Health: My MRI Experience

I had been booked in for an MRI of my small bowel by my gastro consultant. As I've had two Crohn's flare-ups in the last year, they thought it would be wise to do a bit of investigation just to see how things are.

I had booked a taxi which collected me at my house and dropped me off at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He thought I was going off to work but I explained briefly that I was going in for a scan. The previous week a colleague overheard I was off for a scan and assumed I was pregnant (which I'm not btw) so I clarified to the driver that in fact it was an MRI scan. He proceeded to tell me that he's had one before and about the nightmares he had before his and that he was claustrophobic etc etc which was far from reassuring. I too am claustrophobic and have been dreading this day. My GP had prescribed me some diazepam so I took these in the taxi en route.

After navigating the hospital corridors I found the MRI unit only to be told I had to find the X-Ray unit to get a nasogastric tube put in. The lifts weren't working (adding to my stress levels!) and so I took the stairs. I was feeling a little out of it, must have been the diazepam starting to work!!

The staff were lovely and made me feel a bit more relaxed. I think they could tell I was anxious and I got asked a few times if I was on my own to which I had to keep explaining yes I was and I intended on getting a taxi home. I got changed into my double gown and went through the questions and consent forms with one of their team. 

The nasogastric tube insertion was not pleasant. The consultant had to get it out of my stomach and into my small intestine and there was a lot of tooing and frowing which was very uncomfortable, particularly in my nose, and a little sore at points. Once it was in place though it was bearable, just. I was sneezing lots during and apparently I'm the only patient who has giggled during a nasogastric tube insertion! I'm so proud of myself for not panicking.

Next up was the cannula. I've had terrible experiences with cannulas before and was not looking forward to this either. However the nurse was fantastic & she got it in first time with zero drama and thankfully no tears from me. Phew!!

I then had to wait for my turn in the MRI machine. From the corridor I could hear how noisy it was but I had been told I'd be going in feet first on my tummy so I wasn't as nervous as having to go in head first. I really would have freaked out if that were the case. Although I had been organised and brought an eye mask with me so that I didn't have to see what was going on. The nurse gave me ear plugs to use, but the best ear plugs I have ever used are these ones from Boots. So I would perhaps consider taking your own, especially if you are going to be in there for a while.

By this point it was midday and I had been fasting since the previous night. I was certainly looking forward to a cup of tea afterwards and some lunch!!

I was going to have my bowel filled with liquid laxative via the NG tube and then a contrast agent put into the cannula to show up my veins. What I didn't realise was how sick I'd feel as they filled my bowels; they didn't manage to get the last two syringes of laxative into me. Add to that the bed of the MRI going in and out of the machine and I really did feel rather sick!! A bit like being on a boat!

I had to breathe in, out and then hold my breath for what seemed like ages. This was repeated a number of times. The consultant had to dash away to another clinic so the NG tube was removed (made me gag somewhat) and then I had a few more images taken. I glad when it was over. However compared to the colonoscopy, this wasn't nearly as painful or traumatic.

I didn't get any feedback; instead I was shown to a cubicle to get changed and then directed to the exit where I could wait for a taxi. I'm guessing if there is anything up with my results then I'd be contacted, otherwise I'm next seeing my consultant in October.

Seize control: the impact of your child having a neurological disorder

You might remember my good friend Lorna who has written before for Glasgow Mummy? I've invited her back to share her story on the diagnosis of her baby girl having epilepsy and how this has changed her perspective on what matters...

"The EEG has confirmed that Amie is having epileptic seizures with loss of consciousness. The words hit me like a punch in the face although I didn't fully take it in.

In May this year whilst still on maternity leave, my youngest daughter Amie, aged 5 months, started having seizures out of the blue. At first I didn't know what they were and I've since learned that seizures can present themselves in many different ways. I noticed she was unresponsive at times and the colour drained from her face. It turns out she was having focal seizures and stopped breathing for up to a minute at a time. After a spell in Yorkhill Children's Hospital she was diagnosed with epilepsy and will now be on anti seizure medication for some years.

