Little words of wisdom

 

Cutting back

image from Clipart Library

I mentioned in my last post that I was reassessing how I am managing my life outside of the dietary changes I am making.  There have been ~ still are, to a degree ~ lots of things to consider, including how my health issues may play out over the coming years.  My big "worry" now is a) whether I will have any reoccurrences of gout, and b) if so, how often it may happen.  Of course, I have no answer to those questions and it's not something that my GP can easily predict either it seems.  Dietary changes are the only way to at least mitigate the chances of a reoccurrence so as that is my only realistic route to take, that is the one I am following.

I do have other issues to consider, too, quite outside of those I told you about in my previous post.  I had a prolapsed disc some years ago and my back has never been quite the same since then.  This does restrict my being able to do just what I want, when I want, but I have learnt to "manage" life with a somewhat dodgy back and do try to be sensible most of the time!  Of course, losing weight would be an enormous help for this issue and the dietary changes I'm making are helping the excess pounds to come off. 

One of the biggest challenges now is how to manage our garden, which as I've whittered on about many times over the years since we moved here is rather larger than we had realised when we viewed the house!  We're also both now well into our 60s and hard physical work takes its toll much more that it used to do.  It doesn't take long for the beds and borders to start getting out of control when they aren't tended to on a regular basis.

As you know we have made considerable changes to the layout, including setting up raised beds in a kitchen garden area, altering borders, etc.  Realistically this is going to be a lot of ongoing hard work for us, especially if I have periods when I'm not able to contribute to the work there.  We've therefore decided to start a programme of further changes to the garden which will probably take us a couple of years or so to complete, but the hope is that is will make the garden easier to manage.

I won't list everything that we are planning right now but will keep you up-to-date as we make each of the changes 😊

I have had to consider other areas of my life that also needed overhauling, quite apart from the garden.  I am, of course, talking about my hobbies ~ and all those things that my butterfly mind comes across and immediately thinks "wow, that'd be a really fab thing to try!"  Unfortunately, said butterfly mind soon flits off to something new leaving me with a whole load of books and supplies that I'll never get round to using 😏  So there has been a lot of thinking and sorting going on in my craft room, which I'll share later.

And finally I have been considering whether at the age of 64 I can finally move my personal "style" in a new direction, one that I've thought about oh so many times over the years.  I've never had the courage to step out of my comfort zone, so it always just slips away again.  It's not even as if what I'm drawn to is something "outrageous", so maybe it's less to do with courage and more about laziness?  The problem is, though, that the images I have floating about in my head and what I love to look at online just won't go away!  I must be at least two-thirds of the way through my life now ~ if I'm lucky! ~ so if I don't grab at those ideas now then I never will 😳

So there we are, lots of changes coming along over the next (being realistic) couple of years ~ onwards and upwards, as they say!

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)   

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)   

Little words of wisdom

 

Radio silence

image from Freepik

Three months, more or less, since I last posted and to be perfectly honest I have been seriously considering giving up blogging altogether.  As the weeks have gone by it's just become more and more difficult to actually put fingers-to-keyboard to write anything at all.  I've had some physical health issues, which in turn have led to me feeling pretty low ~ hence my lack of enthusiasm for posting here.  Consequently there's not been an awful lot going on around the house and garden to actually tell you about.  Still, here I am yet again so let's see how things go.

I'm sure I've mentioned I have to take medication for high blood pressure, plus I'm very overweight which obviously doesn't help the blood pressure situation in the slightest.  I have to have regular blood tests because the BP meds can adversely affect kidney function.  My last test results weren't that good, plus I've tipped over into pre-diabetes along with raised cholesterol levels.  As you can imagine I felt terribly annoyed that I've allowed myself to get to this stage, and I ended up feeling somewhat depressed because I know that it's all my own doing.  Anyhoo, eventually I pulled up my big girl panties and started on the road to considerable lifestyle changes.

