Today I am trying out a new Tens machine on my shoulder - while the tickling of the electrical current is distracting for a while, that's all it seems to do. I really am getting worried about my shoulder - I've never experienced such lingering and intense pain as this before.
Shelagh is back from her holiday in the USA, and has been in touch with Ted about Jim's camera collection, so I am now waiting for Ted to let me know when he is able to bring the stuff over here.
While this is a positive thing in itself, it feels like something ending.
Monday 17 March 2008
Friday 14 March 2008
THE RESULT
I received today the result of the findings of the investigation into my complaint at work. I am not happy. Enough said. For now.
HELLO SENSELESSNESS MY OLD FRIEND
Last night was a bad one - I had diarrhea so bad that I was expelling nothing but water, the acid in my stomach was boiling up almost into my mouth, and my shoulder slowly got worse and worse. A li'l cannabis helped me sleep for a few hours, but this morning I was struggling, to say the least. I phoned the doctor's, then while waiting for a call back, I phoned my Bowens Practitioner to cancel today's appointment, and explained that I would call back after seeing my GP.
Imodium and Tramadol were quickly issued - that man needs a holiday. He can't wait to get people out of his office (or is it me?). He also advised keeping my arm in a sling for a few hours each day. I'll give it a try.
As it turns out I needn't have cancelled my appointment with my therapist as I was in and out of the surgery well in time to get the train to Narberth, but she is only contactable on her home phone, so I couldn't rearrange, which is typical.
Tramadol do sort out any pain issues, but at a price. I can't think clearly, and I'm not supposed to be cycling while "under the influence", but the pain is so acute at the moment that I'll forgo those privileges. I've decided that my bikes can have long-overdue services anyway, and clarity of thought isn't really necessary for those jobs.
I don't like the paralysis that imodium imposes on the bowel, it feels completely unnatural, but it is a necessity at the moment.
Imodium and Tramadol were quickly issued - that man needs a holiday. He can't wait to get people out of his office (or is it me?). He also advised keeping my arm in a sling for a few hours each day. I'll give it a try.
As it turns out I needn't have cancelled my appointment with my therapist as I was in and out of the surgery well in time to get the train to Narberth, but she is only contactable on her home phone, so I couldn't rearrange, which is typical.
Tramadol do sort out any pain issues, but at a price. I can't think clearly, and I'm not supposed to be cycling while "under the influence", but the pain is so acute at the moment that I'll forgo those privileges. I've decided that my bikes can have long-overdue services anyway, and clarity of thought isn't really necessary for those jobs.
I don't like the paralysis that imodium imposes on the bowel, it feels completely unnatural, but it is a necessity at the moment.
Tuesday 11 March 2008
A WEIGHTY MATTER
I have put quite a bit of weight on recently, and clocked in at a hefty and depressing 15 stone a couple of weeks ago, which I found shocking.
There are numerous factors involved - the bilateral hernia operation in August last year left me with limited mobility for about 3 months, then there was Christmas. After that there was a change in antidepressants which my doctor thinks might be responsible for some of the gain in weight. Underpinning all that is the fact that I gave up smoking on 25th April 2007, so I have been eating more than I used to.
But I'm not here to make excuses. I weighed myself today and clocked in at 14.5 stone, so a slight loss in weight since last time, probably due to the current diarrhea brought on with the anti-inflammatories.
So, at 15 stone I consider myself to be a minimum of 3 stone overweight. I hate how I feel physically, so it's now time to do something about it, with spring just around the corner.
There are numerous factors involved - the bilateral hernia operation in August last year left me with limited mobility for about 3 months, then there was Christmas. After that there was a change in antidepressants which my doctor thinks might be responsible for some of the gain in weight. Underpinning all that is the fact that I gave up smoking on 25th April 2007, so I have been eating more than I used to.
But I'm not here to make excuses. I weighed myself today and clocked in at 14.5 stone, so a slight loss in weight since last time, probably due to the current diarrhea brought on with the anti-inflammatories.
So, at 15 stone I consider myself to be a minimum of 3 stone overweight. I hate how I feel physically, so it's now time to do something about it, with spring just around the corner.
