Category Archives: health & happiness

la puerta de jerez

29 Tuesday Sep 2020

Posted by in health & happiness, home, hospitals

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So I had my CT scan today at 5 pm, which is a bit of an awkward hour because I always like to “treat” myself after a hospital ordeal, either going out for a tapita or a cold beer. But as I was in and out in fifteen minutes that meant that all the bars (or ones that I would want to go to) were closed.

So I walked home to get my steps in, taking photos along the way to send my friend Julie @woollygee, who was virtually walking home with me via Whatsapp. Anyhow, this photo op caught my eye because of the colourful flowers. I guess despite the pandemic city workers are still keeping Sevilla beautiful. Should have scan results late next week.

face brackets

12 Saturday Sep 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, health & happiness

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Has anyone tried these? Yet another “discovery” made while scrolling through Twitter in the wee hours. The face bracket! Apparently it makes mask-wearing much more comfortable, giving you more space to breath. Washable and reusable. I’ve looked at a few on Amazon and the silicon ones seem best, five in a package for about 12 euros. Might give them a go, especially for my long river walks, unless someone tells me they’ve tried them and they’re crap.  🙂

turmeric galore!

31 Monday Aug 2020

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Well, or at least a teaspoon a day for starters. Thing is, I’ve heard whisperings about the benefits of turmeric for years, specifically with combatting inflammation, which it seems I have in spades. But it was only when I happened upon a tweet about it couple of days ago (yep, in the middle of the night) that it finally clicked that I should get on this. Or at least give it a go.

So I bought some turmeric the next day and proceeded to make some stuff, adding it to my usual salsa az, adding it to some garbanzo flour batter… but I needed more. I wanted to know how I could get my required daily amount in one go, and also what that daily amount was. Turns out it’s about a teaspoon of ground turmeric a day (which is what I’m going with) or as a supplement 250-500 mg. So now I am working out how to get that teaspoon all at once, like maybe in a shot of tomato juice in the morning? And I will continue adding it to my cooking, but that will be for bonus benefits. So, while I may be ten years too late on this, will report back in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, my white cotton summer dresses are already looking nervous…

more self help

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by in casa azahar, cats, health & happiness, home, life stuff

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self help
After that mostly useless visit to Emergency on Monday I have come up with THIS. I mean, the sling may be an option when I am out and about, which is hardly ever, but I just can’t at home otherwise I wouldn’t be able to do anything. And I’m not about to take four different drugs either, including a version of valium. Not so keen on masking the problem as I am getting to the source of it. And I mean, the doctor who prescribed all this stuff didn’t even ask if I was on any other medication, had allergies, etc. WTF.

And so, after changing the height of my desk chair over the past few weeks (nuthin) and since my arm and shoulder mostly hurt when the arm is unsupported, I have devised this method of keeping the arm supported while working at my desk, using a rolled-up towel and some duct tape (and with Morcilla supervising). It’ll take a couple of days to see if this helps, but already I can feel that it gives a me a break as the arm can actually rest on the newly elevated arm rest.

The only time I am pain-free is when I am sitting in my comfy chair, I think because the arm rests are just the right height and so both my upper back and arms are supported. It also helps if you have an extremely cute cat on your lap. Anyhow, wish me luck. Hope this is going to help.

cosy cat

don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that sling

27 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in health & happiness, hospitals

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sling
So after more than three weeks suffering with REALLY BAD shoulder and arm pain (lately lots of pins and needles in arm) I called my doctor, who said if it was serious pain I should go to emergency, in case they wanted to take an x-ray. So I did. And at emergency they kept asking why I hadn’t gone to see my doctor. Whatever.

I got seen to and after a perfunctory examination was told I had “omalgia” (no attempt to discover the source), was given a sling and a jab in my bum (anti-inflammatory) and sent on my way with prescriptions for paracetamol, ibuprofen, omeprazol and diazepam.

Well fuck that shit. If I just wanted to be given a whack of drugs I would’ve gone to my doctor three weeks ago. Seriously… painkillers, anti-inflammatories, fucking valium and oh, a stomach protector?? Because my shoulder hurts. A lot. And no attempt to find out WHY it’s hurting so much? Fuck.

This first happened to me about two and a half years ago and my lovely friend Kate @sledpress sent me THE CANE which I’ve been using but, unlike last time, it’s just not doing the trick. Have also been using SPIKE, which Kate sent as a part of a birthday package ten years ago. My gosh, that girl has been looking after me for quite some time now! I don’t know why what worked before isn’t working now.

On the plus side I got in 10,000 steps by walking home from the hospital (luckily today it was a balmy 36º, tomorrow it goes back up to 42º). I lasted with the fucking sling for about 20 minutes before ripping it off my neck. And now I am back at home looking for ways to get better on my own. Emergency doc also told me not to do any exercise. This sucks.