Coeliac Test Results And Low WBC - Living With The Wolf

What a day it has been! We’ve spent the day putting up a new fence. Not quite finished, but it’s getting there, and starting to look really good! We started it a couple of weeks back and did the back of the garden. Today, we started on the side of the garden. I’m not very strong, so even though I tried and help as much as I can with digging holes, breaking down the old fence panels, and nailing. My poor dad and Alex had to drag all the old concrete posts out and lift all the new ones in. My little sister came to help, which I’m ever so grateful for. More the hands the better. The stronger the better too!

Honestly, after seeing my performance today and how I couldn’t even lift a 20kg bag of cement, and my sister could, with no problem at all, it’s shocking how weak my arms are! I do upper body workouts all the time, lifting between 4kg to 5kg dumbells. But my upper body strength just doesn’t seem to improve! I don’t know why? But I’m determined to get stronger!

Here’s the progress so far (our first project in our new home). The back pannels I started painting a couple of weeks ago. They will all be that colour once done!

Ok, before you say anything, I know crazy doing in this heat right? I was thinking the same before we started. I wasn’t sure how much we were actually going to get done, before it got too warm, and had to abort for the day. We started early to race the heat. Thankfully, it’s been quite a cloudy day where I live, so the sun hasn’t been beaming down on us, and the temperature has stayed in the mid-20s for most of the day! It’s only really this evening when it’s started to feel a bit warmer, the sun is has started to make more of an appearance! But even in the mid-20s, the heat has affected my chest. My chest feels really sore every time I breathe in. I have asthma and my lungs just can’t cope with warm or cold temperatures because of it. It drives me mad!

Lupus and the Heat

I was reading the other night how the warmer temperatures have an effect on our bodies with our Lupus. It was such an interesting read! I know the heat doesn’t make me feel well, but never really understood why, and if it was down to my Lupus or not. I’ve now learned it’s not just the sun that can flare our lupus up, but also the heat can with or without the sun. It can cause flare-ups, fatigue, joint swelling, inflammation of tissues that surround our organs, rashes, and a decline in red and white cell counts.

Interestingly, my white count has gone too low this week. First time in such a long time! I haven’t changed anything to my medication, and I’m not ill, so now wondering if maybe the heat is to blame? I can’t say for certain, but it’s interesting how it’s got too low after a hot few days at the end of last week, and into the start of this week. I had my blood taken on first thing on Wednesday, the day it started to cool down. Basically, my blood was taken after 5 hot days on the trot!

Please, all stay safe Monday and Tuesday, especially my Lupus warriors, asthmatic warriors, or anyone else who has underlying health conditions, where heat can make you feel worse.

Here’s something just to keep an eye out for:

Gel Mat

After seeing the forecast on Thursday, I started to panic! So I looked at ways to help to keep my body cool as we head into this crazy heatwave. I found some gel mats which you can put under your pillow to keep cool a night, to help you sleep and cool your body down. I gave them a go last night, and so far so good. But to be honest, it wasn’t very warm last night, so tonight will put them truly to the test!

Here’s what I’ve brought (please note it’s an affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3IK7wKe

Coeliac Test

I had my Coeliac Test this week. On Thursday I received my results. It was negative! I felt like it was a massive weight off my shoulders. Honestly, I wouldn’t have known what to do if I had Coeliac disease. My diet is already so restrictive, that I really can’t afford to cut anything else out! I didn’t think I had, but my Gastro wanted to double-check before ruling it out, which is a very good thing.

Anyways that’s it from me this week! I had a great weekend in the Peak District last weekend with Casper, with some friends. Next weekend I’m away again, this time with family celebrating birthdays, so probably going to take another week off from my blogs. I have to say I’m dreading Monday and Tuesday in the heat! Let’s just hope this weather doesn’t lower my white blood count than it already is if it is to blame!

Just before I go, here are some pictures from last weekend’s adventure: