Category Archives: health

all-clear cava!

21 Thursday Dec 2023

Posted by in cancer, health, hospitals

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

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

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

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.

boosted! (again)

02 Thursday Nov 2023

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health, sevilla

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

, , ,

boosted 23

Got my Covid and Flu boosters this afternoon. Pfizer. Was hoping for Novavax but was told this was the only one they had. Was also supposed to have a blood test tomorrow morning (booked before vax appt) but put it off until next week, mostly in case I have a reaction overnight. But hopefully, like all the other times, I will just have sore arms.

I had also arranged for a telephone appt with my GP this morning but instead got some other doctor who didn’t know anything about me (apparently my GP is on holiday). I was hoping for some info re: the MRI and what the next steps would be. Turns out there are no next steps until I am in such pain that I can’t walk at all. And no treatment other than to down paracetamol when it hurts too much. No mention of physiotherapy, other than the suggestion to ride a stationary bike to build up muscle strength. I mentioned having to give up the recumbent bike about 8 years ago because KNEES but he insisted that if I took things poco á poco I would see improvement. 🙄

Starting to see how the whole pain-killer abuse thing happened… doctors not giving a shit. Also, I was the only one in the health centre today wearing a mask, other than one nurse wearing a baggy surgical mask UNDER HER NOSE.

my body hates me!

17 Tuesday Oct 2023

Posted by in health, knee saga, knees

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

back again

I mean, it was gaaaahh and aaarrghh and loads of swear words too. Yesterday morning I bent over to look at something on the floor and suddenly lightning bolts of pain shot through my lower back. I mean, seriously? AGAIN?? My back just fucked me over last May and I don’t usually get a serious back incident like this more than maybe once a year. But of course it’s like how my right knee is now hurting more than the recently MRI’d left knee… all that shit is connected. And even though I’m being careful with my posture while walking, and using my new bastón for support, it seems the various fucked up parts of my body are getting even more out of whack by compensating for each other on a daily basis. And so… now what?

Well I guess I have to go back to my GP and have her refer me to an orthopaedic doctor to see what the next step is after the MRI. Will I need surgery? Injections? Physiotherapy? I don’t know. But it feels like everything is falling apart and there’s just pain all over the place now. I have a blood test on Friday morning so I will also see about making a GP appointment then and – I hope – also book my Covid and Flu booster jabs for next week. Phew!

la muletilla

05 Thursday Oct 2023

Posted by in health, knee saga, knees

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, ,

muletilla

Since the most recent knee saga I’ve been using my trusty crutch when out and about, but you know, it’s kind of clunky and not always needed. I mean, I don’t need it at home and, after going out on a couple of tapas tours, I realised that I mostly need “extra support” on inclines and street curbs (don’t even talk to me about stairs) so as to not put extra pressure on the dodgy knee. So I went to look for a more “every day” kind of walking cane and found this at the (very handy) orthopaedic store down the street from me.

This muletilla (little crutch) is lightweight and adjustable as well as being foldable (good for travelling) with an ergonomic handle, which I discovered is actually very comfortable as opposed to the straight handle on my big crutch. AND… it has a wrist strap so when I want to stop in the street and take a photo of something the muletilla can just dangle.

And so it looks like I have officially become AN OLD WOMAN WITH A CANE. Which, for the moment, keeps me from being an old woman who walks like a penguin (it’s actually been tempting to do this because, well, it’s kind of easier, but no). Meanwhile my MRI’d knee seems do be doing okay. Whatever. One day at a time.