Hey People,
It's my grandmothers 100th birthday today. As you can see from the picture she still looks great!! Just thought I would give her a mention as it is such an accomplishment. 'Happy Birthday Granny!!!!!!' She is from the West of Ireland about ten minutes from Knock. From those of you who don't know about knock here is a little information.
"On the 21st of August, 1879, Our Lady, St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist appeared at the south gable of Knock Parish Church. This Apparition was witnessed by fifteen people, young and old. From this miraculous occurrence Knock has grown to the status of an internationally recognized Marine Shrine. The personal pilgrimage of Pope John Paul II in 1979, commemorating the centenary of the Apparition, inspired an even greater devotion to the Shrine and endorsed the indelible seal of Vatican approval. Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited the Shrine in June of 1993. One and a half million pilgrims visit the Shrine annually".
So this weekend all the family will be traveling to Mayo for her birthday party on Saturday. In Ireland when you turn 100 you get a letter and a cheque from the president which is pretty cool I think. It should be good as I will get to see a lot of relations that I haven't seen in a long time. That's the big event in my world this week anyway...
I will update you on the last week and a half. This time two weeks ago I began to feel feverish for a couple of days. And low and behold I got hit by some major fatigue. I spent around two days in bed. It must have been a virus flare up or something. I haven't been too bad since then, but I am not near as good as I was around the time of the wedding. Last week I had my flu like feeling on and off throughout the week and lots of weak moments. All of this seemed to have an effect on my spirit for which I'm still waiting to come back. I just feel like I have lost my uumph, you know that natural inner energy. I'm lacking motivation and enthusiasm. I don't feel depressed. I also don't feel happy or sad, just in between somewhere. Strange, I just can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's my hormones... We are still trying to sort them out. I came down in dose on my estrogen and progesterone as requested by my doc. This month I had my period for two and a half weeks, stopped and then it returned a few days later and now it's gone again. (it was the same the last two months). I need to get that sorted... Or maybe the virus just messed things up a bit... I'm sure this weekend will snap me out of it.
So last week was quite a busy week in terms of medical issues. I was at the doctors to discuss my rash which is all over my back. I'm not happy about it as it is so itchy... I have had this on and off over the last four years since getting sick. My old doc sent me into casualty three years ago with it and they did a biopsy. They said it showed features of folliculitus, however they didn't seem convincing and said they were going to discuss it with some board of dermatologists. I was given antibiotics and creams. It did eventually go away after a few months so I never went back to see them. Anyway, my doctor wants me to see a dermatologist again. I want to know once and for all what the hell it is. There is now two different types of Marks all over my torso. I am aware that you can get bacteria skin condition like 'Bartonella" from tick bites???
My doctor and I have also decided to get me back to the infectious disease doctor to get re-tested for Lymes. I was with my other doctor(family doctor) last week and he said that he thinks this is a good idea. He firmly believes that it is too much of a coincidence that I was living in foresty area in India, and got a bite on my foot and got sick. He thinks I definitely got something but it's just a matter of finding it as these things are so good at hiding within the body. He got me to do a test for Rickettsiae before and it came back negative. He knows a woman with a very similar case to mine who was sick for six years. Over that time she was tested for Rickettsiae four times and only the fourth one came back positive. So taking his advice I am going to make these testings my focus for the future and I will get re-tesed if the results are negative. I will have to wait and see what the Infectious disease doctor has to say when I get my appointment.
The reason I was at my other doctor last week was for results of a smear test I got done four weeks ago. I got a letter this day last week asking me to go and talk with my doctor. I had pre-cancerous cells 9 years ago and I had a Colposcopy and the cells were removed. All my smear tests have been clear for the last 9 years, until now. They have found another pre-cancerous lesion so I have to go back and see the gynecologist. I'm not overly concerned, after all it's not cancer just abnormal cells, I think.. As long as you keep on top of these things I reckon it's ok. My doctor reckons it's probably due to my immune system being under so much stress over the last year. So I have a few appointments with specialists coming up; 1 with a gyne, 1 with a dermatologist and 1 with an infectious disease doctor.
Now for the pain..... I am having A LOT of pain recently and I'm not happy about it. I mentioned recently my calves and knees. Well I'm not to bothered about my calves. I have been getting pains all over my legs and this gets significantly worse at night, especially at bed or when I'm relaxing on the couch. It is very uncomfortable... My legs are too sore to touch off each other in bed, so I have to have a pillow in between my legs. Now both my knees are at me. My left one is still worse though. In the mornings they are very stiff and I am having trouble walking or if I'm walking for more than ten minutes they get very sore. It feels like the bones are rubbing off each other and I'm getting pain in all parts of the knee. Yesterday my left knee was swollen. My elbows are also paining me. I'm having a lot of discomfort with my upper spine. I am getting burning pains which makes it very hard to sit still. This only usually starts in the evenings. I am also getting moving pains which I have always had, but worse all over my body, for example burning in my little finger, etc. I started back doing very light yoga on Tuesday to try and help. I'm mainly doing stretches and movements for the spine and my legs. I'm sure this will be of benefit. I am also trying to go for small walks daily. I don't know if it is connected but when I am moving my joints are crackling also. I am just going to wait and see how it goes. I bought some magnesium and other supplements for joints yesterday.
That's enough for now folks. I'm tired now...
I hope you're all well.
Treya : )
Hey People,