I thought I knew what epilepsy was, but turns out each person's experience of epilepsy is unique, and it mattered more now that it was my own baby. I thought I was a resilient, strong person and suddenly felt helpless. How was I going to return to work? How would our family cope financially, logistically and emotionally? What if she has a serious chromosome abnormality which means she can't lead a normal life, unlike thousands of others who have this condition and manage it successfully? Many of these questions still worry me, and I don't take things for granted as much as I used to. In particular, I was overwhelmed by the support I received from my family, friends and my employer with flexible policies like emergency and carers leave. 

We are still waiting on test results, her seizures are still not under control, the last one being 5 weeks ago, and they have progressed to tonic-clonic seizures where her limbs shake. What I have discovered is that there are many families out there whose lives would be improved if they had an epilepsy seizure alarm which triggers if a nocturnal seizure occurs, alerting us to check that they regain breathing and consciousness. This helps prevent sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). These alarms retail at £500-£700 each. They are not available on the NHS and two charities who donate them to families have waiting lists of over 250 people at this current time. So I've decided to fundraise for this cause and welcome any contributions."  

If you would like to make a donation, please click on the link below: 
http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/amiethebear

or you can follow Amie's story and progress here at www.facebook.com/amiethebear

More information on the two charities can be found here:
www.muirmaxwelltrust.com      

www.thedaisygarland.org.uk

Health - Dealing with a Crohn's Flare

Regular followers will know that I have Crohn's Disease, which is one of the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (the other being Ulcerative Colitis). You'll find a little bit about my diagnosis in this earlier post.

Last year I had my first flare and ended up back on steroids to control the symptoms. Shortly thereafter I had a colonoscopy which confirmed that I still had some active inflammation.

I've never really been back to my usual self since that flare last year, and then last week I had 7 days where everything I ate went through me. It was horrendous and I was absolutely shattered. Hence why I've been pretty quiet on Twitter and here on my blog - apologies!

I restricted my diet and for a couple of days I ate toasted crumpets, white toast and rice pudding to give my gut a bit of a rest. I lost nearly half a stone - which was good because I had put on quite a bit over my Easter holidays - but obviously this was not a good way to lose it!

When I was first diagnosed I had a book called something like The Healthy Gut (it had a bright red cover!) and I thought I'd share some of the advice that I remember; hopefully this might help others out there with IBD.

I've found that when I have a bad day, the BRAT diet helps. It's a bland diet that has foods that are low in fibre. When you're having a flare you want to avoid high fibre foods as they could worsen the bowel upset.

BRAT stands for Bananas (contain pectin which helps regulate the digestive system), Rice (absorbs fluid and adds bulk to your stools), Apples (Peel and grate them then leave to go brown; like bananas, apples are a good source of pectin) and Toast (said to soak up toxins, especially if its burnt).

Apparently Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup is also good as it has the perfect balance of electrolytes for an upset tummy although I'd have thought that tomatoes, which are acidic, aren't a good idea. I saw a nutritionist when I was newly diagnosed and I was told to stop eating tomato-based sauces (I used to eat a lot more pasta and curries than I do now) and not to drink fresh orange juice on an empty stomach.

It's also really important to drink plenty fluids. Victoria (@IckleBear_) on Twitter who also has Crohn's suggested Lucozade Sport to me, so I got myself plenty to keep me going!

Thankfully I seem to be a bit better now and my bowels have settled. I'm still waiting blood results from the hospital and faecal calprotectin measurements which correlates significantly with disease activity in people with confirmed IBD.

At the moment I take azathioprine daily to control my Crohn's, but if I continue to have these episodes or flares then the nurse has suggested that we may look to change my meds. I am also going to investigate different diets more. First up I'm going to switch all my tea to decaffeinated; caffeine makes me run to the loo! I'm also going to consider going wheat-free or maybe even gluten-free.

