A moment for Marcel.
“Alexia Venema of Cure4Life Haarlemmermeer with Marcel during a pregnancy replacement April – October 2019 in Amsterdam-Noord. Marcel spontaneously started blogging about his trajectory. His contributions are sincere, smoothly written, funny and easy to read. We therefore cordially invite you to read his articles.”
Indoors it is comfortably warm, outside a fresh breeze blows. But hey, that twenty-meter walk to the barn, I don’t put on my coat for that. Stupid, stupid, stupid. As soon as I step back inside I have to cough a few times. It stays that way for the next three weeks, and every now and then I get short of breath. The problem only disappears after I have ordered a puffer from the pharmacy via a repeat prescription and take a shot twice a day for a week. It’s a familiar pattern.
I suffer from a mild form of asthma and that came to light in December 2004 after the birth of our son. Just like our daughter, born in 2003, he kept us awake for nights because of intestinal cramps. The chronic sleep deprivation took its revenge and I became ill.
I was spinning like a drunk. Legs in which bags of sand seemed to have been dumped, a head full of putty and two lungs that refused to let breath flow. When I climbed the stairs I ended up on my knees and had to pant for a few minutes to find support near a wall.
Double pneumonia. This became apparent during my doctor’s consultation. And the pulmonologist in the hospital added that I am mildly asthmatic.
Ah, I understood, that explained why as a child I always got so stuffy in a room full of smoke. I still praise the day that smoking was banned and that many smokers around me put out their butts for the last time.
But this aside.
My lungs can take very little from that double inflammation. They are of good will, both of them, but especially when temperature changes occur, they revolt.
For example, I can still remember a company outing. The place of action was the historic Fort of Rijnauwen in Bunnik. Very successful, for sure, but disastrous for my lungs. It was a pretty hot day. No problem, if it weren’t for the fact that guided tours were on the program in the cool vaults of the fort. Always from hot to cold. As expected, a few weeks later I was coughing a lot again and I had to resort to a puffer.
March showers? Same story.
But this malheur now seems to be a thing of the past. I follow a medically responsible program to eat healthier and lose excess pounds. I had already understood that this could also reduce my asthmatic symptoms. Logical, because I eat more vegetables and that increases my resistance. And I carry less weight with me. As a result, I get noticeably more air.
What a relief.
According to the latest state of affairs, I have lost around 11 kilos. It’s a bit slower now than in the first weeks, but it’s fine. Especially when I consider that my previous diets – from Atkins to Montignac and from shake to juice cleanses – came to an early end. Usually after a week.
I neatly adhere to the regulations, except for a sparse ride of gray riding. Because yes, such a chocolate letter M… Well, a small piece then. And now that the bearded children’s friend on one of the Spanish beaches is swallowing his disappointment that that damn coronavirus has put a thick line through his birthday, Santa Claus is already harnessing his reindeer again. No large groups this year, but of course a nice Christmas dinner.
Both Christmas days I am in the kitchen. And yes, as a cook you have to taste…
I also personally take on the blowing out of the candles. With the current condition of my lungs, this should no longer cause any problems. No black spots in front of my eyes, no screeching coughing fit, no pounding head.
I’m looking forward to it.
Gratis zomer-e-book
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