Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Is it Just M.E. (Myeligic Encephalomyeltis)?: M.E. sufferers cannot give blood.
Is it Just M.E. (Myeligic Encephalomyeltis)?: M.E. sufferers cannot give blood.: "It's great news, in the world of M.E. It was decided on November 1st 2010 that sufferers now cannot give blood. I for one do not think a..."
M.E. sufferers cannot give blood.
It's great news, in the world of M.E. It was decided on November 1st 2010 that sufferers now cannot give blood. I for one do not think anyone would want my blood anyway, considering the health problems I have, but it is reassuring news that the condition is being given the serious research it needs.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8050655/ME-patients-banned-from-giving-blood.html
This is fantastic news, scientists and doctors are waking up to the fact it is not 'all in your mind'. I know it's not, but some people still do not believe this. So to them I say read the article and its even in the Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8050655/ME-patients-banned-from-giving-blood.html
This is fantastic news, scientists and doctors are waking up to the fact it is not 'all in your mind'. I know it's not, but some people still do not believe this. So to them I say read the article and its even in the Telegraph.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Action for M.E conference
Work, welfare benefits and M.E. - is anyone listening?
Saturday the 25th of September and I attended a conference held by Action for M.E.
I am extremely lucky to have a sister who lives in London in Woodford. So after a short tube ride from Woodford to Liverpool Street station, I emerged from the station and started my search for the Allen & Overy building. Walking towards Brushfield street, clutching my map in one hand and having my trusty walking stick in the other. Someone spotted me, looking at my map and he asked me if I was going to the conference, so we found our way together to the most fabulous building I have ever been in. We were guided to the escalators down to the basement where the conference was being held. I was given a badge with my name on and I looked around. There were boards and computers laid out with research and information on, but my brain could not cope with the information, so I bypassed these and heading over to the refreshments area. It is there that I fell in love. Gluten free biscuits, with load of different varieties to try. It is quite hard to balance a cup of tea and biscuits, whilst using a walking stick but I was determined to. So glad I did though, my biscuit addiction returned, they were heavenly.
Biscuits aside I made my way into the conference hall and joined Justin and Midge Mitchell both from the Dorset M.E. support group. It was a large room with large windows, letting in as much light as possible, and there were about 15 round tables with seating around. As everyone made there way into the conference room it became apparent that at each table there was one reserved seat. This was due to the fact that each table had one member of the University of East Anglia team sitting in it.
From my own personal view the conference had two halves. The first was about Benefits, two people gave their own experiences of M.E. and claiming benefits. The second half was about the research that the University of East Anglia is doing and results from the Lottery funded National M.E./CFS Observatory.
I won't go into too much detail of all the speakers etc as this will all be on Action for M.E's website as it was being filmed. I just want all the people with M.E. who could not make it to the conference to know what it was all about.
The first half started with an introduction by the superbly suave Peter Spencer the current Chief Executive. Next were two sufferers telling their own personal stories about how they got M.E. and how they had manged to navigate their way through the benefits system. Then followed Daniel Groves from the Department of Works and Pensions and Neil Coyne from the national Disability Alliance organisation. They made their speeches and then followed a question and answer section. I found all of this very emotional and know that even if I had been brave enough to ask a question I would have just burst in to tears. I have come a long way in the last few years and fight really hard to make people aware of how horrible this illness is, listening to their predictions for the future brought back all the bad things that have happened and the thougth of having medicals every six months is gut wrenching. They did get an extremely intense grilling and it was difficult to listen to at times.
After a long awaited break. I had tried hard not to close my eyes and put my head on the table, but I did have to stand for a while, as my back was not happy in sitting for so long. More biscuits and a cup of delightful camomile tea. A visit to the poshest loos I have ever been in. I was interested to hear more.
