My Year 2024

Well it has been a pretty awful year in all, starting with my Mum dying in January, followed by my Dad in August and then our dear Sheltie three weeks later in September.  Below is what I wrote in October but never got round to publishing.

Gosh it is now October and I haven't blogged since February.  

Where to start?

Our dear lovely Sheltie Stanley, died last week, Tuesday 24th September at 21:12  at home with us by his side telling him how much we loved him and what a good boy he was.  He was diagnosed on 7th September with a rare and aggressive cancer of the stomach lining, and boy it was aggressive as it turns out!  He actually picked up for 10 days when he started a course of steroids, started eating again and was putting on weight.  On 19th/20th September when we returned to the island he was bright, alert and interested in all that was going on on the ferry.  We really thought he was healing.  Sadly it was like a switch was flipped and he was reluctant to eat Friday which was not a good sign.  He completely went off his food again and started vomiting again.  It was heartbreaking.  He really didn't deserve this, he was only 8 years old.  He was such a good emotional support dog and the house feels empty without him.  

Poor boy, it was heartbreaking.

Only a few weeks previous to that my Dad died too.  So all in all things have been pretty miserable. 

Because of all the convid nonsense, and then my back issues I hadn't seen my dear Dad since 2019.

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Grief can be very damaging to your body.

Things then got worse with my health, in a big way, no not pain this time but something else entirely.  I started finding it harder and harder to walk the dogs, with exhaustion, sweating like mad even though it was Autumn and cold.  I couldn't sleep at night, but was falling asleep as soon as I got back from walking the dogs.  The dog walks got shorter.  I was told on 16th October that it wasn't just my hands that were shaking but my whole body was trembling.  These shakes got a lot worse, and we also realised my pulse was very high.  I thought my symptoms were grief and menopause. However, my husband was thinking I might have a cortisol problem we booked some blood tests.  The lab doctor actually called me with the results as they were so serious.  I had a severe overactive thyroid and needed to get to the doctor asap!  Well I actually left it from Wednesday to the following Monday until I went as that was when we were going to be back on the mainland.  The doctor sent me straight to the hospital where they did more blood tests and examined me.  Turns out I was in thyrotoxicosis, so very serious.  I was very weak and had lost lots of weight.  The prescribed me propranaolol and carbimazole which I had already decided I wasn't going to take due to the risks, especially as I had no spleen as a result of a previous autoimmune blood disorder that I got in 1991, liver results that weren't the best and had just been diagnosed by the GP before I went to the hospital with mild tonsillitis.  You are told when taking that drug that you must stop it immediately if you get an ulcer, sore throat or any infection and go straight to the hospital for blood tests.  Well it didn't make sense to me to take it.  They called the next day to say I had been diagnosed with Graves Disease as had the antibodies for that.  I had to return to the hospital the following Monday for more blood tests.  

I started on a natural protocol recommended by Dr Eric Osansky who cured his own Graves Disease. (The Hyperthyroid Healing Diet) I also changed my diet to an AIP (Autoimmune Protocol Diet).   A week later I returned to the hospital and for another blood test and check up.  My results had improved slightly so that was a positive result, especially considering it had only been a week with the natural remedies and diet changed.  If I had been on the drug it may have improved more BUT I there is also a high possibility I would have been severely affected.   I was given another appointment for a blood test and to see the consultant in a month's time.  

Good news at the next appointment, just a few days before Christmas, one of my thyroid test results had halved, and the other had also improved - will take long to show improvement in the other two tests.  My liver results had also improved, so that was an added bonus.  I have to return for more blood tests towards the end of January, and will probably be monitored each month for some time.

Back to 2nd December, I got very ill with a very nasty cough and kind of cold I guess.  That laid me up for over two weeks, so it was just as well I hadn't taken the medication they prescribed as I more than likely would have ended up in a dangerous state.  Although have to point out I was taking the propranalol for my heart as you can't have a resting heart rate of over 120, and one that goes up to 160 on exertion - and only mild exertion at that.  The beta blockers have really helped and eventually I will be able to decrease the amount I am taking.  Well last week I started to feel a lot better, and able to do a lot more. (I think my latest blood test results showed the improvement and healing too).

I have been very lucky as I have been staying with my son, daughter in law, and grand daughter.  They have been looking after me very well while hubby has been working and back and forth to our home on the island.  My son has been cooking meals for me.  I was so weak I could barely do anything and have lots so much weight and muscle, so am as skinny and bony as anything.  I don't feel quite so weak now, but still can't do much and I am guessing it will take some time to rebuild my muscles and strength.  On the drugs they say it can take 12 - 18 months before you go into remission.  I don't think it is going to take so long as that, but it will take quite a while.

It is no wonder I haven't been up to doing much for some time!

Oh and you soon realise who your real friends are when faced with grief and then serious illness.

We are returning to the island Monday night, in part to avoid the horrendous fireworks they have up here on New Year's Eve which go on for hours.  We don't want to disturb the dogs. 

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Well talking about the dogs...Simon and Peter were both very close to Stanley, but fortunately I think they coped relatively well as they had each other...although about a week after he had died, we came home from somewhere and they rushed out to the car jumping up at it (once we were parked up obviously) and sniffing all around it.  I am sure they were expecting him to have come home.  It was quite a sad moment.

Peter is still a little ........  fill in the gap when we go for a walk, still screams and barks at every dog he sees.  This is despite the fact that I walked every day in all weather for six months with two other ladies and their dogs.  He did end up walking with them very well, but still screamed at new dogs.  This is very upsetting and frustrating as it means it limits us being able to take him out anywhere like we used to with Percy and Stanley.  Simon is good to take up fortunately, but I can't walk them together as Peter will then set Simon off.    I did start taking Peter to agility, and he is actually quite good at it considering his diminutive size, although yes still barks and yells at the dogs there, but does sort of settle down.  Unfortunately my ill health put a stop to this, but hoping to go back in the new year now my heart rate has settled somewhat. Of course this probably means I will be back to square one with him again.

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We all had a lovely Christmas, although I didn't take any photos.  My son did so well at preparing and cooking all the food for us.  My mother in law and her partner came for the dinner and then my Aunt and Uncle came round in the evening.  It was really nice.  I got some lovely fun gifts too a few of which I will show below:

Calendar and diary from my son.

A Dolls' House book from my son.

Journalling book, cup and bookmark from my husband.

A book from my son

Some fun retro lego that makes the items show.

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So all in all it has been a strange year.  I woke up one morning in June with a horrendous pain in my hip/back and that pretty much ended up debilitating me for quite a few weeks if not almost a couple of months!  So no gardening was done.  At one stage I couldn't walk, stand or sit so.  Goodness knows what I did, but thankfully I got over that.  

With all that, not so cheerful news, let's look forward to the New Year, may it be a healthy and healing one!

A few photos from June, before I woke with the back problem.  I haven't got many more recent photos, as one, didn't feel like it and two from October on, my hands were shaking too much to get a non-blurry shot (as evidenced from the Christmas photos!