green evil things and will occasionally have munch if they are there.

That was about as exiting as the week before was, last week is a bit of a blur with back to school and almost everyone back at work. I’m not sure where the week went as I’d swear  it’s not been a fortnight since the last time I posted.

The last coupe of weeks I’ve been getting back into running again. I’ve restarted the Couch 2 5K programme yet again and so far so good. I’m due to start week 3 this week but I’m not sure that will happen due to typing this while tucked up in bed alternating Antibiotics and Painkillers for my 3rd bout of Strep Throat in a month. I did run yesterday and it wasn’t too bad but by the end of the day my throat had closed up and I’m officially off work today and tomorrow, I’m not much use if I can’t talk and at the moment I can barely swallow the tablets.

On the upside I have no appetite and haven’t had a cigarette in two days so that should sort the smoking and the eating in one foul swoop!

 

 

 

 

12 September, 2011 | Leave a comment

Free Day Off

That week was about the slowest on record and now I can’t believe the weekend is technically over all ready! I say technically as a free day off is never a bad thing, you know what I mean!

Work kept me busy all week and aided my procrastination, I have a sort of sketchy plan for exercise combining the Couch 2 5K programme with JAG’s beginner weights plan, a couple of good old programmes that I know will show results pretty quickly for me and allow me to push myself without dying. I’ll start with 3 days running and 2 days weights and see how I get on from there.

Food has been interesting, I went through both freezers and the cupboards yesterday and cleared out everything that was out of date, I had a lot of jars and packets that had a small amount left in the bottom but were a couple of months past the best before so I binned a lot of things, also loads of items that had been bought for a recipe and only ever used once so I now have loads of freezer and cupboard space and I’m trying hard not to just buy things to fill the gaps.

I did have a bit of a pointless shopping spree at Whole Foods in London on Saturday, I was there for the day (London not Whole Foods!) with my son and we hit up Whole Foods to get a salad box for lunch, a couple of bits I can’t buy at home and some other spur of the moment purchases as well. My haul included a jar of PB & Co Dark Chocolate Dreams, some 500ml Vita Coco which was buy one get one 1/2 price, a Pork Tamale (there was only one left at 12pm!),  some Italian Crisps that were BOGOF and a tub of Cornmeal so I can make some cornbread. I shared a huwjass salad with my son to show him that salad and veggies are actually yummy and we had a lot of fun cramming as much as we could into the box.

We had a great day and this time managed to make it to the Humming Bird Bakery in Kensington. OMG. I have both of the cookbooks at home and have had great success with the cakes I have made but the real ones are a bit flipping gorg! I shared a piece of Red Velvet with my boy and we were fighting over the butter cream filling left on the paper at the end (I won).

The day was supposed to be a foodie day at my sons request and although we hadn’t planned it we ended up at Borough Market after visiting the Tate Modern, it’s a 10 minute walk away and the closest tube station I could think of off the top of my head. We had a good wander around as always and I really wish money was no object as I could have bought so many yummy foods, we did walk away with some nice dried sausage and some speck. I did want to get some cheeses but we had no way of keeping them cold till we got home so I will wait until next weekend to indulge our cheese love at the Organic Food Festival in Bristol.

Today I have great plans, in no real order I am going to do some weights, work on the garden, a bit of shopping, a couple of loads of laundry and some baking with my little girl, I know how to rock a Bank Holiday Monday!

 

 

29 August, 2011 | Leave a comment

Where the heck have I been?

Wow it’s been months since I was officially here last. I have been popping in to update my weight when I have hit the scales but recently that hasn’t been quite so often.

Usually when a blogger like me vanishes for a while it means the death knell of the weight loss. I haven’t been dropping the pounds like a Biggest Loser but I haven’t been racking them up either.

Mostly I’ve been pootling along in my own little world enjoying the occasional fun filled trip with the kids or sadly tucked up in bed being a bit ill which has been far too often recently for my liking hence my coming here to do a bit of a clean up, take the dust covers off and let in some sunshine now that it’s finally bothered to turn up (on the last day of my holiday no less!)

The summer has  been good, the numbers show that I haven’t gone overboard with my eating and even without any exercise I’m still out of the 15′s so I’m happy to go with that for now but I’m in need of a little push to get back into the game.

My foot is as good as it’s going to get without any exercise so I really need to get back into it, the biggest problem is that I’m about sick of the whole weight loss thing. I can make reasonably sensible choices  but the thought of going back to weighing everything, counting calories and writing everything down fills me with dread so I have to find something else that will help drop the weight while still being sensible but not not counting every last grape that goes into my mouth.

With this in mind I’m going to give clean eating a shot (again) and see how I get on without counting. I still need accountability so this is why I’m back, I’ve also picked up a few bad habits that I really should shake off so I’m going for a habit breaking healthier living exercise filled make over. This does all sound a little ambitious but nothing ventured and all that!

I’m back at work tomorrow which will reduce the opportunity to be too bad but I’m going to use this week to get myself organised with some meal planning and exercise but just to start as I mean to go on the water is coming back in and the caffeine is going back out.

 

Wish me luck!

 

21 August, 2011 | 2 Comments

Going Crutchless

Just over a week since I finished with the crutches and things are going really well in the foot department. I’m no longer getting constant pain in my foot and it doesn’t ache anywhere near as much after exercise. I’m still being a bit careful but later on today I’m going to do an hours cardio at the gym. To be safe I’m splitting it up a little so my foot gets some rest and I’m staying away from the bike until after I have seen the Dr next week for my check up.

I’m feeling really good about the 10k in May and for the first time think that it’s really doable, not just a case of pottering around. I’m not going to be breaking any records but I’m so much happier about it especially after getting my race pack for the 5k in Cardiff this week that I can’t do :(

Exercise had me back in the gym a couple of times last week as I was trying to be a bit sensible and this week should see 3 lots of weights and a cardio session, the week after that I’m seeing my PT so I’m sure I will get a new programme and pick up where I was before the crutches.

Shopping and food planning later on today as I really need to get back on track with the eating, more and more snacks and treats are creeping in so I need to put the reins on it before it gets out of hand and I’m spending money on food when I pass the supermarket on a whim when I have plenty of food at home! I need to get a couple of other things sorted and I have promised to do some baking with Little H, so this afternoon I will be up to my ears in cupcakes and sprinkles.

20 February, 2011 | Leave a comment