Flights booked Mount.Kilimanjaro Feb 2015!

Hello everyone

It's finally after all this time becoming reality! yes folks the flights to Tanzania are finally booked - wow such a long time since I set the challenge in 2010 but finally after many set backs is going to happen. So Becky, Ali and myself will fly out from Manchester on Jan 30th to JRO - Kilimanjaro's international airport and won't return to the UK until Feb 17th!

We haven't booked our actual climb yet but have been checking various companies out, emailing them etc. We are going to narrow it down to about half a dozen and then make a decision within the next couple of months.We are still going to be doing the Lemosho route and hopefully we'll be able to bag a bargain for a safari with the same company!

So we've been getting our gear together and I think we've all nearly finished. I've still some stuff to get, but will leave it until nearer the time for now. Bec's has had her first jabs and I'm booked in with the nurse for mid September to start mine. Will let you know which jabs I have to have when I find out. I've had to start a long way out with my jabs as they can only be administered into my left arm.....so unlike many years ago when I went to India and left it until the last minute and had to have both arms and my butt done in one day....I'm been organised and getting it done in a timely fashion.

Bec's GP surgery have told her the Rabies jabs isn't needed and so I will keep my fingers crossed mine say the same but will go with their recommendations of course.

So I've decided to hit my bike in order to get some stamina and endurance training in, on top of my daily mileage with my business....and then of course it's plenty of hill walking on top of that. So hoping for no knock backs as I crack on with my training for my once in a lifetime Mt.Kili climb!

Now looking at things to see and do while in the area, we'll see what we can do/afford or even have the energy for after our climb!!

So my current health is:-  I'm fully recovered from having my gallbladder out, still getting sharp pains on and off, no idea if that is normal or not. Although I wasn't told or given any dietary restrictions/information I have discovered myself that I'm doing badly with dairy. Can't stomach a yoghurt without been violently sick and I have very little tolerance for milk....but that's been like that for a long time now, in fact since my chemo days.

I've not been called back to the hospital and breast clinic as of yet and I guess I should contact them to find out what the hell is happening. I did finally get a letter telling me my mammogram looked fine, nothing about the ultrasound I had to have to check out the lump that was discovered at my last clinic appointment ( luckily for me the radiologist told me it wasn't anything to worry about ). But I still haven't been officially given the 5 year clear or released from the hospital, I have no idea what is going to happen from here on in and quite frankly I am not impressed with the after care I received from the hospital in general.

My invasive treatments and the care I was given through that was second to none and I still as you know go see my old chemo nurses fairly regular. But since then it has been nothing short of a shambles with my 6 monthly check ups and a new doctor every time I've gone. I will be good and get hold of my breast specialist nurse to find out if I'm done with them or not. In January the doctor had said it was in no way definite that I would be released and sent on my merry way this July just gone....but after my second scare of the year I've no clue!

As for the pain in my left, I have the first of my exploratory procedures to try get to the bottom of my 2 year pain. I'm scheduled for a Colonoscopy on Oct 3rd, so we will see where this now leads.....me?....I hope it leads to a pain free period of time!

My consultant has said if nothing shows up from this procedure it will be followed up with a CT scan and again if nothing, then a MRI. Where the medical staff in Leeds believe it's bowel issues, my consultant doesn't think so, he thinks my spine......so I said well why not go straight for the MRI, surely it will show everything up and save money. He however wants to do it this way round!

I just want answers and fingers crossed a solution, it would be swell to be able to crack on with life without something lurking in the background for a bit.

Until next time

Tracy