Planning & Looking to the Future

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I'm a planner.

I love to organise my time, know where I'm going to be and when... 

I don't like the uncertainty of not knowing what's around the corner.

In my head I have a clearer career plan. My new job has helped with that and I feel focussed in this area of my life.

I also have a fitness plan, and I'm feeling motivated to reach my goal. Next on my list is to manage at least one full, proper press-up. So far I can only do press-ups on my knees. I also need to lose a few more pounds.

What I don't like is the uncertainty of my personal life... relationships, money, health... I'm not feeling very settled for some reason and it's making me stressed and emotional.

Things with my divorce are starting to progress again in the right direction, and at a better speed than before. So hopefully I'll have some resolution in this area soon. I do think this will help dramatically with things. Plus it will be good when those lawyer bills finally stop!! Which leads onto money, or lack thereof. I've been saving where possible to allow my luxuries to continue. However I'm really feeling it this year and I've borrowed money from my dad and my sister. It should all even out eventually as my student loan repayments are going to stop this quarter - that will help hugely! All this stress is making my Crohn's symptoms worse and I'm feeling pretty exhausted most of the time. However I'm great at 'putting on a good show' as my doctor put it, and I carry on regardless.

I have an Easter holiday organised which I'm really looking forward to. My sister and her boyfriend have booked a luxury lodge in Scotland (I will pay you back eventually...promise!) and we've been planning what to do with our week off. There will be the four grown-ups plus our four kids. I'm hoping for dry weather so we can BBQ, play in the park and have some quality time together.

So for now, I'm going to breathe... (try to) trust... let go... and see what happens!

Health - Drinking Enough Water

Eight glasses a day.

This is what we're supposed to drink, and I reckon that I'm lucky if I drink one or two. Yikes!

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Water is of course the healthiest option for quenching your thirst as it contains no calories and no sugar. It's also free!

I know that it's so important to stay hydrated and yet why do I struggle to drink the recommended water? I have zero excuses. And when I have a thumping headache and am feeling lethargic then that's when I wish I'd had a few extra gulps of good old H2O.

I tried using an app as a prompt to get me to drink more, but it didn't really help.

I'm making progress with my PT goals, and weight wise I'm now down to 11 stone 10 lbs. I've about another half a stone to go.

I'm not sure if this is a myth or not as I've not done enough research, but did you know that drinking water helps keep fat away? I'm hoping this will motivate me to drink more!

Your kidneys can't function properly without enough water, and when your kidneys don't work to capacity some of their load is passed onto the liver. One of your liver's jobs is to metabolise fat, but if the liver is having to do some of the kidney's work then it can't function properly and as such it then metabolises less fat. This means more fat is stored in the body and weight loss stops. Makes sense doesn't it.

So I'm adding this onto my Health & Fitness Goals: I will consciously drink more water each day.

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I have a plastic drink bottle at my desk and I'm lucky if I fill it once each day, if that. I'm going to put some reminders in my phone and get my water consumption up. Watch this space to see how I get on!

Health - Raynauds Disease

You may have spotted the photograph of my white finger tip over on Instagram yesterday? It sparked up a wee conversation around the topic of Raynauds Disease and I discovered that a few of my Instagram/Twitter friends are sufferers.

Raynauds Disease or Phenomenon is a condition that affects blood supply to parts of the body - typically the fingers and toes. The blood vessels go into a temporary spasm which blocks the flow of blood making the fingers go white (just like if you put on a plaster too tight, or if you are making a loom band bracelet on your fingers for example!). The finger then goes blue as the blood flow returns to it, and then red. Symptoms that are associated with the condition are pain, numbness and pins & needles which can last for a few minutes up to several hours. It tends to be triggered by cold weather, and I'm just reading that it can also be triggered by stress/anxiety.

