MY GARDEN IS KEEPING ME SANE!!

[Ern007]

Well I thought I was having a good year. No COPD flare ups.

I would rather have these that what i have and what I might have now. Last August COPD review, sent for X Ray and came back abnormal. Another in two weeks was the same.

Consultant sent me for CT Scan with contrast, shadow on left Apex, Had to go for PET Scan, what a nightmare that was. phoned me up following morning telling me it has spread to Right Lung,

Consultant says he thinks it could be fibrosis, but how can fibrosis spread to other lung.

So another CT scan and he said no change, two shadows but had not got bigger - Have another CT scan in June 2020 - that is booked,

So can things get worse, yes it did. Blood pressure so low I was shocked, 78/52 was the lowest and that is low.. I am on heart tablets and that can lower blood pressure, but for years it's been on the low side, but this is scary - Doctor phoned me and stopped two tablets and told me to take records daily and see her next Friday, nothing much has changed,

At night it get a little better but after a day biting my nails - I am used to crisis but this is something else.

One thing keeps me sane, I was a plants-man all my working life and Fuchsia, Holly and Bamboo are keeping me sane - I do go to a garden center just a 1/4 mile away and lots to see.

Big days are Friday, 30th June Scan and 2nd July results. I wonder how many more scans I can have, three scans and 2 X Rays thus far from August 2019 - Moan over keep safe everyone.

[Sunfloweronline]

Keep going hey 😊, wishing u all the very best 💕😊🌈

[Ern007 in reply to Sunfloweronline]

Thank you, not normally a moaner but at least I enjoy my garden, I had a good working life making a living from a hobby..

[MELNEL]

It all sounds very stressful, but I am pleased that your garden us keeping you sane.

Just try to stay positive, I know it's not easy thing to do but still it will help your health and more so that you keeping busy in your garden.

Flowers are such beautiful thing to keep your mind soar.

You take care and keep safe!; 💐💐💐

[Oshgosh]

I’m so grateful for my garden.i can’t do much with it at the moment,,but have managed to feed everything,

I don’t know how Inwould have managed during lockdown without it.

I hope you soon get some answers to your questions.

Take care of yourself.i hope things settle down a bit for you.

[Ern007 in reply to Oshgosh]

Thank you very much, I think lockdown has been depressing. I have ordered plants on-line and I look forward to them coming.. Yes plants need feeding, it's can be hard but rewarding.

[Caspiana]

You have every right to moan Ern. All these scans, appointments are just very stressful and the "what next" aspect is forever looming for the likes of us. Yet, this is life.😐

I am so glad you have something to immerse yourself in. It makes a ton of difference. I hope all goes well and it turns out to be nothing too daunting. I try to be like the sunflowers that follow the sun, that way I see less of the shadows .

Take care and keep going.

Cas xx 🌞🌻

[Ern007 in reply to Caspiana]

Thank you - you also take care

[Hidden]

How fortunate you are to have made a living out of your favourite hobby and are now able to continue to get so much pleasure from it too. I don’t think I’ve met anybody before who could say that. Long may it continue. 😀🌻💪

[Ern007 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you yes, I had a good working life until forced to retire, all from a love of next doors Fuchsia, became a passion.

[Hidden in reply to Ern007]

I hope all goes well for you Ern.👍🌻🙂

[Ern007 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you..

[Jandm]

It sounds like you are going through a lot. Gardens are very therapeutic and if that helps you then that’s brilliants. Hope it all goes well for your scan and your results.

[Ern007 in reply to Jandm]

Thank you for your kind answer.

[sassy59]

Thinking of you Ern and hoping for better days ahead. Great you have the Garden centre to enjoy.

Take care xxxx😘

[Ergendl]

Wishing you all the best. Hope the doctors find treatments for you that make you feel better.

[Dedalus]

Very stressful time for you - the waiting is the worst. Glad you have your gardening to help you through this. Please keep us updated. All very best wishes.

[Ern007 in reply to Dedalus]

Thank you i will update, good to read these thoughtful comments..

[watergazer]

Hoping you get sorted soon as it sounds very stressful having all these scans and not knowing. My dad was like yourself- his hobbies became his job at one point or vice versa. He was a gardener and chauffeur at a big house and his garden kept him going especially in his later years- he had a long garden full of produce and an allotment x Anita

[Ern007 in reply to watergazer]

Thank you, nice story good for your dad, I had a small mail order Fuchsia business which I loved, but contracted my labour out to a nursery who let me overwinter my stock plants, gosh that saved me a lot in heating. enjoyed every minute,

[Patsy164]

Hi Ern sorry to hear about your troubles. Its wonderful what a garden full of beautiful flowers can do it makes you get yourself out there and look after them, which in itself is lovely but a lovely distraction. Unfortunately, I haven't got anything in my garden as I can’t get out to buy any to pot. I hope your test and results are ok. Please let us know how you get on. X

[Ern007 in reply to Patsy164]

Thank you Patsy off course I will update, i am sorry to hear about your garden problems, really our garden has what has kept me going.

[CDPO16]

I don't think that you were moaning at all. You are going through very difficult and stressful times, health wise. I hope that at least the changes in medication help to raise your blood pressure. In the meantime I am glad that you are able to loose yourself, so to speak, in your garden. I am shielding and really miss visits to garden centres which has been one of my summer past times for many years.

[Ern007 in reply to CDPO16]

Thank you, I bet you do miss the garden centers, we have been buying online but risked this spacious one we heard on us very close to our home.. I just felt like I was moaning as this has built up since August 2019, COPD wise I have had a decent year,,

[CDPO16 in reply to Ern007]

I did resort to buying some perennials by mail order and have been pleased with them. It isn't the same though as going to look for yourself. I'm glad that you have a centre close to your home that you feel able to visit safely. Best wishes toy you.

[mikeadams51]

Good luck and hope they can sort you out

[Hidden]

Oh no so sorry Ern, I sure hope things can be stablilised for you.

The garden is a godsend isn't it. Thank heavens we have had had reasonable good weather during this pandemic, I am also enjoying time in the garden. Fuchsias are in flower already and everything is coming into its own

Keep on enjoying your garden Ern and very best wishes for your future scans.

[Ern007 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, Bkin for years I have been obsessed by Hardy fuchsia and at moment trying the get the varieties when we first set up home, with some success - Now it's Holly and Bamboo also. really has kept me sane and a time I needed just that,,

[Hidden in reply to Ern007]

Wonderful I have several fuchsias but I don't know their names without going off and googling

[HungryHufflepuff]

It's not a moan, and anyway you're entitled to do so. It's good you've got your garden 😊 Wishing you all the best for your upcoming appointments 🌱☘️

[Ern007 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

Thank you Hufflepuff So many kind comments and yes, without the garden and planning, life would not have been the same, it was and is a good distraction.

[SquirrelsHolt]

I think you sre being very brave and if gardening takes your thoughts away from the worry's of yet more scans etc, then that's all good. Being forever positive is very draining and tiresome so weathet permitting, garden away to your hearts content. Best wishes. 🐿🌈💖