Another down

So later on Thursday we set off once more for the hospital.

We passed lakes where they are normally fields. The roads were covered with detritus swept up by the high water line at high tide. We drove around the odd lake at the edge of the road. However, there was no road closure the route we took so we had time to stop for a coffee/hot chocolate at the RVS café before going to Dermatology next door.

We were very promptly through to see the doctor there. We’d barely sat down in the waiting area, hadn’t had time to get out our reading matter to pass the time of the wait, when we were called through.

Conclusion – well I’m allergic to Balsam of Peru. Be very careful with make-up & hair dyes. Always spot test for 24 hours before using a new brand of suntan lotion. Make sure you moisturise well. All pretty straight forward. As for the various foodstuffs related to Balsam of Peru, try them. Only cut things out if I find I have an adverse reaction – precisely what I’ve done for the past 60 odd years. Apart from that I’ve been discharged from that department. If I have any flare ups or other problems don’t hesitate to come back.

We returned home in a happier frame of mind. That’s another place less to keep having to go to.

Yesterday we discovered the Lakeland Fells across the Bay have put on their white caps for the winter. The temperature here has gone done. The hail we’d had, obviously had fallen as snow there.  You can feel the chill of the snow.

Water water everywhere

I was just about to get into the shower when there was a terrific noise at the front door. I hastily put my dressing gown around me & went to see what it was – hailstones, coming thick & fast. The wind was giving them extra force.

And this after yesterday, a day that needed lights on most of the time it was so dark. We had almost non-stop rain all day. As we came home after our shop we couldn’t help thinking there would be flooding somewhere not so far away. The news this morning seems full of it. Both Morecambe & Lancaster centres flooded. Galgate village, just the other side of Lancaster needing to be largely evacuated. The road to Carnforth flooded. Even the M6 with lanes closed due to water.

I’m anxious as to how we will get to the hospital, which is on the other side of the city centre & the River Lune & the Lancaster Canal ( both the river & the canal have burst their banks). I think we’d best take the satnav or a map in case of diversions. Hopefully the water will go down as quickly as it came up in which case all will be fine.

As some friends set off on their hols to the Caribbean we can’t help wishing we could squeeze ourselves into their cases & get away from this wet & murk.

I should be feeling relieved at least we're not flooded.

One down. More to go?

This week is a busy week – two trips to the hospital.

The first was on Monday morning. That was to Oncology. They’ve decided to dismiss me. Obviously if I have any further problems I just have to ring. Also obviously I need to complete my course of chemo – 3 more sessions to go. I was perturbed when I realised the other week that I had left the hospital after my last session of chemo a couple of weeks ago that I hadn’t been given my usual envelope, marked with what tests needed to be done, for the bloods that I have to have before each session of chemo to make sure I’m well enough. I’ve now got an envelope. At least now I will no longer have to have the additional appointment to see the specialist doctor. That’s one less visit in the future – a sign of my improving health.

My next visit is to go to Dermatology. This is to discuss the allergy test results. I remain convinced whatever caused the severe reaction a couple of years ago remains unknown. Whether they will order further tests or conclude since they’ve tested the most common causes of allergy, the chances of my coming into contact with the cause is so small it’s not worth further testing I’m not sure. One thing I do know is that, at the moment, the psoriasis is in abeyance. I just need to know what to do if it does flare up again, & if there is anything I can do to avoid such a flare up. I remain sceptical of how allergic I am to Balsam of Peru. I’m continuing to drink my diet cola, putting spices such as nutmeg in my food, touching & eating citrus rind etc. To my mind they don’t seem to be causing any adverse reaction in me. I’m really hoping this will be my last visit to this department of the hospital.

Life is slowly getting back to normal.