It's not a serious condition in that it's not a threat to your health but it's annoying to live with.

I've had Raynauds for about a year now, and this winter it's been pretty bad. The photograph of my finger above is a good day... it's sometimes all my fingers! My toes also get affected, but it's not as bad/painful as my fingers.

There is treatment that you can take which your doctor would prescribe, but for the moment I'm managing without tablets. I don't really need anymore tablets to be honest, I already struggle to take the ones I'm supposed to for my Crohn's!

February, which is statistically the coldest month of the year, is Raynaud's Awareness Month - so I thought it was appropriate to write a post all about it here seeing as I'm a sufferer.

So how do I manage the condition? I thought I'd share with you a few bits of advice...

// Wear two pairs of socks.

// Get some cosy slippers - and put them on as soon as you get up.

// Central Heating - mine is set to come on before I get up so that the house is warm, particularly the bathroom.

// Shower - turn it on for a few minutes before you get in to warm up the bath/shower tray so you're not stepping onto a cold surface.

// Have a hot breakfast or lunch - some steaming porridge or a bowl of soup can help warm you up.

// Invest in some gloves - I've got a pair of mittens that are toasty warm!

// Electric Blanket - I was given one at Christmas from Rick and it's been the best present ever. It really does help warm up my hands and feet.

// Wellington Boots - make sure you have some shoes that are waterproof. There is nothing worse than having cold, wet feet. My current wellies are done in and are leaking, so it's time for a new pair. But I also have a pair of Goretex Clarks boots that I picked up in the sale this year.

// Hand warmers - I have little hand warmer that Rick also got me at Christmas but I need to make more of an effort to reactivate it so I can use it again. Just a pain that you've got to stick it in boiling water. Seems like a bit of a faff. But when I do use it, it's worth it.

// Give up smoking - this doesn't apply to me but apparently smoking reduces your body temperature and can make the symptoms worse

If you would like any more information on Raynauds, want to know how you can help in research projects or want to get involved in fundraising, go to raynauds.org.uk.

To donate, please text COLD15 and the amount (£5/£10) to 70070.

Fitness - Getting Fit With Buchanan Galleries

When I started running, back in 2011, one of the first things I purchased was a pair of trainers that were fitted for me & my personal running style (I'm fortunate to have avoided pain/injuries and I think the fact that I have these trainers has no doubt helped) and I also got a few bits of clothing. If I was going to be pounding the streets as a newbie runner, I at least wanted to look the part!

A few years down the line and I'm needing to get back in shape again. I'm a firm believer that looking good helps you feel good. So when I was asked if I'd like to trial some new gym clothing from Buchanan Galleries, I of course said yes please :-) To help me achieve my fitness goals, from Next I received the following three items:

Floral Layer Top, £22

Floral Crop Top, £14

Charcoal Cuff Joggers in Tall, £18

It can be tricky getting clothes when you're tall like me, so to find a pair of staple grey joggers in a Tall leg length was great. They're really comfortable and are especially ideal for kicking about outdoors with the kids.

Wearing my Next joggers and Floral Layer top at my PT session. I've chosen to hire a PT just until I get back into good habits again. So far, so good I think. I've lost 7 pounds and I'm starting to feel the benefits.

I unfortunately found the floral layer top wasn't supportive enough on it's own (it's double layered - with a floaty, floral printed vest on the top and a black scuba crop top underneath), so I had to wear a sports bra underneath which I don't think looked as good. As the vest was quite floaty, it sort of got in the way with my PT session exercises. It's definitely a top that I'd wear for running the summer outdoors, or perhaps to a step class. Not one for metafit, circuits or anything where you're having to be down on the ground doing press ups or Burpees etc. 

The crop top is gorgeous - I do love the floral print. But I'm just waiting until my tummy is a little flatter before I show this off!

The littlest also received a tracksuit from Next. The material is so soft, and she absolutely adores it.

