Category Archives: health & happiness

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.

 

masking the problem

09 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, health & happiness, work

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So I had a two work-related meetings yesterday, both about an hour long, and I was surprised to see that at both places the people I met with weren’t wearing masks. And well, okay, we were seated *almost* a metre apart (the new magic distancing measurement) and nobody was coughing or sneezing, but we all know about transmission from aerosol droplets now, which can stay in the air for up to eight hours. So I sat there uncomfortably until the meetings were finished, slathered sanitising gel on my hands and left.

Then on the way home I decided to see if anyone was at my hairdresser’s. I know they stay open all day and that usually during lunchtime (2-4pm) it is quiet. And so it was. In fact at first I thought they were closed but the owner was outside having a cigarette and came over when he saw me at the door. I told him I just wanted a wash and cut, and he could skip the blow drying, so I was out of there again in about 15 minutes. I noticed that they are now using disposable “towels” and single use plastic capes, but just before I sat down to have my hair washed I said to Joaquín, “aren’t you going to put on a mask?” and he said yes of course, that he just had it off while he was outside, etc. I explained about my immunocompromised situation (he knows about the cancer, been going here for years) and after that he seemed to take even extra care, wiping down the chairs with antiseptic gel before I sat down, so that was good. And while I am never totally comfortable in public places these days, at least I felt precautions were being taken.

But I noticed – and learned – something about those different experiences. At the meetings where I was hoping to get a work offer I didn’t feel like I could mention the mask issue, but where I was a paying customer I felt totally within my rights to request that a mask be worn. And I thought to myself afterwards, is that what it comes down to? That my life is worth less when there is money involved? And so even though I really need the money, I vowed never again. If some people want to believe they are somehow safe from this virus then I guess I will have to keep my distance. Me? I’d rather believe Dr Fauci.

 

100 days of solitude

22 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by in coronavirus, health & happiness, sevilla

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unlock

Yesterday marked the official final day of lockdown in Spain. I started counting Day 1 as March 14th, so that makes it 100 days, but I see some other “official” numbers vary by a day or two. Doesn’t matter. For me it’s been 100 days of lockdown, which have been mostly spent alone, until a few days ago when I dared to meet a friend for lunch. Other than that, there’s been no human contact other than at the supermarket. My last hug was on March 11th. The only times anyone has even touched me since then was when I went to have blood taken, and the other day when the oncologist poked and prodded my belly. This has been hard for a girl who loves her hugs!

What else has been hard in terms of lockdown itself? To be honest? Not that much really. Sure I’ve been a bit bored at times (not often), worried, lonely, anxious, but I’ve also been surprisingly patient and even content, making sure my days include things I enjoy (cooking, chatting online with friends, cuddling cats, writing this silly blog) and I’ve even set up a workout routine for those days I don’t get out for a walk. But as I’ve said here before, I’ve already had training for this when I spent a year and a half basically “locked down” by cancer, chemo and several major abdominal ops. And then I read this very good article by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett which reminded me that I’d also had even more previous training with my agoraphobia, which used to made it impossible to leave my home.

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new bumper and belly calls

08 Friday May 2020

Posted by in casa azahar, coronavirus, health & happiness, iphone

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So the bumper I originally bought for my (then new) iPhone X finally bit the dust. And you’d think that, since I seldom leave the house these days, I probably could do without a new one. But you’d be wrong.

I’ve been doing my (almost daily) rooftop walks with the cord thingy that came with the orginal bumper, so I can hang my iPhone around my neck to count my steps (I don’t have a fitbit watch) leaving my hands free to carry my ancient iPod. Apparently I don’t own any clothing with pockets. So not only did I have to replace the bumper, I had to find one that has those two tiny holes on one side to attach the key-ring looking bit, which then clicks onto the other bit on the cord… are you still awake?

So anyhow! I discovered another unexpected feature from carrying my iPhone around my neck, which I tuck inside my top to keep it out of the direct sun when I’m on the roof. I guess you’ve all heard of butt calls by now (more politely known as pocket dialing), when you have your phone in your back pocket and inadvertently call someone after a button or two gets pushed. Well this will never happen to me since, as already stated, I don’t have any clothing with pockets, and also never wear trousers, let alone jeans (the main butt call culprits). But it turns out I can make belly calls! It happened today while I was doing my rooftop walk. I got a call from a friend so of course I answered and we were chatting for a bit before I said “hey what’s up?” and she said “well, you called me” and I said “wut”. Turns out the phone screen was turned towards my belly and it made a call. Gotta be more careful!