The University of East Anglia were up speaking next with some very interesting facts and research. We then had a group discussion on each of our tables on how we could improve things for people with M.E. These ideas were all written down on large post it notes and stuck all together in the refreshments area. I know from our discussion, the top point was making more people, ie the general public aware of what the illness is and what it is like for someone to have it.
Next session and Luis Nacul of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed us his research and his studies showed that there could be a possible 10,000 new cases per year.
Finally when I was completely worn out, a cloud lifted and a rainbow came into view with a pot of gold at the end. The man that manged to achieve this was Professor Derek Pheby the project Co-ordinator for the disease register. The future plans were to have a tissue sample bank and try to get M.E. classed as a Neurodegenerative disease, proving that's where it belongs.
Wow what a day of emotions. I was really glad to be able to attend and it has taken me a while to recover.
You will be able to see the film shortly of the conference I hope on http://www.afme.org.uk/
It was superbly managed and I would like to thank the people who organised it. It has given me hope for the future. Also big thumbs up to the chef who made the wonderful Gluten free biscuits, I have to admit I had quite a few!
Saturday the 25th of September and I attended a conference held by Action for M.E.
I am extremely lucky to have a sister who lives in London in Woodford. So after a short tube ride from Woodford to Liverpool Street station, I emerged from the station and started my search for the Allen & Overy building. Walking towards Brushfield street, clutching my map in one hand and having my trusty walking stick in the other. Someone spotted me, looking at my map and he asked me if I was going to the conference, so we found our way together to the most fabulous building I have ever been in. We were guided to the escalators down to the basement where the conference was being held. I was given a badge with my name on and I looked around. There were boards and computers laid out with research and information on, but my brain could not cope with the information, so I bypassed these and heading over to the refreshments area. It is there that I fell in love. Gluten free biscuits, with load of different varieties to try. It is quite hard to balance a cup of tea and biscuits, whilst using a walking stick but I was determined to. So glad I did though, my biscuit addiction returned, they were heavenly.
Biscuits aside I made my way into the conference hall and joined Justin and Midge Mitchell both from the Dorset M.E. support group. It was a large room with large windows, letting in as much light as possible, and there were about 15 round tables with seating around. As everyone made there way into the conference room it became apparent that at each table there was one reserved seat. This was due to the fact that each table had one member of the University of East Anglia team sitting in it.
From my own personal view the conference had two halves. The first was about Benefits, two people gave their own experiences of M.E. and claiming benefits. The second half was about the research that the University of East Anglia is doing and results from the Lottery funded National M.E./CFS Observatory.
I won't go into too much detail of all the speakers etc as this will all be on Action for M.E's website as it was being filmed. I just want all the people with M.E. who could not make it to the conference to know what it was all about.
The first half started with an introduction by the superbly suave Peter Spencer the current Chief Executive. Next were two sufferers telling their own personal stories about how they got M.E. and how they had manged to navigate their way through the benefits system. Then followed Daniel Groves from the Department of Works and Pensions and Neil Coyne from the national Disability Alliance organisation. They made their speeches and then followed a question and answer section. I found all of this very emotional and know that even if I had been brave enough to ask a question I would have just burst in to tears. I have come a long way in the last few years and fight really hard to make people aware of how horrible this illness is, listening to their predictions for the future brought back all the bad things that have happened and the thougth of having medicals every six months is gut wrenching. They did get an extremely intense grilling and it was difficult to listen to at times.
After a long awaited break. I had tried hard not to close my eyes and put my head on the table, but I did have to stand for a while, as my back was not happy in sitting for so long. More biscuits and a cup of delightful camomile tea. A visit to the poshest loos I have ever been in. I was interested to hear more.
The University of East Anglia were up speaking next with some very interesting facts and research. We then had a group discussion on each of our tables on how we could improve things for people with M.E. These ideas were all written down on large post it notes and stuck all together in the refreshments area. I know from our discussion, the top point was making more people, ie the general public aware of what the illness is and what it is like for someone to have it.
