Saturday, September 14, 2013

How are you?

How often are we asked that question?

So many times a day.

And how often do we honestly answer the query?

We fuss over our children and our partners. We make sure they eat well and rest sufficiently. We see that they get fresh air and time to wind down.

We do tend to put ourselves second. Its just happens.

I hadn't been well, for quite a while if I was really honest with myself.
I put it down to my age, how busy I was, the weather, being unorganised, you know.
Life in general.

I did try and correct things.
I was tired but had trouble sleeping so I gave up caffeine and that helped.
My weight was increasing so I removed junk from my diet and exercised more. 
I struggled with going out, I struggled with having guests. I struggled but I managed.
And I told myself it would get better.

Recently things came to a head and I had to see a doctor. 
Routine blood tests were taken and I was found to have high calcium.
This lead to further tests and a diagnosis of 'hyperparathyroidism'.

In a nut shell, a benign tumour growing on my thyroid.

Last Thursday I had surgery to remove it.

And already the improvement is amazing!

We are important, without us our families don't function and when we are ill they don't function well.

So, really, how are you?
Are you tired? Are you stressed? Are you eating well,getting enough exercise and relaxation?

You are important and your health is important.

Please, take a look at your life. How can you make yourself better?
Do you need a check up? Do you need to take better care of you so you can take better care of everyone else.

Do it, do it today, do it for me as I was too stubborn and stupid to do it for myself.

You are important and you deserve to feel your best.

xxx Nicole
ps many thanks to all my wonderful friends who gave me so much support during the last few weeks, your constant reassurance and support meant the world to me and to my family.

also, very special thanks to the wonderful staff at burnside hospital and my surgeon dr hoffman, one of the nicest gentlemen i have had the pleasure to meet.

35 comments:

  1. So glad you are starting to feel better already.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, Nicole!
    You're so right about this one (as usual).
    I'll be taking a much-delayed exam later this month, because I have been ignoring the signs for quite a while (and as you said our families need us).
    I hope you're feeling better :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wishing you all the best Nicole. Tiddly little thing, the parathyroid, but gee it's important and sure can wreak havoc. Good to hear you're diagnosed and treated. Xx S

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hugs, Nicole - so glad that you are on the mend. Such a thoughtful post (- maybe I'd better go have that mammogram my GP referred me for - 6 months ago....)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, such good news! So happy to hear that your surgery was successful. Always a good reminder to take care of ourselves.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done for taking the time to look after you. Good to hear you are feeling so much better. It can be so very hard to find the time for yourself, can't it? I 'celebrated' my first week off my old job with a trip to the dentist and a pap smear ;P Take care xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. So glad you're doing well. As they say on the plane: put on your own mask before helping others! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the reminder, N, and I'm so glad you are feeling better now. Get (completely) well soon!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nicole, ((hugs)) I'm so glad you got out the other side of all that feeling much better. Taking care of everyone else and not ourselves is such a 'mum' disease, your message is so right. x Angela

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nicole, I am so glad you are feeling better. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm so happy that you are on the mend, Nicole.:)

    Very timely blog post and a good reminder for all us mums who take care of everyone else and let our own needs/health slide.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post Nicole. Glad to hear that you are feeling better. I am like you, tired, make that exhausted. Do I have the courage to change things - I hope so.

    ReplyDelete
  13. So glad to read that the tumor was benign and that you are already on the mend. You are right. We do need to take care of ourselves better. I need to have blood work done and an eye exam. I'll be making those appointments this week. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better! I agree with that everyone comes first on a mommy's list and she comes second. It wonderful that the doctor was able to figure out what was wrong and fix it. I found out just before we moved that I have graves, I do hope I am able to get mine "fixed" and feel well again soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hope you are feeling much better and what a relief that they found a solution. So true that we need to stop and look after ourselves too

    ReplyDelete
  16. So true Nicole. Just this month I've been to the Dr twice! When I was home with the kids it was SO hard for me to get to the Dr's. Brent usually had to take off work. I am usually so nervous about the Dr's appointments I can't have the kids with me. Anyhow, I do feel good to have gotten both of my appointments take care of. Now I just have to get to the Dentist...Then I'll be al caught up!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you Ladies.

    I hope you do have a think and see how you can better care for yourselves.

    xx N

    ReplyDelete
  18. So very glad you're feeling better. You'll be back to your old self in no time.
    Lots of love P x

    ReplyDelete
  19. no way, nicole! i had that too - about 4.5 years ago. it took about 6 months or so after the surgery to feel completely like 'myself' again but it was truly life changing for me! oh and i take calcium malate which is amazing compared to the other calcium supplements i have tried.

    ReplyDelete
  20. We should all take time to re-evaluate our place in life, this post is truly humbling. I score way down on the 'taking care of myself' list.
    I am just glad (truly glad) that you are feeling better and are recovering well.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love to you and your little ones Nicole. This is an important reminder to all of us mommies who go, go, go...to take a moment to reflect on the "real" answer to the question! Feet up!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm so glad you figured out the trouble - just working to figure out what's wrong can be so difficult! Wishing you a good recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just have to say good for you for being so in touch with yourself and how you're feeling. It's all too easy to push aside our own needs or just convince ourselves that things will be fine if we just sleep a little more, eat a little better, get a little exercise, etc. A couple years ago I had a family member get really ill and I learned that the greatest gift that you can give your kids (and yourself and your partner!) is seeking medical help when you need it.
    I hope that you're continuing to feel better!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you.

    Carolyn, so very true. I am lucky my condition was minor and very treatable, even after ignoring it for so long.

    I am feeling so much better and can't wait for the all clear to get up and get sewing!

    xx N

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am glad you are OK. I am glad you feel better.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh wow Nicole - I hope you are continuing to feel better and better.
    You are right we look after everyone except ourselves... I had blood test request forms on my fridge for over a year, I never got there before they expired. Might just book in at the doctor and get them again.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you Karen, I am very lucky!

    Please do have your tests done. I heard from a good friend today she is being referred for surgery for a issue she has had for over a year.
    My nagging paid off!

    If my post helps just her, I will be more then happy.

    Keep well.
    xx N

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh, Nicole! So glad you've taken care of yourself and are feeling better! YOU DESERVE IT. Your family loves you and they need you, so you gotta do it, even if sometimes it doesn't seem like the top priority.

    Interesting, I recently complained to my doctor about feeling exhausted, run down, not on my game, and I'm having a hard time losing weight. I figured it was just age and two small kids. She suggested I get some bloodwork and gave me a slip for the local blood clinic. The slip is still in my purse. Guess I better go do that, huh?

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thank you Inder.

    I was so blind to what was going on in my own body. All the positive thinking and green leafy vegetable in the world were not going to fix me!

    Do get your bloods done, pay attention to the calcium levels. If they are fine, then you know you need a rest but at least you will know.

    Its sad and stupid that it took a miscarry to make me look after myself.
    xx N

    ReplyDelete
  30. Just seeing this... You are so brave and inspiring, Nicole. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm just catching up on this news too... what you say about needing to take care of ourselves so we can care for our families is so true. I am really glad your surgery went well, and hope you continue to feel better and better.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you Ladies.

    I am back sewing and feel so great, its silly I took so long to see sense.

    xx N

    ReplyDelete