About time I updated

Not sure if anyone even reads this, but I figured its been a while since I have updated so I may aswell let you know what I have been up to.

The year started off okay, but has turned and twisted since!

My blood test results kept coming back abnormal since the tonsillectomy and so the surgeon referred me back to my doctor who reffered me to a rheumatologist. I had an appointment with the rheumatologist on the 18th of March and he diagnosed Fibromyalgia. I wasnt really happy with the way it has been diagnosed, or the treatment from the specialist who gave me a business card with a website address on it and said "all the information you need will be on there" and then dismissed me. I got most of the info from the better health website.

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/fibromyalgia?opendocument

The best way to describe it is fairly constant unexplained pain in the muscles and associated nerves. Im on medication morning and night and have started aqua aerobics for strength development and weight loss. About a month on I am feeling alot better. Ive lost 3kg and quite happy in myself for that. The information I have read also mentioned stress has a huge influence on pain, so I have also handed in resignation at my old job!

The plan was to resign and see what happens, but the day I resigned I was also offered a new fulltime job so I started that on Monday. It is so weird wanting to go to work and not feeling anxious about it all. In between resigning and starting a new job I also spent 3 days in hospital with what turned out to be a viral infection of some kind. I had started vomiting all of a sudden and temp was spiking along with pain where my appendix used to be. Thankfully I was well enough after 3 days to be discharged and then start my new job the following Monday, it was cutting it close!!!!

The rest of the time since new years has been quite busy with 2x weddings of work colleagues, Various friends birthdays and other functions.

This weekend coming is our Anzac long weekend. We are headed to Geelong for our close friends wedding, then home for 3 days and then off to brisbane to become godparents again :) Seriously cant wait for that one!!!!!!!

Suppose now I am just rambling so if you have made it this far congrats and thanks for reading :)

Cheers,

xx Bella

Apparently I am clumsy

So... Broke my second toe in a month the other day from kicking the stupid ottoman that was in my way, this apparently makes me clumsy.
Christmas day - had 6 drinks for the day, I say I was tipsy (Takes the heat off my clumsiness!)

Nothing really exciting is happening here, yet again I forgot I had a blog - oops!
Im currently still seeing the surgeon who did my tonsillectomy every 4 weeks as there has been a slight complication and my blood tests are still coming back abnormal. No point worrying any more, Im over it. Apparently my throat has healed well, just have some slight scar tissue but that was to be expected with the bad condition of my tonsils when they were removed.
I went straight to my doctor on christmas eve when the surgeon scared me saying to "get there asap to discuss the abnormal results" but the doctor wasnt overly stressed.
He has run a heap more blood tests and I go back on the 4th of Jan to get results.

Christmas was a bit crazy, we had lunch at home then went to Wangaratta for tea with hubbys brothers family, then Boxing day we got on the sauce, quite excessively - hehe. The Sunday after Christmas was spent travelling to my dads in Melbourne and we saw Sherlock Holmes on Sunday night with my family. Monday my dad cooked up a massive feast for us and we did the Jackson Family Christmas, and finally arrived home today :o)
Tomorrow I am heading away with my nephew and his mum to do some touristy stuff, which should be great fun.
Suppose I should head off now, heaps of unpacking to be done - ugh!
Will try and remember you all!
Anna xo

The dreaded tonsilectomy continued

So I spent the night in Kids ward. Had trouble sleeping, because I kept waking up snoring with a sore throat and was uncomfortable. The nurses were amazing, At one stage I got in trouble for "waiting for pain relief because they were attending to a child" Apparently they were only reading a book and could have come sooner - oh well.
The surgeon came around at about 8:30 and gave me the all clear to go home. Poor hubby was expecting 11-12:00 so then had to get up out of bed and come in to get me lol.
We called in at work and dropped my certificate in and off home we went for me to sleep.
At this stage all I wanted to do was sleep, and this lasted a good 3-4 days. On about day 3 after the operation (Friday) I finally lost my voice.........much to hubby's joy.

My mum came to visit on the Sunday after my operation, (the 4th October) This was interesting. Hadnt seen her in quite a few months and all I wanted to do was talk, But it hurt to talk and I still barely had a voice! I also was still extremely sleepy and not the best company at all. (sorry mum!)

Monday- Tuesday-Wednesday were spent home alone resting and watching DVD's. I thought the pain would have died down by now, but it was no where near subsiding...

