Life has its ups and downs, and I think that’s the best way of describing last week. ;)
It started off great. I had a progress meeting with a company that I am helping via Bowel Research UK’s PPI panel.
Fantastic meeting. Progress was made. Everyone’s a winner. :)
It’s such a good feeling knowing my contribution will help other people in future.
If you would like to help too, please contact Bowel Research UK, or me and I can pass your details on.
A very simple synopsis of what we do is; you attend meetings and help by giving feedback or opinion on projects or products companies or research scientists have come up with.
It sounds quite complicated, but that’s the point. We’re there to un-complicate things. They do all the brainiac stuff, and we help them to modify if needed and give feedback on it.
It used to be meetings in London. And one day it will be again. But it’s via Zoom for now.
I can thoroughly recommend it. I feel great after. I feel useful. It’s a wonderful way to put my survival to good use.
You don’t need to be a bowel cancer survivor though. BRUK cover all things bowel related.
Yes, it’s on Zoom, but that’s no reason to not get dolled up for it.
I could attend in my pyjamas if I wanted to, but with trips outside the house not as prevalent as in years gone by, a Zoom is a reason to get dolled up. :)
Dress from Ghost x M&S, Shoes from Ralph Lauren.
“Suzanne, you seem to be on mute…”
I really enjoyed seeing the group again. It’s always interesting, no matter what project I’m on a meeting for I’m always fascinated by it.
Friday I had a plan in mind. I’m meeting some friends who recently got back from holidaying in Greece (and post quarantine), they are brown as little berries. I am as pasty white as they come. I felt I needed to put a bit of work into upping my tan game.
So I slapped on the sun cream, safely does it now, I put on my bikini bottoms and a hat and out I go to our very secluded courtyard.
I was having a wonderful time. I’d taken precautions to not over do it and not burn, which is something I tend to do in the UK.
It’s like my brain thinks it’s a different sun to the one in Spain. ;)
Anyway, there I lay, baking, reading, generally relaxing and loving life.
I was just laying there minding my own business, when I felt something tickle my ankle…
And that’s where this weeks rollercoaster starts!
I swatted the the tickler with my phone, it was only then I felt a searing pain, and looked down that I realised the tickler was a bee, and I had greatly angered it with my casual swatting.
I have to admit my language turned the air blue at full volume, and I apologise if my neighbours heard it.
Some words appeared that I very rarely/never use. Apparently I save them for special occasions! Hahahahaha
Anyway, the bee at this point is now struggling to detach its bottom sting from my ankle. I helped it on its way. The sting was quite prominent, so pulled it out. I didn’t think it’d done much damage….
Hahahahahahahagahahahahahahahahahahahahab…
I am very sensitive to stings and bites. I was surprised when the area didn’t really seem too bad straight after.
Nothing to write home about at all. I thought it was brilliant. And definitely a first for me, so I was dead chuffed. :)
Anyway, by the evening it was getting a bit sore. But still I was thinking I’d got away with it.
Saturday came and I was very excited, I was taking Kaitlyn to the exhibition at Kensington palace that I had been to the week before.
Slight problem was I was struggling to walk. The foot and ankle was now so painful.
But there was no way I way going to miss out.
I had the day all planned. Breakfast at The Pavilion restaurant, next to Kensington palace.
Then the tour.
Then on to Chutney Mary.
Then to hit the shops…
As if I’d sit this one out!?
Below is my original planned outfit…
Dress from DKNY, Shoes and bag from Mulberry.
Well, it became perfectly obvious before I even put these shoes on, that these shoes were not going to be an all day arrangement. So I swapped them out for some flats. And put the Mulberry shoes in the car to change into for the lunch part of the day.
Shoes from Christian Dior.
The day itself was fantastic! We went up as a four. Chris and Ben had a date with the Science Museum (utter snore fest, actually that is true, because one hungover Sunday, I fell asleep on a bench in there when the boys were small. What?!? At least I still took them! Hahahahaha).
No complaints about mine and Kaitlyn’s day out though. I saw the palace last weekend, but it’s such a wonderful place I could spend many hours there.
Kaitlyn loved it. She’s a bit like Chris, and reads all the signs. This works out beautifully for me. As I’m a visuals type of gal.
