Category Archives: health & happiness

5 kilos

09 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in diet & nutrition, health & happiness

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This is a 5 kilo bag of potatoes. As of today I am no longer carrying this around with me everywhere I go.

Most of you will be aware of my struggle with losing weight over the years, especially after the cancer surgeries and chemo which really screwed up my metabolism. But after my recent bout of gastroenteritis followed by the emergency op I have dropped five kilos “without even trying”.

Yes, that last bit is meant to be facetious. And of course it’s just the tip of the iceberg because I still need to lose about four more bags of potatoes, but at least I seem to be heading in the right direction after years of being stuck at the same unhealthy weight.

This has actually inspired me to get super serious about getting fit as soon as I am recovered enough to go back to the gym. But the fact that I’ve lost these five kilos while basically sitting around on my butt since mid-August is also inspiring because it has made me realise how just a few small changes in my diet can make a huge difference. And these are changes that I know I can live with. Go me!

diagnosis & treatment

06 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, health & happiness

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When I got home from the hospital on Friday I received a call from Yolanda the vet telling me about Azar’s blood test results. The good news is that so far there isn’t any serious renal dysfunction happening, but the bad news is that it’s now clearly just going to be a matter of time. Well, Sunny lived a good couple of years after he was first diagnosed with kidney problems, so let’s hope Azar has at least that much time left.

The treatment is also the same as it was for Sunny, which is basically a change of diet to a special type of cat food, as well as a daily supplement. With Sunny this supplement was no problem as I just crushed the pill into a bit of wet food and he gobbled it down with relish every morning. With Azar it will have to be, ahem, inserted into his mouth. Fun, fun, fun. Also, Azar will need a daily dose of the liquid laxative to help keep him regular. And, of course, he is given drinks several times a day from his own special glass so that he stays hydrated.

I don’t know if I was in denial about Sunny or if I was just so overwhelmed with being on, and getting over, the chemo, but I didn’t realise how seriously his health had declined until it was too late. And while I know there is no cure for kidney dysfunction in cats, I still think I could have – and should have! – made Sunny’s last few months more comfortable. With Azar no detail is going unnoticed (am even logging stuff in a journal) and he is getting constant attention and being properly spoiled. The good thing is that he is still playful and happy and shiny. And I will do my best to keep him that way for as long as possible.

the best bed…

02 Friday Sep 2011

Posted by in cats, health & happiness, home, hope, hospitals

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THIS is all I could think about while I was at the hospital. Being home again in my bed with my boys. So you can imagine my joy when I found out this morning that I could go home.

I was sure in an out in record time – from operating table to home again in less than three days! I think in part because there was a serious bed shortage and also because my doctor knows that I’m a veteran, this being my fourth major abdominal surgery there. So he could rest assured that I knew what to do and how to take care of myself. But I was also surprised at how quickly I bounced back, being up and about in less than a day after the operation. So perhaps I’ll be able to do that Gourmet Tapas Tour on September 10th after all!

But don’t worry. I plan on taking it very easy. When I got home this afternoon the first thing I did (after snibbling the cats) was take a long hot shower and wash the hospital off me. Then I had a bit of lunch and then I had a lovely three-hour siesta with the boys. This is a photo of my rather rumpled bed after getting up. And oh man! I just felt like the luckiest person in the world to be back here. Sure I’ve still got a lot of pain and it’ll be awhile before I’m back to normal, but I’m still determined – perhaps more than ever – to stick to all the changes I’d been deciding on just before this happened.

Well, time for a light snack and a DVD before hitting the hay again. And thanks again for being with me through all this – it really meant the world to me.

up and about

01 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in change, health & happiness, hospitals

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Finally got my little office set up here at the hospital and have been getting some work done. I’m really recovering fast from this operation, even though I was slit open from sternum to pubes again. Considering it’s been less than 48 hours since the op I think I’m doing very well.

The doctor said this morning that I should try to be up and about as much as possible and so as soon as they got me off the morphine and removed the catheter I was able to move around. I just have a saline/antibiotic drip to move around with me on a wheelie pole and the icky drainage bag hanging off my belly, but compared to all the tubes I had me when I woke up from the op, this is nothing.

I just caught up on emails and have had more tapas tour requests. Also had to get in touch with the tours I have booked for Saturday, Monday and Tuesday to see if the clients would mind going out with Peter, and they are fine with that so at least they still get a tour and I don’t lose any money. I might actually be well enough to go out on the Tuesday one – hope so!

Feeling okay, but a bit depressed by all of this. Out of the blue I am back in hospital and hating it, worrying about Azar at home (he’s blocked up again) and generally wondering how I’m going to keep things together, including myself. But I’m very grateful for all the company online here at casa az and on Twitter.

Well, think I’ll take a wee siesta now. Not much else to do…

reorganising

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in health & happiness, home, life stuff

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So okay, my closet will never look this organised, and goodness knows I don’t have a tidy mind, but I have spent most of today reorganising my house and my life.

This past week Nog has been over at Anna’s cat sitting. He was supposed to have been there all month, but because I had to go to Málaga and all that he didn’t go over until last week before Jessica arrived (though he did visit the cats regularly while he was still here). Anyhow, I had a lovely week with Jessica, just the two of us hanging out. Even though I was sick most of the time it was very relaxing. And I started thinking about how I wanted things to be different around here.

Today Jessica officially “moved out” (though she and Thomas will be here for a visit next month) and I decided to move Nog’s stuff into her old room, thereby freeing up one of my bedroom closets. As Nog has been sleeping on the sofa bed and didn’t have a room of his own he’s been keeping his stuff in mine. And the act of sorting and organising all this stuff had helped clear my mind about a lot of things, just like this past week’s illness cleansed me physically.

I’ve often said how September always feels more like the “new year” to me than the first of January, and it has never felt more so than this year. You’ve probably guessed that Nog will be moving back in next month. He really wants to stay and I’ve decided that (for now) I’m better off with the devil I know, so that will be a month to month deal. And it looks like work is starting to pick up for me. I’ve already got six tapas tours booked for September and two possible new social media clients to finish wooing next month.

And the best thing is… I’m really feeling good. About my work, about the future and – wait for it – about me! I can’t remember the last time I felt so much like myself and liked who that was. I just had to write that down in case I forget it.