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Feeling Devastated. Plenty of Questions & Worries, But Not Many Answers

By Health, LifeNo Comments

I’ve had time to reflect on my recent health consultations (see The ENT Specialists) and I can honestly say that I’m feeling devastated.

I knew the hole in my septum had gotten bigger, but seeing the state of the inside of my nose on a monitor attached to a camera on a flexible cable really traumatised me. I have plenty of health-related worries right now including:

  • Do I have vasculitis and if so, what does this mean for me in the long term? Vasculitis is a very rare condition.
  • If its not vasculitis, then what is the cause of this extensive nasal destruction?
  • What will the biopsies show? Could it be Cancer?
  • They want to operate urgently in the next two weeks. What is going through the mind of my ENT Consultant?
  • What has caused a small hole in my septum to lead to complete septum destruction in around 4 months?
  • Will the pain ever be resolved? Or is this it now? Chronic long term pain.
  • Could other symptoms such as fatigue, a psoriasis-like rash on my elbows, difficulty standing for short periods, right hip/knee pain and difficulty sleeping through the night (insomnia) be related to my nasal passage problems?
  • How will they decide to fix the problem? Is it even fixable?
  • How will all this impact on the management of my type 1 diabetes?
  • What other autoimmune diseases does this increase my risk of getting?
  • Is this related to that time I got pneumonia?
  • How will any or all of the above affect my life expectancy?
  • What does all this mean for returning to work and life?
  • Will I ever feel normal again, or is this the new normal?
  • Why did nobody ever tell me to go and get my constant blocked nose checked out? Would it have made any difference?
  • Why didn’t I get any ENT experience as a Student Nurse or in A&E. This would have at least given me some clinical experience in the area?
  • Why did I decide that my constant blocked nose was because of developing an allergy to my two gorgeous cats?
  • Will I ever be able to smell normally again? At the moment, I can’t usually smell anything, unless I try and it is particularly strong. Sometimes, I smell what smells like rotting flesh.
  • Why is the waiting list so long to seen ENT? Ear, nose and throat systems are vital to health and wellbeing.
  • And more questions continue to fill my head on an hourly basis.

I have plenty of questions right now, but not a lot of answers. It’s the not knowing that causes the most anxiety.

Best Wishes,

Antony

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Thursday 18 April 2024

MEGA POST: What’s Been Happening To Me – The Welsh Mountain Zoo, COVID Positive, Certificate in Counselling Skills & A Double Ear Infection

By Adventures, Education, Friends & Family, Health, LifeNo Comments

In June, I visited the Welsh Mountain Zoo with my good friend Simon. Here are some photos from the day:

In June I also tested positive for COVID-19. It floored me. I didn’t have any of the usual COVID symptoms: no cough, no temperature and no changes to my sense of taste or smell. Instead I had the following symptoms:

  • Exhaustion
  • An intermittent rash
  • Lumps on my hands
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia

I had been double vaccinated, used the face masks and remembered about social distancing. It made me so ill, I was off work and generally out of action for nearly 6 weeks.

Part of the reason I haven’t blogged recently, is as following COVID I had to catch up on a Certificate in Counselling Skills I had signed up to at my local college. I am pleased to announce, that subject to external moderation, I’ve successfully passed the course. I’m now about to start undertaking another course a Certificate in Mental Health Awareness.

The great thing about these courses offered at my local college, is that they’re free. Unless you don’t complete them, then you have to pay £125 – a good incentive to get them done.

At the moment I’m struggling with a double ear infection, meaning an infection in both ears. Its been very painful. But thankfully I’m on some antibiotics now that seem to be doing the trick.

Blog soon,

Antony

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Saturday 18 September 2021

Book Review: Insomnia by Stephen King

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
insomnia-stephen-king-book-cover
View on Amazon.co.uk
 Insomnia is the story of Ralph, an old man who starts suffering with insomnia after the death of his wife.

Each morning Ralph wakes up earlier and earlier. Then he starts seeing the world in more vivid colour than he ever thought was possible – as he begins to see auras. For Ralph seeing auras can be beautiful and enlightening, but it can be awful and even grotesque.

Ralph thinks he is alone in his suffering with insomnia and his sensing of auras. That is until he confides in his friend Lois. Lois discloses that she has been experiencing the same. Ralph and Lois work out that when they see the auras they are going up to a higher plane of existence.

While Ralph is on this higher plane he sees a little odd alien-looking man wearing a white coat and with a scalpel in his hand. The man is after street dog. Ralph interferes and the man calls Ralph a short-timer and threatens him. This man turns out to be working for the higher power of Random.

Ralph and Lois then meet two other little odd alien-looking men wearing white coats, one carrying a pair of scissors in his hand. These men are working for the higher power of Purpose. The men recruit Ralph and Lois to save the life of a child, as the child will be important in the future. Ralph and Lois agree to help the men, as they maybe able to save the lives of thousands of people, including that of their friend Helen and her daughter Natalie.

But Random have recruited Helen’s husband Ed, well before Ralph and Lois became involved.

Both of the higher powers of Random and Purpose are fighting for their own causes, with their own bigger pictures in mind and the stakes are high. But these reasons are unknown and perhaps incomprehensible to Ralph and Lois as short-timers.

The description in Insomnia is exquisitely and perfectly crafted. It allows the reader imagine everything that Ralph and Lois sees, hears, touches, tastes and smells (in all senses of the words).

The plot is endlessly inventive, expertly executed, riveting and dealing with life and death and everything in-between.

The pacing is much slower than any of King’s books that I have previously read. At times during the reading it felt as though the pacing slowed to a belly crawl. But the slower pace did suit main character Ralph, an Old Age Pensioner (OAP) and one that is severely deprived of sleep.

Insomnia is available to buy on Amazon and at all good book shops.

Review soon,

Antony

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Saturday 15 April 2017

Christmas: Fabulous Food, Drunken Drinks, Family Fun and the passing of George Michael, Liz Smith & Carrie Fisher

By Friends & Family, Games, Happiness & JoyNo Comments

I’ve had the most brilliant Christmas! Filled with fabulous food, drunken drinks and family fun.

I’ve had two Christmas dinners and one buffet, plenty of Prosecco and the occasional Bailey’s coffee. My family and I have played Bingo, The Game of Life (junior edition) and Minion Monopoly with my five year old Nephew.

I have been treated to some terrific presents, each one I am extremely appreciative for, including: Tickets to see Sister Act next year, two Yankee candles (cosy by the fire & Christmas cookie scented), five books (Cell by Stephen King, The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, More Moaning by Karl Pilkington, Insomnia by Stephen King & 11.22.63 by Stephen King), lots of Harry Potter goodies, a minion cup, some chocolate, some clothes and other stocking fillers.

2016 has been a year of losing some great creative people. Death comes to us all, but this year we’ve all felt these deaths. We started in January with the loss of David Bowie (which I blogged about here: The Life of David Bowie), then it was Alan Rickman. In April we lost Victoria Wood (which I blogged about here: Today the World has Lost a Great Source of Laughter). Unfortunately Death wasn’t going to give us a break over Christmas. Over Christmas we have lost George Michael, Liz Smith and Carrie Fisher:

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Past Away This Christmas: George Michael, Liz Smith & Carrie Fisher

Lets hope that Death is kinder in 2017 and doesn’t continue to take so many of our wonderfully creative people. Lets also hope that currently unknown creative people have the right luck and opportunities to find their public.

Write soon,

Antony



I aim for posts on this blog to be informative, educational and entertaining. If you have found this post useful or enjoyable, please consider making a contribution by Paypal:


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Tuesday 27 December 2016
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