Look After your Lady Parts!

From the title, you’ll probably gather just what this blog is about, but don’t be frightened boys, share this with the ladies in your lives; your Mum, wife, sister, cousins and friends – look after your loved ones.

Yesterday, I had a smear test, these aren’t fun or comfortable, physically or socially (no matter how casual a conversation about getting your mobility scooter on a train is – this is a weird procedure!).

I had meant to have one last year and simply just kept forgetting to book it, only to be annoyed when Carrie (my code name of my periods – yes referencing the horror movie) arrived. It suddenly occurred to me last month that I was the same age as a close family member was when they had pre-cancerous cells in their cervix – terrifying!

I’d made a specific appointment for the smear test; it wasn’t my first, but I knew it was the necessary evil. We’ve all read the stories of women with female cancers getting younger and younger, which is why I cannot fathom why the first smear test,  for any women, isn’t taken until they’re 25. There are people protesting for the age to be lowered to 18 or 21 and I agree, but on the flip side, I know ladies in their 30, 40’s and 50’s who have ignored the test offer letters including those who’ve had children.

Please don’t  ignore them, ladies, cervical cancer is a silent killer with all too subtle symptoms; unusual bleeding, constipation, back pain, swollen legs and lack of energy – show me a woman who doesn’t have at least one of these symptoms weekly or at least during their period.

Borrowed from Radiant Health Magazine

The nurse or doctor administering your test has seen many many vagina’s and are not fazed;  even if you turn a shade of scarlet, shake like a leaf and have a 70’s do down there, the medical professionals do not care, the only thing they care about is your health – as should you, above any embarrassment!

Also, please look after your breasts, boobs, puppies, baps – whatever you call them (this goes out to you too gentlemen – yes your breasts can kill you too – the bastards!) Use the Coppa Feel Guide below to check your beautiful boobies and if you have any changes at all that worry you, get a loved one to check too and then go and see your GP – the quicker anything nasty is caught, the better!

Borrowed from CoppaFeel

Until Next Wednesday!

L xxx

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For more information go to these websites;

NHS Cervical Cancer Guide

Coppafeel - Breast Cancer Charity

48 Hours Later!

November is Complex Regional Pain Syndrome awareness month! November 7th is the internationally recognised CRPS day and I made a vlog.

Every year on this written blog, I've tried to promote and create awareness of the condition I've had for 25 years. The condition really sucks, I'm in pain 24/7 but I wanted to create something a little different this year; the first is trying out Vlog, I hate my voice and I could think of much better things to do than spend the day watching my own face for hours but I wanted to get out of the comfort zone I currently nestle in!

Secondly, I wanted to do a piece about the positive side of dealing with a chronic pain condition and this is what I came up with...

I try to keep chipper about bad days, it's my belief that if you wallow you'll only concentrate on the pain and end up feeling worse, but then this morning....

I felt so rubbish! I've had a little burst of energy (read: coffee) but it has been a difficult day, one I wouldn't normally harp on about, especially when I look so God-awful but I think it's good to show both side of life for us with CRPS

So there you go, so now you have blogs and vlogs to look forward to, you lucky lucky people!

Until next Wednesday!
L x

Avid Friender

I’ll toot my own trumpet; I have a lot of lovely friends these days, but as a child and teenager I was a bit of a weird kid, I didn’t get my peers at all and I would admittedly do odd things; I would be learning sign language in the playground or setting up lunchtime clubs for younger children and ignoring my own year group – I didn’t help myself really did I?

These days it’s a running joke that I’ll make friends with everyone; I do have my boiler man, electrician, and plumber on Facebook, I text the buyer of our old house and Whatsapp with the owners of my favourite cafe but recently someone asked if I have a need to be popular or where my large social media friends lists more for show?

I suppose a part of me loves being loved, who doesn’t? But I don’t feel the need to be popular per se, to be honest, I have enough family to make up for any shortfall in friends, but I genuinely love people.

I admit I’m a voracious friend requester, Instagram, and Twitter follower but when I meet interesting and new people I am fascinated by their lives, likes and what they get up to. People give me inspiration for writing, new products, places to try and for Mike’s new art business Bored Monkey.

I do hope that when anyone accepts my requests that they’re not only doing it to be polite and find me interesting too. 

I’m naturally very nosey and sometimes do suffer from a bit of FOMO (Fear of Missing out) but you’ll see stories playing out before you, way better than any soap opera or movie;

• After a very serious health scare, watching a couple pack up their entire life, sell their house and go backpacking through South America -  brilliant!

• I used to go clubbing with a guy in a large group of friends, like any small teenage group it became complicated with crushes and heartbreaks but watching this friend become a proper family man and self-employed photographer has been fun seeing the transformation.

• Seeing a friend's Mum being told she would only live for 3 months and is still going strong 12 months later – inspiring!

• I went to school with a girl who I’ve not seen for years, but she has an autistic son but watching the family’s joy when he accomplishes something they thought he wouldn’t do, is wonderful.

• Seeing one of my closest friends who I don’t get to see very often at all; loving life in London and interviewing people like David Attenborough, Twiggy and Joanna Lumley for her job is jealously inducing mixed with genuine pride.

How can you not love social media, people, and all their stories?

Until next Wednesday

L xxx