Health and Holidays in 2023

Happy New Year and welcome to my first post of 2024. A special welcome to new subscribers; I hope you will find something of interest in my posts.

So here is my review of 2023, loosely titled ‘Health and Holidays’. Well, they begin with the same letter and it is important for your health that you take holidays! Right? Click on the highlighted words for links to the blog posts.

PERSONAL

On a personal level, the most important event was the passing of my Dad  Jim, who died last May, aged 89. A wonderful man, he enjoyed a laugh and lived in the moment.

HEALTH

Here is a quick summary of my year healthwise.

I am still having problems with my cholesterol and I will be having a CT scan soon. So more to come on that.

Because I suffered with weeks of diarrohea early in the year, my doctor sent me for a colonoscopy. The tea and toast afterwards (see above) was divine. We later discovered it was more than likely due to my cholesterol medication. Within 36 hours of stopping the tablets, it had gone.

The colonoscopy was far less traumatic than I thought. It’s all in the PREP.

Usually, I am proactive with my health. But when the colonoscopy came back clear, I decided to stay away from the doctor and off cholesterol meds.

I felt great, except for the fact that I broke a finger in August (above) which meant my golf was scuppered. It is still not right and I am doing exercises and physio.

BLOOD TEST

So, before Christmas, I went back to get blood tests.

I have never had a problem with the test before. But this time, the pain was horrific. I was in agony and nearly fainted. For a week afterwards, I had occasional darts of pain up to my elbow. I have been told since that the nurse probably hit a nerve. Anyway, I am fine now.

Back to the doctor a week later and I have a few issues to address in 2024. My blood pressure, normally very low to normal, was now high. I had to monitor it daily. Luckily, it settled down again in about a week. What was that all about?

BACK PAIN

35 years ago I had a back operation for a ruptured disc. In recent years, I go a few times a year to Pat Leahy at The Laser Centre in Hume Street (I also tried out his new cryotherapy chamber at the beginning of the month and felt hugely energised after). Plus, I have a retinue of complementary practitioners who also help me to stay active and well.  Andrew Smith at The Willows Clinic has a string of techniques at his disposal. Natalya in Portmarnock is a muscular and skeletal therapist and Lisa Cassidy in Swords uses massage and acupunture as part of her arsenal. If you want any information, feel free to contact me.

OTHER THERAPIES

I tried out Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy  (above) in October at Amber Oxygen in Northern Cross, Dublin. You can read about the benefits in my POST.

 

Cupping is a favourite therapy of mine and I have written about the benefits before. More recently, I had a cupping massage session at Amber Oxygen with Renata.  It was not relaxing; in fact it was quite painful at times. But my goodness it worked and my back felt great a few days later.

SUPPLEMENTS

Yes, I take supplements. I am a fan of Somega and I take their Vit C and D and Omega 3.  Initially, I received them as part of a PR drop, but now I buy them at Boots and avail of their 3 for 2 offer! More recently, I have been sent their new collagen powder, good for joints and skin.

These electrolytes from Aya were a welcome addition over Christmas and New Year (prdrop). I was feeling light-headed from my temporary, high blood pressure, and they seemed to help. You just dissolve one tablet, daily in a glass of water, for fast hydration and to increase your energy and support your immune system. Also, they would be perfect for travelling as they contain a range of 13 vitamins from B,C and D to magnesium. Plus they are absolutely delicious. I preferred the lemon and lime and Graham liked the blackcurrant. Robbie Henshaw is a big fan, by the way.

HOLIDAYS

We were lucky to have some fabulous holidays in 2023. My association with Travel Department continued and Graham and I had a short trip to Berlin and a longer holiday in Slovenia with them. Both were wonderful. The top pic is in Berlin, the second on the magical Lake Bled.

In June, we spent a week in Dubrovnik in Croatia at Alison and Ian’s wedding. Yes, it went on for a week!

September saw our daughter and their Marks (yes, both were christened Mark!) and the 4 grandchildren celebrating Graham’s 70th birthday in a Safari Park in the English Midlands. It was magical.

A trip to Miami and Key West with good friends was the highlight of November.

Usually, we have a few staycations, but we managed only one this year, a night in a bubble in Finn Lough in County Fermanagh. If you want a special night away, I highly recommend it.

Thank you for reading and if you like what I do, please tell your friends and you can also find me on FB and instagram where I share competitions and other ‘stuff’ on a more regular basis.

Love Hilda x