Saturday, January 23, 2010

Bits and bobs

Well, my throat is feeling much better. The whole lumpy feeling started to go down from Tues night/Wed morning so thats good. I got my blood test results Thursday, the receptionist informed me that my ESR is abnormal but the Dr had put "to be expected - no further action" and that the rests of my bloods were normal - no further action. I'm pleased, but at the same time not, as the more I've read about underactive thyroid the more I feel it may be a possibility. I am just so bloody knackered all the time just lately, I could literally go back to bed every morning I wake up! And obviously its not something like anaemia or that would have shown up. So, I have booked another appointment with the doctor, for him to explain my 'abnormal - to be expected - no further action results' and also for him to go through exactly what tests were done, as a lot of stuff I've read says its often undetected through normal blood tests.

In good news, and I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but I'm studying my Masters in Applied Health Studies, and have just completed my second module - the onerous, godawful, simply hateful, dull, dull, dull research module! Sometime this week, post came, which I finally opened this evening to discover that I passed with 60%!!! Which, somewhat laughably, is my best Masters assignment mark so far. The bad news is that the next assignment, a research proposal of 3000 words is due on Wednesday and I haven't even started it yet. In fact, I have no idea what I want to do a research proposal on!! Ho hum.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Hard to swallow

For the last week or so I have been having problems with my throat - it feels like there is something constantly lodged in it, and no matter how many times I swallow it just never goes. If I go for significant periods of time without eating or drinking it can get really bad and my gag reflex kicks in, even though I am just sitting doing nothing. Yesterday and today, several times, the only way I've been able to clear it is to physically put a finger down my throat and jiggle - not pleasant but seems to do the trick for a few minutes at least. So today, starting to get a bit worried that it only seems to be getting worse and beginning to panic about throat tumours and other pleasant and deadly medical matters I decided to go to the Doctors to get it checked out. Fortunately for me they had an appointment for 5pm so off I trotted.

I don't go to the Doctors very often, in fact the last time I went was for my annual asthma review, and she said then that they hadn't seen me since my last one the year before - so despite being incredibly unhealthy, I am also, incredibly blessed with lack of ill health. So, I went in, explained my symptoms to the doctor, sipping water in between sentences, and he had a good poke around the outside of my throat, a nose inside, and the usual temperature, pulse, weight, etc. The diagnosis? A Goitre apparently! Or enlarged thyroid gland to the layfolks out there. I must say, the link is the same info the Doctor gave me and the diagram really does reflect what it feels like in my throat - almost like I'm being strangled from the inside out! It is truly an awful feeling.

So, blood tests tomorrow, a referral to Radiology for an ultrasound scan of my throat/thyroid gland in the next week or two - which I'm pleased about as at least that will rule out anything sinister - and potentially a biopsy - which thrills me less! We will have to wait and see what comes of it all, but something needs to be done because I can't bear this feeling much longer!

On the plus side, I'd lost a lb!!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Secrets

I just love this site. It is touching, amusing, heartwarming and sad all rolled into one.

I wish I could send a secret in and get it published. The problem is that I don't think I'm willing to admit them to myself.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Poof

Well, after a week of snow covered local town, and non working car, today was my first day back at work since 22nd December! And boy did I feel it. I am soooo tired! I had loads of random, pondering thoughts in my head earlier, that I thought I would just have to blog about, but alas, now I actually sit down to take the time out to put them all down for prosperity, poof, they have simply disappeared!

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Fear

I have just been so frightened I can't tell you! I'm still quite tearful about it and am not sure I can even relay this coherently - definitely not in any way to give it justice.

My car wouldnt start yesterday - sure its nothing more than too cold weather, the too short journeys and a too old battery, but either way it means that I had no car yesterday, and as I couldn't get a hold of my dad I had no working car today either. As a result, I am at home today - working away on my laptop, when a large white van pulls up outside and a man knocks on the door. My initial expectation is that it might be a parcel - having recently ordered some new M&S undies - but on opening the door it becomes apparent that it is a bailiff! Now, I know I have a catalogue debt which I have been paying off, but is outstanding, and is currently at about £150, so I'm expecting it to be him and I'm expecting to not let him in.

However, he says its for a parking fine from January 2009 and that he has come to take my car!!! Seriously, I remember getting a parking ticket in the council car park that I park in, which I have a permit for, which I was going to ring and get cancelled but never did - and as I hadn't heard anything I assumed it had gone away, or that someone had realised when issuing the permits that I could park there legally. I had literally heard nothing - until today, when a bailiff is telling me I need to pay £380 or have my car towed away.

I don't have £380 lying around my house, or even in a credit or debit account, and although he was very pleasant, he wouldnt let me sort it and then pay later - it was now or the car. I tell you, I have rarely been so upset in my life. I can't imagine not having a car - I can't imagine how I would cope with work, life, everything - and even though I should probably not have ignored the ticket, its hard to imagine a year later, after hearing nothing, you can just have your car towed away!!! He said they don't usually knock, they just hook it up and tow it.

In the end I had to ring my mum, to see if she would pay it, in floods of tears, which I don't think my mum has ever heard from me (well, not since I was a child!!) because I couldn't think what to do and I was just so scared! Apparently they had written to my previous address, but as I only recently changed my address with the DVLA nothing had come here. He initially said that I had had a letter here 2 weeks ago, but I know I didn't, and later when he checked again the letter was only posted 2nd class yesterday to my current address, so as he knew I hadnt had first letter he let me pay the £123 instead of towing my car.

So he has gone, the bailiff stuff has finished - I am going to ring the council and see if I can reclaim on the basis I have a permit for that car park in the first place, though I doubt I will get anywhere. In fact, it is probably better to write, as I'm sure thats what they will tell me to do anyway.

It might sound like nothing, just a bit of money and all sorted now - but it has really shaken me up - just feeling so powerless and frustrated, and I hate having to be in a position to rely on other people, especially when it comes to money. I really, really need to get myself more financially stable this year - I hate that I'm not, and I know I don't help the situation. I just hope the year gets better than its been so far!

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Tempted

Mr and Mrs JRTC are heading off to Vegas again in May, and even though I can far from afford it, I am sorely tempted...!

All over

Where oh where has the Christmas holidays gone? Cannot believe it is the weekend before back at school on Monday, and work on Tuesday. I have sooooo got used to bed at 2am and up at 11am - getting up on Monday at 7.30am may just kill me off completely!