Next Navy Zip Through Jacket, £15-£20 and Next Navy Sporty Joggers, £10-£15

Say Cheese!!

My son's outfit came from H&M. 

This isn't somewhere that I'd really think of to go to for sports gear, but the clothes are really good quality at great prices. My son loved his outfit. I'll most certainly go back to H&M for kids active wear in the future.

Sports T-shirt, £5.99 from H&M (we need to work on our posing!)

My son has put together a fitness video for you to watch!!

We are fairly active as a family, although one thing we need to do more of together is swimming. My dad & his wife Jo have a lovely big garden and when we're at theirs we always have some running races to see if we can beat out personal bests! Turning simple running into a game is a winner with my son - he's very competitive! We also walk to school when we can and my son attends a martial arts class. 

This year it's my aim to get the kids more confident on their bikes, with the plan that they can cycle round the park whilst I jog next to them.

I'm also going to have a look for a charity fun run that the kids can participate in.

To compliment my fitness efforts, I was also sent a Bootea 14 day Teatox (£19.99 at Holland & Barrett) to try.

The 14 day Teatox comes with 14 daytime cleanse teabags and 7 bedtime cleanse teabags (the bedtime ones are to be consumed every other day). 

"The aim of Bootea teatox & eating plan is to give you the boost you need to get back on track with your healthy eating and active lifestyle".

There are some amazing before and after photographs on the Bootea website where you can also access their eating plan. 

I've certainly noticed that my skin has become rather spotty... I've a few craters on my face right now and I guess this is part and parcel of a detox. However I've not noticed any dramatic changes in my figure. However I've been on holiday for half term and haven't really been watching what I'm eating. I did weigh myself when I came back and I haven't put on as much weight as I would have thought I should have, which is positive. Overall though, the jury is out on this one for me. 

Have you tried a Teatox?

Situated at the heart of Glasgow’s style mile, Buchanan Galleries houses big name British retailers such as John Lewis, Next and River Island. It also boasts some of the biggest international brands, from Lego to Levis and Hollister to H&M.

Buchanan Galleries is now open longer with stores staying open until 7pm every evening except Thursday when it stays open until 8pm and Sunday when the shops close at 6pm.

For more information on Buchanan Galleries and the stores visit buchanangallereis.co.uk or follow on Facebook – Glasgow Shopping or Twitter @glasgowshopping.

We received complimentary fitness gear and a 14 day Teatox from Next, H&M and Holland & Barrett at Buchanan Galleries in exchange for this post. Opinions, as always, are honest and are my own.

#JanuaryJoy - Make some health & fitness goals

I am feeling super motivated right now fitness-wise.

I went out for a run on Sunday in the howling wind and rain (& snow at parts!) with my two running buddies Jayne & Joanne. I hadn't been on a proper run in months and months. It was tough. But I did it, and I certainly feel better for it. Thank you Jayne for forcing me to get out there & just get on with it!

I thought I would share with you some of my health and fitness goals for 2015 as part of the Florence Finds #JanuaryJoy series.

1. Exercise

You'll be so impressed with me - as I write this (on Monday night!) I'm in my gym gear and soon I'll be heading out to a try a zumba class.

I've been going to a Personal Trainer once a week for an hour session. I've been struggling to motivate myself, so this was my short-term solution until I get back into it good habits myself. I absolutely love the boxing exercises that we do - it's so good to just punch away all my stresses! I've signed up for another 4 week block, and this time I mean business.

My aim is to continue with the weekly PT sessions, and then in addition to this every week I'll go to at least one fitness class and do at least one run. There it is in black & white... no going back!

I weighed myself this morning and I'm 12 stone 2 lbs. How on earth did this happen?? My weight has yo-yo'd over the years, and I've gone from 13 stone 10lbs down to 11 stone and then back up to nearly 12 stone, back down to 11 stone and now I'm up at over 12 stone again. So very frustrating! My goal is to hopefully lose one stone and I'd like to be comfortable in my size 10 jeans again. 

