There are so many things that I think about and think that I will blog about, but then when I actually sit down at the computer with the time to blog I tend to draw a blank. So, I thought tonight instead of blogging about James (which is normally the first thing that springs to mind), I will update you about me. Do you remember this post - 'Where to start?'?
Well, I have since been for many, many. many more blood tests, a MRI, an Ultrasound and X-Rays. My liver has gone back to normal, but my calcuim levels are dropping. They have been dropping since they started the blood tests and they have now dropped below the 'normal range', so my consultant investigated further. He has since discovered that my Vitamin D levels are very, very low. This doctor does not sugar coat things and told me on Monday that my Vit D levels are way out of the normal range, and very, very low. And he can't understand what is causing it. I eat a fairly balanced diet (maybe a bit too much chocolate in there, but I still eat protein, dairy and my 5 a day everyday), I take a multivitamin that has my 100% RDA of Vitamin D in it, and anytime there is sunshine I go outside, so I should be getting enough Vitamin D. Human's also normally have enough Vitamin D in their bodies to last 2-3 years. I need the vitamin D to be able to absorb calcuim, and that is why my calcuim levels are dropping. So, to sum that up, my body is not absorbing vitamin D, and therefore my calcuim levels are dropping.
To find out what is wrong I am going into hospital on Tuesday for a gastrocopy so that they can take a biopsy of my small bowel as my Doctor suspects that I may have a bowel disease. And although that may sound scary (ok, it does sound scary to me), I am almost happy that they found something wrong with me. I am always tired, and I mean drained tired. Its always an effort to do anything. And being so tired you would think that I would be able to sleep at night, but I can't because my hips hurt. They have hurt for months, I can't lie on my side for more than 10 minutes at a time and then I need to roll over, and I can't lie on my back because of my blood pressure (its high) and I struggle sleeping on my tummy because, well, my boobs are too big. The bones in my legs hurt too, and they have for ages. Some days I need to stay in bed a little longer as my bones hurt. I have complained about this to the GP before and they told me to rub deep heat on it. Um, Doc, its my bones and not my muscles that hurt, there is a differance. About a year ago when I complained that I am tired all the time, my GP tested my iron levels (they are low) and my thyroid, and told me that they could not find a reason for me being so tired, thus I thought it was just me imagining it. Well, I found this article on http://www.patient.co.uk/ and it listed back, hip and leg pain as a sympton of Vitamin D, and my consultant told me that this could definately be causing me to be tired. So, yes they found something wrong, but at least it can be fixed. Kind of.
The plan of action now is to see what is causing my body not to absorb Vitamin D, and then treat that and put me on Vitamin D tablets. The doctor says that if they don't find the cause then they will just treat the defieciency for now, and then just run more tests later.
So thats me for now. Watch this space, I am sure I will update later about this, although not Tuesday because they are sedating me, and for 24 hours after that I may not be left alone with myself or James so Gareth has to take time off work and stay home with us. Yay.
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Monday 15 February 2010
.... and she returns
Sorry for the delay in answering the questions, but between the activities, James getting sick, Gareth getting Man Flu and me being lazy, there just was not time to blog.
Thank you to those of you that asked questions, and here are your answers:
Vegemite Wife asked Does James have a South African accent at all?
Um no.... he even says Mummy and not Mommy.
Fun Mama asked do you find the culture in South Africa very different from the culture in the UK? In what ways? I hope my question isn't too dorky! (And I really hope that "dorky" doesn't mean something different to you!)
First of all, dorky does mean the same to me, and I never thought your question was dorky.
The culture in some ways are very differant, we do not go around spitting anywhere we like, I am not even sure if we spit. The Brits spit everywhere, its all over the side walks, it is gross. We braai (BBQ) at any given chance, I have been to a few British BBQ's, but in the Summer time we braai at least 5/7 days a week, and the other 2 days we probably picnic instead. I have not discovered a British person that eats outside as much. In South Africa we don't get family pubs, here that is the norm. You even get pubs with play area's for the kids. The Government here seem to take better of the people, in South Africa, its more sink or swim. But, then the people here expect to be taken care of by the Government, they feel that it is their given right, whereas all we ever expect the SA Government to do is steal from us and corrupt the system.
I know that there are more cultural differances, but James is refusing to go sleep and I can't think...
Jelena asked how do you survive the climate in the UK after having lived in sunny SA?
We have our heating on really high, and on all the time..... well, not quite. We just make the most of the non raining, non icy days and make sure we go outdoors on those days. Two weeks ago it was cold out, but the sun was shining so we went to Christchurch Quay and had a picnic, while we were dressed in 4-5 layers with hats, scarves and gloves on.... the British people looked at us as if we were mad, but we made the most of the day. We also embrace the hot chocolate, movie, cuddle under a blanket days.
I hope that answers your questions for now.
Thank you to those of you that asked questions, and here are your answers:
Vegemite Wife asked Does James have a South African accent at all?
Um no.... he even says Mummy and not Mommy.
Fun Mama asked do you find the culture in South Africa very different from the culture in the UK? In what ways? I hope my question isn't too dorky! (And I really hope that "dorky" doesn't mean something different to you!)
First of all, dorky does mean the same to me, and I never thought your question was dorky.
The culture in some ways are very differant, we do not go around spitting anywhere we like, I am not even sure if we spit. The Brits spit everywhere, its all over the side walks, it is gross. We braai (BBQ) at any given chance, I have been to a few British BBQ's, but in the Summer time we braai at least 5/7 days a week, and the other 2 days we probably picnic instead. I have not discovered a British person that eats outside as much. In South Africa we don't get family pubs, here that is the norm. You even get pubs with play area's for the kids. The Government here seem to take better of the people, in South Africa, its more sink or swim. But, then the people here expect to be taken care of by the Government, they feel that it is their given right, whereas all we ever expect the SA Government to do is steal from us and corrupt the system.
I know that there are more cultural differances, but James is refusing to go sleep and I can't think...
Jelena asked how do you survive the climate in the UK after having lived in sunny SA?
We have our heating on really high, and on all the time..... well, not quite. We just make the most of the non raining, non icy days and make sure we go outdoors on those days. Two weeks ago it was cold out, but the sun was shining so we went to Christchurch Quay and had a picnic, while we were dressed in 4-5 layers with hats, scarves and gloves on.... the British people looked at us as if we were mad, but we made the most of the day. We also embrace the hot chocolate, movie, cuddle under a blanket days.
I hope that answers your questions for now.
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