I regularly see a particular nurse practitioner at our surgery and she has been brilliant.  The bottom line is that if my kidney function doesn't improve then I will have to take yet more medication, and if I don't make dietary changes then I will go on to develop type 2 diabetes.  The NP gave me three months grace to make the necessary changes.  I have to be honest and say that the changes have been (and still are) pretty difficult after years of just not really looking after my health.  I've been plodding on, though, making changes, and gradually losing weight.  Still got a very long way to go on that score but at least the scales are going in the right direction!

Fast forward to the beginning of last month and I woke up with the big toe on my right foot feeling very sort of stiff, almost like the joint needed to "click" but couldn't.  Felt the same the next day, then on the third day my foot was swollen and a bit hot to the touch.  By day four, I was in a considerable amount of pain.  I sat on our bed and wept because it was all just a little too much to be honest.  Adrian phoned our GP surgery and got me an appointment with another of the nurse practitioners.  I was in such a lot of pain and my foot was so swollen that I could only hobble along with a walking stick for support, and it was a  struggle to get even a pair of Crocs on.  Our lovely neighbour took me to the surgery as I knew it would be impossible for me to walk to the bus stop.  I'm afraid that I had another little cry when I was with the NP; I was in pain and just felt so down and dispirited.

She examined my foot and was pretty sure that it was gout.  She took a blood sample to measure the uric acid levels and decided that to be on the safe side, I should also take a course of antibiotics just in case there was an infection.  I was horrified by the notion of gout; it conjured up visions of elderly Victorian gentlemen with a penchant for port and hearty eating!  I was very surprised to find that it is not an uncommon affliction, even for someone who may be quite healthy ~ which, of course, I am not.  It was nevertheless pretty disheartening after the efforts I'd been making to change my lifestyle to find myself being whacked by something else.

      I had a telephone appointment with my GP the following day, who confirmed that the uric acid levels were raised and that the diagnosis was indeed gout.  She gave me some dietary advice and prescribed Colchicine to treat the gout attack.  She also decided that I should continue the course of antibiotics, and suggested ibuprofen for the pain.  It was a good 10 days or so before the pain had significantly subsided, and then I was hit with terrible itching all around the toe and over the top of my foot.  This apparently signals that the gout attack is indeed subsiding, so then it was onto antihistamines to help damp down the itchiness!  Thankfully by then I'd finished both the Colchicine and the antibiotics, one or both of which had upset my stomach, and the ibuprofen didn't seem to agree with me either!

So here I am, a month later and still not quite back to how I was before the gout attack.  My toe, whilst not exactly painful now, does still ache a little and tends to stiffen up somewhat overnight.  I had an appointment with my regular NP last week to discuss how things were going, and to also have another blood test to see how my kidney function was faring since Colchicine can adversely affect it apparently.  She told me that it can take a number of weeks to get back to normal after a gout attack.

As you can imagine I've been doing a lot of reading about gout, which it turns out is actually a type of arthritis.  I've also had plenty of time to do some seriously hard thinking about how I'm managing my life outside of the dietary changes I've already started to make.  As this has already turned into something of an epic post, I'll tell you about the other changes that are in the pipeline another time!  

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014) 

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)  

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014) 

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014) 

Little words of wisdom

 

Peace...

 

www.allposters.co.uk

Father, Mother, God,

Thank you for your presence during the hard and mean days.

For then we have you to lean upon.

Thank you for your presence during the bright and sunny days.

For then we can share that which we have with those who have less.

And thank you for your presence during the Holy Days.

For then we are able to celebrate you and our families and our friends

For those who have no voice, we ask you to speak.

For those who feel unworthy, we ask you to pour your love out in waterfalls of tenderness.

For those who live in pain, we ask you to bathe them in the river of your healing.

For those who are lonely, we ask you to keep them company.

For those who are depressed, we ask you to shower upon them the light of hope.

Dear Creator, You, the borderless sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the world that which we need most.....PEACE.

Maya Angelou

(4th April 1928 - 28th May 2014)