Friday, January 23, 2009

Health. We all take it for granted at one point.

Eleven months ago from today i stepped off a Qantas flight onto foreign soil with an overweight suitcase and a folio case. Unsure what was ahead of me, i'm pretty sure i didn't think 11 months from then i'd be cross-legged in front of my computer which sits in a flat that my boyfriend and i live in. But more importantly, i am AD meds free!

The snow has melted and the sky is tinted a gloomy grey. My living room echoes with Kate Bush's This Woman's Work and the mood is somewhat relaxed despite knowing that i have an upcoming deadline.

I forgot to mention, J went to see a Specialist on Wednesday.

He had a scheduled operation on February 2nd but thought he ought to seek a second opinion before being sliced opened. His unexpected 2 week stay in hospital in November brought a few changes not only in his eating habits but i think his outlook in Life had somewhat shifted.

Preparations before Wednesday's early morning appointment meant fasting the day before and drinking some form of liquid that helped clear his system. But if it meant possibly not going for the operation, i'm sure he'd go through any form of treatment.

After very close examination the doctor said that they had found the infected area but it wasn't so severe that it needed it to be cut out. If they had found more areas, then yes. But they didn't. Great news for him. We're thinking the doctors/surgeons at the hospital are only far too eager to slice into anyone. Every cut means money and why not suggest it.

But i'm happy J decided on a second opinion.

No seeds! Is all the doctor said and of course drink lots of water and eat vegetables.

I'm thinking the weeks leading to his emergency stay in hospital may have been the result of us overdosing on fresh bread covered in grains and seeds. But who knows? It could have been anything.

He would have had to be in hospital for at least 3 weeks and god knows what kind of pain he'd have to go through. The emotional stress that comes along with any surgery can't be good for either the Patient or loved ones.

I mean i've already found 2 coin-sized bald patches on my head, no thanks to stress. I noticed my very first patch whilst sobbing over CNN's coverage of the Tsunami in 2004. I freaked out. It was at least an inch and a half in diameter. Paranoid, i covered it with my surrounding hair. These bald patches tend to creep up months after i have an emotional stress attack [i blamed my job and a bad break-up]. Then it takes another few months for the hair to grow back. *Keeps fingers crossed that it continues to do so.*

A condition i later found out to be Alopesia Areata. And apparently there is no cure.

Basically if i'm stressed, the patch shows up on some other part of my skull. My only solution is to avoid stressful situations [if that's even possible]. It's a bit of a bitch since one can't predict these things and i think i've lowered my stress levels at least 3-fold by quitting my job and even moving countries. I guess there's no way of avoiding it but to try and stay positive.

So here we are, still happy and learning more about each other each day. Learning to live in each others' spaces and adapting to Change.

But we continue to eat more healthier, which isn't so bad since i don't mind cooking. I try not to get too worked up over situations since i'm not too keen on going bald anytime soon. And i guess taking more time out to appreciate the finer things in Life such as ones' Health. I guess it's just as important as soldiering on.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey i haven't had a bald patch in a while which is quite scary!! I"m sure it means soon though. I have however been shedding a lot of hair!!! HOpe it just means its time for a hair cut and not that i'm going to have a bald patch anytime soon!!! your cookies look yummy by the way!

winkris said...

That's good though. And yes, i remember your "hair band" days. But wasn't that when you were preggers with Adam?

But i read there are several suggested factors and they include;
1. Psychological long-term chronic stress
2. Shock and sudden extreme stress
3. Physical trauma
4. Local skin injury
5. Genetic predisposition
6. Viral/bacterial infection
7. Pregnancy/hormones
8. Allergies
9. Chemicals
10. Seasonal changes.

Maybe yours was 1, 2 & 7 related... pick one/some *shrugs*

As for the dropping of the hair, try increasing your Zink intake. Mine used to fall out like crazy but now i take a Zink & Histidin supplement and it seems to work.