Lost in the Labyrinth

Well, since I’ve finally found time in my life for blogging again, I’ve tried to remain pretty upbeat, concentrating on all the things in my life that are good. However, as a backdrop to these things, there have been some pretty crap circumstances that have left me, at times, feeling pretty low.

So far, I’ve deliberately shied away from talking about them in my blog as (to be honest) I get bored of hearing myself complaining about how crap I feel without inflicting it on others. However, although I’ve not really come to terms with how things are, I am more able to talk about it without complaining too much now. To be honest, I’d never heard of the condition I’ve ended up with or how awful it is, so to let other people know about it just seems right.

I’ve just re-read that paragraph and it makes my issues sound serious and in reality, they really aren’t. However, they do have a huge, life changing impact and it’s this that I’m struggling to come to terms with.

Basically, a couple of months ago, I started feeling a little ‘vague’ and struggling to concentrate, followed by quite intense pains in the left side of my head. As well as this, I then started to get shortness of breath and pins & needles in my face & limbs. As you can imagine, I felt pretty scared about all of these symptoms, but just put them down to stress. I tried not to panic and assume the worst though and went to the doctors to try to get it sorted out. However, things weren’t as simple as I’d thought. The doctor asked me to get some blood tests done and then come back to see him. This kind of worried me a bit as it meant in all likelihood that there wouldn’t be a simple answer. So, I had the tests done and nervously waited for the results.

After a week or so, I went back to find out the results and to my huge relief, they were clear of anything sinister. However, since my previous visit, my symptoms had worsened and I’d had a rather worrying attack of ‘vertigo’ or dizziness on the way to the station one night that had resulted in me falling over. From this point as well, the pains and numb patches has become increasingly worse too.

So, although the blood screening was clear, there was clearly still an issue.

The doctor to be very fair to him was excellent, asking me all kinds of questions about stuff that seemed (to me) irrelevant but were clearly a means to a diagnosis. After a seemingly endless list of questions, it turned out that I have Labyrinthitis – a nasty middle ear infection. In conjunction with this, I was suffering from increased levels of anxiety that were exacerbating the problem.

So, when I heard that it was nothing more serious than an ear infection I instantly felt cheered, but needed to know more about why I was feeling so dizzy. The doctor explained that labyrinthitis affects the tubes in the middle ear that control balance, the swelling of which cause very serious issues with balance and quite often sight. Clearly, this was something slightly more sinister than ‘just another ear infection’. So, over the past couple of months, my quality of life has gone seriously awry. Just walking around normally without feeling that a) I’m going to fall over or b) I’m going to be sick is a real challenge. The ‘vertigo’ (very similar to spinning bed syndrome when you’ve had a few too many drinks) hits me when I least expect it. Walking around, sitting at my desk, watching tv, anywhere. Add to this the fact that I am quite prone to anxiety and this has now gone into overdrive and you get a very unhappy situation.

The worst thing about it is that no-one else can see the problem, nor are there any outward signs that there is a problem. Consequently, it’s very easy for others to forget that I even have a problem. Also, it never, ever goes away. From when I wake up in the morning, to last thing at night, I feel distant and vague at the very least, like living my life through a long lens made with frosted glass. At worst I have at least one attack of vertigo which boosts the anxiety levels, making me feel like all my muscles are cramping and triggering the numbness. This really does suck. I’ve read that it could take anything from a month to several years to go, or maybe not at all. I’m hoping that it is sooner rather than later because at the moment, I’m struggling. Perhaps it will get better over time, I don’t know, but whatever happens, I won’t let it beat me. There are people out there with things far worse than this and I try to think about that to make myself stop moaning.

I have plenty of wonderful things in my life; my wife, my kids, my friends. Eventually, I (we) will beat this one way or another.

So, if anyone you know has this hideous condition listen to them, reassure them, tell them they’ll be ok. It’s something that will scare the pants off them, but with the support of friends, they’ll come through it.

:-)

A Welcome Return

This weekend I’m making another positive step in attempting to improve my life and hopefully my health. It has been over 12 years since I’ve done any field archery but this weekend will (I hope) be the first of its resurgence in my life.

Due to one thing and another, my health over the past six years has not been the best and that reason above all others has been a driving factor in me addressing what is really important in my life. There are so many things that I have put on hold to make way for (primarily) work and of course, family. However, as I get older, I realise that there should be a balance, and prioritising myself and my own health and welfare need to be in there somewhere too. So, archery is making a welcome return, initially to my life, but hopefully soon to my wife’s and when they’re old enough, my kids’ too. Archery is a great sport that the whole family can take part in.

I first started Archery in the early 1990s when I was at University. One weekend when Annie was at her local leisure centre doing a fitness class, I noticed a poster for an archery beginners’ course. I’d always been interested in archery and had fancied a go, so I decided that this was the thing for me. So, over the next 6 weeks or so, I became completely hooked on the sport. I also read up and decided that standing on a shooting line was not really for me. Fortunately, one of my very dear friends and his family already shot longbow so I knew about an alternative form of the sport, field archery. This, with my love of the countryside and wildlife (although the irony that you are shooting at targets shaped like, or depicting fluffy creatures is not lost on me!) seemed like an ideal fusion.

So, during one of my uni breaks, I approached Silvertree Field Archers in Lincoln (a club that I think is sadly not still going). They were immediately welcoming and friendly and I settled there really quickly.
I mentioned before that archery is a family sport and to prove this, within a few weeks of joining Silvertree, my dad, Annie and my father in law and my best friend had all become involved in the archery community as well. From this point, I really became immersed in the sport, spending as much time as I could practicing and reading about it. Within a few months, I wanted to take part in organised shoots and made the plunge at Charnwood Archers in Leicestershire. I can’t really remember how I did at the shoot (not very well I’m sure) but I loved the experience!

Field Archery can be done by more or less anyone. It is more difficult for young kids (because of the strain of drawing the bows) and disabled archers (who may find the terrain difficult), but generally, anyone can take part.
There are three commonly used types (styles) of bow; Recurve, Compund and Traditional (including English Longbow and Flat Bow). All of these can be used with varying degrees of gadgetry and add ons according to the governing body’s class system, from the self explanatory ‘barebow’ class to the ultra technical ‘unlimited’ class.

There are also various ‘rounds’ you can shoot as a field archer; Field, Hunter, Animal and 3D. The first two are shot at circular targets (like target archery but in woods) and the second two are at representations of animals to closely mirror bowhunting. Many field archers prefer the latter two because of the (often) challenging placement of targets and the varying location of the ‘bullseye’ (a term never used in archery!!) on each target. The latter two definitely offer the greatest challenge and are also great fun.

Basically, I can’t wait for this weekend. Archery is a fantastic sport and something I can’t wait to get back to.

Links: NFAS
EFAA