Thursday 6 January 2011

6 months on...

It has been 6 months since I last wrote. This is due to a few factors, mostly that I got a social life to rival Tara Palmer Tomkinson! But also, there is nothing to report but good news. The last appointment I had with Mr S. was a very productive one. He prescribed me Estradot patches, 50mg patches that are to be changed twice a week.

I was very hesitant about them working, I even had a meltdown in his office, but I can honestly say that I have not looked back since. I have had no problems and I can even double the patches if I feel I need to.

I am back there again for a review on the 19th of this month. But I think these patches have transformed my life. It is nothing short of miraculous!

I feel that this is the time to draw this blog to a close. It has been brilliant outlet for me when I was unsure of anything and it has helped to be a diary of my process. But I don't feel that it is of any benefit anymore. I shall leave it active as it may prove useful.

If anything else changes I can still add to it, but for now I shall leave it here.

Thank you for reading and for the support I have received.

Thursday 19 August 2010

Off oop North Next Week.

Am going to see my Nanny on Monday. Looking forward to it and also apprehensive. I am glad to get the opportunity to be putting things right, some people never get the chance to say what they want or need to do they? I am getting a chance to salvage something and make it right again and for that I will be eternally grateful.

I picked up my injection from the Doctors surgery today, the last one before I know my fate! There is also a report in there about me to the Doctor who will administer it. In the letter it tells of my symptoms and the Gynae's opinion of my condition which is all fine but in it, it says I am a very pleasant 31 year old!!!! Very pleasant!! ME?!

So the 6 weeks holidays are drawing to an end, just 14 days left. Have enjoyed them immensely but I am so looking forward to them going to school!! My 9 year old has adopted a Kevin and Perry stance of late. It isn't even funny how much attitude she has. The sulky face and the back chat shouldn't be happening yet should they???

Looking forward to next week, not just for tying up some loose ends but also to catch up with my mate L, am going to be a lady wot lunches!!!

Next update will be the final injection!!!!

Thursday 12 August 2010

Going to Stop Living in the Past.

Since I last posted here, I sent the letter to my Nanny. It was a very cathartic letter to write. Nanny responded very quickly. It was a long letter and the contents were not what I expected, to be fair. The letter I received was apologetic, there were admissions of knowing some aspects and explanations of what she did know. It took some time to digest exactly what was in the letter and I went through some strange emotions.

Since this part of my life has come to light, there has been lots of blaming and anger. I have realised that this all came about because of the breakdown I suffered last year, as a result of the PMDD causing it. I realise that one has a profound effect on the other. Everything seems so clear to me now.

If I did not have PMDD I would not have had a breakdown, if I had not had a breakdown I would not have kept the abuse a secret. If I had not spoken about it I would never have dealt with it. And there is my reason for appreciating this condition. I wouldn't want anyone to be suffering with it, but if it makes you realise some things that are important or makes you deal with something you would never have done in any other circumstances then that has to be a positive.

In dealing with this abuse with my family I have come to realise what else is important. Me. I don't want to grow old and be bitter forever. I want to move on and forward and live my life for me and my family. I need to get on with my life, I have had a year of wallowing and dealing with it and the previous 30 years wearing a mask to cover it up. My life is so totally different now but there is one thing missing. Nanny.

I am travelling up to see her on 23rd. I miss her, I love her and I want to have her in my life before she dies. I want to salvage something from this mess and put it all in the past, move on and forward and live my life. I want to forgive and lay it to rest, I don't want to be consumed by anger and hatred. I don't want to blame people and wonder "what if something had been done". The truth is, nothing can change now. It happened, but I am still here. I have a family, I have my children, my Husband, wonderful friends and most importantly I have a strength.

I am me no matter what has happened to me or what I have done, these things all make me who I am. I can't be defined as a survivor, a victim, a strong person or a weak person because I am all of those things for differing reasons. I just hope that I am a good person and one who, one day, will be understood.

Friday 16 July 2010

Silence speaks volumes

I had a bizarre dream last night. I was dreaming about talking on the phone to Nanny, it was a normal conversation, exactly like it used to be. No effort, no awkwardness, just pure enjoyment of our conversation.

Still no contact though.

Tuesday 13 July 2010

Dear Nanny

After getting if off my chest about my feelings towards my Nan, I have written her a letter. I am sending it to her.

Not sure if I will publish the letter yet, it is quite personal.

Monday 12 July 2010

Random Musings

Something has been niggling away at my brain. I haven't spoken about it to anyone as I don't really know what to say about it all. It has been there for a while now. My Nanny has not phoned me, spoken to me, written to me or had any contact with me since the last can of worms was opened. Not a single bit of contact.

Is this how much I am worth to her? That she can hide her guilt within and carry on her life without having to deal with anything? She can bury it all and not deal with it and cut off anyone who is hurting because she doesn't want to face up to it? As if it isn't bad enough to be let down by her in the first place, now I have been rejected by her too.

Yet the thing is, I am not upset about it to the extent of crying my eyes and willing her to call me. Truth be told, it is quite nice not having to make idle conversation that means fuck all. I am relieved to not have to talk to her because I could not bare to listen to meaningless crap she would talk about. But at the same time, I am scared that now I have lost her altogether. She has terminal Cancer and is 84 years old, she hasn't got many years left in her. She has totally denied all knowledge of my Grandfathers reign of abuse, yet was totally aware and even went so far as to allow him to do it. I should be glad of the lack of contact, I should be glad that she hasn't much time left. But I love her. I can't help it, I cannot switch off all the good memories I have with her, all the hours I have spent on the phone talking meaningless crap! I used to enjoy just hearing her voice, she has such a comforting voice. But that same comforting voice I used to love just sounds like a stranger, and I couldn't wait to get off the phone any time she called.

Why has it all gone so wrong? Everything turned upside down and whilst us lot down here are dealing with the fallout, she has buried her head and refuses to acknowledge any wrong doing, and more than that, refuses to even accept that anything bad has happened at all.

But, moving on, have I updated since my injection??? If I haven't then all was fine! No pain this time, just a bruise and the usual tiredness.

We have some wonderful weather at the moment though so I really don't have anything to complain about!

Monday 5 July 2010

So tired...

4th injection was had on Wednesday last week. All was fine, did not even flinch. I have got used to it and the nurse is well practised now! However, the tiredness still knocks me sideways. It is like being hit by a bus, the kind of tiredness that makes you ache from head to toe. It lasted all the way through the weekend, but I think that was partly the injection and partly that my Son was not well so I had broken sleep anyway.

The physical symptoms of Menopause seem to be really kicking in, sporadic bleeds, hot sweats, terrible skin and the occasional outburst of anger. But the physical symptoms of PMDD are almost gone. You could say that the anger was related to one of three things, could be PMDD, Menopause or the trauma. Maybe I am just an angry person??!!

I don't have any crippling pain anymore, no fear of the coming weeks which led to the anxiety and panic attacks and no suicidal tendencies at the end of two weeks of hell. I do still get the panic which rises when I am out of my comfort zone. Being in our little town is like being in a bubble, same people out and about, regular faces and familiar sights, so stepping outside of that is hard. I can go to see family and I can go to unfamiliar places with family, but outside of that I know I can't do it. Not yet anyway. I am getting better though, it was only last year I was too scared to even drive anywhere. For me to not drive I must have been in a bad way, I love driving, it was the one thing I could not wait to do. I took my first driving lesson on my 17th birthday and passed my test within 3 months!

There are only two more injections before my review. I am trying not to get my hopes up that there will be a unanimous decision to get me in for surgery to have a full hysterectomy quickly. But that is what I want. My life is still pretty much on hold until I know that is the answer, there are things I want to do but I can't commit to them until I know what the timescale of completing my treatment is. But I do know I want a hysterectomy, my life is transformed by these injections and if this is how life will be then I want it. I want life to be like this all the time, without fear of the coming weeks and the constant worry about how I will feel the next day or next week or whether I need to hide indoors because I can't go out for fear of bleeding and flooding the place!

Roll on September.