Category Archives: health

too much pain

23 Friday Feb 2024

Posted by in fitness, health, health & happiness, knee saga, knees

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knee pain

So I’m pretty much desperate now. I’ve had KNEES for the past few years, meaning that I became physically aware that they existed rather than previously when they just functioned without making their presence known. But it was only last year May-June when I started having serious knee pain. So I got it checked out, got x-rays and an MRI in September (on the left knee, though by then it was the right knee that was giving me more grief). In fact I ended up at emergency when the pain got so bad it scared me. Doc just said I should stay off it and prescribed pain meds, including Nolotil which is BANNED IN 20 COUNTRIES as one of its many nasty side effects is DEATH. Needless to say I eschewed the drugs.

I haven’t gone back to my GP about the MRI results because when I tried a phone appointment a few months ago she was on holiday and I got her replacement who just told me to take painkillers and ride a stationary bike. The fuck? For what it’s worth I’ve set up another phone appointment for next week to see if she has anything more helpful to say. Like, I should probably be seeing an orthopaedic specialist at this point, plus I think the right knee also needs an MRI. And then, you know, maybe some helpful advice?

Meanwhile, I can barely walk anymore. It’s shocking to me how things went from “gee my knees kinda hurt” less than a year ago to screaming pain whenever I have to get up from a seated position (once I get moving it eases up a bit, but only a bit). Needless to say this affects my job which involves a lot of walking. But it has also affected my life in general because walking is what I do! I’m always out and about, getting my steps in, just being out there. Now it takes all my effort to put myself through the pain it takes to just walk a few blocks. It’s exhausting. I’m exhausted.

shades of grey

26 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in hair, health

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shades of grey

Got a haircut this week! Since my peluquero of more than 20 years sadly died of Covid in early 2021 it’s been tricky because I am an annoying drop in client and Joaquín never minded that. All I ever want is a quick wash and trim (dos dedos), no blow dry or styling, it takes less than 15 mins. BUT I have to be on my way home (wet hair) and so I drop in when the timing is just right. These days it usually takes a couple of tries, and this week I lucked out.

Looks like I am one trim (maybe two) away from being all natural, which unfortunately isn’t the stunning pure silvery-white I’d been hoping for… apparently I am “dove grey” with white at the temples. I like the white bits but hope it doesn’t make me look like Grandpa Munster! But it actually feels good not to be bothered about hair colour anymore. Just one less thing, you know?

the c word

22 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health, sevilla

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stop covid

This notice was on the door as I walked into the hospital yesterday. Translation…

BE RESPONSIBLE On Your Visits

STOP FLU

IF YOU HAVE FLU SYMPTOMS (fever, cough, sore throat, rhinitis)
Please don’t enter, so you don’t put patients at risk

IF YOUR VISIT IS URGENT, wear a mask
(you can ask for one from the staff on your floor)

Flu, huh? It’s like everyone is afraid to say the C Word anymore. I mean, as you know, I’ve been a regular hospital visitor for well over 15 years and I don’t remember ever seeing Flu warnings posted before, and especially not with a request to wear a mask.

Meanwhile it seems Covid is taking the world by storm once again with its latest variant JN.1 which only yesterday the WHO finally publicly recognised as a “variant of interest”, recommending masks in all hospital and health care settings. But as we all know, recommending does fuck all.

Gotta say this global “save the economy” strategy was expertly played by simply relying on peoples’ inherent selfishness and creating the us-and-them “healthy vs vulnerable” thang whilst withholding crucial data from the public. As expected, the majority of the (first) world decided that a small inconvenience was too much for them to bear because they were the healthy ones and so the rest could either JUST STAY HOME or THEY could wear a mask if it made them feel safer. Us and Them. Them and Us. But you know, which one is which? Because it turns out that we are ALL the vulnerable ones, no matter how much the “healthy” people tell themselves otherwise. That FAFO situation is already unfolding as we speak but unfortunately it will take irrefutable evidence before the Covid deniers will accept what is actually going on in front of them.

Shame that none of this evidence reaches us anymore. It’s always been there but now it’s all “don’t test don’t tell” and just telling people what they want to hear. Meanwhile JN.1 sounds like a big time motherfucker and so I will be taking precautions. Stay safe out there, amigos.

all-clear cava!

21 Thursday Dec 2023

Posted by in cancer, health, hospitals

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all clear cava

After getting booted out of the “cancer club” last week I still had one more hurdle, which was a backup ultrasound after last spring’s mammogram. Which was this afternoon. And the very good news is that I am ALL CLEAR. Phew! So there was a glass of bubbly on the way home and now… well, I just hope that I will be hospital-free at least for a while. There will be the usual GP maintenance check up in a couple of months with a blood test, review of my blood pressure status and – maybe! – some info about my FUCKING KNEES. It’s a bit alarming how they went from being a bit painful to needing a stick in just 3-4 months. But that’s for another day. Today I feel so relieved about this good news that I may even sleep tonight!

rhinomer update

18 Monday Dec 2023

Posted by in health

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rhinomer

So I have been using this stuff FOREVER, or at least for the past 15 years, plagued as I am by sinus issues. More recently I’ve been using it as a covid deterrent since a good sluicing of salt water up your nose and around your nasal cavities after getting home from being OUT THERE creates a less welcoming situation for viruses and bacteria.

Lately I’ve noticed that Rhinomer 3 (the high-powered squirt one) hasn’t been in stock anywhere and I have had to buy the less-squirty (and somewhat cheaper) Rhinomer 2. Which still works but, you know, it doesn’t shoot up there like the full force version. Apparently there is a supply issue. I’ve been offered other brands but I’m kinda hooked on ol’ Rhinomer.

Then the other day a pharmacist said to me… you still have the nozzle from a previous Fuerza 3 bottle? And duh – apparently this is the ONLY difference between the various strengths… the nozzle. So if I use a pink Fuerza 3 nozzle on a blue Fuerza 2 bottle it suddenly turns into Fuerza 3. I am so happy to know this, and you may be too.