Leaving, on a jet plane!

So since my last blog I've been carrying on with the exercise regime and (I can't believe I'm going to say this!) I am actually enjoying it.

As a family we had planned to go to France in the second week of the Easter holidays. Unfortunately P&O had other ideas! So instead we booked a last minute holiday to Dalyan in Turkey. I’d had an issue with flying after trying to go to Zante with Jane in September last year? just after my diagnosis. My anxiety completely took over and I didn’t even make it into the airport building.

So this was a big challenge for me, I was plagued with worry about flying, how would I cope? You see on an aeroplane the Oxygen level drops from 21% (as it is here on earth!) to about 15% in flight. Also with sitting for long periods you can be at risk of developing a DVT (deep vein thrombosis - blood clot), there is a 3 fold increase in risk when flying for periods over 4 hours, now combine that with having an increased risk of blood clots due to having cancer, I was convinced I’d have a PE (pulmonary embolism - blood clot in the lungs) Mid flight! Dramatic? Maybe. But remember, knowledge can be a scary thing sometimes.

Luckily I had 2 fairy godmothers in the shape of Jenna and Sophie from the respiratory team (that I used to work in!), they gave me the once over and I even had Dr Antunes give me a coat of looking at too, with a little text from Dr Mustafa. Never have I been so grateful to these people who have been fabulous colleagues, looking after me at this point in my life. After seeing them I felt so much better about everything really.

So I did it didn’t I!! I got on the plane (admittedly with some flight socks, an aspirin and a swig of Morphine! - I do not advocate this as a standard flying plan!!). I then spent a lovely week with Mark and our girls. It was (actually) just what the doctor ordered!! Never underestimate the benefit of having some sun on your bones (or adipose tissue in my case!!).

After getting home and on the days that followed I have continued with the exercise plan, I am currently doing couch to 5k (it’s only took some lung cancer to get me running!!). I have enlisted some PT sessions with lovely Michael at construct fitness, I went to school with Michael and he is such a good lad. He’s ex army so I’m just about the right amount of frightened of him to make me try as hard as I can. I’ve also been walking a lot and feel so much better for it.

So, I’m feeling good on the whole, I appreciate everyday, I am very lucky and I remind myself of that everyday. My plan is to keep dancing until the music stops ❤️