Berry-licious

We found these delicious looking berries growing near the dumpster this afternoon. I thought they looked edible, perhaps raspberry, or blackberry, maybe a logan berry or some other exotic north American variety.

Just as well I looked up,  "Poisonous Berries in New Hampshire", before eating any. I don't know what this berry is, but a number of very poisonous berries grow wild in this region.


The blueberries and strawberries are so cheap here and the punnet sizes are massive compared to home. It has been great having a few berries in my porridge in the morning or as an after dinner treat.

Blueberries are indigenous to North America and have deep roots in the country’s history. Native Americans enjoyed them year-round. They dried blueberries in the sun and added them whole to soups, stews and meat, or crushed them into a powder rubbed into meat as a preservative. They also used them (and their leaves and roots) for medicinal purposes.

Blueberries are very low in calories and are packed with vitamin C. They are one of the highest anti-oxidant value fruits and help to protect the body against cancers, aging, infections and degenerative diseases.

The pool

I am feeling a lot better today and so we went to the beautiful pool which is in the grounds of the Appartment complex.

I didn't swim, just watched my Granddaughers enjoying themselves while I relaxed and soaked up the Vitamin D. We made up a picnic lunch and enjoyed it by the poolside.

I have been drinking two glasses of Vitalyte each morning, since my order arrived, and can feel the difference already. The electrolyte mix is very important for me to be able to control the Orthostatic Intolerance. Not only does it lessen the symptoms of dizziness, light-headedness and nausea, it gives me a little boost in energy as well.

Food and Fructose

A few years ago my M.E. Dr sent me for a Hydrogen Breath Test and I was diagnosed with Fructose Malabsorption. Since then I have seen a number of Dieticians, and after spending months reading food labels, I was able to settle down on a reasonably stable diet. 

Being here in America has presented me with a whole new set of challenges. So much of the foods here are loaded with High Fructose Corn Syrup. 

This label lists corn syrup as the main ingredient.

Yesterday I was experiencing stomach cramping, headaches and bloating. Sure signs that I had inadvertently eaten something with fructose in it. Today I was still feeling nauseous and tired.

I am also intolerant to Dairy, Eggs and Soy, so along with all the foods high in Fructose, such as wheat, onions, apples, pears, corn syrup and countless others, it is a real challenge to find anything at all to eat.

The fresh Goat milk here only lists Goat milk and Vitamin D on the ingredients list, and yet the use by date on it is for over a month. It must have a load of preservatives in it, but they just aren't listed.

Blue corn chips, I thought corn was yellow.

I finally found this rice bread I could eat, but the taste leaves a lot to be desired.

Love Makes The World Go Round

We went to my oldest Granddaughter's dance recital yesterday, travelling from the State of New Hampshire to the State of Massachusetts to get to the Performing Arts Venue.

The scenery was beautiful and so calming to my senses as we drove past traditional Clapboard houses and densely wooded areas interspersed with farms.



The recital was fabulous, and funny all at the same time. The dancers ranged from the Baby Ballerinas aged between two and three years old, to a group of tap dancers who looked like Grandmas and Grandpas. The theme for the day was, "Love makes the world go round".

We were treated to two hours of Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Theatre Dance, Contemporary, Jazz and Irish Step. There was even a special segment where all the Dads, Granddads, Uncles and Brothers were encouraged up to the stage to strut their stuff. It was sooo funny!

My Granddaughter did Hip Hop and it was fantastic! I'm very proud of her performance. Her face lit up on stage and it was very evident that she loved being involved in the dancing.


The group performed to the song, "DJ Got US Falling' In Love".

Yesterday

Yesterday I decided to stop taking the D-Ribose. I'm not exactly sure what was going on but I had definitely started on a downhill slide. Exhaustion, muscle aches and pains, a continual headache, nausea and dizziness.

I realised that I was breaking one of my own rules about not changing two things at once.

As the day went on and I was feeling worse it dawned on me that, not only had I starting something, I had also stopped something. My Vitalyte (AquaForce) order hadn't arrived and it had been three days since I had been able to have any.

