I'm a Swap-botter

Whilst doing a search for penpals yesterday, I came across a website called swap-bot. How have I never heard of this site before? I am so excited to start swapping. I have finally found an outlet for all my crafting needs, and people who share similar interests. Yay! I am still finding my way around the site, and figuring out just how things work, but I am itching to get started on my first swap.

Look! I'm a Gardener

One of the first things I did when my eyesight returned and I was able to drive again, was go to Wimborne Market. I didn't go for anything specific, just a wander round to regain some of my confidence. I saw a stall selling flowers, seeds, herbs and a few vegetable plants. For a mere 75p I purchased my own little chilli plant. Its been a couple of weeks since I repotted it and plopped it in the garden, but it is coming along nicely and will be flowering soon. I am so proud of myself for keeping something alive. I can kill a cactus, so this is a real achievement. Yay me....and nature!


I have also potted two garlic cloves, and they are going from strength to stregth too. Look out Charlie Dimmock!

Craftalicious

My Doctor has signed me off for another few weeks, since she wants to wait until I have seen the Neurologist before signing me fit for work (ugh). So instead of sitting idly around the house moping I am throwing myself back into crafting.

Since I am able to drive again, I am planning on visiting my cousin Laura, in Wales this month. It will be the first time in 8 months I have been over the bridge, but I am looking forward to seeing her and her family.

Laura only drinks caffeine free herbal teas, with peppermint being her favourite. She always carries a few loose teabags with her, by the time she gets around to using them, they are crushed and covered in handbag fluff. In order to remedy the situation, I decided to make her a tea wallet. I am still very much a novice when it comes to sewing and I thought a small prject like this would be ideal practice for me and make a cute gift at the same time.

I am really pleased with the outcome. It is a great way to utilise FQ's and other scraps of fabric. I can see myself making alot more of these. I hope Laura likes it, although I am tempted to keep it for myself.

Back to Normal...whatever that is

I haven't posted for a while, which is down to the fact that my health deteriorated so badly, I wasn't able to use the computer for quite some time.

My balance issues continued to get worse, the altered sensations in my body were spreading to my arms and legs and then I had chronic double vision. I have had MRI scans, eye doctor appointments, Ear, Nose and Throat appointments, blood tests, visited the Emergency Medical Unit (EMU) at Dorchester hospital and the conclusion the Doctors have come to, is that I have suffered some sort of neurological nerve damage. Finally, they know what's wrong with me, I am no longer a medical mystery!

I have to see a Neurologist on July 9th to confirm the diagnosis, but as it has been explained to me, nerves in my brain have been stripped of their protective coating, much like an electrical wire, and the nerves have become exposed and have short circuited. Thankfully, they have repaired themselves, it just took time for the protective coating to regenerate.

The Neurologist will be able to fill me in on more details, and let me know if this could happen again or is a one off blip. But I am so pleased to be able to see again. That was the worst thing I have ever suffered in my life. I became completely dependent on those around me since I couldn't even make myself a cup of tea because when pouring the water I would miss the cup.

The down side to all of this is that it has knocked my confidence teribbly. It has left me depressed and with odd mood swings, which I am told are all part and parcel. My Doctor had no choice but to sign me off work, I couldn't see, or even walk properly, so I know working was out of the question, but it is all I had to focus on, so I am looking forward to things continuing to improve so I can get back into the swing of things.

Labyrinthitis, Virus or We-have-no-clue-itis

So, I have been flitting back and forth between two Doctors at my local surgery, depending on which one is on holiday, working part time, etc etc, and neither can agree on a diagnosis of my persistent health issues. The balance problem has become worse, to the point where I can't walk in a straight line anymore. I have weird altered sensation in parts of my body, and I feel nauseous all the time. One of my physicians thinks it is a virus, the other thinks it is Labyrinthitis. I have been on three different types of medication, in addition to the antibiotics, and none have made a difference to my condition. One course of tablets I couldn't even complete because they gave me insomnia. I didn't sleep for 5 whole days!

I finally went to MIU at our local hospital. They didn't have a Doctor on call, so I had to get my mum to drive me to Shaftesbury hospital to see someone. Once again, a diagnosis could not be decided upon so she said that Doctor # 1 could be right with her diagnosis of a virus, and Doctor # 2 could be equally as right with her evaluation of Labyrinthitis. In other words, you don't have a freakin' clue! So it was a waste of my time, my mums time, the nurses time, and the Doctors time.

Now all I want to do is catch up on some much needed sleep. After not sleeping for so long I am cranky and starting to look like the living dead.

Labyrinth...itis

So as it turns out, my Doctor thinks I have something called Labyrinthitis. It affects the inner ear, therefore explaining my balance problems. My Doctor presribed some tablets for the Labyrinthitis as well as some antibiotics in case I have an infection of the inner ear. She has booked me in for blood tests too, which I am not looking forward to, since the last time I had blood taken, I nearly fainted.

Unfortunately, if it is Labyrinthitis, it means it is a reoccurring problem, and could come back at any time. Oh joy!

On a Merry Go Round

I have been suffering some weird balance problems over the last week and I can't figure out for the life of me what's going on. When I lay down the room starts spinning round and round and I feel nautious as hell. If I stand up too fast, or move my head too quickly, I get the same sensation and feel like I am going to fall over.

My cousin Tracy came to visit a few days ago, and on the day she left I started to feel very unwell and went to bed, which is unusual for me considering it was 4 p.m. I slept until 9 p.m. and woke up feeling absolutely awful. I could barely walk and only just managed to make it into the bathroom before being sick. I have made an emergency appointment to see my Doctor, but as is always the way, I am starting to feel better today.