2011 in Review

Given all I've been through in my life, 2011 might have seemed like a fairly light year from a medical stand point.  I mean if you think about it, the year before I had brain surgery and next year I will hopefully be having a stem cell transplant.  From the outside looking in this year has paled in comparison.

But when you are inside, you do not necessarily see everything but you sure feel it.  And honestly, I think that one thing makes 2011 a massive year for me.  It is the year I feel I conquered my depression.  Five years ago, the best I could possibly feel was numb, at worst, there would be a whole cocktail of negative emotions.  Anger, sadness, helplessness to name but a few.

Now I am experiencing a whole range of emotions.  I still feel the negative ones sometimes, but that is OK.  Part of being human is to feel negative emotions from time to time, but I also feel the good ones.  I feel the positives in life, and as a result I actually look forward to and enjoy so much more.  I am constantly having ideas and the drive to put them in to practice.  If I was still depressed I would never have got off my derriere, found support groups for my conditions, found out about SCT and got myself on the trial.

Although I have won the war, I have to be aware that the demon is not slain and vanquished never to return.  He is merely locked away in a deep dark dungeon.  Escape is possible, and although at this current time unlikely, I still have to be constantly vigilant and aware.

So what else happened in this 'light' year?  There were 13 admissions to the day oncology ward at Cabrini hospital to receive IVIG, 2 hospitalisations for kidney stones at Epworth Eastern and Cotham Private, 1 trip to Box Hill Emergency (for a cut finger of all things, see I'm a Clutz!!!!!) and countless trips to various doctors and x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, blood and urinalysis and other fun tests.  Mixed in with this were a bunch of other stuff like physio, chiro, occupational therapist, PT and yoga lessons.  And who said being sick wasn't a full time job?

So last year for me was not 'light'.  But when it comes to my health I don't think such a thing can exist.  I have made mistakes in the past and have learnt the hard way to take my health very seriously.  I only have one body, one mind and one life.  This is not a dress rehearsal, and as long as I have these diseases, I will spend as much time as it takes working out how to beat them.  I believe that it is possible because I beat my depression.  I believe that the endeavour is worth it.  I believe I'm worth it.


Well, that is my year that was.  Next time I will write about the year that is.  What I can expect.  What I want to achieve and what could go wrong.  Until then, stay well:)

New Years Resolution

Well tis come that time of year again when we think about what fool hardy ridiculous idea we come up with for a New Years Resolution.  And being a fool hardy brainless person I have decided to do just that. So here are my list of suggestions:-

1. Lose weight- Yeah like that's ever going to happen.  Anyone that has ever taken long term prednisolone will know what I'm talking about.
2. Exercise more- For someone who has a peripheral nerve problem, I exercise plenty thank you.  Next!
3. Stop drinking coke- No way!  You've gotta have at least one vice in your life and that is mine.  With a heavy year coming up (SCT and all) I'm going to need all my creature comforts.
4. Give up smoking- Seeing as I don't smoke this one may be a little too easy.
5. Have an AFJ (alcohol free January)-  Now that's just silly.
6. If I can't lose weight at least get in shape-  I am in shape.  Round is a shape.  If you don't believe me ask a five year old.
7. Do something dangerous-  Does SCT count as dangerous?
8. Learn a foreign language-  I hated languages at school so no.  Besides I will be in Chicago for three months so I'll probably learn to speak American while there.

But I think the winner would have to be for me to go back to school and train to become a surgeon.  I mean how hard can it be?  I've watched Grey's Anatomy.  Scrub hands, cut here, sew there, perform carnal sins in a store room and job done.  I've even picked up this required reading for Dodgy Bros Medical School:-

Ok.  If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm joking.  Seriously, I think that my new years resolution will be to make sure I drink at least three litres of water a day to help battle the old kidney stones and seeing as though I have had such amazing feed back on my blog (and I enjoy writing it) to keep posting regularly.  

Well, this will be my last post for 2011, so I hope you have a very happy new year and a healthy and rewarding 2012.  Stay well:)