Kaitlyn gave me a synopsis of the signs. I enjoyed this very much. I am literally the laziest person you will ever meet. :)
Kaitlyn now understands my disappointment with Audley End House, the stately home we visited last week.
In Kensington palace they had plenty of rooms open. I like bedrooms and bathrooms etc, plus you’re allowed to take photographs.
There are plenty of interesting, fascinating rooms available to view. Including the very room Queen Victoria was born in!
It was interesting learning about her life. I didn’t know much about her. Her mum sounds like she had a few psychological problems. Which led Victoria to have quite a desolate childhood.
Once she became Queen she banished her mother, possibly a bit harsh. But it’s not like she could get her the help she needed. Banishing her to a different wing of the house was probably the kindest of options available in those days.
I really would recommend the palace tour. It’s £23.50, which I thought was an absolute bargain.
Then we got to the main attraction, the star of the show!
THE DRESS!
Second time around I found it just as moving. Just as impressive.
The size of her tiny little waist tells you Diana never lived through a lockdown or two…or three. ;)
It was a fantastic visit. Ok, so I had to hobble round like an nonagenarian, but it was definitely worth the hobble.
After we finished at the palace we met up with Chris and Ben, and headed off to Chutney Mary for lunch.
I did indeed change into my spare shoes.
They are amazing! They look good but also they give me the height I’m so desperately lacking in real life. :)
If only these shoes were enough to make me as tall as Kaitlyn! No such luck I’m afraid.
One can but try, but she’s super tall.
Lunch was as good as ever. It’s great that Ben and Kaitlyn love curry too. We can share our love.
After lunch we went for a walk (hobble in my case) round town.
The others were really being very supportive and kind. Calling me hop-a-long and saying it looked like I had obesity in one leg.
It was quite swollen and incredibly painful by this point. But still I had no clue as to what was coming.
I will add the gruesome photos at the very very bottom of this blog, so as not to upset the more sensitive amongst us. That way you can choose to look at gore, rather than it being thrust upon you. :)
I had hoped to buy a pair of shoes that I’ve been after for 2 years now. But the state of one of my feet put that visit on hold.
We wandered around a bit and headed home.
I absolutely love lunch dates. I love all meals out but lunch really does allow for thorough digestion before bed. Ok, so my leg and my insides are acting like I’m ninety! :)
We headed off home, back to the car, back to sitting. My foot really needed the rest.
It was on the journey home I noticed my ankle, where the sting was, was now blistering. So much for getting away with it.
By Sunday I was unable to walk completely. I was crawling round on the floor to get anywhere.
Chris having to follow on behind, mopping up the liquid coming out of the blisters, like I was some geriatric dog, with a leaky bladder. I know this is exactly how it looked because that’s what I had to do for my Pepper dog.
I’ve had better days I can tell you. Hahahahaha.
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I was asked recently about carrying round my colostomy supplies. It is one of the very few frustrations I have with colostomy owning. I have to carry a bag of spares around everywhere I go.
I appreciate I would probably carry a bag anyway. But the fact it’s a have to not a want to I find aggravating.
I have pretty much got it down to a fine art.
In the beginning I was carrying round masses of spares. Even down to a change of clothes.
Now I am confident enough to believe I can get away with the barest minimum. And if I need a change of clothing I’d go and buy one.
If I’m going for a long day out, I take a bigger handbag. If the car is near by I can reduce this down.
For medium to large handbags bags, I can take plentiful supplies. The only thing I tend to leave at home are my scissors. I cut the stoma hole in my bags on the morning of the day out.
I know a lot of people use the Pre cut to size bags, but I prefer to cut my own on a daily basis. Yes, I’m that much of a control freak.
In the beginning of my stoma journey I had a few leaks in Pre cut bags, so I have avoided them ever since.
For a small bag day out, I condense my supplies right down.
So rather than try and take the full size bottles of bag adhesive remover and Ostomy room spray, I use the adhesive remover wipes, which fit perfectly in little bags.
I use a sample bottle of perfume as room spray (This isn’t ideal but very few things in life are).
I take smaller sized colostomy bags with me to keep bulk to a minimum.
That way I can still fit in my phone, a comb and some touching in make up.
I have confidence that I have what I need with me. I can’t tell you how unsettling it is to go out and realise I’ve left my stoma supplies at home. It consumes me. I can’t concentrate, I certainly can’t enjoy myself.