Next session and Luis Nacul of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine showed us his research and his studies showed that there could be a possible 10,000 new cases per year.
Finally when I was completely worn out, a cloud lifted and a rainbow came into view with a pot of gold at the end. The man that manged to achieve this was Professor Derek Pheby the project Co-ordinator for the disease register. The future plans were to have a tissue sample bank and try to get M.E. classed as a Neurodegenerative disease, proving that's where it belongs.
Wow what a day of emotions. I was really glad to be able to attend and it has taken me a while to recover.
You will be able to see the film shortly of the conference I hope on http://www.afme.org.uk/
It was superbly managed and I would like to thank the people who organised it. It has given me hope for the future. Also big thumbs up to the chef who made the wonderful Gluten free biscuits, I have to admit I had quite a few!
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Love Hearts
Here is a poem that I wrote today I hope you like it.
Love Hearts
The Key to my heart
Stays close and safe
My head telling me
Not to fall for a handsome face
It skips a beat
When you walk on by
Unlock it safely
Or it may die!
Copywrite Fiona Murphy 2010
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
New Research from Dundee Hospital
New research has been done by Dundee Hospital finding further evidence that M.E. is linked to a virus. It is great news that research is being done on this scale and to help Children who have it. It must be very hard for them to deal with. As an adult I have had to deal with prejudice, disgust and no one believing me.
I have copies of all my blood tests from my doctors, as I paid privately to see a neurologist, needing them to show him. This also showed some abnormalities in my blood. I am going to contact Professor Jill Belch to see if these will help in her research. Here's hoping they can and I still strive every day to educate people on this horrible disease which is not all in your mind. I am counting down the days to the conference in London that Action for ME has organised regarding benefits and M.E. I am going to hopefully be educated about the ESA system and to tell them what it is like to have the illness and be constantly preyed on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-11204884
I have copies of all my blood tests from my doctors, as I paid privately to see a neurologist, needing them to show him. This also showed some abnormalities in my blood. I am going to contact Professor Jill Belch to see if these will help in her research. Here's hoping they can and I still strive every day to educate people on this horrible disease which is not all in your mind. I am counting down the days to the conference in London that Action for ME has organised regarding benefits and M.E. I am going to hopefully be educated about the ESA system and to tell them what it is like to have the illness and be constantly preyed on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-11204884
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
E.S.A. Medical
I was summoned by Atos Healthcare, to attend a medical last month. This is because I receive Employment and Support Allowance, formally Incapacity Benefit. This was my second medical, the first one was done in May 2008 at home. I had struggled to get a home medical, as they wanted me to attend one in Bournemouth, a week after having my spinal surgery. I was very upset by this, as I should have been recovering from my operation, after 8 phone calls, many in tears. I eventually convinced them that I could not walk or sit for long, they expected me to sit in a car for an hour and then have a medical and return home, truthfully there was NO way I could manage that.
So as you can gather I was not looking forward to another one, it drags up many emotional feelings and issues from just trying to get my illness diagnosed. I was very lucky though, as I had the Benefits Advisor from the Dorset M.E. Support Group to accompany me.
It was held in offices above the Weymouth Job Centre. I was shown into the room by the doctor and told to sit down. Immediately I realised that this room was on a main road and under the room was a bus stop. I asked the doctor if we could shut the window as it was so noisy. He asked me many questions about my illness and wanted to know dates and details which were extremely hard to remember. I got upset at having to go through it all again and cried, I just could not stop the emotions from flowing. He took my blood pressure and pulse and told me to stand and do some movements with my arms. Then I had to try and bend, which I can't . I was continued to be fired questions at and the doctor tapped in my answers into a extremely noisy keyboard. I had to stop and stand as my back was hurting, then the vibrations from the bus at the bus stop, halting my thinking.
So by now I was hot and flustered, in pain, confused, agitated by the noise and emotionally drained.
