I decided to write about my passion for gardening past, present and future.
I have been ill suffering with Lyme Disease since May 2003 but at last after long term antibiotic treatment getting my life back and can again enjoy my garden.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
BIRDSONG IN THE WILD WOODS
If you turn the volume right up and start the video you can listen to the bird song as you scroll through the photos below.
The photos are of my and Beth's walk in the Wild Woods, near the end of the walk I felt that photographs alone just didn't catch the magic of a walk through these woods and so decided to take a video, not for their pictures but so I could capture the bird song. I forgot that we were nearing the road and so there is a whooshing sound from the cars near the end. Nevertheless the bird song was such a delight.
Down the track from the road.
This area used to be a lake but is down to just a trickle these days.
Another magnificent Oak tree. There are several around this area.
Beyond this fallen tree is a track which leads to the road, between two fields it would be a wonderful place to walk if only it were not so overgrown.
Beth leading the way while I decided to take the video with the bird song.
Neat walk through the woods, made me think of the Biblical verse where God tells us to stay on the straight path, the more narrow one in life. We have to choose, thanks ! Gina
I enjoyed listening to the birds as I scrolled through the pictures. I love the sound of them through the trees. It's just so relaxing looking, beautiful!
What an enchanting wood and I am listening to the birds singing as I write this ... what a great idea! Magical Joanne! I love the Oaks! I am trying to recognize the songs and calls but cannot... surely there must be thrushes ... I wonder don't our birds speak the same language. Do you know the bird calls and songs that were played. I want to go and watch the video now. ;>)
You have done a splendid job, Joanne. I enjoyed listening to the sounds of the wild and I feel like I am walking with you in the woods. It makes it so real. Cheers!
These photos make me think of the many walks I took when I lived in France ans Germany. How wonderful to experience the walk through your photos! Thank you!
Yes I know it is August now but these were July photos and as with most things in my life I am running behind. Where does the time go? ...
LYME LIFE written 2009
I started suffering with arthritis in mainly my large joints especially my knees 6 years ago. The symptoms varied and I remember saying that every joint was affected except my elbows to one doctor. I was told it would be hormonal and to take the usual supplements cod liver oil or glucosamine ( I would certainly recommend buying shares in the companies producing these supplements) They had no noticeable affect.
All my symptoms deteriorated significantly over a few weeks, 4 years ago. Hips shoulders and knees being the worst and I started with muscle weakness in upper arms and upper legs. I had difficulty standing and walking across a room. I was unable to walk upstairs and my husband was making plans to convert to a downstairs bedroom. I had seen 5 doctors and 3 Rheumatologists and put on steroids for Poly Myalgia Rheumatica diagnosis. I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.
I have X rays and scans showing signs of osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. I have been retired early from the Civil Service having lost my job not to mention my earning potential.
My illness seemed to progress through my body not affecting the same joints left to right at the same time. I had bursitis in left hip, right hip, left elbow. I had synovial thickening in both wrists. At that time I could not lift and hold a magazine so lifting a kettle I could only do if a third full and with two hands. Each joint in my hands fingers feet and toes were affected. I had swallowing difficulties and many other symptoms. None of this describes the endless and awful pain whenever I moved or the tiredness but inability to get quality sleep.
Two years ago my GP gave me Amoxicilin for a sinus/throat/chest infection. All my arthritis symptoms improved. The course ended the symptoms deteriorated I started a second course the symptoms improved. The improvement was more significant than when I had started taking steroids. This led my GP to suspect Lyme Disease. I laughed because we do not travel abroad but she said they had had other cases in the surgery in the early stages of tick bite and Erythma Migrans rash. She said, but you have not had a bite. I said oh yes I have I had two on my ankles with rashes, March 05 this was confirmed on her computer at the time I had seen a locum doctor. My worst symptoms were waking up feeling rigid and having to painfully flex every joint in my body before struggling to get up. The only other time I had experienced this was in May 2003 during a flu like illness like no other I had ever experienced. At that time I had a bite and similar rash on my right foot which lasted like the other rashes about four weeks. I had also consulted the surgery and it was dismissed as a virus. I walked our dog daily in the woods adjacent to our house where the deer roam, prime tick area.
Thus started my very lengthy search about Lyme Disease leading me through http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ to a doctor who specialises in this illness. He confirmed my GP's suspicions. I never had a positive blood test but then they are antigen tests and there is much research that shows they are unreliable. In my case the year of steroids and many weeks antibiotics could have affected the results. So with a clinical diagnosis and following ILADS International Lyme and Associated Disease Society guidelines I continued on antibiotics for two years. Both my doctors continued to treat me despite the Health Protection Agency advising against long term antibiotics. I am now nearly 100% recovered I have no pain or muscle weakness. I can walk upstairs something I could not do for three and a half years. I can garden do house work and live a normal life. I still need to pace myself and with only a few months to 60 will not be looking to return to work.
Life is such a joy.
Sadly there is much controversy about Lyme Disease and doctors in UK are taught that it is so rare. Well where I live in Guildford I have been in contact with a dozen other people with it so perhaps not so rare as HPA would like us to believe. I am in touch with nearly 2000 other patients through a chat line Eurolyme most had been misdiagnosed with several other illnesses.
Look at UK charity http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ if you want to read more about this illness. There are many MP's taking an interest in the problems surrounding diagnosis and treatment see above charity links into a recent meeting at the House of Commons.
Thank goodness there are some thinking doctors around who have courageously treated me against opposition and I have made such a miraculous recovery albeit rather a lengthy one.
One day there will be many more people who are helped with their chronic illnesses when IDSA starts taking note of what our courageous LLMD’s are doing following ILADS Guidelines.
ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Poly Myalgia Rheumatica, Arthritis, Bell’s Palsy, MS,MN, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Heart Block, Stroke, Psychiatric, gastric problems the list is endless. Not all suffering from Lyme Borrelia but how many are even properly assessed for it.
Neat walk through the woods, made me think of the Biblical verse where God tells us to stay on the straight path, the more narrow one in life. We have to choose, thanks ! Gina
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I turned on the sound. It feels like I am walking there myself! Thank you, Joanne!
ReplyDeleteOh! I do like woods.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos.
Esther
Nowhere on earth as peaceful as in the woods.
ReplyDeleteYou can hear the silence as well as the birds.
I think if everyone would take a walk through the woods on a regular basis, there would be no wars.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed listening to the birds as I scrolled through the pictures. I love the sound of them through the trees. It's just so relaxing looking, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWhat an enchanting wood and I am listening to the birds singing as I write this ... what a great idea! Magical Joanne! I love the Oaks! I am trying to recognize the songs and calls but cannot... surely there must be thrushes ... I wonder don't our birds speak the same language. Do you know the bird calls and songs that were played. I want to go and watch the video now. ;>)
ReplyDeleteYou have done a splendid job, Joanne. I enjoyed listening to the sounds of the wild and I feel like I am walking with you in the woods. It makes it so real. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThere is something magical about a walk in the woods. i love listening to the birds sing, It's as though they welcome me to their home!
ReplyDeleteThese photos make me think of the many walks I took when I lived in France ans Germany. How wonderful to experience the walk through your photos! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! It looks so peaceful. I loved the birdsong, too.
ReplyDelete