It’s happened before, accidentally.
The risk of leaks is no greater but the fear of leaks certainly is.
I keep supplies in both cars now. Just in case.
I try to remember to pack a complete set of spares.
Yes, it’s aggravating, but an incredibly small price to pay for surviving.
It’s a good idea to keep any downsides to stoma owing in perspective. It makes for a more joyful life.
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Back to my bee sting, you’re in for a real treat, if like a few of my friends you enjoy a bit of Dr. Pimple Popper, that is. :)
By Sunday I couldn’t walk at all. I might have over done it with the tour de London on Saturday.
I ordered a pair of crutches from Amazon for the Monday, as we realised that, although Chris has been home for 15 months, he was going to right over the other side of London at a meeting.
I wasn’t able to get myself to the toilet even. So I needed a helping hand.
The crutches arrived and saved the day, and my bladder. ;)
Chris had set me up a little sick bed essentials station in the living room.
Was there ever a better feeling than being off school ill and being allowed your duvet downstairs and TV all day? A bottle of Lucazade and food brought to you, can’t beat it. Almost was worth being ill for. Hahahahaha
Although, I have very much gone off sickbed days since cancer.
He thought of everything. Medicine. Magazines, books, snacks, phone charger, colouring supplies and Modelling clay!! Hahahahaha
I was set for the day. I had to come down the stairs on my bum and crawl to the settee first thing. But there I sat, scoffing food all day.
I made some great creative art works. I was impressed with my sick bed art skills, as was Chris. hahah.
I’ve always been sensitive to stings and bits, but I can safely say this is my worst reaction yet.
It’s knocked me off my feet, literally, and really shocked me.
Thankfully I was able to get a doctors appointment quite quickly. I definitely recommend Babylon GP services. It is a bit on the pricey side, bearing in my it’s free to see your normal GP here.
But as a back up plan on a Saturday night, it’s fantastic.
I had a video call so I could show her what was happening. She said it’s ‘not’ an allergic reaction…because that is only a term used to describe anaphylaxis.
But she did sympathise. What I have here ladies and gentlemen, is a severe reaction.
Although allergic reaction does feel like it fits to me! Hahahahaha
I am now on antibiotics, prednisone - steroids and antihistamine.
I should be good as new in no time. Although, it’s now Tuesday and the bite occurred Friday, so it’s dragging on a bit for my liking!
It has to be better by tomorrow, as I am out for lunch with a friend, and it most definitely needs to be better by Thursday as I got a call this morning for the vaccine centre and they need me Thursday afternoon.
(Chris says I’ll need to wear wellies (gum boots), because if anyone coming in for a jab gets a look at my ankle, they’ll run for the hills!! Hahahahaha
Art work by Suzanne Doré. I do take commissions if you want your very own Suzanne original. Hahahahaha
Parental Guidance Advisory!!!
Gore alert!!…
It started bad enough, but I had no idea what was coming.
The area obviously looks awful, it feels worse I can assure you.
It’s incredibly painful, swollen, horrendous to look at and now parts of my foot are completely numb, all my joints ache, not just the ones on that foot, so it’s a heady mix of fun I’m having right now.
Proper grim!
But the medicine is doing it’s job, and I’m doing mine (which is namely sitting with my leg in the air trying to drain it).
I wish you a happy, safe and joyful week.
Stay away from bees!! They pretend to be do gooders, pollinating the planet, keeping us all alive, but really they a nasty little bastards, laying in wait to pounce!!
I have subsequently found out what sort of bee it was. It’s called a Solitary Bee, and it’s alone in the world because it’s mean!!
I have been assured I just got unlucky, and that usually they are docile creatures.
Lucky lucky me hey!! :)
This is the only ‘bee’ I’m willing to allow near me from now on…
:)
*As of Tuesday afternoon my entire family is fully or partially vaccinated. I could not be more grateful to the NHS for an incredible vaccine drive. It has been nothing short of miraculous.
Let’s get everyone that wants to be done done and then let’s get back on with life.
Covid will exist forever, like flu.
There will be more covid deaths forever, like flu has.
But vaccination limit harm.
We can’t hide forever., but we can now protect those that want to be and live our lives again.