Category Archives: health

aaarrrrgh! (again)

08 Monday May 2023

Posted by in casa azahar, health, home

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yoga back

Yep, happened again. On Saturday morning I bent over THE WRONG WAY and a sudden intense jolt of AAARRGH⚡⚡⚡ left me in serious lower pain. This hasn’t happened in a long while (last time was Sept 2022) but it’s something I’ve been plagued with since a tobogganing mishap when I was 19. The first full-blown sciatica didn’t start happening until my mid-twenties, and back then it used to happen more frequently. Just awful. But lately, if I’m lucky, I get one or two episodes a year and, while I am much older and fatter, I’ve also learned how to “nip it in the bud” so to speak, so that I haven’t actually had sciatica since… don’t even remember when. Though the lower back pain on its own is excruciating enough. Anyhow, the damage has been done, so now the goal is to not damage things further, be careful … and keep moving.

Worst thing you can do when you have back pain is bed rest.

Meanwhile, this popped up on my Instagram feed today (wow, internet spies everywhere, haven’t even mentioned my back on Insta) with a sponsored ad suggesting 7 yoga postures to relieve back pain. And this was one of them…
😅😂🤣

covid 2023

02 Tuesday May 2023

Posted by in coronavirus, covid, health, health & happiness, sevilla

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covid 2013

Hey guess what… it’s STILL FUCKING HERE.  Yesterday Peter tested positive for Covid (so far I’m still negative). His symptoms started on Sunday (feeling tired, chesty cough) so we did a test on Sunday evening – negative. But Monday morning there it was. Fuck. Obviously since the positive test result Peter has been keeping to his room, wearing a mask, with the balcony doors open for ventilation… and of course he cancelled his tours this week.

I also got in touch with my clients booked for this week. Told them the situation, that I had so far not tested positive (and of course would test on the morning of the tour) but they have opted to cancel. Fair enough. I wanted that to be their choice, it wasn’t mine to make for them, thinking I was fine, it was theirs to make based on the possibility that I might not be. Totally respect that.

And yeah, it sucks to lose work and income. But I don’t get it. How do people who KNOW they are Covid positive still keep going out and about, keep going to work, keep meeting friends for dinner, going on trips, etc etc fucking etc??? Then there are the people who are in denial, who refuse to test, refuse to acknowledge they may have Covid because… who the fuck even knows why? It makes no sense to me.

There is no such thing as “just a cold” in my house any more. Because there is no such thing as “just a cold” pretty much anywhere in the world any more. In fact, I haven’t had JUST A COLD since December 2019. Gee must’ve had something to do with everyone wearing masks, washing hands, paying attention… though I did finally succumb to Covid in October 2022, just two weeks before I was scheduled for the second booster (fuck fuck fuck). “Mild” symptoms, ten days testing positive, twelve days spent at home until I got two consecutive negative tests, so as not to infect other people. I don’t understand why this is a hard concept to take in, or why people think it’s somehow okay to infect others with a potentially fatal illness, or one that could result in life-long incapacity.

I do understand that we all can’t afford to take time off (god knows I can’t) and I fully acknowledge I take some personal risks that I probably shouldn’t but I have to work and, just like everyone, I want to have a bit of my old life back. Those are my personal choices that I make for myself. But for me to decide… hey, flatmate is down with Covid but so far I’m okay so I’m not going to tell anyone unless I have to… who the fuck even thinks like this? The mind reels. And the heart hurts.

mammogram 2023

25 Tuesday Apr 2023

Posted by in health, health & happiness, hospitals, sevilla

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mammogram 2023

Ouchie time again. I got on the programa mamograma back in March, expecting to get a call sometime later this year (since my previous mammogram had been in August 2021). But then suddenly there I was yesterday at way-too-early o’clock ready to get my boobs smashed and hope for the best. And basically that’s what they told me. That if I don’t hear back from them in the next 2 weeks that means I’m okay. So it’s like a no news is good news situation, but waiting for nothing bad to happen really isn’t one of my virtues (what? me worry??). Anyhow, fingers crossed as usual.

mission aborted

12 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in health, hospitals, sevilla

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mission aborted

Well fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck and fuck again. It all seemed to be going so smoothly. After yesterday’s prep with the SOLUCIÓN EVACUANTE I felt ready to go and so it was off to the hospital. I was quite surprised to discover they were going to totally knock me out for the procedure (on previous occasions I was just given a light sedative). But in went the needle, in went the probe and then suddenly I was awake again. At first I thought, hey that was a piece of cake. But then I got the news. That I was going to have to do it all over again. Why? Because of “poor preparation”. I tell ya, I almost cried. But the nurse was actually lovely and when I explained that I did everything I was supposed to do, followed all the instructions, just like other times, she said that sometimes it happens.

For the record. I did the low-residue diet for three days. And on the day before the procedure I stuck to only clear liquids until the evening when I started with the dread SOLUCIÓN EVACUANTE. Five hours later that was (finally) done. I had a bit more water and went to bed. Woke up parched but wasn’t allowed to drink before the procedure so I didn’t. I’m telling you I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT. So why didn’t it work this time? Honestly I felt like they were judging me, thinking I probably cheated on the diet or didn’t take all of the solution. Other than the kind nurse.

So now… I don’t know. I’ve sent an email to the oncology secretary to explain the report they will be receiving shortly. And also to ask what happens now? Not sure if they will just reschedule another colonoscopy or if I will have to go in and see the oncologist again first. I feel so deflated now. Kind nurse told me this really isn’t that unusual and most likely when I redo it they will either give me a different prep solution or have me go on liquids for 2-3 days instead of just one. Or both. None of which I am looking forward to. Has this ever happened to you?

colonoscopy prep time (again)

10 Monday Apr 2023

Posted by in health, hospitals

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colonoscopy prep 23

Since I’m apparently not allowed any more scans the oncologist agreed last September that I could have another colonoscopy as my last one was five years ago. It was supposed to be in February but then I finally heard from the hospital three weeks ago and they told me the appointment was for March 22nd – the day of Morcilla’s operation! So I asked if they could reschedule and now it will be this Wednesday at noon. Eep.

I’ve been on the low residual diet since Saturday and tomorrow it will be clear liquids all day until I have to start with the dread SOLUCIÓN EVACUANTE at 6 pm. To be honest, I’m a bit worried about this one because I’ve been having a fair bit of abdominal pain and general discomfort lately but was so caught up with all the cat trauma of the past month that I couldn’t allow myself to think about it much. So I guess it’s a good thing I’m getting the test done and hopefully it will turn out fine and put my mind at rest. Fingers crossed! 🤞