I asked the doctor why I had to keep going backwards over the past. I wanted to move forward and these medicals were not helping me. I was not making up my illness and had medical proof for this. It was like trying to convince people that I was ill all over again.
Well this way my experience and I am sharing it with others. I only wish some of the politicians could be in my shoes and see what its really like.
So as you can gather I was not looking forward to another one, it drags up many emotional feelings and issues from just trying to get my illness diagnosed. I was very lucky though, as I had the Benefits Advisor from the Dorset M.E. Support Group to accompany me.
It was held in offices above the Weymouth Job Centre. I was shown into the room by the doctor and told to sit down. Immediately I realised that this room was on a main road and under the room was a bus stop. I asked the doctor if we could shut the window as it was so noisy. He asked me many questions about my illness and wanted to know dates and details which were extremely hard to remember. I got upset at having to go through it all again and cried, I just could not stop the emotions from flowing. He took my blood pressure and pulse and told me to stand and do some movements with my arms. Then I had to try and bend, which I can't . I was continued to be fired questions at and the doctor tapped in my answers into a extremely noisy keyboard. I had to stop and stand as my back was hurting, then the vibrations from the bus at the bus stop, halting my thinking.
So by now I was hot and flustered, in pain, confused, agitated by the noise and emotionally drained.
I asked the doctor why I had to keep going backwards over the past. I wanted to move forward and these medicals were not helping me. I was not making up my illness and had medical proof for this. It was like trying to convince people that I was ill all over again.
Well this way my experience and I am sharing it with others. I only wish some of the politicians could be in my shoes and see what its really like.
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Refresh and Move forward Session at Dorchester
I attended a session last month at Dorchester held by the Dorset M.E. Support Group. There were two occupational therapists there from the M.E. Clinic in Wareham. There were about 8 of us there all at different stages in our illness. I wanted to share some of the points made for anyone who could not attend or has an interest.
We talked mainly about how to move forward in recovery from M.E. and the chart below shows how this could work.
CFS Symptoms
Acceptance and Choice
Stabilisation
Controlled Activity Increases
This is the way to move forward but what often happens is that when activity is increased you go back to the start and your symptoms get worse, therefore having to start the process again.
The Stabilisation area is a consolidation whilst gaining confidence area.
This way forward was created by Diane Cox an Occupational Therapist at The Romford Hospital specialising in M.E.
It was also explained what happens to you when you have M.E. Your HPA Axis has gone wrong. Its your Hypothalamus, Pituitary and Adrenal System that controls a lot of different things in your body. I have tried to explain this to people, that ask and those who do not understand the condition look at me very cynically. I know something went wrong when I got shingles and I have not returned to my previous healthy self, so my fight for understanding still seems to go on.
What helps
Acceptance
Knowledge
Peer Support
Prioritising Time and Activities
Prayer and Belief
Understanding from others
Saying No
Support from significant others
Reminders
Preparing and Planning
Relaxing
Low energy hobbie
Routines
Diet
Avoiding Stressful situations
Ending on this note I had to have another medical for my ESA benefit and I will post a separate blog on that issue another time.
Please contact me if you wish to discuss this further: fifimurphy@hotmail.co.uk
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Britain waking up to M.E. on GMTV today
Today on GMTV Lorraine Kelly interviewed Kay Gilderdale who was tried for the attempted murder of her daughter Lynn. It was a moving interview handled very well by Lorraine. It brought me to tears. My fight myself to recover from M.E. goes on I had a very busy weekend and it all caught up with me on Monday when I could not cope with family life and had to go to bed. The severe fatigue causes me to not be able to speak or function normally, its horrible. I hope there is some hope from Kays appearance in the media that some funding will go into research for this disease.
