04 August 2007 August 4, 2007

Work is leaving me exhausted. At the end of each day I am so tired I can’t do anything, but collapse on the sofa or straight into bed. It hasn’t helped that I have started to reduce my pred. I’m making lots of mistakes at work, but I met the woman who started after me and she is making mistakes too, so I don’t feel quite so bad. I’m going to apply for a permanent, part time job at the library I’ve been working at the most. I’ve no idea if I’ve got any chance of getting the job. I figure that at least I wouldn’t need training and that I’m familiar with the library whereas most of the other applicants probably wouldn’t be. On the other hand, my boss knows about all my mistakes. She seems to like me, but maybe she’s just being nice.

This is the end of my first week reducing to 15/12.5 EOD of the pred. Today I woke to find a small cluster of blisters under my right breast. I will persist with the reduction unless things get much worse.

I’m getting quite a bit of exercise since I started work. I’m on my feet all day and I walk to and from the bus stop most days (about 1.5 miles). I have less opportunity to snack during the day, so I think I’m eating less than I was. Hopefully all this means that I’m losing weight … although I’ve yet to notice anything which would suggest this.

(Library mules!)

5 June 2007 June 5, 2007

I have a horrendous headache. Last night I went to bed, watched a little tv, read a little, then tried in vain to get to sleep,but was prevented by aforementioned horrendous headache and yet more nausea. I eventually passed out at about 4am while listening to some random radio station that was playing lullabies. I tried peppermint and lavender EOs, but I don’t think they did much. I woke up this morning and felt fine for about two seconds until I rolled over. I wonder if the headache is some sort of indication of detoxing, or a lack of caffeine yesterday. I think I only had one cup of coffee yesterday, whereas normally I’d probably drink at least five or six.

I spent a lot of time in the garden today, playing with the dog and helping Mum with the gardening. We’ve still not got the companion set I ordered over a week ago, but have finally finished all the pots and most of the beds. There’s still a lot of tidying to do, but it’s looking really lovely and I’ve been enjoying sitting out.

I did the online shopping today. Once again I have filled the virtual trolley with healthy foods and organic foods … my two small blips were a bottle of almond flavoured diet cola (just because it sounds so nice) and some liquorice. Today while feeling sick I had a craving for liquorice and a sense that it would settle my stomach, so I’m going with my instinct on that … well, information on Wikipedia seems to back up my craving-instinct, apparently liquorice “may soothe an upset stomach”.

27 May 2007 May 27, 2007

I ordered the bench pictured in the previous post from Dobbies this morning. It’ll be nice to sit out on it with a cup of coffee and watch the natural world go by. It doesn’t appear to be FSC certified wood which I feel slightly guilty about.

The parentals went into town to buy stuff, so I set them a mission to spend my book token on Imperfectly Natural Woman by Janey Lee Grace. I do like book tokens, but I wish they could be spent online. They failed in their mission. Now the question is do I just cave in and buy it from The Book Depository or do I wait until next weekend and finally get rid of my book token?

The NEEPS forum has some good links. I was astonished to find that there is an organic veggie box supplier called Vital Veg just down the road from where I live (I’m currently trying to persuade Mum to give them a go). I also found a handy website to find veg box schemes near you. I also found a link to a handy list of toxic chemicals that can be found in most everyday toiletries. It’s on a commercial website for natural and organic toiletries so the source isn’t exactly neutral, but then again where is?!

My spending spree continues (Must. Stop. Spending. Money) and I have bought a sample of Soap Nuts. I have only just convinced to switch from Tesco non-bio tablets to Tesco Naturally non-bio tablets, so I’m not sure how she’s going to respond to sticking berry shells (they aren’t really nuts apparently) in the washing machine. I was looking at Aquaballs and Ecoballs and other similar ‘ball’ things, but I don’t really understand the science behind them. I asked Mum and Dad (both ex-science teachers) and they seem to think that using the balls is akin to the old fashioned method of washing things by bashing them against rocks at the rivers edge. I sort of understand how soap works - it’s to do with allowing bonds to be made between the water and the grease I think. I presume there is some sort of similar science going on with soap nuts. Anyway, I’ll give them a go and if they work great and I’ll buy some more, if they don’t then I’ve only forked out 1.50, so no great loss.

Final link for the day: The Alcohol-Free Shop. Now, usually I’m not one to turn down an alcoholic drink, but the contents of The Alcohol-Free Shop appeal to me. I love a yummy drink, I have been known to drink about 2l of Diet Coke a day, but the new me now eschews chemical-filled fizzy drinks. This week I’ve been drinking soda and lime, and fizzy water. Yes, there are still chemicals in the lime cordial, but not as many. I’m also giving my liver a little bit of a break and haven’t had a glass of wine in over a week. Anyway, there are alcohol-free wines, beers, juices and soft-drinks, amongst other things.

25 May 2007 May 25, 2007

Today’s post included a small mountain of parcels containing essential oils, hydrolats, natural (disposable) sanitary towels, biodegradable facial wipes and some other miscellaneous toiletries. I’m very impressed by the two companies I ordered these things from: Naturallythinking and Beauty Naturals (and no, I’m not an affiliate / on commission!). Everything was packaged well and as described, and they arrived so quickly … particularly impressive since Beauty Naturals do free postage with no minimum order amount.

