First off, apologies for the bad photograph, all I could find was a camera via a phone today as my own camera’s batteries need charging! This has been a very difficult week, computer problems, sickness, tiredness, work stress, general feeling blah and sore and tired and fed up. Last night I cried myself to sleep like a baby because I’ve started having all the symptoms that yet another cyst is about to burst (this will mean 3-5 days of agony and potentially another hospital stay! grr!) but I decided today HAD TO BE DIFFERENT! I don’t know when it will burst, could be today could be Monday, but I need to change how I feel and cope, so I got up, took my hormones did some deep breathing and told myself that I have no control over how many times I am sick, or how many times I feel nauseous or how much pain I have or how long they keep me in the hospital, but I have control over my actions and how joyful my heart is, so I decided I needed a plan.
Firstly I needed to focus on 10 things that would make me feel better so I:
- went swimming,
- went for a walk by the sea
- got myself a hot chocolate
- did a grocery shop for under £20 (yippee!)
- got the Saturday papers (a rare treat!)
- plan to do a Bible Study
- will read my favourite scriptures
- will do a quick clean up of the place to ensure that when the cyst strikes I can simply focus on resting, meds and sleep
- plan to get some work related things done even though it is Saturday, again this takes the pressure off!
- am going to phone a friend who lives in Canada.
- will check & comment on all your blogs this evening (this one always makes me feel at peace!)
I feel better already :0)
So despite the fact that I have to miss some important things I’d been looking forward to for months, yes months, because of the nausea & pain and yet another nasty cyst which is about to make itself known, I’m really trying to view this simple weekend as a blessing! Note the word trying, it’s a work in progress as I’d rather be doing something fun!
So what did I already have in my fridge, freezer & cupboards?
Fridge
- carrots
- cheese
- 1 zucchini aka courgette
- cherry tomatoes
- a few strawberries
- a few potatoes
Cupboards
- red lentils
- beans
- flour, sugar, seasonings
- can of tuna
- pasta
- chopped tomatoes
Freezer
- Chicken
- 1 large steak (will do for 2 people)
- Frozen Peas
- 1/2 loaf of granary bread
So what did I buy? Well I went to trusty Sainsburys and bought:
Fruit & Veg
- lemons
- blueberries
- kiwi fruit
- broccoli
- leek
- pears
- bean sprouts
- avocados
Dairy & Meat
- organic milk
- 2 fage yogurts with honey
- soured cream
- 2 small pieces of chicken
Cupboard
- ketchup – was on sale for 1/2 price – I ran out of mine this week and thought it would be weeks before I could find some in budget!! What a find!
- 3 chocolate soya milk boxes (trying to have more snacks during the day to get rid of all day morning sickness – and I’m not pregnant – just a reminder!)
- Food Dr seeds mix (going to try them to see if they prevent nausea)
- Museli muffin
- Falafel mix
- peanut butter
- water
- pumpkin seed roll
My total came in at £19.41!
I should add I purchased more food as I bought several things in the basics range as my local Sainsburys was simply out of most organic things! This does let me stock up & freeze, so as long as it isn’t a weekly issue I’m fine with it!
Plans for the week
Breakfasts:
- Homemade smoothies
- Fruit Salads with a tablespoon of peanut butter
- Homemade pancakes x2
- Muesli muffin
- Yogurt with fruit x 2
Lunches:
- Tuna sandwich with cherry tomatoes & fruit
- 3 Bean salad with grated cheese & fruit
- Homemade carrot & lentil soup x 2 with homemade pear sauce
- Leftovers x 3
Dinners:
- Veggie Stirfry x2 (beansprouts, broccoli, peas, onion, carrots, plus protein – with lentils or beans or chicken)
- Baked potato with grated cheese and lentil pea salad
- Steak with broccoli & avocado carrot salsa
- Roasted chicken with mashed potato (with a twist!) and carrots
- Lentil Dahl with avocado slices & pears
- Homemade pasta dish (uses the sour cream) with peas
I may even have enough to make a leek soup too which I will freeze for next week.
Of course, if things go as they probably will I’ll have a couple of days of no eating, so this might end up stretching to a 10 day shop!
So today, while I don’t feel great (evidence in the fact I have hot water bottles strategically placed!) I feel like I’m in the process of getting those things that need to be done done, so I can focus on going with the flow while I need to. If I disappear for a while, you know why :0)
Diana – the book arrived, thank you!!! I haven’t opened the pressies yet, will do as soon as I get those camera batteries charged!
And that big announcement I’ve been hinting at – it comes Monday!
Also somehow my last post disappeared, very strange!
I’ve just had a thought, I must just spend the rest of the day, once I’ve accomplished my list, knitting. What sums up a simple weekend more completely? Nothing but those two needles and wool.
I’ll probably update this post and let you know how I got on!
Sorry to hear you are feeling worse again! Hope that you are wrong
and you will be ok!
Thanks for the constant shopping lists, keeps me focused when I ‘want’ to fill a trolley load but don’t need to!
and I CANNOT wait to find out what this announcement is!
Stacey x
So sorry to hear that you are not feeling great … in the circumstances the knitting sounds a good therapy.
Look forward to Monday’s announcement.
xx
oh it’s painful when they burst! I hope you feel better soon,rest up, and I’ll be checking back on the big announcement!
Great shop!