2. Eat

I'm also keen to start regularly making healthy smoothies, and the Breville BlendActive will help me with this. I just need to get a bit more organised so that I'm getting up 10 minutes earlier each morning to prepare them!

3. Sleep

One last thing that I'd like to try, which will hopefully help me get up earlier in the mornings is a 'wake-up light' like the Lumie Bodyclock. I spotted on YouTube that ViviannaDoesMakeup has one and she swears by it. I really struggle to get out of bed on these dark mornings, so perhaps this is the solution for a more natural, less harsh awakening!

I also plan to limit the amount of time I spend on my phone when I'm in bed. My sister is of the opinion that mobiles are toxic, and I do tend to agree with her. I need to get into a healthier sleep routine, which will hopefully have a very positive impact on my general mood and wellbeing. 

So do watch this space to see how I get on...

{Wobbles Wednesday}

My weight loss plans are not going well... :-(

I'm sat at my computer with a bowl of ice cream and some fruit. At least part of it is healthy!

My Sainsburys Online Grocery Delivery Pass has worked in that I managed to avoid all the treats in the supermarket aisles whilst I did my weekly food shop. So that's a step in the right direction at least.

I've also been doing weekly meal planning. Another positive change.

However I was at a friends house at the weekend and majorly fell off the wagon... I consumed an obscene amount of crisps, dips and cakes. I also ate a burger, toast, a bagel and a sandwich. So out with the no bread rule!!

I've also not managed a single run in a fortnight now.

I can do better than this, I just need to try harder.

What's not helping is that work is really stressful as we get closer to a really important external audit (that's the week after BritMums!). All I want to do is eat chocolate and sweets to get through it!! I'm absolutely shattered and I know that the chocolate will just be a quick fix, but it tastes sooooo good!

Despite this, I have managed to stick to the healthy breakfasts and salads at lunch time but by the afternoon I'm craving sweet things!

Today I had a Total Greek yoghurt with fresh berries for breakfast, a Tunnocks caramel wafer at 10am (I was on a training course and couldn't resist!), a prawn & cous cous salad for lunch, a handful of dried cranberries in the afternoon, leftover chicken stir fry for dinner, two of the kids chocolate bars (eaten in secret in the kitchen so they couldn't see me!!), a packet of Hula Hoops and my bowl of ice cream and fruit.

It's definitely the evenings that throw me off. My willpower is seriously lacking.

It's now just 3 weeks to BritMums and I'm not convinced that I can reach my target.

Time to get motivated...

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{Exhausted...}

I'm sat in my pyjamas at my desk (it's currently 6pm on Tues eve at the moment!) and I'm really glad to be relaxing. The kids are with their dad, and R is on a night out... so I have an evening to myself.

My plan is to catch up on a little bit of cleaning - the carpets seriously need hoovered! - and then I'm going to have a bath I think and do some reading. Bliss!!

The thing is I'm seriously wiped out. I'm actually physically drained. I came home from work the other day, had a very quick dinner that R kindly cooked, and then I went straight to bed and slept right through to morning-time.

In my head I was blaming the children (they are full on!) but the more I've considered it, it's probably related to my Crohn's Disease.

I've been having some on/off symptoms now for a number of weeks and I'm fed up with it.

I admit I've been previously rubbish at taking my tablets (I take azathioprine tablets daily, a strong immunosuppressant) but I've been much better this year and yet I still don't feel great :-(

What also makes it worse is that I don't look sick.

Thankfully my blood results came back ok so surely that means nothing serious is going on, but that doesn't explain the waves of nausea, stomach cramping, aching joints and other Crohn's symptoms I'm having to deal with just now. I know I shouldn't complain because my symptoms are mild compared to others out there with IBD, but I'm used to being well so feeling this way is out of the norm for me.

