Golf ball on my neck
Let's start with the good news. Holiday once more was reading, sleeping, eating and doing exercise. I managed to run the same distance I could walk four years ago. Well, sort-of run. I told my osteopath I had my first stitch in years while running, to which he replied that wasn't this the first time I had run in years!? I did Tai Chi most days, getting my short form to the left to the point where I could go all the way fairly smoothly, as well as a few other bits and pieces. And I swam, some days better than others.
Of course, I returned to damp, miserable Bristol and wasn't able to concentrate on anything much for the rest of the week. In hindsight, I probably was using too much energy, especially in the last few days (extra running, a trip into London (past the Olympic stadium) and then packing and driving). The amount I ate as I recovered was phenomenal. I eventually got enough concentration to fill in my blue badge renewal on Sunday night/Monday morning. It's always tense since I don't qualify for it automatically nor do I match any of the criteria given - so I have to send in a dramatic additional statement.
One thing critical was that the heat was giving me real lung problems (thick sputum mainly) and I had to take heaps and heaps of salt tablets to see me through. My holiday really ended about half way through when I realised I needed to do really good physio. I still do, and I'm not sure I have been.
The real fun thing is that the cyst on my neck which has been growing for two - three years reached half-golf ball sized and was giving me constant distraction (and making me tense). The pain reached such a level I arranged an appointment with the nurse and doctor, and it burst just after I made the appointment so when I saw them it was ready to be squeezed (lovely!). Despite previous advice from a different GP (just wait until it bursts) and experience of my previous cyst (cut, cleaned and packed didn't work; squeezing worked next two times), the GP I saw wanted to send me to the hospital to have it packed again. I understand the logic - make sure every last infected cell is removed so it doesn't return - I'm still somewhat sceptical. However I will probably end up biting this bullet. Off to see her again tomorrow.
All the pain has made me somewhat tired. Either that or lack of sleep - I've mostly been getting 7 hours (not 8) sleep every night with just 5 on Sunday night. I assumed it was my lungs but the cyst can't have helped. Time for sleep I think...
Of course, I returned to damp, miserable Bristol and wasn't able to concentrate on anything much for the rest of the week. In hindsight, I probably was using too much energy, especially in the last few days (extra running, a trip into London (past the Olympic stadium) and then packing and driving). The amount I ate as I recovered was phenomenal. I eventually got enough concentration to fill in my blue badge renewal on Sunday night/Monday morning. It's always tense since I don't qualify for it automatically nor do I match any of the criteria given - so I have to send in a dramatic additional statement.
One thing critical was that the heat was giving me real lung problems (thick sputum mainly) and I had to take heaps and heaps of salt tablets to see me through. My holiday really ended about half way through when I realised I needed to do really good physio. I still do, and I'm not sure I have been.
The real fun thing is that the cyst on my neck which has been growing for two - three years reached half-golf ball sized and was giving me constant distraction (and making me tense). The pain reached such a level I arranged an appointment with the nurse and doctor, and it burst just after I made the appointment so when I saw them it was ready to be squeezed (lovely!). Despite previous advice from a different GP (just wait until it bursts) and experience of my previous cyst (cut, cleaned and packed didn't work; squeezing worked next two times), the GP I saw wanted to send me to the hospital to have it packed again. I understand the logic - make sure every last infected cell is removed so it doesn't return - I'm still somewhat sceptical. However I will probably end up biting this bullet. Off to see her again tomorrow.
All the pain has made me somewhat tired. Either that or lack of sleep - I've mostly been getting 7 hours (not 8) sleep every night with just 5 on Sunday night. I assumed it was my lungs but the cyst can't have helped. Time for sleep I think...