Friday 1 June 2007

New Millennium – Take 2

There’s not much I remember about the start of the new millennium in 2000 other than the fears over Y2K and how at the stroke of midnight between 1999 and 2000 there was the potential for total and utter chaos. The other thing about 2000 though was that it was the year in which I was very ill.

The problem started the year before (in the previous century and indeed in the previous millennium!). But of course, me being me, I ignored it and I also kept it to myself. I put it down to basically being tired because I was working too hard and ridiculously long hours. That changed one Sunday when I was working in the garden on a project. I was pushing to get it finished but I could feel the energy draining from me and could feel the intensity of the pain in my neck increase. The lump was far bigger than it had ever been – maybe this was more than swollen glands due to tiredness (my diagnosis). I knew then I had to see a doctor. What followed was a near immediate appointment with an ENT consultant. I needed an operation to remove the lump. “I’ll be a day patient having this done under local anaesthetic?” I asked. “You need to recognise the seriousness of the illness” was the reply “general anaesthetic, possibly a week in hospital and who knows yet what follow-up treatment”.

Within days my body just seemed to give up – I could hardly move. I had no energy and I was sure that the antibiotics that I was taking in lead-up to the operation were making me feel worse – I was right, I had a massive reaction to them. The operation, which was expected to take up to an hour, took several hours. I had actually exacerbated things by having ignored the problem for so long. A week after, I was to see the consultant to have the stitches removed, and to hear what the analysis of the lump had revealed. Everything was fine – it was benign. I was off work for 3 months though as a result of the illness – I had no energy, my system was out of sync due to the medications and I’d started to put on weight as a result.

I decided that this was a life-changing experience. I needed to mend my ways. My focus would be on looking after myself, getting a better work/life balance, and putting work into perspective. So let’s fast forward …….. here I am in 2007. I have no energy, I’m carrying too much weight (which I still blame on my illness), and I still don’t have that work/life balance and focus right.

These past few weeks since ‘The Disappointment’, I’ve been sitting thinking and jotting down (mainly through mind-mapping) my thoughts, the issues, things I’d like to do and so on. I’m at the point now where I’ve identified some actions to take. What keeps stopping me is I feel I just don’t have the energy to push things along even a little bit. I read again my ‘Triple Gym Workout’ and realised that this is the lynchpin of my PLAN A. I need to take action in this area before I will feel up to taking action in other areas. I took a big step last night when I rejoined a diet class and this coming Monday I’ll get back to the gym. So I’ve started the ‘Body’ workout bit. ‘Mind’ and ‘Spirit’ to follow. Happy New Millennium!

7 comments:

Missy,Mrs and Mum said...

Hi,
When I first got ill in feb 05 I put on nearly a stone by christmas 05. I was starting to have to buy clothes in the next size up and it just felt horrible. I have never been a gym person but I really wanted to go, of course there is no way I could. I was also going to bridesmaid in april so I knew I had to loose some weight. So I decided after new year that it was time to start the diet. But nothing crazy, stop eating rubbish to 'make me feel better', no cakes when people came round to see me. I also have an exercise bike so I started that. At first I could only do 1 minute but it has increased to 20 (still at a very slow speed). It helps to get my legs moving and really helps my hips.
But remember not to go crazy, take it slow so you don't loose weight really quickly then put it all back on again.
keep smiling, from pirate missy xx

Mary Witzl said...

I think a lot of us are in this position; I know I am. At the present time, I'm not terribly overweight, but I could stand to lose a few pounds. I have a mantra: slash and burn. When I want to eat something I don't have any business eating, I think 'slash' and leave it be. When I'm feeling slothful, I think 'burn,' and go out and exercise. So far the results haven't been spectacular, but I'm aiming for slow, steady improvement.

Anonymous said...

I came to thank you for your visit to my blog and for your comments there.

I read your post today and felt some of the problem is not unlike that we all have. Fortunately, you got the attention you needed but the tired problem didn't go away.

I had a serious aneurysm surgery in 1996 and quit smoking. When I got through the surgery and it took weeks to recover, I was able to taste things for the first time and smell things again and food was delicious. I put on 40 pounds and all these 11 years later I still got it on me.

I am working on it and hope to get it off but not going on a diet but by eating small portions and leaving out all of the snacks.

I hope to make it as I now have more energy and even mowed the yard today. All by myself. I also have emphysema and asthma. So that and only half of both lungs left, I am lucky.

Best wishes,

Abraham Lincoln's kidney stone attack...
I rolled on the floor, puked, screamed, and passed out. When I woke up the neighbor was gone.
Brookville Daily Photo

Eryl Shields said...

Lean body, lean mind as they say. Or is it the other way round? Whichever, with your positive attitude EG I don't see how you can fail.

I got myself a mini trampoline some time ago and, as with missy and her exercise bike, I could only manage a minute or two on it to begin with, now I use it to run on in the garden and can do two hours or more with a good playlist to listen to. It's where I get my best story ideas too. Can't recommend it highly enough I've lost well over a stone what with the running and the general cutting down on eating crap.

You sound like you are finding your own way though so very good luck to you.

Eryl Shields said...

Tag you're it: I've just tagged you for a meme. You now have to come up with fifteen personal goals and post them. It's just a bit of fun really but I thought it would also suit your blog and Plan A.

Missy,Mrs and Mum said...

hi eg. just thought i would send a message to you to see how you are. haven't seen you on chris' blog recently so thought i would pop by to say hi. hope you are ok, missy xx

eg(scotland) said...

Missy, Mary, Abraham, Eryl - thank you all so much for your comments. Sorry, I've not been around to acknowledge them - long story and not really that interesting. But I do appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment.

Best wishes to all.

EG