I have decided to pick up these posts again in order to try and track any progress that I make. Unlike my attempts last time, which finished in September 2018, I probably won’t post on this theme weekly or keep to any set pattern, but just write when I feel that I have made some progress.

This has come about because, at my last appointment with my main consultant on the 25th of May, I was told that I must do more exercise to prevent muscle wastage, bone loss and deterioration in my heart and lungs. Basically, I have to do something so that I don’t end up completely bedridden and using a wheelchair. It is true that I can already feel weakness in my wrists and arms and I constantly feel exhausted and weak.

I have got to this point with the pattern of my days:

• Awake around 7.30, eat a banana as I always feel very nauseous.
• Breakfast around 8.30 – pot of tea, porridge made with a little sugar and whole milk.
• Morning medication at 10.00.
• Stay in bed until around 11.00 – this is on a “good” day. Downstairs to sit in lounge with Lovely Husband to chat and watch TV.
• Lunch at around 12.00 – tinned fish, cheese, or chicken with salad and artisan type bread; or boiled or scrambled eggs and bread; pot of tea.
• Early afternoon – some household tasks such as stacking the dishwasher, dealing with washing, general tidying up – this is on a good day.
• Back to bed around 14.30. On a good day I will get up occasionally to do another tasks such as tidying a bedroom, otherwise I sit and read.
• Mid-afternoon – snack of an apple and a piece of cheese with a pot of tea at around 15.30.
• Dinner at around 18.30 – just a main course with meat or fish, vegetables and potatoes or rice. Yet another pot of tea (decaf from now on).
• Evening – meds at 21.00 and 22.00.
• Sleep at any time from about 22.30.

On very good days, which are increasingly rare, we might go out for a couple of hours after lunch to a garden centre for a drink and a walk around. This hasn’t happened for a long time. On Fridays I have my counselling session at 11.30 in a nearby town and usually manage to attend. LH also regularly takes me to the Library to top up my book pile.

Anyway, after the appointment with my consultant I was quite fired up to do something about my situation, however, unfortunately I became more ill and was unable to even start taking exercise. This continued until last Thursday. Yes, I finally felt well enough to go for a walk! It took quite a lot longer than my usual 8 to 10 minutes and I was very dizzy when I got home. Since then, I have managed another couple of walks around the block and have felt a little better afterwards each time.

Today is another matter and I have been very weak again but I am not going to let this get me down. I will try again tomorrow…

Best wishes,

💛💚❤️💙💜🧡