Purple Dragon

Tonight I went to the Dr. I went to a different Doctor than the one I usually see. I asked for the different one on purpose for obvious reasons.

I went in. I told him about the whole chest pain thing, about taking the new pills, about feeling much better and stopping taking them, about the pain coming back, and about starting them again and getting relief.

He straight away said "You've got Tietze Syndrome - costochondritis".

It turns out that this sometimes happens after after a virus (remember my elusive virus?) and it goes away itself. The treatment I have started myself if the treatment they would have given me.

Result.

Costochondritis is swelling of the cartilage of the ribs, particularly the cartilage that joins the ribs to the breastbone. It is often caused by an injury to the breastbone or a viral infection that causes the cartilage to become inflamed.

I've had a really busy day so far.

Dropped the sprogs at school, except for Rachel, and drove straight thru to the town to get some passport sized photos taken, for my gym ID card.

Did my induction, which was fairly painless. The instructor was very kind to me, and understanding. He was firm, though. He wasn't gonna let me off with anything. By the time we had gone over all the equipment and I had refreshed my memory with each item it was time to collect Rachel from the creche.

I had done some yoga yesterday, so I was feeling rather supple today (compared to how I normally feel, rather than actually supple in a 'I can touch my toes' kinda way).

This afternoon I have spent chasing kids and dogs back into the bit of garden I was working in. We have a large fenced in area behind the house that has a section of plants, then a row of rocks, then a bigger section which is bark, then paving slabs and a patio, then the house. Over the winter most of the bark has blown off the garden and onto the slabs, so there was this bare bit of garden and a massive pile of bark up against the house. So, I handed Rachel a hand trowel and grabbed a big shovel for myself, and spent the afternoon shovelling bark back onto the garden. We managed half the length of the house, picking up bits of rubbish that have hibernated in the bark and putting them in the skip. I found the patio umbrella and some cushions for the garden furniture. I guess I shall have to buy new this year, now.

I have realised a mistake I have made. I have been letting the dogs out the patio doors to run about in the back fenced area. Unfortunately, three dogs (two quite large ones) make a hell of a pile of manure I think I am going to rotovate the whole area (which will save me poop-a-scooping) and lay it to grass.

Ger wants to build an extension on about a third of it, which will get rid of a bit of the space and extend his snooker room in the process. I am bloody tempted to concrete the rest of it and put plants in pots out there, so I can still let the dogs out there, and just hose the lot every day.

Anyway, I am having a cup of tea and a rest just now. I think I will have a quick bath coz I'm all itchy. I have a Dr appt at 5pm and then have to drive thru to Aberdeen because we are buying a new laptop.

I'm away to the gym this morning for my induction.

I have to admit to being a bit nervous. I am SO out of condition that it is embarrassing.

Wish me luck! If I don't post later, it is because I expired on the running machine.