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Friday 8 April 2016

We have Siskins! (and a health update)

I'm back in the land of blog! Where have I been - well we got out for our first camping trip this week, and we were busy over the weekend packing up and organising - the first trip takes more time as you are figuring out where to put things. Anyway I'll tell you all about that in another post, for now it's about birds! Our Swallows are back, so are the Chiffchaffs who are singing their hearts out although I have yet to hear a Blackcap singing here.

What has delighted us in the last few weeks though is to have a different species of bird visiting our feeders! It's not the first time we have seen Siskins in the garden, as they are on my garden bird list, but it's been many a long year and I'm not sure if they ever fed on the feeders before (unlike previous houses where they were regular winter visitors).

Photos are taken through the kitchen window and the birds look different colours depending on the camera and the light conditions.

First of all a couple of females visited for a few days.




Then a male arrived, swiftly followed by another, so we had two of each species here. They were only interested in the fat balls and not the peanuts at all. Fat balls don't make for very pretty photos though!



Both species together have a bit of a barney in the next three photos, which I found quite amusing!




Health Update

I had my six month checkup which this time was an ultrasound of the abdominal/pelvic area and I'm happy to say that all was clear. I was told this by the doctor doing the test and had to wait to receive his written report where it confirms it. On Tuesday I'm seeing my Oncologist and I have to have a blood test for a couple of cancer marker tests, but I can't imagine they will show anything untoward as they never shot way up even when I did have cancer!

I saw my own GP recently as I was fed up with the infection between my buttocks which hadn't got any better since I saw the surgeon about it back in December and took the ABs which hadn't worked. My GP was concerned and said she thought I should see a dermatologist about it, and even phoned the hospital herself to tell them to see me urgently. As luck would have it, I managed to get an appointment the same afternoon as my ultrasound. Well blow me down, if it wasn't an infection at all, but psoriasis!!! Apparently it can flare up after a trauma, and reading about it afterwards it says that if you are predisposed to having psoriasis then things like injury, surgery and emotional stress can all be triggers to set it off. As my mother and her father before her all have/had psoriasis then it's not surprising. 

I also have it on the palms of my hands - this one is pustular and in fact started before I got ill. It then disappeared all the time I wasn't well only to come back again a few months ago. Yet another skin condition that chemo killed off, even though this one was only temporary. I now have some steroid cream which is helping my butt area which is much better, although there's not much improvement with my hands yet.

I also bit the bullet and discussed my depression with my GP who has prescribed me some anti-depressants. I've been taking them for two weeks now and these particular ones are supposed to start working as quickly as a couple of weeks, so we will see if I start jumping for joy any time soon...... I really hope so.

The neuropathy is definitely getting better although it is still doing so very slowly. Typing is improving now so long as I remember to cut my fingernails short! I don't even notice it in my hands a lot of the time. It's also getting a lot easier handling cameras and turning knobs and dials.

I'll leave you with this Speckled Wood which is the most common butterfly here, and who have been out and about this last week when the sun has been shining.


26 comments:

  1. It's obviously the week for clear results! I am happy for you. Don't expect to feel radically different on the antidepressants. I found that I gradually realised I felt generally better - nothing momentous - just better. The psoriasis is a bit of a bugger isn't it? I hope that too sorts itself out soon. Lovely siskin photos! xx

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    1. Thanks Sandra, yes it great news all around! Interesting about the antidepressants, as I have no idea how they work really. Well I'll just wait and see. xx

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  2. It is exciting to see new birds in the yard!! Our pine Siskin come in the winter...they like seeds left in the garden and come to feeder. You have some great shots, even from the window :) Glad you had some good news on the health front!

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    1. Thanks Juliet. We've had them on feeders before long ago, but it was getting a bit boring with the same few birds feeding here, so a lovely surprise to see them, and they keep coming back. :-)

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  3. Nice Siskin shots Mandy, and pleased your results are clear :-). I saw my first Swallow in Brittany on 31st March a day earlier than 2015, it was great to see them back again. I am now in Yorkshire so another week or two before they arrive here.

