I Changed My Life Around

Truth be told, up to the 5th of March 2014, I was still smoking.

I was drinking heavily too.

I loved every minute of that!

However, a visit to the hospital to see my brother's ex girlfriends mother upon the request of The High Priestess after finding out she suffered a stroke changed all that.

Oh, The High Priestess still kept in touch with Gdaran's ex girlfriend however, she only met her would-have-been in-law that very day. She explained the progression of events that lead to her landing on a hospital bed which got me over-thinking about myself and how terrible my lifestyle was.

The next day, 6th March 2014, I fasted.

I ended up with some gastric problem symptoms which I erroneously deduced as signs of possible stroke or a heart attack. My heart rate picked up and my pressure increased. As the pain in my stomach which (I would later find out was nothing more than indigestion, gastric and flatulence at once) ran through my hand I could not slow my racing heart as my mind was already forming images of pain and death!

Throughout the night I could not steady my mind. I finally gave up because, after forcing myself to fall asleep, I awoke an hour later in a sweaty state and realised my heart was still beating fast. Although I succeeded in calming myself down, my mind kept running back to my sweaty awakening eventually resulting in palpitations.

That's it! I woke mum up and she drove me to the hospital.

Doctors' (yes, I was attended by three of them) early diagnosis was that my lifestyle of drinking, smoking, eating unhealthy and stress had given me a gastric problem. Blood test results indicated raised cardiac enzyme levels which may have been due to the palpitations as my ECG was clear.

I spend a day in the hospital and had my first experience of a catheter in my hand. Yes, I have never been admitted to a hospital or had a catheter in my hand, not the one the use to administer saline and drugs at least (I've donated blood but that is no where as scary).

So I mended my ways;

I only ever drink two or three servings of alcohol and as infrequently as twice a month.
I quit smoking; COLD TURKEY, on the 6th of March 2014.
I have slowed down on caffeine to a cup decaf I have in the morning and an occasional cup of tea in the evenings.
I have started swimming.
I have started limiting my dinners to a minimum; most nights only having a cup of oats and two slices of bread if I am hungry.
I have brown rice or parboiled rice when I do have rice.
I have reduced my portions and started snacking on fruits instead.
Although not apparent, I have lost about 5 kgs.

God is right here with me.

I believe it, for without the adversity on the 6th of March 2014, I would have never mended my ways.