A slight case of overblogging

Sprained/chipped ankle: sufficiently better that most of the time I don't even remember I did it any more. Even when doing things like attempting to scale a climbing wall. Success.

Hyperparathyroidism/hypercalcaemia: Have appointment to see surgeon on 28th, at which point they'll make an appointment to actually have the operation and take my overactive parathyroid out. Relatively minor day surgery, will need to take calcium/vitamin D supplements for a while afterwards until the other three glands reset to normal operation.

Kidney stone: This is almost certainly caused by the excess calcium in my urine because of the above. CT scan results are in and I have a 4mm stone in my left kidney. At this size it's 50/50 whether it's worth treating, but since I have symptoms (pain again this Tuesday, and I can still sort of feel it now) the GP has referred me to have it broken up using external ultrasound. No idea how long this referral will take. In the meantime I still have enough diclofenac left to deal with the pain.

Metabolic Syndrome: Having lost some weight I've discussed this with my GP. Since I have a strong family history of diabetes it's very likely that even if I lose more weight I'm still going to get diabetes later. He'd rather I continued to take the Metformin and statins, since apparently they can have a protective effect and will hopefully delay its onset. I'm not terribly happy with this, but will review in maybe 6-8 months time, at which point I'll ask them to re-do all the sugar/cholesterol level tests too. This does mean I still can't drink.

Weight loss: 13kg so far to 97kg, which is over 10% of my weight and more than 5 BMI points. I expect to reach 90kg (around BMI 31.5, and my next target) by mid-September. I need to reach 85kg to no longer be classed as obese. Still following Slimming World online, still trying not to go on about it.

Things I have done recently:

• Joined slimming world's online site at http://bodyoptimise.com and spent a week following their plan
• Taken metformin and statins for just over a week: 1 day of nearly gagging while eating, 2 days of diarrhoea, now just the occasional gurgle.
• Despite the combination of the above I've not lost the huge lump of weight which is typically associated with the first week of a diet, but I shall persevere
• Had my first day back in the office, and resolved to start going in again next week. Stephen has offered me lifts, since I'm very nearly on his route to work anyway. I'm thinking about trying the bike after Easter.
• Been out to my first social event since doing my ankle in, the lovely Alison's lovely birthday party, with the most incredible Star Destroyer cake. It was nice to talk to people.
• Got a letter from the NHS asking me to use their "choose and book" system to get an appointment about the hyperparathyroidism. Only I could neither choose (only one choice) or book (no appointments available) so I rang them up and apparently Addies should write to me directly within the next 14 days and if not I should contact me GP and get them to talk to Addies about it.
• Had a go on the wii fit: 13 minutes of step and two balance games, and beat my previous scores. With a wii fit age of 29 but my highest weight ever. Though it's 161 days since I last tried it. Without my rides to work I need a little exercise of some sort. Ankle didn't mind at the time, tiny bit achy now.
• Ascended a monk in nethack! Only my second ascension ever, and the first time I've seriously played a monk at all. It was rather fun.

Don't expect regular weight or diet updates, I just want to quietly get on with it, rather than talking about it.

1:50 appointment, arrived nearly half an hour early due to having left myself loads of time to get the taxi. Appointment was about 50 minutes late, and took under 5 minutes.

I took off the boot, he poked both sides of the ankle to check where it hurt, said the x-rays showed there wasn't much to worry about. Said I can stop wearing the boot except where I find it helps. I asked when he thought I'd be able to start cycling again "4-6 weeks", and walking a mile to the bus stop "as soon as you feel up to it" which wasn't terrible helpful, and he said I knew where to find him if I have any problems, and that was it.

I kept the boot and crutches to get home with, but celebrated once I was home by walking from the sofa to the kitchen and back in bare feet and without crutches. And it was actually pretty easy, if not terribly fast, and didn't hurt at all, since I was careful not to bend it sideways. I have been rather suspecting that in some ways the boot has been hindering as much as it helps lately. And I only just got to the point where I could walk up and down the stairs with the crutches this morning.

I'm not quite sure what to do about work. I think walking a mile is probably still pushing it rather too much at the moment, and it's nearly that far to the bus stop. I guess I'll suggest that I continue to work from home this week any maybe give it a go next week - see what they think. Though it'll be up to Stephen since Caroline is holiday and James is off sick himself recovering from a bout of pneumonia that had him in intensive care!

Yesterday I spent the morning playing guitar hero then headed over to Ingi's in the afternoon for an evening of hanging out, eating tasty food, clothes swapping and singing along to musicals (Mamma Mia and Little Shop of Horrors). It was an excellent party, and we're thinking we might all do it again some time soon.

Today Mike and I headed out for a walk along the Shelford path towards Addenbrookes intending to go look at the obelisk at Nine Wells which a friend pointed out to me the other day (find one obscure obelisk in Cambridge, and another one turns up almost immediately!). Sadly we'd got about 3/4 of the way there when I stepped off the edge of the tarmac while looking for skylarks and twisted my ankle. Badly. It was clear after a couple of minutes that this was a real sprain, and we were going to have to postpone our walk. Only trouble was we were half a mile from the road. It took us quite a while to get back there, with Mike's very welcome support, and then a tenner for a taxi round the block to save walking the last 1/3 mile. Now I'm all lumpy and going purple but strapped up, keeping my leg elevated, and taking ibuprofen.

I feel very silly! I suspect I shall have to work from home tomorrow if at all. At least I can keep my leg up at the desk, with the help of one of the beanbags my sister gave us for Christmas. I can't help seeing the comic side of it, as well as the painful one.