Christmas is over, some say at last, and its back to the grind on Monday. Of course that is after another monsterous drive, on my own this time, from Darvel back down to Bath.
Needs must however. It works out about £50 one way by car, so I feel it's worth it. There goes the remaining Christmas money....
Anyway, back to the subject of interest.
I have a diagnosis at last! Autoimmune Hepatitis. Don't panic, i'm not contagious. Its not one you can get from a needle or anything else. Its just a result of my retarded immune system attacking my own liver for no other reason than boredom. Unfortunately, i have apparently had this for a while, without symptoms, or at least, without symptoms easily noticed. So it has got to the point that my liver has cirrhosis.....YAY! So no drinking for the rest of my life. I can handle that. At least this is treatable though. I mean the liver is not going to magically cure itself, but the AIH can be controlled, so i'm on steroids and i have to say, i'm feeling the better for it. I didn't honestly think i would feel any different, but i feel like something is working. Perhaps its all psychological. Even the swelling in my legs has reduced though.
So to conclude this post, I would like to make a list. AIH is something a lot of people have, and some people take it lying down. I'm not going to be one of these people. Fair enough, i may need a replacement liver at some point (DONATE ONE HERE), but i'm not going to just wait until i need one. I fully intend to continue a normal life. Why should i change it?
Things I have continued through my diagnosis:
- Work - I am not going to let my PhD slip away from me
- Relationships - Friends are needed more than anything, i need them as they are and were before, i don't want them changing either!
- Planning for the future - I do intend to have a life and a family - i refuse to put it on hold.
- Volunteering - Working with young people, helping where needed, can distract and take your mind off it. Cant hurt the Karma either.
- Scouting - Related to above - i have taken up a leaders position at an Explorer Scout group in Bath. A great bunch, good for keeping you on your toes.
- My girlfriend - Without her support, i would have fallen down a deep dark hole.
Things I will never give up!
- Xbox - Stress relief by headshot
- Scouting - it has been a part of my life since i was 5 years old, i'm not stopping for a mere flesh wound.
- Love - it is a phenomenal source of strength
- Optimism and a factual and logical approach to things. Panicking helps nobody, neither does dramatics.
And with that, I press the'resume' button on my life.
