My blog is now officially one year old. Its been a roller coaster year and that has been, I think reflected on my blog. This blog started out as somewhere to discuss and share my experiences as a student but quickly developed into something broader and a far more encompassing, reflecting every aspect of my life. It also become somewhere I could vent the difficulties and stresses that I face in my life. In this past year 1500 readers have visited my blog, thanks to everyone who took the time to read my waffle.
So what of the future? In some ways I am disappointed that this blog hasn't developed into what I wanted it to be, to raise awareness and reach a wide scope of readers, also where as initially I felt able to be open and honest when things got tough about how I was feeling and what was going on in my life I now find this less so, leaving me feeling that this blog is becoming a little "samey" and sterile. In short I am no longer comfortable with some aspects of blogging. So I don't know what if anything the next year of this blog holds, I will have to wait and see how things develop and which direction it heads off into.
Monday, 9 August 2010
Friday, 6 August 2010
12 feets grows to 16 feet
As you all know I have 3 gorgeous guinea pigs Prince Harry, Sparky and Thomas. I am more than happy with my little gang and had no plans to extend it. They are wonderful pets, all of them each offering their own different characteristics and personality. I love each of them to bits.
A few weeks ago me and my nana were nattering away on the phone and she mentioned in passing that she was thinking of getting herself a hamster. I have carried a view from childhood that they are nippy little things, not easily tamed. I have had two as an adult "Alice" the devil in hamster form. Put your hand in her cage when she was awake, even offering food and you would remove your hand with a hamster dangling off your finger, no matter how hard I tried it was impossible to tame that hamster.
There is one amusing story related to Alice though, I took her on as a pet while living in the university accommodation block which was overseen by a woman known to us all as "Twiggy". We never called her that to her face but she of was know of that title behind her back and she shared a similar personality to Alice, without the biting, I don't recall ever seeing that woman smile. One thing that was an absolute no-no was pets, though several hamsters did reside in that block along side students.
Anyway, Twiggy appeared one day wanting to do an inspection. On hearing a knock at the door I shoved Alice's cage under the bed, in doing so I woke Alice up. While "Twiggy" was busy doing her inspection all I could hear from under the bed was the "squeak, squeak, squeak" of Alice whizzing round her wheel. Fortunately, it would seem "Twiggy" as well as being devoid of personality was also devoid of hearing as she never appeared to pick up on the strange squeaking coming from under my bed.
Then later on came "Sammy the hammy" he held the distinction of being the only hamster never to bite me. He was one class hamster. After that I became hamster less and gave no further consideration to ever having a hamster darken my door again.
Going back to my nana wanting to acquire a hamster as a pet, I offered to purchase a hamster on her behalf and then bring it down to her. I do not believe in homing from pet shop or breeders so after a few enquiries I discovered that there is a small animal rescue 20 miles from me a few emails later and a hammy was reserved for my nana. So off I went one Thursday night in my trusty chariot to view the said hamster and make a final decision. She was adorable and I deemed her suitable as a new companion for my nana and thus agreed to adopt her for my nana.
The wonderful person J that ran the rescue then introduced me to the other inmates and though they were each gorgeous I resolved that no, I was not offering any off them a home. There were gerbils rescued from their owner by the RSPCA as they were been kept in unsuitable conditions and being neglected. There was pets brought in as their owners could no longer offer them a home and then there were two hamsters who were brought in by the police having been found dumped in the street. They were male and female and in a tiny cage, not good and I got quite annoyed at this stage that someone could do something like this to an animal so tiny and defenseless.
Then she introduced to me to a tiny underweight ball of fluff who, has been found at the same time as the two hamsters mentioned above in a tiny cage and on his own this time, he was scrawny and underweight but incredibly friendly and tame for all he had been through and my heart melted and my resolve weakened and that was it animal osmosis toke place in my house once more. He's been living with me a week and he's and amazing chap, hopefully what J said to me as we left "being dumped may be the best thing that happened to him" will prove true as he settles in his new home with a good size cage, lots of toys and lovely grub. I can see an improvement in the little mans condition already. His name, Pippin.
Here he is
This of course led to some anxieties on Sparkies part as he clearly thought he was been shoved to one side and replaced, this is certainly not the case and he need a lot of reassurance before he settled down and stopped yelling and demanding my attention at every opportunity bless him!
