Sunday 24 February 2008

Worried

I’m concerned about my health. When I came out of hospital three weeks ago I was feeling much stronger and even DD2 remarked that I seemed to be far more active than I’d been for a long time. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

I’ve now lost weight again and just putting one foot in front of the other is leaving me feeling exhausted. In fact, I think I’m worse than I’ve ever been. When I say that I’m now merely a skeleton covered in skin, I’m honestly not exaggerating. You know those pictures you’ve seen of serious anorexics? Well that’s me. There’s no fat left anywhere and very little muscle. 49 kilos (about 7 1/2 stones) at 5' 9" and big boned! Is it surprising I have no energy to do anything?

For those who don’t know, I’m an intravenous feeder – my nutrition is given in liquid form that’s pumped straight into my blood during the night. While I was in hospital I was having a lipid based feed every night but now that I’m home I’m back on my old regime of two lipid bags a week and five glucose based bags. I’m absolutely certain now that this regime isn’t right for me. If it were, I wouldn’t be deteriorating again.

I have clinic in three weeks but it clashes with the delivery of my medical supplies, including my feed, so it’ll need to be changed. That’ll mean I’ll have to wait either one or three weeks longer (clinic is on Tuesday – my supplies are delivered every other Tuesday). I’m not sure I can wait that long. I mean, how much weight can I lose before there’s nothing left to lose? I’ll have to phone Clinovia – the healthcare company that deal with my supplies – tomorrow and see if they have any suggestions. Maybe they can deliver very early before the ambulance taxi picks me up to take me to clinic.

Needless to say, I’m in bed again today. Just going to the bathroom leaves me knocked out so there’s no hope of me getting anything done in the house. It looks a tip! DD2 washed up a couple of days ago but didn’t wash the stew pan. There’s nasty stuff growing in there now. I really have to get down there at some point and do something about that.

I was hoping to make Tacos for dinner today. No chance. As much as I hate to say it, it’s going to have to be a take-away.

Sharon J xx


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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Sharon,
That sounds awful - how did this condition come about? Is there nothing the doctors can do to enable you to eat properly again rather than receiving nutrients in this way?
Love and blessings,
FiFi

Sharon J said...

'Fraid not, Fifi. I had to have most of my bowel removed a few years back after a blood clot stopped the flow of blood to it and it rotted away inside me. I was actually very lucky to have survived it.

The problem is, without a proper working bowel, my body has no way of naturally absorbing nutrients so IV feeding is the only solution. Twenty or so years ago even that wouldn't have been an option so those that this happened to back then are pushing up daisies now.

Welcome to my blog, btw :)

Anonymous said...

Nice to be here! I came her from a link on the MSE Old Style forum, I'm basically aiming to do what you are doing and simplify things, do things the way we used to, minimise the chemicals around my home and our (Me and DH) impact on the environment.

You are indeed very lucky to be here, and might I say an inspiration to us all. Keep up the good work Sharon :-)

FiFi

Sharon J said...

Ah, right. There are lots of useful tips to be picked up over at MSE’s OS aren’t there? I usually drop in once a day.

I don’t know about being an inspiration; I don’t really have any other choice other than to get on with things, but if sharing my experiences with others helps then that’s at least a good thing :)

Good luck with your venture into simplicity. The more of us there are, the more likely we are to succeed.

Lala!! said...

Hi Sharon!

How are things now? Hope you are feeling better?

Chris

Sharon J said...

A little better but not enough to function decently. I'm still VERY limited in what I can do. Frustrating, to say the least!

Thanks for your concern - it's appreciated :)