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I've had the disease since 2004, this is my 10 year anniversary! I came home from work recently to find an interesting looking padded envelope... hmmmm, what could it be!? I quickly opened it to find some sachets of Moviprep. Delightful! I have a colonoscopy booked for the end of May. Something to look forward to?? Perhaps not! The last two colonoscopies I had were horrific. I remember lying on the bed screaming in pain and the nurses trying to manipulate my bowels to get the tubing round. Really dreading having to go through it again.

However it will show how the disease is progressing, which will be interesting given that my last colonoscopy must have been 8 or 9 years ago now.

I've also been having some issues with my hands... and my GP has diagnosed Raynaud's Disease (a condition that affects blood supply to the fingers and toes). Great! It's apparently associated with Crohn's. Thankfully it's intermittent (my fingers go white and I lose the feeling in them, not so nice!!) and I'm looking forward to the warmer weather arriving in Glasgow which should make a big difference!  

Anyway, I'm sure there'll be more on the colonoscopy when the time comes. I've already arranged for the kids to have a few extra nights with their dad. Looking after two kiddies and trying to cleanse one's bowel are not a good combination! 

{Chicken Pox}

The other day my eldest said he had a sore bottom, and after a quick peek I discovered a little blister. I thought absolutely nothing of it until a few more popped up on his tummy, neck, leg. Yes... it would appear that both my little angels have caught chicken pox from their nursery. Poor things.

Just as well I guess... get it over and done with whilst they are young. I was 10 years old when I had it, and it wasn't pleasant.

My work have been great and allowed me to take a few days annual leave at short notice. On the way home from work yesterday I nipped into the shops to get a few supplies as I'll be housebound for the week. The in-laws who were looking after them very kindly picked up some medicine for me - so I'm stocked up with Piriton mixture, ibuprofen mixture, calamine lotion and aqueous calamine cream.

Here are some of the suggestions that I've come across for relieving the itch...:

Give your little one a paintbrush and some calamine lotion in a cup - let them paint the spots to make them better!

Put some porridge oats in a sock and run the bath water through the sock so that the water is milky. 

Control their temperature with paracetamol and ibuprofen mixture, and use an antihistamine such as Piriton (chlorphenamine) which is sedative so will help them sleep as well as ease the itch.

I've also bought a few treats and special things for us to do this week whilst in the house to keep them (& me) amused. Both are obsessed with Disney princesses right now, so you'll spot a certain theme...:

Baking princess cupcakes - I picked up some icing, pink glitter and princess candles

Easter Egg Hunt - I found an Easter craft pack in the shops this afternoon and have teamed this with some mini chocolate eggs. There are rabbit masks for us to wear as we search the house for eggs!

A new Disney DVD

A pack of pink light up balloons - will be great fun in the dark!

A princess magazine each with a sparkly purse attached (which we can use to collect our mini eggs in!)

Hopefully that will keep us going all week!!

What are your tips for dealing with chicken pox?? 

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{January Joy - 14th Jan}

Today is my birthday, so the timing of today's prompt for #JanuaryJoy 'Monday Mani or proper pedicure' couldn't have landed on a more perfect day! 

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I'm actually going one better... this evening I am going for a mini-facial and a hot stone back massage at a nearby day spa. My friend that moved to Australia had been given a voucher for a massage for her birthday, but somehow ended up losing the voucher and despite all our best efforts we were unable to locate it. Turns out the voucher wasn't lost... she found it the other week and has organised for me to use it on her behalf. How lovely is that!! A proper birthday treat :-)

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{Crohn's Disease}

For those of you that have seen the move Bridesmaids, you'll remember the hilarious scene where Lillian and the girls get food poisoning and they all literally poop their pants. I too have been there *hangs head in shame* and it really wasn't that funny! The reason was not food poisoning, it was because of the chronic condition that I have, Crohn's Disease...... 

