General Malaise

When I think back to late spring and early summer, I can't quite believe the distances that I was running, and how much I was enjoying it all. It is in such contrast to the the last three months, and in particular the last four weeks, where I feel like I've just been battling through life. If Anders was still around, I think he'd say, "there's no a pun a' you hingin' the right way". I think I can trace much of this back to my running and buying those new shoes that caused so many problems with my achilles, subsequently leading to plantar fasciitis. Whilst trying to rest and then treat my feet I wasn't putting in the kms anymore and my fitness started to deteriorate. Leesa got my into the gym with her a few times in October and I clearly remember tweaking my back on one of the machines. At the time I tried to dismiss it, thinking that I was generally pretty fit and that it was nothing but unfortunately, its rekindled my long standing lumbar issue. 

My one-kidney-to-rule-them-all means that I'm not meant to take anti-inflammatories which is a total pain in the arse when you're trying to treat a bulging disc so I began a merry-go-round of daily core exercises, chiropractic appointments plus sneaky courses of naproxen. My naproxen was sourced through not entirely honest means but to be fair, my GP in NZ would prescribe short courses of it when necessary and it usually really helps. 

Anyway, by the time I'd gotten to mid November, things were not improving and, combined with a second lockdown and incessant rain for weeks on end, I was thoroughly fed up with it all. It just shows how important physical activity for your mental health too. Persistent pain through my glute and down my leg into my foot and unable to bend over to even tie my shoelaces, I decided to go and see my GP for a physio referral and see what else he could do for me. He was useless. Pure old skool advice: lie on your back for two hours every morning and two in the afternoon. Really?! Getting the physio referral was good though, it means I get a reduced rate rather than pay full price if I do to the physio directly. He wouldn't give me naproxen but prescribed a cocktail of Paracetamol, prednisone and tramadol. I made my appointment with a physio I'd found online, and started taking my drugs. I had one eye on Christmas already and just felt like I needed to clear my head and feel better about things again. I'd really lost my mojo and couldn't be bothered with anything. 

After a week I was starting to feel better, so much so, that we put the Christmas tree up and I was even starting to consider the possibility of a small trot around the town! I reduced my drug intake then, last Friday I got up, took William to school and came home. I was already starting to feel a bit stiff but was still rushing around (as best I could) to get some Christmas shopping in. I got in the car to go to Lescar (in the pouring rain) and knew as soon as I got in the car that I wasn't in a good way. My pelvis simply couldn't rock back and forth without me in excruciating pain. By the time I'd gotten home, I was walking like a pole was stuck through my whole body. Entirely blocked up. Horrific pain and feeling like an old pathetic woman. I was so angry and frustrated that I ended up in tears. Barely able to put undies on as I couldn't bend over. Only able to lie flat on my back in bed. I went back on the drugs and by Sunday I was ill with them, spaced out and nauseous, and hanging over the toilet wretching. Now, not only was my back gubbed but I felt absolutely rubbish. So I stopped the tramadol and kept going with the naproxen. By Tuesday I started noticing groin pain. I couldn't determine if it was related to my back pain or something different but by Wednesday morning I was in all sorts; lower tummy pain and constantly needing the toilet. I was worried it was related to my dodgy naproxen so I managed to get appointment at the Doctors but could only see a locum. Turns out, she was brilliant! (Why are the Locums always so good?) I explained that I thought I had a UTI and she prescribed me antibiotics and sent me to the lab for a urinalysis. She also changed my drugs for my back and has given me a script for a CT scan. I've made the appointment already - it's on Tuesday! 

I had my first appointment with my new physio on Friday morning and already I really like him. He is young, professional, can speak english and his practice is modern and immaculate. I found him very reassuring. He didn't tell me that he would cure me, but he did tell me that he would get me running again. I could've hugged him. I just want to feel like I can be active again. 

I waited two days for the cultures to come back from the lab and I have E. coli in my urine. And my numbers seem pretty high. No wonder I felt so awful. I reckon I've been battling this UTI for almost a month. I'm halfway though my antibiotics now and I'm still in a bit of pain so I won't be surprised if I need a second dose but I'm just so pleased to get to the bottom of all this unwellness. You know your own body and I knew things just weren't right. My mental health is already on the up though. It's good to feel positive about Christmas again. 

Lorna :-)