I went to the doctors on Wednesday the 7th (one week to the day since the operation) because I was in extreme pain. I couldnt relax and pain killers were doing nothing, It had been a week since the operation and I thought it should have started to subside. Turns out I had an ear infection - UGH! So I was then on more antibiotics and the doctor gave me some Panadene Forte to assist with night time pain and sent me on my way.

On the Thursday my Nephew and his mummy came to visit. Was good to have someone out here with me. Pain was still around an 8/10 but I fought through it and just kept the pain relief up. I must have looked like a dork through the first week and a half because everywhere I went I wore a beanie and scarf (to keep neck and ears warm) even if it was sunny *blush*

Friday the 10th I finally started to feel slightly better. I had managed to do a load of washing and stay out of bed all day. (Up until now I had been having nanna naps) I continued onward and upwards until it all came crashing down again on Tuesday the 13th October... I had an extremely heavy bleed when in bed that night. Was talking to hubby thinking wow my mouth tastes funny, and then he pointed out that my mouth was full of blood :o
After lots of sucking on ice and speaking to Nurse On Call the bleeding stopped and I didnt have to go to hospital (Thank goodness!!)

There was another bleed Wednesday the 14th and I panicked because I was home alone and went to the doctors. By the time I got to the doctor (half hour away) the bleeding had eased and by the time they got to see me they were happy it had stopped. I also commented on still having pain in the ear, they had a look for me (I had been a week on the new anti biotics) and said that the swelling and redness had gone so therefore the pain I was experiencing would have been "Referred pain" from my throat. I went home and rested for the remainder of the week.

Friday 16th I had to go to Bendigo for my dads 50th. The schedule was to head to his party on Saturday, then drive home that arvo for our best friends 30th Saturday night. This was exhausting. I felt like crap at the end of the weekend but so glad I went. The Saturday night was hairy, Hubby had been drinking and I was buggered so we were supposed to stay the night at our friends house. I had extreme pain in the left ear and jaw at about 11:20 that night and was in tears so hubby arranged for us to get a lift and come home. I felt like such a drama queen but so glad we came home. Even panadene forte wouldnt kill the pain :o

I had the Monday left to rest up before heading back to work on Tuesday the 20th. I made the most of the rest day and happily went back to work the next day. Relatively pain free.... Had ditched the panadene extra and panadene forte and was only taking 1-2 panadol each day as required.

It is now 4 weeks since my operation. I feel extremely well. Tomorrow is my follow up with the surgeon. I have a few queries to ask him - I still have a slight niggling pain in the throat (though maybe this is from excessive talking at work on the phone??) and cant yawn without ending in "Ouch" (but guessing its because I am stretching scars or something) other than that I am hoping for the all OK.

Some shoutouts to people who kept me entertained and sane during my time off work (and many hours online!!).... @FeistyKel @Timbe2 @30yoteen@MegsyT @kathygee1 @bjhenry@babybeatlebug and Jules, Amanda, Stacey and Cindy xxx

If you got this far - congratulations!!! Thanks for reading!

Cheers
Anna

The dreaded tonsilectomy...Part 1

I have to back track because I was slack and didnt write anything for the first few days... Apologies for my rambling...

It all starts on Wednesday 30th September, I am booked into the hospital for a tonsilectomy at 10am. We arrive, sign all the papers and when directed to elective admissions I firmly but politely tell the nurse" It cant be an elective admission because I dont really want to be here - my husband has dragged me here" So anyway jumping ahead 15 mnutes or so and a few more stupid comments from me we end up in the Day Procedure Surgery unit waiting for me to be called through. An hour passes, I start getting fidgety... 2 hours, Im at wits end, and then (finally!!) the nurse calls me through for a checkover. I aced that one ok and was told the anethetist(sp?) was next. After a further 20 minutes of waiting the anethetist calls me through. I passed his inspection (just) and was informed that the final decision would be left to the surgeon.
I hadnt even been back in the chair 5 minutes when the surgeon called me through to my bed. He checked my throat and was happy to operate.... Until I told him I was on the pill.... It seems there had been a miscommunication to me and I was supposed to come off the pill a month prior and a month after my operation due to the risk of clotting... I spoke to my hubby and decided to go ahead with the operatino. So it was at approximately 1:40pm that i was wheeled into the operating theatre to have my tonsils removed.
All I can remember is complaining alot to the anethetist about the cold bed, and having a good look around at the room then laughing with the surgeon telling him I trust him no t to kill me.... and then finally the anethetist saying "I want you to take deep breaths and count"