I have fortunately been given a reprieve from the Job Centre as on my last visit on Friday 21st May was told that funding for courses was not available anymore. I said this was not fair and a case for me went up to the higher dept of the department for works and pensions for them to decide. They phoned me and said they would uphold the £150 pounds offered to me previously and I should try elsewhere for the balance as the course is £240. The Writers Bureau Ltd have been kind and said I can pay in installments so I will carry on my fight for help. Another form arrived today of numerous pages long, a survey for My ESA benefit, I think I will ask the benefits advisor to help as it is so complicated and does not do me any good if I get it wrong.
I hosted along with a fellow member the writing class recently. The form poems i suggested seemed to go down the best and here was one of mine.
I have fortunately been given a reprieve from the Job Centre as on my last visit on Friday 21st May was told that funding for courses was not available anymore. I said this was not fair and a case for me went up to the higher dept of the department for works and pensions for them to decide. They phoned me and said they would uphold the £150 pounds offered to me previously and I should try elsewhere for the balance as the course is £240. The Writers Bureau Ltd have been kind and said I can pay in installments so I will carry on my fight for help. Another form arrived today of numerous pages long, a survey for My ESA benefit, I think I will ask the benefits advisor to help as it is so complicated and does not do me any good if I get it wrong.
I hosted along with a fellow member the writing class recently. The form poems i suggested seemed to go down the best and here was one of mine.
Sun
Sand
Relax me
Unwind and Loosen
Sea Air Breathe Deep
Refresh and Invigorate
See the sights and Amaze me
Wish these seven days were eternity
Friday, 23 April 2010
The Road to Writing Sucess!
On Thursday 22 April, I attended a back to work talk organised by the Dorset ME support Group. There were four main speakers. Nick Crabb, pathways to work advisor from Jobcentre Plus, Neil Pack, Access to work adviser, jobcentre plus, Jill Fullbrook, Placement Officer Dorset Community employment Services and Marie Waterman, Volunteer coordinator, The Volunteer Centre Dorset. The objective was to help people overcome their fears and anxieties relating to the Employment Support Allowance process. To inspire people to think about some form of employment now or in the future. It was very informative and felt there was some hope out there generally from Neil Pack who helps disabled people stay in employment. My problems is who would give me a job, Nick Crabb agreed with M.E. and spinal stenosis I had limited options. Bu my fight continues to get the funding for my writing course. I contacted Jim Knight and the very nice Hazel phoned me and agreed that this was the right way to go and was going to contact the work and pensions office to put forward my dilemma. Diet still going good although my chocolate addiction does not help, I have found another good recipe that I have adapted and my husband says they are very yummy so will post on the recipe for anyone who wants it.
Fifi's Yummy Drop Scones
225 g Dove Farms Self Raising Flour Wheat and Gluten Free
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp Fruit Sugar
1/2 pint of Rice milk
1 egg
Sieve the flour and salt together into a bowl, then add the sugar, break in the egg and using a whisk and half of the milk whisk together, then add the rest of the milk and whisk further into a smooth batter. Heat some oil in a large frying pan or griddle and drop about one dessert spoon full of batter until bubbles form on the top and flip over. They are done when golden brown. Serve with blueberies and soya yogurt whilst still warm, or eat cold with dary free spread on.
Fifi's Yummy Drop Scones
225 g Dove Farms Self Raising Flour Wheat and Gluten Free
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp Fruit Sugar
1/2 pint of Rice milk
1 egg
Sieve the flour and salt together into a bowl, then add the sugar, break in the egg and using a whisk and half of the milk whisk together, then add the rest of the milk and whisk further into a smooth batter. Heat some oil in a large frying pan or griddle and drop about one dessert spoon full of batter until bubbles form on the top and flip over. They are done when golden brown. Serve with blueberies and soya yogurt whilst still warm, or eat cold with dary free spread on.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Job Center Dilema !
Tommorow I am off to the Job Center for one of my numerous visits. I have to go every three months for a chat. I am armed with details of a creative writing course that I found in Prima magazine. I have lots to tell my new adviser and I am being accompainied by the Dorset Me Support Co-ordinator for moral support and help. Let's hope it will be good news and I can move forward in a new direction with my life.