I have been working my natural propaganda on Mum and have convinced her not to pay 12 pounds for Body Shop Shea Butter, but to get a big basic tub of the unrefined, pure stuff from eBay for half the price.

I realise that I haven’t actually written much about my pemphie, more about my holistic attempts to deal with it and get better. I’m a member of an email support group and today I was reading about different people’s Cellcept dosages - Cellcept is an immunosuppressant. I’m on 2g per day. On my last visit to my dermatologist I asked about whether upping my Cellcept dosage would help get me off the pred and he reacted like I’d asked something totally ridiculous. Anyway, from what I’ve read today it seems like the 2g dosage is old medical thinking based on worries about side-effects, but that more recent research suggests that dosages of 3 or even 4g per day are useful. I’m in two minds about whether upping my Cellcept dosage would be a good thing. On the one hand, I really want off the pred ASAP, but on the other hand it means more drugs in my system at least in the short term. I think I will bring it up at my next dermatology appointment, maybe taking along some research (if I can lay my hands on some) to back up the 3-4g dosage.

Btw, if anyone is ever curious about prednisolone, then I highly recommend Googling ‘prednisone OR prednisolone evil’, you’ll see why it is loathed by so many people, myself included … I should however point out that it does tend to work.

Foodwise, today has been good, though not necessarily from a calorific intake point of view! Mum went to one of those European Food Markets in a nearby village. She came back with some gorgeous bread, including fig bread which I think is possibly the nicest bread ever. She also bought me an apple tart which I had at lunchtime. It was fiiiine. For my tea I had noodles with Seeds of Change Sweet & Sour sauce (yum) and chicken.

While browsing for nothing in particular I came across NEEPS (North East Eco-friendly People’s Site) which looks like a handy local-interest forum.

24 May 2007 May 24, 2007

I am exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open. I think this is due to getting up this morning before my body was ready to get up. I had to get up because the Tesco’s mannie was due with all my nutritious goodies. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about fruit / veg / organic stir fry sauces / etc. I’ve had a day of eating rather healthily. The only thing that has been particularly ‘chemically’ was my Skinny Cow lolly (yum) … oh, and the gazillion mugs of coffee I’ve drunk today.

I bid on some Burt’s Bees stuff on eBay and won. I’ve got Marshmallow Vanishing Creme, Raspberry Lip Gloss, Cherry Lip Gloss and a Head to Toe Starter Kit winging it’s way to me. I’m going to smell like a fruit salad - hurrah!

I’m also very, very, very excited about the upcoming release of Michael Tolliver Lives by Armistead Maupin (see left). I pre-ordered it today and plan to re-read the other Tales of the City novels between now and the 18th of June. It’s been such a long wait. Maybe the Moon and The Night Listener were good, but I need to know what Mouse is up to these days!

22 May 2007 May 22, 2007

I am being good. I did 20 minutes exercise today. I resisted adding (much) bad food to my virtual trolley. I also started an online food diary with FitDay. It isn’t ideal because it’s US based and so finding foods that are especially British/European or have different names is tricky. Also, the measurements tend to be in ‘cups’ and this means nothing to me - I have been imagining a small-ish tea cup stuffed with my food, but as far as I know this could be way out. I shall keep a look out for a similar (free) British food diary service.

I’ve been looking at essential oils, but it’s all so confusing. I do believe that aromatherapy oils can have some effect on mood. It’s been my experience that citrus-y oils are uplifting and lavender is relaxing, but even a cursory look around t’Internet shows that it’s a much more complex business. There is also some suggestion that some oils could boost the immune system, which is not good for me! Not only do I need to figure out which oils would be best for me, but I need to find a decent, reliable and cheap website that sells oils.

Last night - despite my pledge to stop using facial wipes altogether - I ordered some biodegradable wipes and some ‘natural’ sanitary towels from Beauty Naturals. It seems quite a good site, particularly since ALL the other places I looked charged for postage.

Mum picked up my repeat prescription meds today. The idea of stopping taking them keeps creeping into my head. I know that the pred can’t just be stopped, but the Cellcept doesn’t need to be tapered. Logically I know it’s a stupid idea and that I’ll probably have a massive flare up and end up being very ill and on a higher dose than I’m currently on, but I hate the meds so much. *sigh*

Nursie! May 21, 2007

I had a ‘pin cushion’ appointment today.  The nurse was very friendly, but I just hate it.  She expected me to know what my doctor wanted done and when - like he actually tells me stuff!?  So, anyway, I had the usual ‘hmm, your veins are well hidden’ comment, then vials of just about every variety were filled with my blood.

Nice though the nurse was, she did insist on doing more than just take my blood.  She took my blood pressure: high.  She weighed me: ugh.  She tried to persuade me to diet … the Slimfast way: um, I actually like to chew my food.  I have to go back next week so she can check my blood pressure again, and presumably try and do a bit more arm twisting with regards to dieting.

I know my diet is crap and that I don’t do enough exercise, but it’s easier said than done to change things.  I have filled my virtual Tesco trolley with slightly healthier food than normal, so I’m trying.

My current baby steps towards a healthier mind and body (and world) have also included the radical decision to stop using facial wipes!  Apparently there are old-fangled things called ‘face cloths’ that do the job just as well.