Cate's Diary

Your sister copes by not having a choice. Even if you cry for a week on the eighth day your problems are still there waiting. Plus you now have a headache from crying. You will carve out a new niche for yourself and life WILL be worth living. Until then: I'm sorry it sucks.
 
Thanks, LaMa. I guess I'm not quite through the "things I can no longer do" stage & I know I have to try to concentrate on the things that I can. I also have to try to tackle getting out more & wearing a mask. If it was somewhere where no-one knew me, it may be easier, but I live in a place where I know most people, so will just have to get used to it. It has been 5 weeks now since my major reaction, & I can't cope with being a hermit. I'm heading into town this morning & am actually going to tackle the supermarket. I will only buy what's on my list & get in & out as quickly as I can. I just hope I don't have to explain the mask to too many people. I'm sure they & I will get used to it, but I actually don't care if no-one else does. It's me who has to get used to it. I have ordered 2 more Vogmasks(1 multi-coloured paisley, the other black), so that I have spares & H has sent me 5 plain charcoal filter ones, that her allergy group sell, so that I always have a spare in my bag, in the car etc. I think I will get used to wearing these ones & be able to breathe in them ok as I get used to them. Initially, I think I panicked when I had one on. Now I know it filters out VOC's & fragrance I can relax more with it.
Life will be worth living LaMa, even though life as I knew it has changed a lot. I still live in our lovely home, with my lovely husband. I think I will keep adjusting & still have ups & downs, but, who doesn't?
OK- I had better make sure I am prepared for this trip. Library & supermarket. I think I'll tackle the library first, so at least I'll have something to read if I need to just sit in the car for a while before I drive home.
 
Thank you, LaMa. Today was a win/win. I even went for a walk on my own this afternoon, down through the bush. I took photos & a couple of videos. It was peaceful & beautiful & I must make sure we stay here, even if I die one day, walking around the bush. It took an hour, where once it would have taken less than 20 mins, & I used one of my grandfather's walking sticks (with a seat), but I did it. WIN! There is no smoke hanging around & I feel good!
 
Thanks, LaMa.
I feel really good after my successful day yesterday. I felt "normal" again, even though it's a new normal. I think we all make adjustments throughout our lives. The last couple of years have been the biggest changes for us. I'm sure there will be more & we will just have to deal with them.
G & I will do some gardening today I think. It's another beautiful day.
I contacted our niece yesterday as she has a new job with a reputable company selling solar panels & air con/ heat pumps & explained that we are considering our options. She already knew I was ill & why as we couldn't go to her housewarming. She is going to check out our options when she is back at work on Tuesday. I really think that our wood heater is not good for my health (or the planet's). G is keen on getting solar power.
 
Solar power is good stuff, but a properly hot wood heater doesn´t hurt the planet that much either. Trouble is when it doesn´t get hot enough or the wood isn´t clean, then you get smoky smokiness.
 
It is not a clean heat & I know the wood heater is affecting my lungs, even turned right up. There are chemicals coming from the exterior of the heater which was affecting me, as well as the smoke outside the house. We let the fire go out on Saturday & I have been fine since. It's going to be warm all week. YAY!
We're off to Launc. today as I am meant to have an x-ray before seeing an orthopaedic surgeon next week. Eek.
We have a little bit of shopping to do- nothing major.
 
Chemicals coming from the exterior of the heater? That sounds bad. I know it's a bad comparison but I think of my parents soap stone stove when I hear wood heater and it's just the most lovely thing.
 
I think it's the residual chemicals from when it was painted black a few years ago. It's a lovely heater (http://www.lopi.com.au/products/lopi-endeavour/)& I'm hoping I'll be able to cope with it when we re-light it. I have bought a Smartburn, which should help it burn hotter & cleaner. https://www.smartburn.com.au/ We have bought them before & they do seem to work. We have never sat them on a brick before though, which they tell you to do on their website.
We're back from our trip into town. I had the x-ray & the place was PUTRID.
G & I bought a schmicko toaster as the one we had less than one year (still under warranty) died & the local shop we bought it at gave us our money back & said they actually didn't have any decent toasters. We got a Smeg. It has a 2-year warranty. I hate cheap & nasty appliances. I also got a new hairdryer as my old one stinks of everything I have ever used.
We also got some beautiful fresh veg & steak. The shopping is much better in town, but it's a 120km return trip.
I'm very glad to be back home. Wearing a mask in places will take some getting used to. Non-essential oils are EVERYWHERE.
 