The diet is still going well but I have not managed to give up chocolate. All girls and maybe guys can understand this as it is so addictive. Creme eggs are not round for long so I feel I must eat them as I will not be able to get another one for a while. I have perfected my Rice Milk Porridge with bluberiies with is just so yummy so I will put the details on of how I make it. Take care all xxx
Rice Milk Porridge
30g of Porridge Oats
Rice Milk
Fruit Sugar
Blueberries
Measure out your oats and put into a bowl, cover completely with Rice Milk. Put inot the Microwave mine is 600W for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. This should give you perfect porridge. I put on more milk sprinkle a bit of fruit sugar and add a handful of blueberries. Yum xx
The diet is still going well but I have not managed to give up chocolate. All girls and maybe guys can understand this as it is so addictive. Creme eggs are not round for long so I feel I must eat them as I will not be able to get another one for a while. I have perfected my Rice Milk Porridge with bluberiies with is just so yummy so I will put the details on of how I make it. Take care all xxx
Rice Milk Porridge
30g of Porridge Oats
Rice Milk
Fruit Sugar
Blueberries
Measure out your oats and put into a bowl, cover completely with Rice Milk. Put inot the Microwave mine is 600W for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. This should give you perfect porridge. I put on more milk sprinkle a bit of fruit sugar and add a handful of blueberries. Yum xx
Sunday, 21 February 2010
New Diet
I have been to see a local lady for Vegan Allergy testing. It was recommended to me by a fellow creative writer at my class in Weymouth Library. I had heard about her before and had a very close friend do a similar test with someone else and it helped her Asthma tremendously. So off I went. I was there for over an hour and I think we were both gobsmacked at all the foods I had shown up as intolerant to. Some I kind of expected as had struggled over the years with IBS and many people with M.E. also do. But some were unexpected.
So now I try my best to have a different kind of diet that excludes: Wheat, Gluten, Yeast, Sugar, Dairy, Tomatoes, Apples, Oranges, Lemons, Potatoes, unusually Vodka !, White Wine, Pork,Mushrooms, MSG and CHOCOLATE !, that's the hard one, plus tea and coffee. Most people say to me what do you eat, but I do not starve myself, I assure you. I had to get my head round it a bit. So I sat and wrote a list of all things that I can eat and felt a lot better. I was also advised to take a daily supplement and I was low on Vitamins and Minerals.
Nearly a month on and I feel so much better, my digestion has improved tremendously, no more constipation. Now I have a flatter stomach, and more energy. I do have to eat little an often as now I am not getting my energy from caffeine or sugar. For the first few days I did have a headache, this is nothing unusual for people with M.E. but was reassured by my Allergist that this was Caffeine withdrawal.
I now have cornflakes with fruit and soya milk for breakfast, usually a pear for snack. Oatcakes and Houmous or Ricecakes and mashed banana for lunch and Meat or fish and veg for tea, sweet potato replaced for the jacket or chips. I drink fruit herbal tea and blackcurrant no added sugar squash or cranberry juice, low sugar. I snack on Nuts or Dried fruit and have found in Tesco, pure fruit sugar fructose which I have on my porridge. I am experimenting with recipes and I am posting one that both myself and my daughter made, it was yummy. I will post more another time.
Lamb meatballs with Veg Sauce and Rice
1 Onion
1 Pack of Lamb Mince
1 Piece of Gluten Free Bread
1 Egg
2 Sml Sweet Potatoes
500ml Veg Stock yeast free
1 Red Pepper
Rice
2 tablespoons of Veg Oil.