I hope you’re feeling better
ouch. you poor thing. I cant imagine how you must feel. wishing you health
I’m so sorry you have another. Why can’t they remove the cysts?
Feel better soon!
Jessica
Thanks for posting your menu ideas. I love the food you obtain in your shopping. And keep telling myself that I need to eat this way more often. So, this gives me some great ideas. Thanks!
Speaking of, strawberries are in season right now. A Strawberry Banana smothie sounds deliscious right now.
Hope you feel better!
I love your little steps. Have you seen this? They email you a bible study each day and the aim is to read the whole bible in a year.
http://www.htb.org.uk/one-year-bible/overview
I am on day 2.
Hang in there…..Nice you have some yummy foods and knitting to get you through.
I will be lifting up prayers that you will feel better soon!
~Renee
Keeping you in my prayers, FT… Sounds like you’ve got a good attitude, even with everything you’re being dealt…
I also can’t wait for Monday’s announcement!!
Hi there-what a fabulous shop my dear, very inspiring. I do wish you a speedy recovery my dear, take care and look after yourself.
Hope you feel better soon, look after yourself.
my DIL has these cysts. They had to operate once as the cyst had wrapped itself around the ovary and she would had lost the ovary if they hadnt. She has had two children and has been on the birth control pill ever since. I guess the doctors think she will have to be on the pill for the duration.
I love your attitude!! I’m so sorry you are feeling badly and you are in my prayers right now. Thank you for your lists and meals, I’m learning so much from them. Blessings, Heather
your positive attitude is more than half the battle, dear. keep up that can-do-despite spirit, that’s healing in and of itself! most yogis know that eventually, if you “sit still” long enough, everything passes, even pain.
have you tried ginger in your recipes? helps with digestion, nausea, etc. ginger tea, however, is by far my favorite. peppermint works in this category, too.
I found this recipe that I’m trying and since you also like lentils you may want to try it.
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/brown-lentils-and-rice-with-caramelized-onions/print
I can’t wait for your announcement.
Dear Frugal Trenches Writer,
Oh, I am so sorry that you are feeling bad and I hope it will not be as difficult a time as you fear. But I am so inspired by the way you are dealing with it. You are a master of the art of mustering your wits in your own defence! Good for you! and Thank you.
I’m so sorry you are having trouble with cysts. I had female problems for 13 years and finally had a hysterectomy in 2000. I liked your list of things to make you feel better.
I am thinking about you and sending warm and caring thoughts your way. You are very brave and spirited. I know what a chronic health problem is like. It sounds like you are doing all the best things to take care of yourself. You inspire me and many other people.
I hope you are feeling better. I admire your way of looking at things positively.
Wow, even though you have been so unwell you’re positiveness is an inspiration to me
Thanks for sharing with us. Dinner at your house looks so healthy and fresh! I really hope your pain eases quickly. Looking forward to hearing your announcement when you’re well again. Take care!
I hope you are feeling better and being good to yourself taking it easy, I am hopeless when I’m ill so am taking a leaf out of your book!
Hope you are feeling better son FT.
Big hugs Babs xx
thinking of you and hoping the expected isn’t as bad as you expect x
how are you keeping? Hopefully a bit better? When those cysts burst or move, it is painful, I know I have been doubled over in pain with them…..what’s the big announcement?
Gill in Canada
Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Hope you feel better very soon.
Your shopping always amazes me. Ours came to £60 this week and we are on diets LOL. Mind you some of that was low fat replacements and animal food.
After looking at your post I resolve to do better next time!
I really hope you are feeling better…
Maria x
Dear FT,
Since you have not been blogging, I have begun praying for you; as you were not well at your last writing. God’s healing hand be upon you and may His peace surround you
Pat
Maryland
Oh, dear, it’s been eight days since you wrote this. Hoping you’re able to ride this out at home without a hospital stay… you’re in my prayers.
Still thinking of you FT,
Hope you are ok.
FT … hope all is well … we are thinking of you xx
(((Hugs))) Hope you are soon over this and feeling better. Knitting rules! lol! I too am finding that knitting (more fingerless mittens for the girls at the ms centre and focusing on my lent bible studies are helping me to focus while feeling ill.
Catz x
I too am sending you hugs. I am sorry that you are having these problems and hope they will be resolved in a good way soon. I’ve never had this problem myself and don’t know what to suggest for relief. But I send you my prayers.
I’m assuming that the evil cysts are being precisely that–EVIL….get better fast and come back soon and play with us.
It’s been awhile since you have posted so I fear you’ve made it to the hospital!
Best wishes for speedy recovery! We miss your blogging and can’t wait for your announcement!
Yay, someone else attempting a weekly shop for two for under 20 pounds! Proof that it can be done! Thanks for the inspiration….
We fed ourselves and two kids for £20 per week for a month. It can be done if you cook everything from scratch and really look at what you eat. We had plenty of veg/fruit; I baked bread, made soups, allsorts of good stuff. The £20 included toiletries, washing liquids, etc. Have fed more than this on that amount plenty of times before too.
I have just discovered your blog (via google search for articles of clothing actually) and I can’t believe how closely you resemble the way that I have been wanting to think and live for a while.
Also, I have cysts too… but thank god mine aren’t causing me any serious pain… except for the idea that I may never be able to have a family.
Thank you for your positive inspiration