This view was one I was beginning to believe would never happen again. Ever since this incident a couple of years ago, my health has been less than good, with regular infections, strange swollen joints and other unpleasant side effects. This has become worse this winter and along with a huge dip in iron levels to add to the excitement, there have been days when I have struggled to get enough energy to get through the day. I am not a hugely sporty person but I do love being outside and one of the hardest things for me to come to terms with has been my inability to take part in all the activities we enjoy as a family...last year slipped past without a single day in our canoe as I was too weak to lift it on and off the car with my husband and that added guilt to the mix as I was then stopping the rest of them doing things they enjoy too.
Since Christmas I have been having a number of investigations into my symptoms and a combination of a new GP, a very helpful optician and a new homeopath have made me feel that things might make a turn for the better. Lots of iron supplements, a careful diet, a referral to a special allergy unit and a number of homeopathic remedies are slowly taking affect. Having managed to get back to my daily walk with Snap for the last couple of weeks, without chest pains and sickness as a result, I made the some would say, crazy, decision to cycle to school with Sam this morning and it was great! We went slowly and noticed squirrels, birds and flowers as we rode. We talked when we could and encouraged each other up the hills, we were a little bit late but as Sam said we manage to be late when we are driving too! His wonderful headteacher made me a drink and I had a little rest before heading home gently, a whole day ahead of me and no reason to rush.
It feels wonderful and even though I know it will take some time to get back to 'normal' it does feel as if I took a little step in the right direction...here's hoping that this is the summer of the canoe again!