Are you all better now?

Thank you for your kind thoughts! I always feel ambivalent about posting my health troubles, because I'm more than just a collection of strange symptoms, and anyway, things are a bit better now. The trouble is, they don't know what is wrong. I was admitted with appendicitis, then the consultant was convinced I have gall stones.... many tests, CT scans and MRI later and now they think it may be an ulcer in the small bowel (which I've never had before) which they think indicates I have Crohn's Disease, not Ulcerative Colitis. Nature's way of saying Happy Birthday and Merry Christmas all in one?

However, I don't agree with the diagnosis, because there has been no blood - my experience of ulcers is copious quantities of blood - and well, no pain after I was in hospital for about 5 days. No cramping. No running to the loo. Well, no real symptoms of an ulcer, and I've had them on and off for 20 years. So I told all this to the consultant on Thursday when I had my review. When they get the results of the MRI, if all looks fairly normal, I can drop my steroids immediately, which is nice because they are making me an insomniac again.

But you know, 39 is good. Difficult to manage that many candles without buying multiple packages, but we did it in the end. I feel I've earned each candle and am grateful for every day of good health. My friend who had breast cancer (and beat it after chemotherapy) is one of the most positive people I know. I take a leaf out of her book and make every day the best I can. This time of year, when it's cold and dark, icy and slippy outside and everyone is ill, well..... I keep thinking the days will be getting longer soon. And there are gingerbread men and houses to bake, and decorate..... and stockings to hang and life goes on.

Thank you for all your good wishes. I am using their energy to cheer up my 90 year old neighbour who fell and broke her wrist 4 weeks ago. She's not been in hospital since her 60-year-old youngest son was born! Mrs Sinclair is a real inspiration to me, and I gave her a tiny heart-shaped double chocolate cheesecake last night when I saw her kitchen light on, because well, sharing is good. And I thought she looked thin.

Love, Jo in Scotland

"It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good-humour."

- A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

Good for you Jo. Old people are so inspiring. I have a 94yr old (birthday last Monday) who is so full of laughter and kindness I hope I live to be like her at her age.

I have a little pick-me-up saying:

There is no food like chocolate to make me better, There is no food like chocolate to make me better. I keep repeating it and hope one day its magical properties will make me feel better and betterer.

Merry Christmas to you, Mark and Tristan and wishes for a healthy, happy and safe New Year.

Di

Hello folks,

The consultant rang yesterday morning and my MRI is completely normal. Hurrah! No Crohn's Disease, he says it couldn't clear up that quickly. Trouble is, they have no idea what that episode was all about. I was admitted with suspected appendicitis, then the consultant on duty was adamant it was a classic gall stones case and moved me to a different ward, then.... considering the ulcerative colitis the gastro folks moved me to their ward and were certain it was an ulcer. I told them I've had ulcers for 20 years and didn't feel like an ulcer. Glad someone finally listened! I'm off the steroids and with the help of a birthday owl filled with lavendar by my pillow, getting better rest.

Tristan is at Nursery just now, but will be helping me stir up a Christmas cake this afternoon. Better late than never! We've got all our cards in the post (Tristan put them into the big red box on Saturday) and will decorate the tree tonight. He has tried mince pies, and gobbled them down, and likes dancing to Christmas music, so we're enjoying some good seasonal fun here.... presents, cards and parcels keep arriving every day and in our spare time we like to play "posties" and take hand-made cards to our neighbours. Tristan loves the postie, and the character Postman Pat and at this point wants to be a postman when he grows up! So we'll be doing a bit more of that this afternoon when we make one for Mrs Gunn who brought round the mince tart yesterday....

Thanks for your good wishes and thoughts. I am so glad to be back home and having a good time with my boys!

-- Jo in Scotland

Glad things are better. Barbara in FL

So very glad to see your post.

Merry Christmas Jo and a healthy, peace filed New Year to you all.