A few weeks ago me and my nana were nattering away on the phone and she mentioned in passing that she was thinking of getting herself a hamster. I have carried a view from childhood that they are nippy little things, not easily tamed. I have had two as an adult "Alice" the devil in hamster form. Put your hand in her cage when she was awake, even offering food and you would remove your hand with a hamster dangling off your finger, no matter how hard I tried it was impossible to tame that hamster.
There is one amusing story related to Alice though, I took her on as a pet while living in the university accommodation block which was overseen by a woman known to us all as "Twiggy". We never called her that to her face but she of was know of that title behind her back and she shared a similar personality to Alice, without the biting, I don't recall ever seeing that woman smile. One thing that was an absolute no-no was pets, though several hamsters did reside in that block along side students.
Anyway, Twiggy appeared one day wanting to do an inspection. On hearing a knock at the door I shoved Alice's cage under the bed, in doing so I woke Alice up. While "Twiggy" was busy doing her inspection all I could hear from under the bed was the "squeak, squeak, squeak" of Alice whizzing round her wheel. Fortunately, it would seem "Twiggy" as well as being devoid of personality was also devoid of hearing as she never appeared to pick up on the strange squeaking coming from under my bed.
Then later on came "Sammy the hammy" he held the distinction of being the only hamster never to bite me. He was one class hamster. After that I became hamster less and gave no further consideration to ever having a hamster darken my door again.
Going back to my nana wanting to acquire a hamster as a pet, I offered to purchase a hamster on her behalf and then bring it down to her. I do not believe in homing from pet shop or breeders so after a few enquiries I discovered that there is a small animal rescue 20 miles from me a few emails later and a hammy was reserved for my nana. So off I went one Thursday night in my trusty chariot to view the said hamster and make a final decision. She was adorable and I deemed her suitable as a new companion for my nana and thus agreed to adopt her for my nana.
The wonderful person J that ran the rescue then introduced me to the other inmates and though they were each gorgeous I resolved that no, I was not offering any off them a home. There were gerbils rescued from their owner by the RSPCA as they were been kept in unsuitable conditions and being neglected. There was pets brought in as their owners could no longer offer them a home and then there were two hamsters who were brought in by the police having been found dumped in the street. They were male and female and in a tiny cage, not good and I got quite annoyed at this stage that someone could do something like this to an animal so tiny and defenseless.
Then she introduced to me to a tiny underweight ball of fluff who, has been found at the same time as the two hamsters mentioned above in a tiny cage and on his own this time, he was scrawny and underweight but incredibly friendly and tame for all he had been through and my heart melted and my resolve weakened and that was it animal osmosis toke place in my house once more. He's been living with me a week and he's and amazing chap, hopefully what J said to me as we left "being dumped may be the best thing that happened to him" will prove true as he settles in his new home with a good size cage, lots of toys and lovely grub. I can see an improvement in the little mans condition already. His name, Pippin.
Here he is
This of course led to some anxieties on Sparkies part as he clearly thought he was been shoved to one side and replaced, this is certainly not the case and he need a lot of reassurance before he settled down and stopped yelling and demanding my attention at every opportunity bless him!
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Labelling silliness
In the past few days I spotted these
On a bag of roast peanuts: warning contains nuts
On a yoghurt : Warning contains cows milk
On a box of paracetamol. : warning contains paracetamol, do not take with other paracetamol products.
On a box of sleeping tablets, zopliclone (not mine): May cause drowsiness
On a take out coffee: Warning Hot!
We really seem to live in a nanny culture where everyone is scared of being sued!
On a change of note I am still battling on, I am not going to, for the foreseeable future post any more about my ongoing struggles with my health as I think people must be sick of hearing by now and getting bored by it all so time for a change in blog focus for now. I have now got my youth counselling course work, it looks very in-depth and interesting. Also I have some exciting news, will post that very soon. I can't do so at the minute as I am posting from my mobile and the photos are on my laptop.
On a bag of roast peanuts: warning contains nuts
On a yoghurt : Warning contains cows milk
On a box of paracetamol. : warning contains paracetamol, do not take with other paracetamol products.
On a box of sleeping tablets, zopliclone (not mine): May cause drowsiness
On a take out coffee: Warning Hot!
We really seem to live in a nanny culture where everyone is scared of being sued!
On a change of note I am still battling on, I am not going to, for the foreseeable future post any more about my ongoing struggles with my health as I think people must be sick of hearing by now and getting bored by it all so time for a change in blog focus for now. I have now got my youth counselling course work, it looks very in-depth and interesting. Also I have some exciting news, will post that very soon. I can't do so at the minute as I am posting from my mobile and the photos are on my laptop.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
All signed up
I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the "Diploma in Youth Counselling" as I am sure it will really benefit me and the children I support. I have added a link for some details.
