Finally Recovering :-)

Since my last post which seems aeons ago, I was struck down with a nasty bacterial infection.  The cause was a Klebsiella bacteria that normally resides in the gut, but decided in my case to go walk about :-(  It took three courses of antibiotics to get it under control and then ten days later I was back at the emergency GP with similar symptoms.  In fairness to her she thought that the original bacteria had not completely cleared, since it is known as a super bug and is antibiotic resistant, so I left with another course of heavy duty antibiotics.  Little did we know that in fact my symptoms were due to a rampant systemic candida/yeast infection and it was only when I spoke with another GP that we were able to pinpoint the cause.  At that point I had already begun an anti candida diet and had just started a different set of herbal anti bacterial tinctures.  Within 24 hours the tinctures were doing their job and I had a horrendous herxheimer (candida die off) reaction: nausea, weakness, hypoglycaemia and a heart rate that was utterly bonkers!  Still the side effects proved that I was on the right track and that knowledge alone kept me going. My body has been clearing the candida infection but there were still a few issues earlier this week, so I decided to take a pharmalogical oral anti-fungal and the last remaining issues are slowly resolving, yay!

The kids have done an amazing job helping around the home but even they began to crumble when I wasn't improving, so Pip stopped with some home school friends for a while and Ben had a weekend with Sara, Tom and Oliver.  Sadly he missed five weeks of college as I was unable to get him there and Dave is no longer able to drive.  The college were really understanding and because he was up to speed with all his work, he only had a few loose ends to tie up.  Thankfully I was able to get him into college last Thursday.

We have had other local friends that have either taken the kids for a day or have ferried me to the GP surgery, several have seen me really sick and at a very low point.  One weekend the pain was so bad that I only slept four hours out of the 48.  Looking back the most frightening moments were when I was in a really dark place but literally by the grace of God, He pulled me through.  I couldn't think straight to pray but I found some amazing praise and worship music on YouTube and just listening to the words and humming along kept me sane.

I am so grateful that I am on the right side of recovery and being so sick certainly focuses your mind on being extremely appreciative of even the smallest things!  With that in mind I will leave you with some happy pictures from the past few weeks:

 My Birthday

 I had a reprieve on my birthday and was actually well enough to enjoy the day.  Ben made a lovely birthday breakfast and we also spent the day with Mary whilst Kath was at work.

 

Uncle Ben making himself useful :-)

Ben's Birthday

 Fr L not only came to visit Ben but he also brought the sacrament of the sick for me, for which I was truly grateful.

 Ben's T-Shirt reads:  I never got my acceptance letter from Hogwarts, so I'm leaving the shire to become a Jedi!

Poppy Cat

 

 Who needs a conventional cat bowl when you can drink from a bucket instead :-)

Thanks for reading and I hope to pop by soon xx