The best laid plans ......
Well, my spare bedroom is full of all the clothes that were stored away, ready for a trying-on session yesterday - see my last blog. And that was the intention. BUT my eyes have been playing up again (blepharitis, conjunctivitis and now an allergic reaction) and two visits to my GP, two bottles of different eye drops, and three weeks have not sorted anything. When I saw him last week, he told me if the second bottle of drops didn't work, I should visit the eye hospital.
So yesterday saw me with a change of plan. My eyes were much worse and so I took a bus ride and a walk to the Western Ophthalmic Hospital in Marylebone Road. They have a 24 hour A & E and my timing was right as they were almost empty. The receptionist told me they had counted about 15 people an hour the day before - all day. I was seen in about 20 minutes by a charming doctor who reassured me, gave me some cream for the allergic reaction and told me that I would have to carry out a simple cleansing procedure on my eyes every day for the rest of my life if I wanted to keep the blepharitis under control. Otherwise they would progress to bouts of conjunctivitis, allergic reactions and worse - as they have done over the past few years - and would be far more difficult to deal with as things progressed.
This is something I knew, but have not been dealing with. Does it remind you of anything ? I have a condition that is always there and will always be there. I am the only one that can keep it under control by my actions, making it much easier to live with. BUT when my eyes seem fine, I always stop the cleansing procedure and continue with "normal" life.
This reminds me that I have another condition - a tendency to be overweight - that I can control and only I can control. And once I feel I'm looking and feeling better, time after time I've slipped back into the old routine of not looking after myself.
Lesson learned, I hope. The day included an hour's walk after the hospital session, a bus ride home, a cup of coffee and 4 cheese straws at our local baker (I just fancied them), and a packet of Hula Hoops when I got home. Dinner (celebrating a last minute Arsenal victory - David was at the Emirates stadium for the match) was eggs and bacon and some raspberries and a wonderful cup of one of my teas. They are so much more calming than my usual cup of coffee.
I'm off to do the eye-cleansing procedure now. Lunch at the home of frends today. Clothes sorting and trying on tomorrow - I've just counted 12 skirts that I haven't worn for the last 4 or 5 years, plus all the Tshirts and trousers. Should take me all day - the floor of the room is carpeted with clothes.
By blogging this - sorry for everyone having to plough through it - I've made a comparison and pointed something out to myself. Maybe some of you can relate to it as well.
Have a wonderful Easter day everyone - thank you for being there.
Dolly
Just in case you thought I was a complete wimp !
I've been cleaning my teeth twice a day for some time - I hate to think what they would be like if I stopped!
I've got other things that I have to do on a daily basis ( at least) or other things flare up. I can fit in calf stretches as I clean my teeth ( and at the water cooler!) and I do my physio when I wait for the kettle to boil in the morning and at bedtime. It's not easy to develop these new habits consistently.
Your towel routine is quite specific, maybe you could combine it with using a muslin cloth for the rest of your face so it seems more of a treat and less of a chore?
I really need to clear out my wardrobe - but can't face it right now besides the weather isn't quite good enough. Well done on starting.
Well done for making this connection. As you know, I have these moments of discovery too and I think it is all a sign that you re making good progress.
We all need help and support with things that happen to us. Well done for sharing.