Also I forgot to mention this in my last blog, I have been referred back to the hospital this time for tests to check my bone density and discuss whether or not treatment is required to protect my bones particularly in light of the fact that I need frequent course of oral steroids and there is a strong family history of osteoporosis, both parents and paternal grandma
Also I forgot to mention this in my last blog, I have been referred back to the hospital this time for tests to check my bone density and discuss whether or not treatment is required to protect my bones particularly in light of the fact that I need frequent course of oral steroids and there is a strong family history of osteoporosis, both parents and paternal grandma
Here comes the summer
Along with the rain, thunderstorms and associated power cuts, like the power cut we had at 3am this morning, trying to find your way to the bathroom in the pitch black is not my idea of fun, nor is being without a kettle.
Anyway the whole summer stretches out in front of me without the demands of study. I had a lovely e mail from Mr C today the tutor who marked my last essay and who will be my mentor next year in which he informed me that he was impressed with my academic ability particularly in light of the challenges that he knows I face.
But now what do I do with myself? I am considering undertaking a course in Youth Counselling which will greatly benefit my role within the church as "children's advocate". This role is far encompassing and covers a great deal but basically it means being there for a child should they need someone to talk to no matter what they want to talk about. The trouble is it costs £400.
In myself I am doing ok, I am off the steroids and aside from a couple of headaches I feel fine in myself at the minute, busy with work and looking forward to 16 days off in three weeks time. Again I have no real plans for this though sometime will be spent on preparing for my next module.
Today I am undertaking a special mission, a mission to get my nana a hamster so this evening I will be heading over to a local rescue to view the hamsters that they have in their care to see if there is one suited for my nana, I have one on reserve so I hope all will go well. I know it will have an amazing home. I am resisting strongly not to bring a little furry home for myself.
The 365 project has completely fell by the wayside, I will recommence it soon though. I am also giving some very serious thought as to what job I want to do when I change jobs, I know I want to do something different but I don't know what.
So thats me up to now.
Anyway the whole summer stretches out in front of me without the demands of study. I had a lovely e mail from Mr C today the tutor who marked my last essay and who will be my mentor next year in which he informed me that he was impressed with my academic ability particularly in light of the challenges that he knows I face.
But now what do I do with myself? I am considering undertaking a course in Youth Counselling which will greatly benefit my role within the church as "children's advocate". This role is far encompassing and covers a great deal but basically it means being there for a child should they need someone to talk to no matter what they want to talk about. The trouble is it costs £400.
In myself I am doing ok, I am off the steroids and aside from a couple of headaches I feel fine in myself at the minute, busy with work and looking forward to 16 days off in three weeks time. Again I have no real plans for this though sometime will be spent on preparing for my next module.
Today I am undertaking a special mission, a mission to get my nana a hamster so this evening I will be heading over to a local rescue to view the hamsters that they have in their care to see if there is one suited for my nana, I have one on reserve so I hope all will go well. I know it will have an amazing home. I am resisting strongly not to bring a little furry home for myself.
The 365 project has completely fell by the wayside, I will recommence it soon though. I am also giving some very serious thought as to what job I want to do when I change jobs, I know I want to do something different but I don't know what.
So thats me up to now.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Talking of steroids (and other things)
I am now on my fourth course this year, oh the joys of severe asthma.
I started to notice the other day that things were most starting to slide, I was using my inhaler more and needing more puffs to get things under control. It amuses (and bamboozles) me that on the label it says "take two puffs as required, do not exceed the stated dose", that is 200mg, my nebuliser deliverers 25x that amount and I can take up to 2 back to back along with atrovent. Anyway it doesn't say how much time to leave between the 2 doses so I just work along the lines of 10 puffs, oh well that will 5 lots of 2 puffs so I am not exceeding the dose! Taking two puffs sometimes works but often in the words of my late and much loved grandma "its like giving a donkey one oat". My GP has also advised that I may use up to 10 puffs at a time.
Then I starting waking at night more than normal and became increasingly breathless and wheezy on exertion. I have a test for this, and carry it out by walking up the stairs to my flat the more wheezy/breathless I get the more trouble I am in, in case your wondering I don't spend the day confusing the neighbours by constantly walking up and down the stairs to my flat. By Monday night I was feeling pretty rough and my pf was dropping to around 65% of what it should be, not a massive drop but a drop no less and one that I could really feel.
