Unwell.

Hi. Does gastric flu explain the problems I have had since Wednesday evening?
6 months after the last episode which took me 6 weeks to get better!

Bethany.

The Wedding Day!!

Hi. Well, the big day for William and Kate has arrived!
Only 6 weeks ago Ernie and I were walking down the aisle.
Today we are celebrating with bacon butties for breakfast in front of the TV.
Ernie is ringing two quarter peals on the bells on the Isle Of Man.
Westminster Abbey are ringing alot today including a peal after the wedding.
I wish Kate and William well.
I also feel alot less light-headed today and hope to run lots today!

Bye, Bethany.

2 steps forward, 1back!

Hi. Well after a great day yesterday it is back to the floor today.
Yes, quite literally the floor.
I have felt light-headed all day and lying on the floor makes me feel a bit better.
I spent 2 hours with Mum and Aaron and enjoyed Port Jack Glen.
He is a cheeky monkey with the terrible twos!

The Masterchef final last night was amazing!
I wish I could cook half as well.

I am so pleased with my running.
27 miles in 7 days.
Today I might get on my feet and run later.
I am thinking about a running challenge on the island.
I tried to run 100 lengths of the Prom over 3-4 days 2 years ago.
I wonder if I can attempt something similar at the end of July or beginning of August?
I need challenges to focus on.
I need to beat this horrible illness.

Bye from the lounge floor,
Bethany.

Good going!

Hi. Well JOGLE 2011 is interesting.
Many congratulations to Steve who pulled out today at 20 miles on DAY SIX!
Well done.
All the best to Mike - the lone runner now with 10 more days of running ahead.

I have run 24 miles in 6 days with 4 more to do tonight.
I am getting stronger and the running is getting easier.
I am determined to run M2M - across Ireland in September - 30 miles a day for 11 days.
I cannot wait to get on the tour bus again and run and run.
i get pain in my legs sporadically for no reason.
it is the nerve pain from my illness.
I am getting better now and only 2 severe seizures in the past week have stopped me a bit.
Feeling positive, focussed and happy.
Ernie is fantastic and supportive.
It is good to see him happier now I am getting better.
summer will be a good one, starting with our honeymoon "cruise" on the Caledonian Canal.
Onwards and upwards,
Bethany.

Running again!!

Hi. Well, I am so happy to say it - I am getting better!

I ran 4.5 miles on friday and 9.6 miles on saturday to St John's - in the heavy rain.

I would have run to Peel if I had not been so wet!

I still am unwell at times.

Sitting still, especially in church, causes me almost to pass out.

I get short of breath too occasionally and I tire quickly.

The running went well with not many health problems - I struggled for the last mile.

The abdominal scan showed no problems and I am waiting for the results of the 24hr blood pressure monitor I had last week.

Ernie is very supportive and caring.

He fully supports my running.

It has been a pleasure to start gardening again and hopefully grow more veg.

I am watching JOGLE closely and hope to run it next year.

4 of the 7 runners have dropped out by the end of day 3.

Bye, Bethany.

Wedding Photos- March 19th 2011

Dysautonomia - the diagnosis!

Hi. It has been ages since I blogged but life has been difficult. The wedding was perfect - as is my wonderful husband. I have left behind Bethany Clague and am now Bethany de Legh-Runciman. I also seem to have left behind ultrawalking and ultrarunning. I have dysautonomia - an imbalance in my autonomic nervous system. I have 20 different symptoms from head to toe mimiking 11 different misunderstood diseases. Chronic fatigue, IBS, orthostatic hypotension, menopausal-type symptoms, shaking seizure-type episodes, pins and needles, restless legs.....on it goes. There is no real treatment, no cure but one day it may go away. I have had episodes of it for 16 years - this episode was brought on by the flu I had at Xmas. I am too unwell to run. At times all I can do is sit watching TV. I find it hard to read at times - trying to use my computer is not easy. However the "well hours" are getting better. But the "bad hours" are scary, unpredictable and there is not much help. Ernie, my Mum and my GP have been very supportive and understanding. Medical doctors have been useless as the tests have had have been normal as nerves cause the symptoms. It is a physical not psychiatric illness and is not caused by craziness but will make you crazy. This episode could last 2-4 years - I am adapting to a more sedentary life. Lots of people thought I was stressed out by the wedding - how wrong they were and I knew it. To be told that I should not marry Ernie as it was subconsciously making me ill was not easy to take - it was hurtful and so wrong. Ernie is my life. Without him i would not be here - this is a horrible, unpredictable and debilitating illness. Does anyone else have this illness? I feel very isolated by it. I have been told i am a "health and safety risk". controlled fainting episodes blight my life and are embarrassing. Any support from anyone would be welcome. I do not know when my next blog will be - I want to live a normal life. I want to feel well all the time. i want to run again. Bye, Bethany.