Smartburn sounds like stomach meds, I will never understand how anything remotely food-related can choose the name "Smeg" and I LOVE the term non-essential oils. Will steal.
 
In one shop a young girl told me she had an oil burner next to her bed. I was horrified!
Feeling a little under the weather today after our outing yesterday. Will go with G to his Vets golf, but may just sit by the river in town & read while he plays. I'll take a small thermos of green tea.
 
An oil burner next to someone´s bed would mostly horrify me as a fire hazard. Apart from that it probably doesn´t harm her. Like gluten, most scented stuff is fine for people who aren´t sensitive to it. Shame about the cloying cloud people like that tend to carry around all day, of course.
 
I visited A in the morning & 2 & 1/2 hours evaporated!
G & I were going to go to the dawn ANZAC service this morning for the first time. The alarm went off at 5 am & he said: "Maybe not!" There's pea-soup fog out there, so we'll not be going anywhere. I woke up feeling like someone was sitting on my chest (they weren't ).
Maybe some gardening will be done today when the fog lifts.
 
cate said:
There's pea-soup fog out there, so we'll not be going anywhere. I woke up feeling like someone was sitting on my chest (they weren't ).
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I´m glad they weren´t :rotflmao: I have often wondered why people have trouble breathing in foggy circumstances. For me, fresh fog is the best air possible as the high moisture content smooths my airways.
 
Isn't it crazy? Fog & humidity are really bad for me- the worst!
It hung around for most of the day, but we did get to go for a walk & have had a pleasant day.
 
Had a lovely day today. G & I went into town to do some shopping (read G did the shopping, while I sat in the car) & we then picked up the GK's & had them for the afternoon & then D came for dinner. It was such a lovely afternoon. I have really missed the kids. We went for a walk through the bush & I got to spend some one on one time with our GD. I just really love these kids. I walked a bit more today, which was good. My lungs still aren't great, but I do feel quite a bit better.
I have made an appointment to see an allergist on Monday. I am actually feeling positive about it. Anything I can be de-sensitised against will probably be worth it.
 
Sounds like both grandkids and son remembered the fragrance rules this time. Glad to hear it! Desensitizing therapy isn't an option for me because my year doesn't have an allergy-free window but I very much hope it's different for you :grouphug:
 
Emilyrose said:
Glad to read about your good day. Surely an allergist won't be wearing strong perfume, haha!
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I just got a message from a friend who went there about a year ago & she said to make sure I wear my mask as their reception area smells of fragranced cleaning products.
LaMaria said:
Sounds like both grandkids and son remembered the fragrance rules this time. Glad to hear it! Desensitizing therapy isn't an option for me because my year doesn't have an allergy-free window but I very much hope it's different for you :grouphug:
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E had a faint fragrance smell, but it was only faint, & when her Dad came for dinner he admonished her nicely about it, saying that he laid out the clothes she was meant to wear specifically so that they would be fragrance-free. The jumper she wore she had worn at her mothers during the week. I hadn't hugged her knowing that there was fragrance there somewhere. I'm sure she'll be more careful next time as she looked uncomfortable (sad) when she went to say goodnight & then realised she couldn't hug me. We had a kiss instead.
It was a lovely afternoon with them.

G has just gone off to play golf all day (27 holes) & won't be home until 4'ish. I'm going to do some housework & wash the car. We are going watch an AFL game this evening in Launceston. Our team are not doing well this year & are playing a much better team. I'm hoping that our seats are OK & I am not next to anyone else like I asked for. I'll have my mask in my pocket & will wear it a fair bit I reckon, especially going to the toilet. At least it will be cold so the air will be fresh.
 
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