Thoughts & Prayers for Peace in art

Poweful read The Figurine by Victoria Hislop

Victoria Hislop

Victoria! Victoria! You are amazing ... just closed the book just now finished reading this wonderfully crafted story.. You have totally pulled me in on its journey as if there with the characters, felt emotion and reaction to the characters. Got quite protective of Helena in parts.. I love what you have done, you researched and we learn much in the story. Even the clever way you use Greek words and phrases then in the craft of the story we learn the meaning. Quite moved as reminds me of my times in Athens but for different reasons  to help Syrian refugees in Eleonas. But not visited islands.. .. now I have finished the book must catch up on cleaning lol as I could not put the book down a real absorbing page turner! Strong advice to those yet to read.. clean up in advance!.. and make sure lots of snacks in house as you will not wish to stop reading this thrilling book. THANK YOU 💞 Victoria I needed this escape into the adventure. 😘

 

Open Lab

On Thursday was another Brunel afternoon for Brunel Older People Reference Group there was an Open lab afternoon in Mary Seacole department. One of my spritely and youthful looking 80yrs old neighbour from the next street to me asked to come along. We had a brilliant time together with the team of researchers and other members of BORG. We retired folk have a lot of life and career experiences in us and it is a wonderful feeling for young and old to learn and share with one another.  There is some important work going on to understand ageing looking visual and cognitive behaviour and mobility. It is good that there is a look at how falls occur and how to prevent them. We worry as we get older of the fall that leads to fractured neck of femur and hospital admission. We all wish to keep our independence and age healthy as possible. 

Long covid symposium

Last Wednesday 15th November we members of Brunel Older People Reference Group got invited to an afternoon symposium on Long Covid research. There were attendees in person and others on a linked zoom.It was a very stimulating presentation. Prof. Veena Kumar opened the symposium with her work on loss of smell and taste a widely reported symptom of Covid. You will have a great informative time googling the meaning of words such as Anosmia- no smell, Hyposomia, Parosmia this I saw in oncology with altered smell from chemotherapy & radiation, ageusia -no taste, hypogenusia, dysgeusia- this is fascinating and we may at some time of our lives experienced distorted taste. Often associated with strange taste from medication and infections. I am sure many will have had the experience with some paint odours how you can get a metallic taste in your mouth. I would experience this with IV antiboitics as a patient and could get a transient metallic taste in the early moment of IV bolus injection.  I good sign my IV line was patent!

So you begin to see in my posting of this that I am hooked on the stimulation of this presentation and it generated lots of thoughts, ideas and speculations in me. The biological importance of smell is one of detecting danger if a foul odour of something wrong or alert on odour such as fire and toxic gases to get us to react out of danger. It may be linked to a memory of something that was either a repugnant situation or a sweet situation. The memory can be triggered to affect us in a way to either induce nausea or to relax in the safety of a memory. I popular one is the smell of lavender it can often we associated with grand and great grandmothers it may evoke a peaceful relaxing safe memory... or a memory of pain and loss. So you will get varying reports on the smell of lavender. 

But there is another important role that it is the start of our digestive process. We all know the feeling of hunger and anticipation of a good meal when we smell cooking or baking. Our saliva secretion starts and we can sometimes drool at the thought of the food to come. So our digestive tract is awakened in readiness to start receiving the tasty food to come. Given that smell and taste are linked then no smell and no taste or distorted taste can hinder this process. It made me think of in the case of long covid was some of the tiredness linked to inefficient absorption of vitamins (particularly Vitamin B complex important in our Krebs cycle in the mitochondria for max energy production. Given the covid virus was an hijacker of our mitochondria for its own energy production it has some bearing), the absorption of  minerals, carbohydrates and proteins important for our overall health .. A thought I raised with Prof Veena in our time of comments and questions. 

Professors work had looked a challenging smell and taste to regain and looked at mood affects over a period of time. So given my past study on Aromatherapy and that in many clinical settings it is used from Midwifery, Cardiology to Oncology I wondered if a study had been made on this to assess smell and reawakening smell. The aromatherapy induces mood changes too with the high and low notes of aroma. Can be used to relax or to uplift.  But I also need to think the active components can be absorbed through the skin in therapeutic massage. This leads to also the effects of therapeutic touch to help healing. 

See how fascinating this subject is.. Also in break time we were discussing the very elite job role of "Le Nez the Nose" in the perfumery industry to develop new perfumes for the market. It is well known we desensitise to smells over a long exposure.  So in that role of "Le Nez" the hours are limited lol but well paid!

Some other areas of discussion looked at Low Mood and Anxiety, Unhealthy Eating Patterns, Reduced Quality of Life, Early Dementia, Brain Fog. One of the Long Covid patients in the Zoom put forward how as in her 80s she had hot flushes something she had finished with long before in menopause. So this made us think of hormonal disturbances caused by long Covid given that women can experience brain fog in the menstrual cycle, post partum and peri menopause. So that was an interesting symptom to pursue. The resumption of those hot flushes was a key point brought to the table.

Trying to help the lack of taste there was a presentation on breathing exercises to improve olfactory response. But a subnote! does it depend on the environment we are in at the time.. There is a difference to breathing exercises say by the sea or in a forest to being in a busy city.. 