I sat in my flat knowing what I needed to do, start a course of steroids but I toyed with the idea hoping that it would magically get better by itself which of course it didn't and wouldn't. My reluctance comes from the fact that I really don't enjoy being on steroids because of both their long and short term side effects. By Tuesday morning it was obvious I could put it off no longer and so I now on my usual dose for a few days, I see my GP tomorrow for a review.
In reference to my earlier post, three or four posts ago about the emotional impact that recent events have had on me I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that this is as good as I am going to get but, I realise at the same time I have never really come to terms with having polyarthalgia and osteoarthritis either which was formally diagnosed in November last year. I am taking a low dose of anti depressant again something I really didn't want to do because it feels like I am not coping as well as I should be but, I really think right now that its the best option for me as I seem to on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, again something I don't like. I am scared as to what the future holds, this in turn is having an impact on my Christian faith. How can I propose to trust God and have faith in Him when I am scared what the future might bring?
Yet there is much that it is positive in my life and much to look forward to and I need to keep a positive outlook in my life, I feel that it is both vital and important. For example the other day after yet another bad night I got up early to find the piggies screaming for breakfast, so I gave them a small amount of food, planning to give them the biggest percentage of their breakfast later and I popped a small cabbage leaf on Harries head, those who have met Harry will back me up when I say he's not the brightest piggy in the world, he sat there occasionally gently trying to move the cabbage leaf off his head, seemingly oblivious that it was in fact his breakfast was on his head, while I stood and giggled helplessly. It was only when, 5 minutes later his cage mate Sparky removed it did he figure out the fact it was food. Its the little things that make life so special. Next week I am meeting up with my wonderful and now "famous" friend B (watch this space)and helping out with a childrens treasure hunt. Here's hoping that non of the children have recently had chicken pox as it has the potential to be very serious illness for me if I catch it. I have much to be grateful for and much to live for, its just a case of finding a way of fitting it all into my life and finding a way out of this rut that I seem to of got myself stuck into.
On a final note I mentioned that my consultant had discharged me, that is not strictly true. I am an "sos" appointments system for 2 years, that is if I feel I need to see at some point in the next two year I can if I need to book an appointment.
I started to notice the other day that things were most starting to slide, I was using my inhaler more and needing more puffs to get things under control. It amuses (and bamboozles) me that on the label it says "take two puffs as required, do not exceed the stated dose", that is 200mg, my nebuliser deliverers 25x that amount and I can take up to 2 back to back along with atrovent. Anyway it doesn't say how much time to leave between the 2 doses so I just work along the lines of 10 puffs, oh well that will 5 lots of 2 puffs so I am not exceeding the dose! Taking two puffs sometimes works but often in the words of my late and much loved grandma "its like giving a donkey one oat". My GP has also advised that I may use up to 10 puffs at a time.
Then I starting waking at night more than normal and became increasingly breathless and wheezy on exertion. I have a test for this, and carry it out by walking up the stairs to my flat the more wheezy/breathless I get the more trouble I am in, in case your wondering I don't spend the day confusing the neighbours by constantly walking up and down the stairs to my flat. By Monday night I was feeling pretty rough and my pf was dropping to around 65% of what it should be, not a massive drop but a drop no less and one that I could really feel.
I sat in my flat knowing what I needed to do, start a course of steroids but I toyed with the idea hoping that it would magically get better by itself which of course it didn't and wouldn't. My reluctance comes from the fact that I really don't enjoy being on steroids because of both their long and short term side effects. By Tuesday morning it was obvious I could put it off no longer and so I now on my usual dose for a few days, I see my GP tomorrow for a review.
In reference to my earlier post, three or four posts ago about the emotional impact that recent events have had on me I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that this is as good as I am going to get but, I realise at the same time I have never really come to terms with having polyarthalgia and osteoarthritis either which was formally diagnosed in November last year. I am taking a low dose of anti depressant again something I really didn't want to do because it feels like I am not coping as well as I should be but, I really think right now that its the best option for me as I seem to on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, again something I don't like. I am scared as to what the future holds, this in turn is having an impact on my Christian faith. How can I propose to trust God and have faith in Him when I am scared what the future might bring?