I have been feeling a little better today and have decided to wait until I am settled back on the AquaForce again before retrying the D-Ribose.

It's late and I must get to bed, will write about today tomorrow!

TravelScoot

Today it was over 100 again so we stayed inside for the morning and then went out to Target at 3:00 in the afternoon.

Wow, Target over here is very different to Target in Australia. You can buy just about anything. This was just a local neighbourhood store but seemed like a Mega Store to me. It even had a food supermarket section in it.

I was feeling a bit fatigued and had a headache when we arrived, so I used one of the Electric Shopping Scooters which Target supplies for its shoppers.


After only 15 or 20 minutes I gave up on this one, pulled everything out of the basket, and went back to the front of the store to look for another one. It was so frustrating, definitely faulty. The next one was newer and worked just fine.

Before I left Australia I looked into buying a TravelScoot, but unfortunately didn't have the money for one. They are unbelievable!

The TravelScoot is so light and manouverable and can be used anywhere. At the shops around the town and even at airports.


A TravelScoot, powered be a Lithium Ion battery, is definitely on my wish list.

D-Ribose

I have started a new supplement today. It is a low calorie sugar like substance which I ordered from iHerb, called "D-Ribose".


D-Ribose is needed by the mitochondria to keep the cells of the body supplied with energy and increases energy production in the heart and muscles. It is a simple carbohydrate molecule found in EVERY cell in the human body. 

According to Dr. Sarah Myhill, an M.E. Dr. in the UK, it brings about less delayed fatigue and improvement in muscle pain and aching.

Introducing anything new is not something I take lightly. I only introduce something new or delete something I have been trialling after careful consideration. It is all too easy to slip back into a major relapse without ever being able to pinpoint what the exact cause may have been.

My rule of thumb is....

Only introduce one new thing at a time. 
If it has a negative effect, stop it immediately.
If there seems to be no effect, give it a month or two to properly evaluate it.
If there is a positive effect or outcome, monitor it carefully.

Summer Sun

Shining sweetly down on me, the Summer sun is all I see
Winter skies and rain are gone, freezing days and nights so long
Summer sunshine, warmth and fun, Summer happiness, Summer sun
Flowers blooming bright and fair, light and happiness everywhere


These darling little flowers were outside the Drs office where my Granddaughter had a vaccination shot this morning.

In the afternoon the weather was so lovely we went to the park.

On the way back we went via the "official television graveyard".

Apparently if you no longer want your TV you just leave it here. I'm told that a dump truck comes along every few months and takes them away. If you are so inclined you are welcome to check them out and people have been known to get good working TVs to take home.

PS My iHerb order arrived today.

Travel

What is it that I like about travelling?

The beauty of the natural world in all it's diversity enthralls me, and so too the wonders of what mankind has accomplished.

More than anything though, I'm a people person. I love to see how people go about their daily lives. Just seeing the simple things which they perhaps take for granted brings me joy. 



Coming from a country where you have to travel to the mountains to see snow, this fire hydrant makes me chuckle.

Not only the colour, why blue and yellow?

I love the little flag sticking up so you can see it above the snow in winter.

In the dumpmasters at home all we ever see are cockroaches or rats. Here the squirrels dive in looking for a free meal. 

I still remember the first time I saw a squirrel. I was walking along the Great Wall Of China when I looked over the edge, way down below a little squirrel was scurrying along. It was as exciting to me as actually being on The Wall.

Ordering

I have put in a number of internet orders since arriving here. Most of my vitamin and mineral supplements will be arriving any day now from iHerb. I am amazed at how much cheaper they are compared to buying at a health food store in Australia. 

If anyone wants to check out iHerb, my Coupon Code is XAM533. Any new customers will receive a $5 discount on their first order using this code.

I also ordered an Air Purifier on Amazon today. At home I use an Air Purifier because of my Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and because I am going to be here for so long, I consider it a worthwhile purchase.


I will let you know if this one works well and if so, I will add it to my Amazon widget.

