2015 has been one of the busiest years for me. My freelance
work has grown and I took on several new clients. I went to conferences and
even spoke at one! I even squeezed in a few gigs and some Rugby World Cup
Matches. Not to many the many craft projects I took on. While all that is amazing, I should have been listening
to my body and slowing down.
I’m not well, not in
I’m dying kind of way but in an if I don’t stop and look after myself I may collapse
sort of way. I haven’t felt right for a while, if I am being honest with myself
I haven’t been feeling great for about a year, but I am a strong woman I carry
on.
It started with feeling tired, just a little bit. So I tried
cutting down on the boxsets and going to bed earlier but that didn’t help, and I
got more and more tired. I also started to get pains in my thighs at night and
then in my heels and ankles. Recently I have had pain in my shoulder and my
right hand which I though was from too much crochet.
My hair started growing in damaged, my fringe looks like it’s
been singed and the front my tongue constantly feels like I have scolded it. I
then started having problems with my periods, actually I had an issue last year
and it sorted itself out so I didn’t worry about it! Then it happened again so I knew it was time to see
the doctor.
My doctor was fantastic and even though she could give me a diagnosis
straight away she sent me for a lot of blood tests. They tested for 16 different things including
my thyroids, the menopause, love and kidney function, diabetes and vitamin d. I honestly expected it be my triode as there
is a family history of it but to my shock I have vitamin d deficiency. It was
causing some of the tiredness and the aches and pains. My glucose also came
back high so I was sent back to be retested and I am also diabetic. That wasn’t
a huge shock as I had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies and was left
with glucose intolerance after Little Miss was born.
I am extra strength vitamin
d tablets to boost my levels for the next three months and then I will probably
be on tablets for quite a while. I am waiting for an appointment to see the diabetes
nurse, I am hoping that she recommends I start with diet control fist but I
have a feeling it will be straight on to meds.
So it’s time for me to stop and slow down, well at least for
a while. The vitamin d can take up to 6 weeks to start
taking effect and who knows how long it will take to control my glucose levels.
When you have two conditions making you tired it’s really hard to just keep on
going.
Looking back I realised I only took two weeks holiday this
year, so I am having two weeks off over Christmas. I also plan to take the half
term holidays off next year and at least a week off in the summer. I had to
make a tough decision in the past month to reduce my workload, it wasn’t an
easy one to make but I feel it was best for all parties concerned.
2016 will be getting better, living a little slower and good
health. I have some many plans and things I want to achieve but I need to sit
down and have a talk to myself and be realistic with what I can take on.
Thankfully we are keeping Christmas simple this year and
apart from wrapping and few crafts with the girls I have nothing to do.
Have a brilliant Christmas and an awesome New Year!