Day 18: Medicine for the soul

Slept for 8 hours… a lot for me. Seem to be very tired a lot. I am sitting looking out the window at all the wildlife and a blue sky! 

Yesterday was good. Went to Alnmouth Beach and then lunch in Alnwick. Wander around Alnwick after. Came home and slept for 2 hours !! 

Took Bear for another walk, had some supper. Watched a lovely film. 

Scanned my new book eat to beat disease. Think it’s a lot less complex than I thought. There are a list of 5 groups of food that all have different functions. All I need to do is pick 1 thing from each of the 5 groups every day. In addition I need to aim for 12 portions of fruit and veg a day. This may be difficult but I will try. 

Decided that I will cut sugar down a lot but still have one thing at night like two squares of 80% dark chocolate or a  slice of home made cake. I will limit cows milk to one cup of tea a day and add 2 cups of green tea without milk. 

Feeling calmer. Hoping when I speak to Lauren tomorrow they will have a bone scan appointment for me and my op can go ahead on 12th May. 

It’s been lovely to see Niamh for the weekend. Think I have exhausted them with my constant chatter though. They are heading back to Leeds today. I have a lot to do later the holiday let changeover and I am coaching someone too. Busy afternoon, Ali said he would help.

Getting away is medicine for the soul. It has grounded me and I am ready for the battle I have ahead. It will be a battle but I am strong and ready to fight it. 

Tips to cope and what I have learnt so far:

1. Meditate and breathe to help you stay calm. 
2. Exercise or just simply walk outside in nature twice a day. 
3. Keep a journal to brain dump your thoughts out
4. Ask for help when you need it. 
5. DON’T listen to everyone. Information will be coming in left, right and centre and be selective as otherwise you end up stressed. 
6. Get away from it all with someone you love or on your own to somewhere peaceful when you need to ground yourself. 
7. Don’t make your mind up about things until you have all the facts in front of you. 
8. If any of the medical team are not for you, ask to change them. Mine have all been amazing other than the reconstruction nurse and I am going to ask to change her. I don’t need negativity from anyone at the moment. 
9. Keep boundaries in place and don’t allow people to step on them. 
10. Buy a book…. knowledge is power. 
11. Try and stay in the routines you have had as much as possible. This will give you a sense of normality. 
12. Choose a couple of people to offload on that you can trust and will respond appropriately.

For me this is my partner Ali and my best friend Maria as well as my friend Jill. 

OK bye for now xx