I'm also waiting on my order for Vitalyte. Because I have Fructose Malabsorption I order the Cool Citrus flavour.



Again, it is much cheaper to order it here than buying it in Australia. Why this should be the case, I don't know.

Update

I thought it might be useful for those of you who also have M.E. if I gave an update on how I am feeling both physically and emotionally.

On a positive note my sleeping has stabilised and I seem to have settled quickly into the new time zone. I believe that taking 3mgs of Melatonin each night has helped to facilitate this. I have been taking Melatonin nightly for about three years now.

At this point my energy level is still well below what it was before I left Australia. We went to a craft store this morning and after about 20 minutes I was struggling with Orthostatic Intolerance.


I was feeling nauseous, weak, dizzy, and exhausted. We came home and I am now lying on the recliner on Oxygen, which has helped a lot.

I am still doing a Vitamin B12 shot each morning just as I have been for the last few years. (I use the concentrated form and inject 0.2ml)

Also I am having two glasses of AquaForce (called Vitalyte here) every morning. It is an electrolyte drink which my Dr. put me on for the O.I. symptoms. I am thinking I may need to increase it to three or even four glasses each morning but am waiting for my internet order to arrive.

My cognitive abilities are also a little slower and I have experienced some of the neurological symptoms I usually get when in a "crash" mode. Jerking, spasming, headaches and trembling. Overall these symptoms haven't been as severe as I was expecting. I have been taking Rivotril  for neuro-excitotoxicity for about a year now.

Also I have been experiencing considerably more heart symptoms since coming, with palpitations, and a heavy chest. Thankfully these symptoms are also responding to the Oxygen Therapy.

Another positive is that my pain levels have dropped since being here which I think it is due to the warmer weather. Last night I only woke with pain twice and was able to quickly get back to sleep.

Overall I am spending approximately 80% of my time in the day resting. This may sound like a lot but I'm Ok with it.

Emotionally and psychologically I am doing very well. I am at peace and so very happy to be here. I am surrounded with love and enjoying the company of my daughter and granddaughters immensely.

Adjusting

It is another beautiful day today. As I sit here inside I can hear the trees gently rustling in the wind and some sparrows chirping happily away.

I was taken out to the shops this morning and bought some more clothes. It was fun but I only lasted a short while before needing to sit down.

We came back home and I am resting in the lounge room. My body is slowly adjusting to the new time zone and the warmth of the sun is a balm to my tired soul.

I looked out the window earlier and saw the cutest little squirrel bouncing along the car park.

Outside

I awoke from a little nap this afternoon to find some lovely summer clothes my daughter had bought for me. I am so glad I didn't bring any check in luggage, it was much easier travelling without it.

I actually ventured outside late this afternoon. It was so nice to be in the fresh air again.




The Appartments where I am staying

Wide awake

It's 11:00pm here and I'm wide awake because it is only 1:00 in the afternoon back in Sydney. The rest of the household are all tucked up asleep in their beds. I have done surprisingly well today and have experienced nowhere near as much "Payback" as I had the last time I travelled.

I spent the day on my own and was able to let my body flow through the processes it needed to. Resting, jerking, sleeping, headache, laboured breathing, nausea, all have come and gone. I am sure that staying on the oxygen through last night and most of today has been the key in it all. I have my Oxygenator set to one litre per minute, the lowest setting on the machine. It seems that the consistency is more important in bringing me through then the higher setting of oxygen.

I was also careful about my B12, giving myself two injections while I was on the planes and another one this morning.

Tomorrow I will need to place an order with iHerb for the vitamins and supplements I take morning and night. All this plus Oxygen, AquaForce, Vitamin B12 injections and Magnesium.

I am hoping to venture outside for a little while tomorrow. The weather is warm and it is so very peaceful here. I am glad I came. Glad I put rest to all my fears and worries.

I haven't yet mentioned the staff of American Airlines. After the hassles with their call centre, I am pleased to say the staff at the airports and on the plane were fabulous. I was treated very well and experienced much genuine kindness.

I have arrived

I made it!


