Up The Farway Tree

Tired but doing ok!

I haven't blogged for a few days as I have been feeling quite tired and not quite right, so didn't want to alarm anyone. Thankfully I seem to be feeling better today so am feeling more positive again. It really just started when I got back from Newcastle and I was finding it harder to get up in the morning - the last few weeks before that I have been up and about at 7am, although in retrospect that was probably more abnormal! I also was finding it harder to walk Seb as my limbs just felt very achey and heavy and everything seemed like a bit of an effort. I have been worrying that this is a sign of more rejection, however I do feel better today and I have no other symptoms such as breathlessness or temperature. I suspect it was just a backlash from my busy weekend at the wedding followed by the trip to Newcastle. I keep forgetting that I am still only 9 weeks post surgery and have a lot of stamina still to build. I also keep forgetting that it is normal for people to feel tired sometimes, and was reassured when my friend told me that when she woke the other morning her first thought was about when she could get back into her bed that night, lol. So, my duracell bunny impression over the past few weeks was quite possibly steroid fuelled and as my steoirds have been gradually reduced, my body is just trying to readjust and get back to some degree of normality.

Despite feeling tired I have still managed to keep myself busy. I have however been trying to avoid shops as this inevitebly ends in spending again. Andrew had a dream the other night that he had a hole in his wallet and all his money kept falling out - I don't think you have to be an expert to work out where that came from! I have instead been doing more baking and cooking (see, i am saving money doing this!). So far this week I have made a rhubarb sponge, 2 rhubarb tarts (someone at Andrews work gave him rhubarb), 4 fruits loaves and am currently experimenting with a double mix of flapjacks. Funnily enough I seem to have put on about 2 kilos according to my own scales, so am nearly at my target weight. This might mean I have to cut down on the lattes and home baking *sigh* . Although to be fair, eating 8 flapjacks a day probably is excessive by anyone's standards ;-) I have also been trying different soups for my lunch and made butternut squash soup the other day, which was very nice. I have also been experimenting with dinners so Andrew is never quite sure what he is coming home to. It's a bit of a hit or a miss really, depending on what random herbs etc I have added. I think its the only way to learn though and at least I am trying. The only issue I really have is with safety - I probably shouldn't be allowed to use knives unsupervised. I currently have plasters on 3 different fingers due to cooking related 'incident's'. I think the term my mum likes to use is "hash bash". I need to learn to slow down...

The weekend has been quiet for me, as Andrew and my dad are building the greenhouse. In between the deluges of rain they are making good progress and we might even have time this year to grow some veg ( if we buy some plants already brought on). I'm looking forward to experimenting with that. Andrew has also been shovelling the slate chips so the rockery is nearly finished - I will post a photo of the final article at some point.

Seb is doing fine and still enjoying all his extra walks, although has come to expect them now. We had the interesting task of introducing him to another dog yesterday. Andrew was walking his friends dog while they were at a wedding, so we decided I would meet him on neutral territory with Seb to see how they got on. They have met twice before with little success - the first time I came home with Seb and the other dog, Alfie was in our house. Alfie barked his head off, and Seb was scared so ran behind my legs. He then moved into the hallway and would throw out a bark before quickly retreating backwards! The next time Seb was already in the house and Alfie came into the hallway - Seb went into territorial mode and after climbing on the stairs to gain some height, he barked and barked until Alfie had to leave. This time we got on much better on neutral ground. Seb was quite unsure at first but when we started walking together he did follow on ok, although Seb had to walk behind Alfie so that he could keep an eye on him at all times :-) He then tried his casual look where he just pretends he hasn't even noticed there is another dog. Everything was going really well until we got to our house and there was no way Seb was letting Alfie anywhere near the front door! Walking together was progress though, so would be worth trying again. I think it would be nice for Seb to have a doggie friend, even if he does consider himself to be human...

(p.s Just a message for Peter who left me a comment - sorry couldn't see an email/blog to reply to! I realise about the relationship between reflux and chronic rejection and am taking part in a study - measuring ph and relating to biopsy results. If I have significant reflux I will be offered a fundoplication surgery, so I will be interested to see my results from this. With regards the sinuses, I do daily saline washes - it does really help. I did offer up the theory that damage to my vagus nerve was causing the high heart rate, but the doctor thought this was unlikely. I still think its the most plausible explanation although I do also notice that tacrolimus can cause high heart rate and it may be this. Anyway just wanted to answer those queries - thanks for reading the blog and leaving a comment! :-)