The procedure itself went well, although I woke up with a coughing fit which had the surgeon a bit concerned but after 5 or so mins it was determined that it was a cause of me having tonsilitis in the days prior to the surgery and I was just "coughing up the gunk"
I was transferred to the surgical ward and my poor husband just wanted me to shut up lol. If he thought he was getting peace and quiet he had another thing coming haha!
I was then transferred to the childrens ward because they needed my bed in surgical. It was good fun down in the childrens ward, I had a room to myself and free TV, and they even gave me some Jelly for dessert!

Thats all for now, more to follow in the next few days.

Happy Birthday!

So my husband turned 30 yesterday. What a great time we had, The party was a roaring success on Saturday night - and the first time ever I got to see hubby drunk as a skunk! (Was very very funny) and then back on the horse again yesterday (or pony as my husband said lol)

I must say I am quite proud of the present we got him (we being my dad and family) - Have paid for him to do a hotlap with Jim Richards in the porsche that Jim drives for Targa etc.
"Experience the ride of a lifetime in the passenger seat of the Targa Tasmania winning GT2 driven by "The Master", Jim Richards - 7 times Bathurst, 8 times Targa Tasmania and Carrera Cup winner. Jim is also an Australian Motorsport Hall of Famer.
On the day you will receive:
- Hot Laps with Jim Richards in a Porsche Race Car;- Driver/passenger in-car communication- A signed photo of Jim Richards with you"

We are both now on the Celeb Slim again in order to regain a healthy lifestyle yada yada yada bler! I am on the waiting list to have tonsils removed, and scared crapless due to horror stories I have heard from a close friend of mine, and the surgeon suggested I loose alot of weight, so in came the celebrity slim again.

I got a puppy - yay! She is a 3 month old red heeler. Her name was Zara but hubby refused to call her that so she is now called "Patch"

Anyway off for a walk now with puppy- Should be interesting!

Argh! Forgetfulness!

I must be getting old... I keep forgetting about this blog... although its stupid, I find myself thinking if only I had somewhere I could get it all out and write it all down - durrr I have my blog. Ugh!

Anyway, Nothing majorly exciting happening here. Luke had his second round of the DECA challenge a few weeks ago, was a very good day - and very messy night! (pics to follow)

I had the guards rolled on the wagon today - looks HOT! And then Wednesday next week it goes into the panel shop to have new front bumper sprayed and fitted and all the black bits on the roof and spoiler colour coded and a good clean up.

Long weekend here this weekend, boringly were staying home - blah! although on the 13th June were heading to Melb to help dad move house and I have managed to organise a leave pass (hehe!) to go and see some friends that night so hopefully they are free.

Im also organising Lukes 30th at the moment too. Having a small pizza party at the local function centre. Hopefully all my planning comes together nicely. (Addressed all the invites and sent them out yesterday)

Anywho I guess thats enough rambles for now, Will write a sticky note and stick it above my desk "UPDATE BLOG" lol Enjoy the crazy pics...
Ciao! Bella



Poor Luke hahahaNot even finished the first fishbowl @ Tacos LOL

And courtesy of Jarrod Moore: Luke putting on a smoke show

Technology is great

I managed to merge an old blog in with this one, very cool - Gotta love technology!!
So its Easter once again - hopefully you are all fit and well :)
The Easter Bunny left wayyyy too much choccie here - Im in sugar lovers heaven! Its a been quiet weekend here, just lots of food and chocolate. We are all suffering horrible head colds thanks to MIL :oP
As for the appendicitis, its all good now. I hurt my belly a little bit on Friday when we went wood cutting, and then again Saturday night when I picked up a friends baby (damn weak tummy muscles!) - but other than that I am A-OK and oh so excited to be heading back to work tomorrow!
Oh and we finally won a VY SS bumper bar on ebay! (YAY!!!) So project make NUTWGN look like an SS wagon is well under way!!

I guess thats all, just reading back not much makes sense or reads well, but its a blog so its allowed to be disjointed :oP
Ciao for now!
Bella xx