LINGERING PAIN
My shoulder is still in agony, three weeks after the original accident, if that is what caused it. I have had two sessions of Bowens Therapy, and have a third session booked for this Friday, though I'm unconvinced it will make any difference. I have been taking strong painkillers a few times a day, diclofenac as an anti-inflammatory, and smoking a little cannabis (purely for medicinal reasons of course), but to no effect, which is very worrying.
I saw my doctor yesterday, who checked the mobility of the shoulder, which is fine - it's only when I'm immobile that the pain is at its worst. He prescribed a stronger anti-inflammatory, "Mobic" or "Meloxicam" - 7.5mg daily.
They have had precisely no effect at all so far other than to give me dreadful diarrhea which means I dare not stray further than a few feet from the nearest toilet. I'll cope with that if they work, but again, I'm not hopeful, even though this is only the second day. I can double the dose if necessary.
It's worrying for a couple of reasons - one is that, like the operation, the recovery time seems disproportionately long. The other is that nothing seems to be working on it.
There is an advert on Welsh TV at the moment which says "Don't take back pain lying down", and encourages people with backache to exercise. I'M EXERCISING! The website is www.welshbacks.co.uk and is a complete waste of time.
I saw my doctor yesterday, who checked the mobility of the shoulder, which is fine - it's only when I'm immobile that the pain is at its worst. He prescribed a stronger anti-inflammatory, "Mobic" or "Meloxicam" - 7.5mg daily.
They have had precisely no effect at all so far other than to give me dreadful diarrhea which means I dare not stray further than a few feet from the nearest toilet. I'll cope with that if they work, but again, I'm not hopeful, even though this is only the second day. I can double the dose if necessary.
It's worrying for a couple of reasons - one is that, like the operation, the recovery time seems disproportionately long. The other is that nothing seems to be working on it.
There is an advert on Welsh TV at the moment which says "Don't take back pain lying down", and encourages people with backache to exercise. I'M EXERCISING! The website is www.welshbacks.co.uk and is a complete waste of time.
Thursday 6 March 2008
IN THE BLEARISOME BLUR
I have been suffering for two weeks now with a very painful shoulder after tumbling off my bike. The doctor prescribed low dosage valium and ibuprofen for a week, which frankly have had no effect. I went for a session of BOWEN'S TECHNIQUE last Friday, which felt good at the time, but left me in complete agony over the weekend, which probably wasn't helped by travelling by train to Cardiff on Saturday for a Sustrans Ranger Day, but it was something I felt I needed to attend, and I'm glad I did.
Since the prescription ran out I've been using up my old stock of Co-Dydramol and Diclofenac, and the pain does seem to be abating slightly. I have a second session of Bowens booked for Friday, and see no point in seeing my doctor before then.
I find that keeping myself active helps (don't take backache lying down!) and to this end I have done a checking ride on my "patch" of NCN Route 4, which runs between Pembroke Dock and St Florence. I also cycled on into Tenby to see if I could follow the signs through Kiln Park into Tenby, which is the official route, and (to my surprise) I managed it.
In the end it was a round trip of 29 miles - I took it easy and had plenty of stops to check signs etc.
Since the Ranger Day I've been asked to write a piece on the Brunel Cycle Trail and supply a few photos, for the Hub, a magazine circulated by Sustrans, which I'm delighted to accept.
Since the prescription ran out I've been using up my old stock of Co-Dydramol and Diclofenac, and the pain does seem to be abating slightly. I have a second session of Bowens booked for Friday, and see no point in seeing my doctor before then.
I find that keeping myself active helps (don't take backache lying down!) and to this end I have done a checking ride on my "patch" of NCN Route 4, which runs between Pembroke Dock and St Florence. I also cycled on into Tenby to see if I could follow the signs through Kiln Park into Tenby, which is the official route, and (to my surprise) I managed it.
In the end it was a round trip of 29 miles - I took it easy and had plenty of stops to check signs etc.
Since the Ranger Day I've been asked to write a piece on the Brunel Cycle Trail and supply a few photos, for the Hub, a magazine circulated by Sustrans, which I'm delighted to accept.
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