Change to routine... how to cope?

That sounds very wonderful @Sparklesummers, a nice positive way to greet the spring :slight_smile:

My check up blood test pack is seemingly always late and I do get worried, but then when it arrives, I worry again. How silly!

I’m just back from the Outer Hebrides, which was stunning!!! BOGGLING!!! It felt like I was on a different planet and had fallen down a timeslip wormhole simultaneously. Havent yet been able to come close to processing it. My brain nearly fell out of my head at Luskentyre and on the Golden Road. Many other places too. I didnt feel too bad physically (which was a win) but did tussle with generalised anxiety, which is something I deal with regularly these days. It certainly felt very remote; for someone born and brought up in West London, it was a big (but wonder-full) challenge and I am glad I went.

Oh, and @GenesisDevice, we came home via Luss. I went on about it to my partner who promised to wake me up when we got there. It was on the way back, and I was VERY VERY tired. We didnt stop but I could at least peer at wonderful Luss through the driving rain hahahahaha! We drove through the highlands as well and so I thought of @Duncan, not sure where you are up there. It was a truly incredible trip for someone whose previous ‘furthest North’ was Dumfries!

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Sounds like you had a fabulous time in the Outer Hebrides @Leigh65

I can relate to what you are saying about feeling like on a different planet. Compared to West London and indeed anywhere urban it’s going to be a big change.

My wife and I haven’t been across to the Outer Hebrides since diagnosis in October 2023 but we had just been over about a month or so before diagnosis.

Luskentyre is fantastic and the Golden Road very special too. So many places to visit on both Lewis and Harris that are beautiful.

I suspect your journey didn’t take you to the area I’m in as we are on the East Coast halfway between Inverness and Wick.

Assume you either took the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway or perhaps the Uig (Skye) ferry to Tarbert in Harris

Good to hear you were able to go through Luss.

Hopefully all that adrenalin and fresh air will stay with you for a long time :grinning_face:

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@DuncanB @Leigh65

I think having things to look forward to is essential in life in general but especially with a chronic illness diagnosis. I really struggled with my diagnosis but I think this was also due to Mum having cancer too and it being a double whammy so increasing any anxiety. It makes you realise life is short, old cliches I guess. Living in beautiful areas is also good too, I used to live in Cornwall whilst my children were growing up but since returned to the North West to be closer to my Mum etc but not quite urban more semi rural. There are so many places to see in the UK which are pretty. A change of scenery is good for the soul, I enjoyed my trip immensely.

I got some better news today my last bloods had gone down to 458 which is just above normal limits and I was told as I’m young (54) I am low risk. I said I’d had slight swollen ankles and cold feet since flying but the nurse said odema was quite normal, so in essence I feel like I have been worrying for no apparent reason believing if I flew I’d die of a DVT (anxiety overload). This is how my brain reacts to any situation due to one thing and another. I think I need to stop it, my husband says 66% of the things we worry about never happen.

Mum has had her scan results which isn’t good news either, so seeing her tomorrow to see what she is going to do as immunotherapy is her only hope (as Leia said to Obi Wan), but from listening to her not sure she will go for it, so you can imagine my thoughts right now.

Any tips to alleviate health anxiety or general advice welcome x

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