Saturday Early Start

The Weather and an Early start

Boy is it warm.  Fortunately though at this time of year or when it is hot we are grateful for the house being cooler.  Not so grateful in the Winter when it is freezing.  These houses were originally meant to be heated with fires.  I think a Woodburner would sort out a lot of the problems with this house on the keeping it warm side.  It still has all the ventilation grills and a good underdraft through the floor boards.  We get the Sun first thing on the front of the house and it is usually about midday to 1:00pm when the Sun steers itself around to the back.  At the moment it is nice and sheltered in the back.

So glad managed to get up early and out and about. Did not get into the garden though. We ended up paying an early visit to the Bakery. Came away with a fresh cream and strawberry sponge, a couple of Scotch Eggs, six crusty buns and a Trifle.  The Bakery makes very good Trifles.

Breakfast was rather informal as G did not want a cooked breakfast but quickly had his Scotch Eggs.  Never come between a Man and his Scotch Eggs.  Meanwhile I had some of my Sourdough bread with some Peanut Butter.  All washed down by a Mug of tea.  Just something simple that I enjoy and it does do you some good.

GP Telephone Appointment

Going back to Thursday, I had the telephone appointment with the GP.  The GP wants further investigations i.e. blood tests carrying out and I have to see a Phlebotomist  (rather than the Nurse) at the Practice. Probably because more blood needs to be taken.  Whenever I go to the Hospital they usually run about seven tests and my arms are not good at giving up blood.  Anyway I digress.  The blood tests have been booked for the beginning of June for this purpose. GP very apologetic but it needs sorting out.  In any event, I am very grateful that I am being looked after. 

I have to undergo regular testing in any event as some of the auto-immune conditions I do have can go into overdrive.   This can cause problems for the kidneys and also other organs in its worst case scenario.  This is why the Medics like to keep a lid on the anti-bodies before they cause too much damage. The basis of this is that my auto-immune system is permanently switched on and attacking my body which can impact and cause other long term issues.  Basically like a lot of other people with auto-immune conditions I produce too many anti-bodies and the medication I take is meant to damp it down and keep things on a regular keel.  Most but not all of the auto-immune system is located in the stomach.

At the moment there is some concern about my Liver function tests as there is an enzyme that is showing up which has a higher level than they would like.  This has happened in the past and I am of the view just wait and see what the bloods are indicating. At the worst it could end up with me being given another label. On the positive side however the last lot of bloods showed  a better level of the enzyme but it is something that they want to get to the bottom of.  

There are also some concerns regarding bone density.  I did ask questions especially in view of the issues my Mum had. Amongst lots of other things,Mum had Osteoporosis and Vitamin D issues and she was on daily injections on top of everything else.  The GP is therefore running a full raft of tests to try and identify the issue.  It was explained to me that it could be something simple like the Vitamin D medication that I am currently on which is showing up a bit of a spike - might be at the wrong level. Fingers crossed that it is just a medication issue and can be easily adjusted. Last year I was told to reduce my Hydroxychloroquine by one tablet on Consultant's instruction so that I now only have one tablet a day.  This is the medication that tends to keep the lid on the anti-bodies and it may be that I will have to take the extra tablet again. We will have to wait and see.  There are a lot of ifs and what's but we will deal with them as they land.  There are also a lot of other implications if my system is throwing a wobbler.  However with having the Shingles, and then a very bad cold I can understand why its saying it's had enough!

The positive for me though is whilst I have been unwell I have managed to loose a little weight.  My appetite has been depressed.  I am hoping I can keep the lost weight off and have been watching the size of my meals and what we eat with only a few treats at the weekend. I am trying to opt for healthier options.  I am also trying to move around a lot more.

The Fridge

Has been bottomed out and given a good clean down.  I have everything back in there but I intend to organise it a bit more later on yet again when the temperature has dipped a little bit.

Tea Tonight

Tea tonight is some of the buns from the bakery with either cheese, Ham or pate with some Strawberries and cream to follow.  We do not do bad on the food front and sometimes you just do not want very much or much of anything which is the situation at the moment.  The heat gets to me.  So simple it is tonight.

I will put the cooker on later tonight when things have calmed down a bit on the heat front (fingers crossed and toes plaited). Then that will be ready for tea tomorrow night when G comes back from fishing.

I hope everyone has been enjoying the weather we have had temperature of 26 degrees.  Monday's forecast is in the 30's!

Hope everyone has a lovely evening.  In any event, keep safe, keep well and hydrated.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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