Sticking plaster for the brain - what about the body?

Hi everyone t'is I,

Some will say who? Some may say, I wondered what happened to him? Some may even say so what! Whatever; it is good to be back, getting better and strong enough to rejoin you guys in this wonderful forum! It has (laugh if you wish) like being severed from Family.

Ok the title is a bit naff, but I couldn't think of anything else to express how I feel and how it is important to try and treat the body with respect when the mind may be going through melt down, for what ever reason.

As some will know I came here due to work related stress, having spent 6 years working for a communty based charity struggling to provide transport with little support. Don't get me wrong I had some good volunteer drivers, but there were more glory seeking parasites then angels, I had inept and inadequate management and trusteeship support. To continue from day to day I smoked, drank and therefore basically neglected my health until I hit meltdown. Sadly, a male trait.

The one saviing grace was I met Ann (now my Fiancee) who walked into my office as a volunteer 14 months previous and we had started dating a year later. She and my Dr (probably the best Dr in the world) eventually convinced me that I was ill and needed a "sticking plaster for the brain!" amongst other things (I love that phrase - puts everything into perspective, don't you think?). So, end of Nov 2014 I was signed unfit for work and started on 10mg of Cita rising over the months to 40mg wher I have levelled out. Mind you over the last 4 months it has been a roller coaster of physical medical problems. It started with teeth and gum problems which required me to see a consultant and have treatment at the local general hospital in June and ending (unrelated) in abdominal surgery 16 days ago! I am now recovering at home, but I have not felt this weak for as long as I can remember.

So, what about the body? Well, Cita has been looking after the mind and as some may recall I did, for my part, in my effort to aid my recovery change my lifestyle and diet. I stopped smoking and hardly drink, maybe the odd bottle of ale now and again. At the moment I am on two serious lots of antibiotics for 14 days post discharge and want to get better so, it is simple, no drink! Physically I cannot do anything more than lift cutlery or a cup of tea and until yesterday mentally I could not deal with anything really, the forum included. Today? Well, here I be!

Now that I have the energy to rejoin you guys I just wanted to say, we all must, if we can, play a part in our own recovery and this may mean, what appears at first, some drastic changes to life style and possibly diet. I do not believe my body could have saved my life recently if I had not started a full on healthier diet at the time I went ill last year. Easier said than done? Well, I have spent some time in a past life time (it feels) cooking in a few commercial kitchens so, when it came giving up meat I relished the challenge of eating well, ensuring we have the protiens we need, just not through meat and having an exiting varied diet. Nut roasts are so old school! Quorn (other meat free products are available) is absolutely amazing and unlike most soya based products contains no oestrogen imitating (natural) chemicals (worth reading up on that one ladies) that can cause health concerns. We still eat seafood for personal health reasons.

I can testify to you (and the surgeon and her team at the hospital) that having a healthier body did save my life!

Worth thinking about when you feel nothing else can help!

It is great to be back, it is great to be alive and I look forward to catching up with you (and you know who you are) who I was in regularly contact with prior to all this, as I am now back.

As always, keep reading, keep posting, keep asking, keep helping and keep in contact because, this forum is the best!

Regards (and lets sprinkle a little love in there too!),

David

2 likes, 13 replies