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For those of you that haven't heard of it before, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis are inflammatory bowel diseases. They can occur at any age and there is no known cure. I've had a quick look at some statistics on the National Association for Colitis and Crohn's Disease website (NACC) and it turns out that ulcerative colitis affects approximately 1 person in every 500 in the UK and Crohn's Disease is about 1 person in every 1000. The symptoms of the conditions tend to be bloody diarrhoea, pain, tiredness and loss of weight but the severity fluctuates so patients are likely to have periods of remission as well as periods of flare-ups.

It annoys me when someone finds out I have Crohn's Disease or IBD and then they mention that they too have irritable bowels or IBS. It's totally different and not the same at all. IBS isn't a dangerous condition, there's no obvious abnormality and it's really common. IBS can sometimes be relieved with diet and lifestyle changes whereas I'm having to take potent immunosuppressant tablets every day. (Sorry, bit of a rant I know, but it really is rather annoying!).

Anyway, I thought I'd share my story here in the hope that it might help somebody out there...

I was 21 years old when I was diagnosed with IBD. I was working in Edinburgh at the time doing a year's work placement and life was a bit stressful. My mum had recently passed away, I was living away from home for the first time and was struggling financially. For a couple of days I'd had a really dodgy tummy, and I couldn't think of anything that I'd eaten that would have caused it. I put it to the back of my mind and carried on as normal. However, a few months later, I had the same symptoms again. I went to the doctor and he asked me to hand back in a stool sample. It came back negative and I think then the next time I got the symptoms the GP did a blood test to check my thyroid, which also came back normal. By this point I was getting the symptoms frequently. I was exhausted, starting to lose weight, and no joke - I was probably going to the toilet about 40 times a day. I didn't like going to new places as I was always concerned that I wouldn't be able to find the bathroom. I was sent home from work a couple of times, I nearly fainted a few times, and once I was bleeding a lot from my bum which was really scary. The urgency that was associated with going to the toilet was awful... hence the mention of the Bridesmaids scene above. Thankfully, this didn't happen to me when I was out in public... I was in my own home in my pyjamas, but still, not nice!

I was finally referred to the hospital gastroenterology department and after a quick examination it was decided I needed further investigation. I then had a colonoscopy done. I'm not going to lie - it was not pleasant. They didn't manage to get round my colon very far with the tube as I was so badly inflamed at the time. I was informed that I had an inflammatory bowel disease and given a prescription for steroid tablets. At the time, they were unable to distinguish between Crohn's and Colitis and still to this day I don't know which one it is that I have, but the treatment tends to be the same.

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The steroids were horrible, and I was on them for about 11 months. I wasn't sleeping, I was eating loads.... I got the typical steroid 'moon face'... and when I look back at photos I just look horrendous (I tried to find some photos of me to show you, but don't have any digitally and my scanner isn't working - not an excuse, honest!). It was a a difficult time, but eventually the consultants did manage to get my symptoms under control, and touch wood, I've been relatively healthy since with no major flare-ups. I was put onto a few different maintenance tablets (steroids are a quick fix and they aren't for long-term treatment), but was found to be allergic to them.

We finally found a treatment that worked for me and I've now been on azathioprine for what must be nearly 8 years. I continued to take the tablets whilst I was pregnant with both of my children, and I think this may be the cause of the obstetric cholestasis I experienced. To the outside world I look healthy, but I think I'll probably be taking these tablets for the rest of my life in order to manage the symptoms of the disease.

May 2012 is Crohn's and Colitis Month. This year the topic is Sport & Fitness. Thankfully, despite having Crohn's Disease, I've been able to get in shape and will be participating in a half marathon during the month of May (I'm raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support with my sister in memory of our mum). There are a lot of people with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis who suffer terribly. I'm one of the lucky ones. The disease hasn't impacted on my life in a dramatic way and it hasn't stopped me from doing anything. I hope I continue to stay healthy...