Chop the onion and add to the mince in a bowl, crack in the egg, whizz up the bread until breadcrumbs and add to meat mixture. Stir all together until combined, adding herbs if required for flavour. Break up meat mixture into eight balls rolling in hands and set aside. In a frying pan heat the oil until quite hot and add the meatballs, turning, until all sides are brown, this is a bit tricky, I did it with two spatulas. Make sure they are cooked through before serving. Whilst they are cooking peel the sweet potatoes and chop the red pepper and then put into a pan with the veg stock and bring to the boil until soft. Using a stick blender, blend until smooth adding small amounts of water until the right consistency is achieved for a sauce. Cook your rice according to label or packet. Serve your meatballs on a bed of rice, pouring your sauce over the top. Yum !!!
So now I try my best to have a different kind of diet that excludes: Wheat, Gluten, Yeast, Sugar, Dairy, Tomatoes, Apples, Oranges, Lemons, Potatoes, unusually Vodka !, White Wine, Pork,Mushrooms, MSG and CHOCOLATE !, that's the hard one, plus tea and coffee. Most people say to me what do you eat, but I do not starve myself, I assure you. I had to get my head round it a bit. So I sat and wrote a list of all things that I can eat and felt a lot better. I was also advised to take a daily supplement and I was low on Vitamins and Minerals.
Nearly a month on and I feel so much better, my digestion has improved tremendously, no more constipation. Now I have a flatter stomach, and more energy. I do have to eat little an often as now I am not getting my energy from caffeine or sugar. For the first few days I did have a headache, this is nothing unusual for people with M.E. but was reassured by my Allergist that this was Caffeine withdrawal.
I now have cornflakes with fruit and soya milk for breakfast, usually a pear for snack. Oatcakes and Houmous or Ricecakes and mashed banana for lunch and Meat or fish and veg for tea, sweet potato replaced for the jacket or chips. I drink fruit herbal tea and blackcurrant no added sugar squash or cranberry juice, low sugar. I snack on Nuts or Dried fruit and have found in Tesco, pure fruit sugar fructose which I have on my porridge. I am experimenting with recipes and I am posting one that both myself and my daughter made, it was yummy. I will post more another time.
Lamb meatballs with Veg Sauce and Rice
1 Onion
1 Pack of Lamb Mince
1 Piece of Gluten Free Bread
1 Egg
2 Sml Sweet Potatoes
500ml Veg Stock yeast free
1 Red Pepper
Rice
2 tablespoons of Veg Oil.
Chop the onion and add to the mince in a bowl, crack in the egg, whizz up the bread until breadcrumbs and add to meat mixture. Stir all together until combined, adding herbs if required for flavour. Break up meat mixture into eight balls rolling in hands and set aside. In a frying pan heat the oil until quite hot and add the meatballs, turning, until all sides are brown, this is a bit tricky, I did it with two spatulas. Make sure they are cooked through before serving. Whilst they are cooking peel the sweet potatoes and chop the red pepper and then put into a pan with the veg stock and bring to the boil until soft. Using a stick blender, blend until smooth adding small amounts of water until the right consistency is achieved for a sauce. Cook your rice according to label or packet. Serve your meatballs on a bed of rice, pouring your sauce over the top. Yum !!!
Monday, 1 February 2010
My Writing
I have joined a creative writing class at Weymouth Library and am extremely enjoying it. The sitting and concentration is particularly hard for me as my back kills last week had to take a Co-codamol for the pain, which is never good as it gives me a fuzzy head. Even worse than ME Brain Fog. But I am perservering as I am meeting new people that also enjoy writing and I am learning lots of different ways of expressing myself with words. I have been writing my story and what happened to me, my journey through diagnosis and onwards its title is the same as this Blog as I still feel like screaming sometimes WHY M.E. I have also published one of my poems writen for someone I met at my support group. She told me how one day she had ventured out and was waiting for a bus to return Home. An old lady asked her where her Bus Stop was and she told her. The Lady was horrified and said to her 'A young girl like you should be walking'. This prompted her to burst into tears so here is the reply to her.
