Stay quiet about it; no one is interested.

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Read on, if you’re interested……

 

 

 

Born into a family of eight. Parents too busy to notice. In a queue for attention. Invisible and voiceless.

 

Aged 13yrs badly performed abortion. TOLD by mum to tell no one.

 

Recovering at home, brother sexually, physically and mentally abused me.

 

Aged 15yrs went to local social services asking for help. Told I can go to homeless unit BUT the manager turned out to be a neighbour. Didn’t go.

 

 

 

Mid-twenties, I got married and very happy. Stomach pains.  Told GP. Diagnosis; a full bladder.

 

Second opinion and hospital admission tests. Given choice, try for a baby now or further tests.  Baby born close to first wedding anniversary. Three months later diagnose ovarian cancer. Surgery, treatment and slow recovery/adjustment.

 

 

 

Lost sense of femininity. Not working. Baby grows and goes to school. Not what? College to catch up on lost education.

 

 

 

Work, part time/fulltime and volunteer work. Life is good.

 

 

 

Father dies then Mother dies…..! I have a volcano of emotions erupt from deep core of me. Siblings not accept me. Estrangement from family. Diagnosis, deep seated clinical depression. Outcome, long term medication and many therapies later, life is calm.

 

 

 

Fell downstairs at home. Spine surgery. Using wheelchair.  Physiotherapist explained, need to accept. Husband pushed me to one side at the supermarket so he could do the shopping quickly. Huge sense of abandonment. Physiotherapy, specific regular exercise and determination… back on feet with a stick!

 

 

 

Return to work problematic. Employer wanting to dismiss me under Capability Procedure. I fought and got retirement on ill health grounds.

 

 

 

On holiday, no sun tan just a sore throat. Later stuffy nose. Woke up…no smell no taste. Doctor prescribed sprays and sprays and sprays. ENT endoscope diagnosis nothing wrong. Accept it.

 

 

 

Depression creeping back. Mindfulness practice. Hearing loss? Yes. Hearing aid yes?

 

2017 - Wearing glasses, one ear working, nose and mouth out of action. Sense of touch? Yes!

 

 

 

For me, acceptance and adjustment is tough. So, I get tough!

 

Isolation and depression is the worst of Anosmia for me.  Information is knowledge. With awareness and knowing of others’ anosmia is empowering me to overcome another aspect of life.  Smell training now.