Time to Rebuild
It is time to rebuild my body following an attack on itself.
Over 4 months ago my health started to deteriorate. My strength and stamina fell off a cliff edge. My heart raced. My weight plummeted. And I was oh so tired. After a scary few weeks I got a diagnosis. I had an overactive thyroid. I started treatment. My body started to recover but not enough to prevent a rather nasty virus destroying my Christmas. But then, after the stress of getting a negative lateral flow ‘fit to fly’ test I flew out to Jamaica. Two weeks in the sun has done me the world of good. I didn’t do much. A little swimming, kayaking and a vomit inducing snorkelling session. A lot of reading, a lot of lazing about. I ate good food. And I drunk a lot of rum. I returned feeling amazing. Although I wasn’t too impressed with the -4 temperature at Gatwick.
2021 ended badly. 2022 gives me the opportunity to rebuild myself.
I’m now in the unenviable position of being under three consultants. A rheumatologist for my psoriatic arthritis, an endocrinologist for my overactive thyroid and a cardiologist for my not ‘completely normal’ heart. Could I have done anything to prevent this? Who knows. I think my fate was secured as a child. I developed psoriasis. Inherited from my mother. My daughter has inherited it from me. Up to 30% of psoriasis sufferers will develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis sufferers have a higher incidence of heart problems. And having one autoimmune condition makes you more vulnerable to developing another. The perfect hat trick.
All I can do is manage the situation I find myself in by looking after myself. Good nutrition, exercise, managing my stress, good quality sleep and lots of fun.
One positive outcome of the last three months is that I’m back in the NHS system where my heart is concerned. I’d somehow fallen out. And as I was feeling so well I didn’t do anything about it.
At the end of last year I had an echocardiogram which my cardiologist described as not ‘completely normal’. I suppose it would be too much to ask as a 62 year old woman with a history of heart surgery to have a normal heart. I was a little concerned that the abnormal findings could result in restrictions particularly as a consequence of my slightly dilated aorta. But at my cardiology appointment a few days ago I was assured that my measurements would need to be a lot worse before restrictions would be applied. I punched the air as I left the clinic. My birthday had come early.
First stop a ‘testing’ session with my PT to see what I can currently do. What became obvious that my strength was already returning. We tested deadlift, bench press, back squat and push press. Before Christmas I could manage a 60kg deadlift but I easily became breathless. I can now do 80kg without becoming breathless. A big jump forward but a long way from the 115kg I managed back last year. But it is all going in the right direction.
What I have learnt from my experience over the last few months is that we can never take our health for granted. I had heart surgery six years ago. My recovery was good. My health was good. I was fit enough to do the things I wanted to do. I believed my life would continue in this way until a gentle slide into frailty. But within weeks my good health was dissipated. I’m yet to find out what caused my thyroid to become overactive. I may need further treatment. It may not be easy. But I’m going in the right direction.
Great review! Very detailed & helpful.
Thank you.
Private Eye Editorial – In The Back
Hi Folks!
Just wanted to tell this little tale which may possibly be of some interest? Early last year I received a regular letter from my mother who I learned had been in King Georges Hospital (East London) for the previous three weeks. She had been fully vaccinated at that point and was in for observation of some kind. Her main point was that she simply couldn’t get out of the place fast enough, (aged 81) not because of bad care or unprofessional practices, but because it was continous „Bedlam“ screaming and aggresive visitors and endless argument (with anybody all day & night long) being the normal order of the day/night.
Eyes passim have covered this particular hospital for other very negative ‚medical‘ reasons too of course. Abuse of NHS nursing staff seems to be quite a sport in the UK these days, MD would surely agree, I’ve read of various GP practices actually having to shut up shop recently because of violent behaviour towards those trying their very best as well (mind-boggling to put it mildly).
Being a lifelong Eye reader, living here in Sunny EU Berlin for over 40 years (London-born 1959) I often compare what I see there to what I experience here healthcare-wise, the difference is mega (talking basic care level here). Pissed violent idiots in A&E is one thing, but continous abuse ‚by the public at large‘ on the wards themselves is a totally inconcievable concept. My mother (a trained SRN had almost 50 years experience in local East London care homes and hospitals so was not náive to put it mildly). On the morning of 19th June 2021 (Freedom Day (sic)) I was informed by phone that my mother (aged 82) had just died in that hospital after yet another three weeks of ‚Bedlam‘ the actual cause of which I today still don’t know, it’s not really relevant anymore.
I do suspect she would have been far happier (like oh so many others) not having to end up and die in such a place quite correctly compared to Bedlam in AD 2021.
Cheers! Keep up the great work . Graham Ricketts, Berlin, 14.07.22