2nd Feb 2011-MOAS +1 year.

So here it is, the one year anniversary of the MOAS. Where did that year go? It’s funny but it has stirred up a whole load of emotions that I thought I had buried.....just goes to show that it still lurks just below the surface whilst I happily go about my daily do, never far away.
As soon as I woke this morning it was on my mind “today was the day this time last year....” . I think that the fact that my first annual scan is also coming up has added to the moment as whilst I’m not actively worrying about it as there is little I can do about the outcome one way or another, again subconsciously it’s there, just below the surface.
On a positive note my recovery (whilst still ongoing) is going well, but a year down the line I’m still not quite up to full speed. I am running twice a week now and looking to step it up to three times a week with a long run on a Sunday within the next two weeks. The runs have become harder, longer and faster and I have a good group around me now who help me keep motivated. I have pre-registered for the Bristol half marathon in September and hope to run it with Steve Treweeks (Bumper from the Christies forum) and other friends and family who regularly run it. I need now to get some serious training in and plan also to do the Frenchay 10k in April.
I still get aches and pains particularly around the site of where the stoma once was and again put it down to the fact that I’m starting to push my body physically and re-building the core muscles. Again hopefully the CT scan on the 14th will confirm all is going well with the healing in that area. To compliment this I have also started working out again. Initially with resistance bands and then will move onto light free weights. This should then give me a good strong platform to run off again but must be done carefully to prevent things like hernia’s occurring.
My bowl has settled nicely now and it’s only in the last month that I can really say that I’m probably back to a point near normality. I have to still be careful about what and how much I eat but I think that this will be the way of things for me from now on.
In recent weeks I have also had a real push on trying to eat as healthily as I can. It’s always been a thing that I have tried to do with things like ensuring that I have my five a day with plenty of wholegrain thrown into the mix. I also drink green tea a couple of times a day. This should also help me with my training and building a stronger, healthier body again.
I’m really looking forward to this summer. We are trying to book a holiday somewhere at the moment and it will be great to spend some time with the family in the sun and enjoy being together as a unit and planning fun things to do together.
This last year would have been so much harder if I had not had the full support of so many beautiful people around me to help me get through it. My darling Tracey who has been a rock throughout all these difficult times, my beautiful daughters Jessica & Chloe, Mum and Dad, Joyce, Stephen & Lisa, Tina & Paul, Scott, Jon, Andy & Mark, Mum & Dad Bates, Dave & Carol, Steve & Anne, Derek and “H”, Steve Treweeks ,all the people from work and of course the Christies forum. And most importantly to the medical team at Basingstoke and the District nurses who got me through it all. Thank you all for all your help and support getting me through this last year you made it so much easier for me. So I raise a glass to you all and here’s to a healthy future......!