Yet there is much that it is positive in my life and much to look forward to and I need to keep a positive outlook in my life, I feel that it is both vital and important. For example the other day after yet another bad night I got up early to find the piggies screaming for breakfast, so I gave them a small amount of food, planning to give them the biggest percentage of their breakfast later and I popped a small cabbage leaf on Harries head, those who have met Harry will back me up when I say he's not the brightest piggy in the world, he sat there occasionally gently trying to move the cabbage leaf off his head, seemingly oblivious that it was in fact his breakfast was on his head, while I stood and giggled helplessly. It was only when, 5 minutes later his cage mate Sparky removed it did he figure out the fact it was food. Its the little things that make life so special. Next week I am meeting up with my wonderful and now "famous" friend B (watch this space)and helping out with a childrens treasure hunt. Here's hoping that non of the children have recently had chicken pox as it has the potential to be very serious illness for me if I catch it. I have much to be grateful for and much to live for, its just a case of finding a way of fitting it all into my life and finding a way out of this rut that I seem to of got myself stuck into.
On a final note I mentioned that my consultant had discharged me, that is not strictly true. I am an "sos" appointments system for 2 years, that is if I feel I need to see at some point in the next two year I can if I need to book an appointment.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Steroids, clarifying a misconception.
For many asthmatics steroids form an important part of their asthma treatment, for some they are literally a life saver. Steroids are mainly administered via inhalers for example flixotide, budesonide, beclomethosone, symbicort and so forth. During acute phases of asthma steroid tablets or hydrocortisone may be needed. In rare cases asthma patients may need to take steroid tablets daily.
They have the potential to be a pretty nasty drug carrying lots of side effects, these almost always only arise from taking steroids tablets or high doses of inhaled steroids, in most cases were steroids are administered via the inhaled route the amount that enters the blood stream is minuscule if at all any.
Much has been made of in the press that Raoul Moat was addicted to steroids and that this may of contributed to his "rampage" and his mental health issues. The idea for this post was was formed in my mind the other day when my colleague commented, "Best be careful Louise, you might be the next with all the steroids you take".
I then proceeded to explain to him what I am going to to explain to you now, many people do not realise that there is more than one type of steroid and the steroid that he was abusing was very different to the one used to treat asthma and many other conditions but, the press fail as they often do, to make this clear. Right now I am guessing there may be people fearing the drugs they are taking, making them reluctant to take them and thus putting their health and lives at risk, at the same time there may well be loved ones scared about there mental health in light of what they have seen and read over the the past few days.
To clarify the facts the steroids used to treat asthma and many other other conditions are known as glucoorticoid steroids which, incidentaly also naturally produced by the the body. The form of steroid abused by Raoul Moat was anabolic steroid, this also has its medical uses but is frequently abused by body builders and its possession is illegal except of course for medical use.
I hope that anyone with concerns regarding the steroids they or their loved ones, work colleagues etc are prescribed now feel at least a little bit reassured that your/their medication, prescribed by the GP or specialist does not carry with it the added potential of causing you/them to go rampaging around Britain's highways, byways and countryside.
They have the potential to be a pretty nasty drug carrying lots of side effects, these almost always only arise from taking steroids tablets or high doses of inhaled steroids, in most cases were steroids are administered via the inhaled route the amount that enters the blood stream is minuscule if at all any.
Much has been made of in the press that Raoul Moat was addicted to steroids and that this may of contributed to his "rampage" and his mental health issues. The idea for this post was was formed in my mind the other day when my colleague commented, "Best be careful Louise, you might be the next with all the steroids you take".
I then proceeded to explain to him what I am going to to explain to you now, many people do not realise that there is more than one type of steroid and the steroid that he was abusing was very different to the one used to treat asthma and many other conditions but, the press fail as they often do, to make this clear. Right now I am guessing there may be people fearing the drugs they are taking, making them reluctant to take them and thus putting their health and lives at risk, at the same time there may well be loved ones scared about there mental health in light of what they have seen and read over the the past few days.
To clarify the facts the steroids used to treat asthma and many other other conditions are known as glucoorticoid steroids which, incidentaly also naturally produced by the the body. The form of steroid abused by Raoul Moat was anabolic steroid, this also has its medical uses but is frequently abused by body builders and its possession is illegal except of course for medical use.
I hope that anyone with concerns regarding the steroids they or their loved ones, work colleagues etc are prescribed now feel at least a little bit reassured that your/their medication, prescribed by the GP or specialist does not carry with it the added potential of causing you/them to go rampaging around Britain's highways, byways and countryside.
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