Moving House

I have literally just moved into my own house which has done wonders for my mental health as I have got my own space, I am seeing my children everyday, I am doing my full hours at work plus a few more, I have a daily routine which really makes all the difference plus I get to see my friends on a more regular basis. I am really fatigued with trying to do everything all at once and as my Nanna says “Rome wasn’t built in a day” so I am having to pace myself so I don’t have a burn out because I want things nice before Christmas.

There are a few things to consider when moving house or at least things that *I* had to consider such as:

• Proving to my doctors surgery that I was back in the area even though I had previously rang up and explained the situation and I thought it was sorted. Sadly not three days before I officially moved into my own home they removed me as a patient and I had to wait a week for written proof to be taken in and sign up as a new patient all over again which was incredibly frustrating. However I was lucky enough to have had my smear test, B12 injection and order my months prescription all the week before!
• Getting in touch with your ostomy delivery company to update your new address and any “safe place” or notices for delivery drivers such as being able to leave with a neighbour. Most delivery companies allow you to create a temporary address or an alternative address for your supplies to be sent too whilst you are in the process of moving.
• How much help you may need to move; not all of us are able to lift heavy objects due to hernia’s (which obviously is where Comfizz support products can come in handy) or like me being pathetically weak but determined! I was lucky in the fact my parents, brother, Steven and my friend Craig (and his friend Tom) were all willing to help me move and drive around Hambleton and Teesside area collecting furniture and white goods along with moving my own items.
• Asking for help when needed; I don’t like asking for help and if I do ask it is because I have resigned myself to knowing I can’t do everything. I to others have invisible illnesses and disabilities but my body is often wracked with pain and weakness which is infuriating at the best of times.
• Knowing where all your medical supplies will be kept in your new place so you can easily gather items as you need to change or have a bath/shower but also in case of emergencies when it decides to leak!
• Remember that moving house is one of the most stressful events you can encounter in your life (along with getting married and having children) and you need to cut yourself some slack and rest.

I have slowly gone through these and not all of them have been sorted yet but I am trying not to beat myself up about it! For instance I haven’t changed my address with my delivery company yet but I am also fully stocked to my items right now so currently it isn’t a priority but it will be done when I need to order my next batch of supplies. Then comes having my supplies somewhere together and tidy. Well they are together but certainly not tidy! I need to collect my wicker tower from Steven’s and from there I can arrange the drawers with the relevant items and slot it under the sink. This will also allow me to check my supply so I don’t order more of things that I don’t need nor run out of things I do need.

Then there is remembering to rest! I get two days off a week like many people and they certainly don’t feel like days off when you have children to take to school! Ra-Ra is now at juniors which is one end of the village and Jacob is at infants at the other end of the village so by the time I have gotten home with Kobe I could have done nearly 2 miles of walking before 9am! Then all over again at pick up time! I often find if I sit down my day has gone as I’m that fatigued from having a haphazard diet and certainly not drinking enough that I end up falling asleep on the sofa! Or just become wrapped up on daft little games on my phone rather than doing little jobs like painting a wall here and touching up some paint there, or even just emptying one bag or box at a time!

I have the majority of things in and it absolutely feels like home which is all any one can ask for but I need to remember to pace myself and stop trying to lug heavyish items around the village when I know it could run the risk of hernia or joint damage. It is certainly easier when you ask for help. The most interesting thing was when meeting one of my neighbours they knew who I was from raising awareness of living with ulcerative colitis and having an ileostomy! I remember ringing one of my friends who also has a stoma and her saying “ohh you are famous!” obviously not quite but it was quite a humbling feeling to know people might have been helped by my raising awareness. Plus I also feel safe in the knowledge I could have her house as a possible safe place for my supplies to be delivered too!

Have you moved house since having ostomy surgery? Was there anything you had to think more about than if you didn’t have an ostomy?