Wow, what a manmouth undertaking it proved to be. Feeling jet lagged and boardering on a "crash". Having lots of oxygen and falling asleep on and off.

Will post more later.

Sensory overload

Two or three times during the flights I have experienced "Sensory Overload". My solution was to put on soft eye patches and a surgical mask. Put earbuds in my ears and play a gentle playlist on my iPod. I would then pull down the meal tray, lean forward and rest my head on my crossed arms. In effect this created a "safe zone". A place devoid of the sights, sounds and smells which surrounded me. I shrunk my world. Half an hour of this was enough to calm my senses and allow me to regain my equilibrium.

Reigning in my wayward thoughts...


Running here and there, projecting doom and gloom
Thoughts of being trapped, word pictures silently loom
In the midst of the roaring silence, the aloneness of it all
Screaming out for help, my words noiselessly call

Like a naughty child, they must be reigned in
Told to sit still and behave, for they cannot win
I am the master, I posses a will
Which overrides them, declaring peace be still

Finally

Over the past few weeks as I was preparing to leave I have been asked, "Aren't you excited about your trip?".  I would hesitate to answer, for I knew it should be, but the excitement just wasn't there.

Finally, as the mighty Qantas jet sped down the runway an exhilarating wave swept over me. A wave of pure excitement and joy. Once again I would cut the ties of gravity and soar like a bird. The excitement had finally arrived!

The big day has arrived

So far so good!

My lovely niece arrived this morning and drove me to the Airport in plenty of time.


I've been checked in by a very nice Qantas staff person. She treated me with kindness and respect. I'm now sitting in a wheelchair in the Qantas special assistance section of the airport (just a roped off area with chairs).

I have been given a window seat near a power point so I can plug in my Oxygen Concentrator while on the flight.

I have a headache coming on, maybe it's just from stress but I'm going to take an antihistamine. I am so allergic to chemicals, perfumes, and cats, it could be from any of these things.

All packed

It's after one in the morning and I am nearly all packed. I just have to add a couple of things which are charging overnight and I'm all done.

I never thought it would be so difficult to decide what to take as hand luggage. 


My Inogen One Oxygenator is in it's trolley at the bottom of the pile. Next there is Shirley tucked away safely (I hope). On top of that is my handbag chock full with medical necessities like syringes, a sharps container and medications.

All my documentation and iPad are in a separate folder.

Very tired, must get some sleep.  

I am in Sydney

Today I said goodbye to the lovely friends I had made at the beach and then drove the two and a half hours to Sydney. I'm very tired but am looking forward to a day of complete rest tomorrow, oh dear, it's already tomorrow now.

Thank God for family and friends, I don't know what I would do without them.

I saw a rainbow as I was driving today.
Whenever I see one I always feel as though everything is going to be alright.

Three days to go

I'm so tired, I can hardly stay awake and it's only 9:30pm. I've rested most of the day and so still have a few more things to sort out tomorrow.



A few months ago I made the decision to save all my gold coins and 50 cent pieces towards my trip.


With just three days before I leave it's time to get out the can opener and see just how much I've saved. $250, not bad as I never missed the odd dollar here and there.

Must get some sleep, nite, nite.

A long day

It has been a long, long day today but all is well. The house is empty and, thanks to my sister, as clean as a whistle. I handed back the keys to the real estate at five this afternoon. 


My day started to the sound of a car revving it's heart out. A friend of mine got her van bogged in my sisters back yard and it took hours, both last night and this morning, to get it out.



This cute little "Trauma Teddy" was given to me today. I'm calling her Shirley, and taking her with me to America.



I finally decided on a Travel Insurance company and paid $385 for the policy. I hope it isn't needed, but don't feel comfortable travelling without one.

The van with my furniture has arrived safely and my old neighbours helped unload it. It will be nearly four months until I get back there but I'm so very grateful everything is safe and sound.

Soooo tired. I am planning on a complete rest day tomorrow. I'm desperately in need of one!

Exhausted

So very exhausted, suffice to say it has been a very busy day. 90% of the packing, cleaning and sorting out of the house has been done. 