I have joined a creative writing class at Weymouth Library and am extremely enjoying it. The sitting and concentration is particularly hard for me as my back kills last week had to take a Co-codamol for the pain, which is never good as it gives me a fuzzy head. Even worse than ME Brain Fog. But I am perservering as I am meeting new people that also enjoy writing and I am learning lots of different ways of expressing myself with words. I have been writing my story and what happened to me, my journey through diagnosis and onwards its title is the same as this Blog as I still feel like screaming sometimes WHY M.E. I have also published one of my poems writen for someone I met at my support group. She told me how one day she had ventured out and was waiting for a bus to return Home. An old lady asked her where her Bus Stop was and she told her. The Lady was horrified and said to her 'A young girl like you should be walking'. This prompted her to burst into tears so here is the reply to her.
But you Look Alright
When you Look at me what do you see?
Is it a person with M.E.
But you look alright they say all the time,
Is brushing your hair such a crime.
Shall I not not bother with Blusher or Lipstick,
Do you want me just to LOOK SICK?
You cannot see on the outside,
The illness inside I try to hide.
Not all disabilities are visible to the eye,
Can you be understanding, why not TRY!
Sunday, 31 January 2010
forgotten blog
We her we are now in Jan 2010. A lot has happened to me in this time. I had Spinal Decompression surgery in Jan 2009 and had to recover from that operation. All I can say is that at least the doctors are listening to me now and I had the extra bag of fluids I needed not to get the dreaded ME headache.
At slight problem to my recovery, fell backwards on to my back and hit my head (don,t know how) fracturing my sacrum. This hurt like hell and could not sit or lie on my back for 6 weeks and went back to using crutches. I have had a few other slip ups but laugh at myself and my crap leg/balance !
Moving onwards and at present I had been to Wareham Hospital for Lifestyle Management and now understand more about my illness. Acceptance is still a problem as I dont want to accept that I will have this Illness forever. I have been writing which is therapy to me, but sometimes its not as good as others. I have met many new fantastic people in the Dorset ME Support Group and my creative writing group at Weymouth Library.
I am at present embarking on a new diet after going to see an Allergist in Weymouth. There is a lot of stuff writen about Candida and Gluten and How it effects people with ME, so giving it a go.
It is Gluten, Yeast, Dairy and Sugar free, no tomatoes, pototoes, tea, coffee, mushrooms, apples, oranges, lemons or mandarins. It also showed up I had a deficency in Minerals Vit c and Vit B6 and Iron so am now taking a supplement. I am have nearly completed a week and will publish some recipes at a later date. I can now see my tongue is pink not white.
I also have been doing a shoe auction for the Dorset Support Group and got to meet Jim Knight MP who donated a pair to me. So things have changed and I enjoy different things now
At slight problem to my recovery, fell backwards on to my back and hit my head (don,t know how) fracturing my sacrum. This hurt like hell and could not sit or lie on my back for 6 weeks and went back to using crutches. I have had a few other slip ups but laugh at myself and my crap leg/balance !
Moving onwards and at present I had been to Wareham Hospital for Lifestyle Management and now understand more about my illness. Acceptance is still a problem as I dont want to accept that I will have this Illness forever. I have been writing which is therapy to me, but sometimes its not as good as others. I have met many new fantastic people in the Dorset ME Support Group and my creative writing group at Weymouth Library.
I am at present embarking on a new diet after going to see an Allergist in Weymouth. There is a lot of stuff writen about Candida and Gluten and How it effects people with ME, so giving it a go.
It is Gluten, Yeast, Dairy and Sugar free, no tomatoes, pototoes, tea, coffee, mushrooms, apples, oranges, lemons or mandarins. It also showed up I had a deficency in Minerals Vit c and Vit B6 and Iron so am now taking a supplement. I am have nearly completed a week and will publish some recipes at a later date. I can now see my tongue is pink not white.
I also have been doing a shoe auction for the Dorset Support Group and got to meet Jim Knight MP who donated a pair to me. So things have changed and I enjoy different things now
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