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    1. Hi Ian, sorry for the slow reply. I checked with my OH and he saw the first swallows here on 22/3 which isn't the earliest we've ever seen them, but not the latest either. Strangely haven't heard any blackcaps although we saw and heard plenty 'down south' near Sarzeau, gulf of Morbihan. It's nice that you get to see your first swallow all over again in Yorkshire! :-)

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  4. Good news all round and brilliant photography as usual. You make it look so easy! Enjoy the sun and the bugs and birds :)

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    1. Thanks very much, Maggie. I'm looking forward to full butterfly season! :-)

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  5. I'm so pleased to hear your that your results are clear. That's great news. :) I hope the psoriasis clears up soon.
    I love the photos of the Siskins and the butterfly.xx

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    1. Thanks Deb - I'm happy too of course! Glad you like the photos. xx

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  6. So pleased to hear that your results were clear. I am so sorry to hear about the psoriasis but hope the cream works and also hope the anti-depressants help.

    Lovely lovely photos - we once had Siskins regularly feeding for several winter months but these days we just get sporadic visits as they are passing through in Spring. First Chiffchaff and Blackcap seen here too yesterday but no swallows yet.

    Look forward to hearing about the camping trip :)

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    1. Thanks very much Ragged Robin. I was so surprised to hear my 'infection' was psoriasis! It is getting better with the steroid cream, though still no change re the antidepressants. This is why I am having a hard time catching up with blogs as I don't feel very chatty very often and am not doing social media so much. :-( I haven't even downloaded my photos off my cameras from our trip last week! But I'm going to do that today and spend time sorting through them as I took a lot. Will try to catch up with some of your posts too.

      Still waiting for a blackcap here - think I heard one the other day but it's hard sometimes when there is such a lot of bird song at the moment! :-) xx

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  7. My work colleague takes cyclosporin which clears her severe outbreaks very quickly, probably not an option for you though.

    The second Mrs Siskin looks so sad!

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    1. I looked that up Simon, that sounds pretty heavy duty and I don't need that thank goodness. Luckily my psoriasis was not of the itchy kind either. I looked back at the photo mentioned and yes I agree! :-)

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  8. Lovely photos of the Siskins. I've yet to see any here - I'd love to. We have Swallows, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps back but are very short of butterflies. I haven't seen a Speckled Wood this year.
    All best wishes with your health and treatments. That is great that you had some good news.

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    1. Thanks Wendy - I'm glad I had good news too so I can enjoy this summer and all our planned trips without any worry! :-) I looked back at my garden bird list and I've noted Siskins only two times before so this is definitely special because they hung around for about two weeks. Still to hear a blackcap here!

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  9. Great that your results were clear and hopefully the cream will help with the psoriasis.
    I've never heard of a siskin, they have very pretty markings.
    That butterfly is beautiful too.
    Look forward to hearing about your trip away.

    Philippa xx

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    1. Thanks so much Philippa. I haven't even got my photos off my cameras yet but plan to do so today (that's part of my lack of motiviation, can't even be bothered to sort through photos, how sad is that). We had a great time though and I'll endeavour to get a post up about it in the not too distant future! I plan to book our ferry journeys today too (yet another thing I keep putting off due to lack of motivation) so I'll email you when I have that sorted. xx

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  10. Super images of the Siskin and the Speckled Wood Mandy.
    Hope you will be jumping for joy like a mad woman very soon.{:))

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    1. Thanks very much Roy! I don't care how mad I look, I do hope so! ;-)

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  11. So pleased with the good news, with the cream and tablets you will be a new woman.
    I can tell you are feeling better as it shows in your photos, they are stunning.
    I've had no Siskin this year, in the garden or at the park. Other years it has been much colder to get them coming into the garden.
    Amanda xx

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    1. Many thanks Amanda. I did have a great day yesterday, hopefully it will be the first of many! Well at least we didn't have to suffer a cold winter this year, it is worth you not having Siskins I reckon. :-)

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  12. Glad to hear you've had clear tests and that you have found some answers to the skin problems and depression. What a lot you've been dealing with! Spring has come just in time for you. I always feel better for being outside and can't wait to actually get some patio furniture out this weekend at long last. Your photos of the pine siskins are wonderful. They look like scrappy little fellows arguing over perch rights! We have them in Ontario, but sadly they have never graced my feeders. Have a wonderful weekend!
    Wendy

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    1. Wendy, thanks so much for your lovely comments. I've just got back from another camping trip so feeling great, but I have been very up and down. Still, better to have some ups, I think that is progress. We've been bird watching for four days now so I'm a bit birded out. :-) Take care!

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  13. Lovely to see you well, busy, in the garden, and enjoying a delicious lunch!

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    1. Thanks so much Diana. I'm beginning to feel some joy again in my garden and with all the lovely things that spring brings forth. Getting away from home has helped a lot too. xx

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