I am at my sisters tonight as the house is all but empty. The man with the van worked tirelessly all day loading up and my sister helped load as well as doing a lot of cleaning.

By late afternoon I was so overcome with exhaustion and nausea I just laid down on the cold Lino floor. Half an hour like this while being on oxygen revived me enough to do a little more packing.

Must sleep, still more to finish off tomorrow. I'm not sure how much my body can take of this, however I am very grateful for the help and for the beautiful sunny day.

P.S. I had a wonderful Friends Day yesterday but sadly learnt of the death of a very dear old friend. The Funeral is being held interstate tomorrow and I am extremely dissapointed not to be able to attend. 


To my dear friend Beryl,
Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into thy masters rest.

Friends Day

I decided last night to dedicate today to Friends. We have Mothers Day and Fathers day, why not Friends Day?

Some of us don't have Mothers and Fathers anymore and some of us are not Mothers or Fathers ourselves, but we can all have a friend or be a friend to someone else.



The rain has set in and it is cold and gloomy outside, but I have asked a lovely lady to go out to lunch with me today. She befriended me when I first came here and her smile lights up my life. When I was in a particularly bad "crash" and couldn't even get up out of bed, I texted her and she called in. She sat on the end of my bed, ignored my spasming body and merrily chatted away. Not only that, she sent another friend to pop in on me a couple of hours later.

After our lunch I'm going to meet with a bunch of ladies I've also met here, but right now I'm going to make some phone calls. I want my friends to know I'm thinking of them today.

How about making a couple of calls yourself?

One week to go

I fly out from Sydney in one week. I'm slowly getting everything sorted out for the move as well as the trip to America. When I planned this trip several months ago, I envisioned a solid month of rest beforehand. But life has a way of upsetting the best made plans. 

Today's weather is the opposite to yesterday's sunshine. We have a rainstorm with high winds and grey sky. It's cold and very very wet.

A little bird came to shelter from the storm.


He sat on my porch for half an hour while we talked and sang to one another. Though not a particularly beautiful bird, his song was melodious and uplifting, reminding me to be happy even when the storms of life surround me. 

I love the wild birds and have made friends with many different ones over the years. They are my only pets. I don't want to own them and confine them in cages. I am happy to see them fly off and enjoy their lives.

Winter Sun

I can hardly believe it. After the cold and rainy day yesterday I woke this morning to find the sun was out again. Although I've had a splitting headache all day, I did manage to get some washing done, make more phone calls and get to the shops.

I put in a mail re-direction at the Post Office, filled two more scripts at the Chemist and bought some groceries at the Supermarket.


I just couldn't help myself, after shopping I went to the beach and sat looking at the ocean.





The beautiful native bushes on the foreshore are in full bloom and the chirping of tiny birds mixed with the sound of the waves.

Sunday

I woke feeling a lot better today. Both the oxygen and the sauna have helped to bring me out of the "crash" mode.

I got up and had breakfast then went to Church. 

The weather is cold and wet, much more like Winter than it has been lately. This afternoon I sat on the lounge, while on oxygen, and shredded loads of old bills and paperwork.

It felt good to sort through things and not just throw them in another box to be carted back down to my unit.

One day at a time

I'm still not quite over the "crash", but am feeling stronger every day. This afternoon with the help of my sister, I got a little more packing done. I've had a FIR sauna and then showered and come back to bed.

Sweet whispers in the night,
assuring me all will be right 
Take one day at a time,
put your hand safely in Mine
Rest and be at peace,
there is no point in loosing sleep.

Progressing through "crash" mode.

I went to sleep last night with my oxygenator on, woke a few hours later, turned it off and went back to sleep.

I haven't been feeling all that wonderful today, but did manage to get a few phone calls done. I also emailed the Dr. about the new form from American Airways. One of his nurses was kind enough to print it out for him to sign and sent it off. I don't know why I was so worried about it last night? 

I've had a splitting headache this afternoon and my heart is still feeling heavy. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day than today.

These two little birds were bought for me by the granddaughters I am going to America to visit.