We had a very engaging presentation from Prof. Costa Karageorghis His opening demonstrated how in the lockdown the work of university research departments took on a different shape. From an urgent knock on the office door to go home to then finding new work was needed on the now emerging effects of the pandemic on all aspects of life! A key shift was one from outgoing to work to working from home and the effects on work production and health. Reduced exercise and mobility and changes in mental performance were affected. Brain fog came along again in the discussion as a result of changing world upskittled routines and having to adapt to new situation.  There was a need to look at pre and post covid changes in performance. But in among the loss of socialising out and about we also found a portal call Zoom and Teams Meetings. Some felt this a connecting experience some missed the in person interaction in office and social environment. So mentally we could see a rise in depression and low moods. 

I felt as we listened to this we needed to know if the people had been hospitalised or not. To be hospitalised and the need for induced coma and ventilation in ITU, that may have needed temporary tracheotomy, could have brought on PTSD on regaining consciousness and the healing journey. There was gratefulness to staff and survival but the journey had been life threatening and involved a degree of Scifi scariness in the type of clothing the care givers had to wear. Staff recognised this and would come up with ingenious ways to show their name, job role and personality on attached artwork to their gowns. 

I also felt that we needed medical data on the Oxygen sats in the disease process was it prolonged low to cause contribution to low mood, changed cognitive behaviour and mobility.  My point of concern in the present NHS format is the loss of convalescent beds and rehab wards, I know as a past patient myself from pneumonia that yes one wished to get home but there is a need for some nursing support even if you are trying to be independent. On my discharge I needed to devise a rehab plan for myself with realistic set goals for the day and weeks as I regained my energy levels and reduction in breathlessness on exertion. I needed time on inhalers to aid my breathing... So when we look at post covid effects can we see a multi disciplinary care plan to aid the journey to wellbeing.  

Professors work can be found on the link above and he introduced me to stats presentations of Stackdot plotting and Raincloud. So a thoroughly stimulating and informative afternoon.

 Some additional useful references found:

Retraining Smell post Covid

Loss of Smell & Taste NHS Scotland

Hospital Ships

the horror the word WAR generates results in enormous need to care for patients with complex injuries. Internal damage can lead to multiple sites of haemorrhage. Organs damaged means loss of function. Skeletal fractures and smashed bones can result in systemic problems of infection and fat embolisms. Fractures need internal fixation and may also need amputation of limb affected. War trauma will involve severed limbs, open abdominal cavity and large area skin burns.. blast damage of lungs can lead to need to support cardio pulmonary system to ensure oxygenation and circulation to vital organs. A/E doctors, surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, plastic surgeons will have to deal with all age groups suffering from cruel injuries from cruel designed weapons. The anaesthetists not only supporting pain management in surgery but needed as vital team members in ITU and HDU care. Nurses, pharmacists paramedics ODAs all necessary. The very obvious need for power to drive life support machinery, IV pumps, lighting and heating and filter air systems in OT.& to sterilise instruments. The supplies need water, dressings, drugs, food for patients & staff . In war.. hospitals  medics to international law must be respected and protected. Care givers are driven by a duty of care from a duty of compassion to whoever needs help. That help to which ever side presents with injuries. Of course there are medical patients with pre existing disease to care for and pregnant & birthing mothers to help. 

But we have seen hospitals bombed and medics lives lost giving care or at home with their families. So I joined a vigil outside Downing Street on Friday evening 10th Nov to remember those that had died.  It was very moving and painful to hear how such amazingly skilled caring people now lost. We had doctors that have worked in Gaza remembering the friendships that developed. Organisation such as Medicin sans Frontiere,  Medical Aid for Palestinians and Medact with media attended the vigil. Which was calm dignified and very very emotional.

I am campaigning for Hospital ships not war ships. IF the UN could negiotate not only ceasefire but break the sea blockade, then hospital ships could dock in the sea port. Their facilities with theatres and ITU beds could greatly help in csre of the sick and injured. So got my campaign placard in front of cameras in the vigil.. On Saturday circulated in the peace march in front of the US embassy and media cameras. Twittering the photos to key world leaders. 

Remembering

yesterday 11th November had a quiet time in London at St Thomas's hospital (where I used to be a midwife) and on the embankment..the covid Memorial wall was my first time seeing ..it really hits home how much the pandemic had hurt families. Lost loved ones fallen to the quite vicious critter of a virus. A virus that demanded serious attention to get under control in the nation and globally.. 

On site at St Thomas's had time by the Mary Secole statue and remembrance wreaths had been laid .. Mary worked in the war tending injured ..and then went on to the Florence Nightingale museum.. Florence a nursing hero caring for war injured and building our nursing careers with her dedication to ensure good team management. Both these women amazing nurses that taught us much on dedication to others healing and wellbeing.  So a salute to their brave dedication to care.

Then had quiet time in the hospital chapel and found a beautiful and very moving corner to remember babies and children that have been lost to illness. Very a tear filling time given the wars in the world where children also being lost to adults war tantrum destruction . We need Global peace where our love care and compassion for one another unites us... life is very precious.. 

Shop in Ruislip 🛍🎁

 Lovely gift boxed Hijab scarf  with brooch ..and here my tix tok of selection of goods 

Happy to Chat

Another good Happy to Chat session in Uxbridge on Tuesday..great atmosphere in and around the centre.  Folk feeling the need to connect and talk together.

⛸💞Skate for Charity

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Hanover Square Skate

 

Gift ideas

Love calling in John Lewis on Oxford Street.. The Elizabeth line takes me direct 💞🎁