After a failed attempt in December 2017 to get to the highest tops on Dartmoor in the the North (At that time I was exhausted, I thought it was because I was fat and out of shape – I was, but I think the SLE played a part!), it was time to try again. And boy, I was on a mission during that week, 7 days of late summer walking on the moor and I saw so much and with hardly anyone about. Photo’s came out great and there was time to ponder on what the SLE meant to me. I was getting tired after each day, not losing weight and ached to high heaven. My blood pressure felt high, I suspected I had a stomach ulcer and I looked tired all the time. I took a photo of myself to check, and saw the rash across my cheeks that I had read as indicative of lupus, and bear in mind, this was my early days of really understanding what I had developed.
I remember sleeping a lot and taking analgesia for the pain, but was to have confirmation of SLE. I think this was one of my best trips yet, as I felt free, able to choose where I could go, stayed at some fantastic places (campsites and wild camping), without the dog this time and felt alive, but with a doubt of how long this continue.
A visit to my Consultant confirmed my concerns, and soon after I found with the most understanding and helpful GP I have ever met in my life. I was referred to a cognitive behavioural therapy based mindfulness course, and it was discovered that I was owed a very large amount of leave that enabled my to take my worst day of the week off (Monday!), and at this time dropped all notions of attempting to gain promotion and focus on my own wellbeing. Which was hard, and I’m still learning to do – maybe one day I’ll get the hang of it). My journey into woo was about to begin.
Walking with the Wolf 