Immunity : Unfiltered

  Weekly Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Infusion: A Cosy Ritual of Self-Care STAY WARM! Another tip! Every week, I take time to do something incredibly important for my health: my subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) infusion. This plasma-derived treatment is essential for my immune system, and while it’s a medical necessity, I’ve also turned it into a ritual of care and comfort. Today, however, I had to do mine two days late due to self-employed work commitments—oops. That meant sending a slightly sheepish email this morning, letting people know I’d be running a little behind while I played catch-up on my own health. A Moment of Gratitude for Plasma Donors Before I dive into the process of infusing, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the incredible people who donate plasma. Without plasma donors, people like me wouldn’t have access to life-saving immunoglobulin therapy. If you’re someone who has ever given blood or plasma, know that you’ve made a tangible difference in someo...

Eating Well When Cooking Feels Impossible Living with chronic illness often means that even basic tasks—like preparing a meal—can feel or even BE overwhelming. Some days, standing in the kitchen to chop vegetables or stir a pot is simply not an option. But eating well is crucial for managing symptoms, maintaining energy, and, quite honestly, feeling human. And this morning, my brother made American-style pancakes. Today is infusion day, which basically entails a headache, all day and more often than not, into the next day. Instead of resting in bed, I have decided to pop a paracetamol, get sort of dressed (if leggings and a slouchy hoodie count... and tbh, they don't) while I figure out a plan of action of what to do, or not do with my day, in order to avoid the dreaded "Energy Debt"....  📸  “A rare sighting of a homemade breakfast in the wild—made with love because I didn't do it and mess it up. I had no spoons, but I needed a smol spoon to eat this up!” One of the...

Sometimes, all it takes to reset is a cup of tea. Right now, I’m all about PUKKA’s Peace blend—though I almost had a mini heart attack when I saw it was nearly five pounds! But, I had just done my first plant- and fish-based food shop, so I felt like I needed it to ground me. Honestly, it’s those little acts of self-care that really help when you’ve got something like CVID. What’s your favourite tea for winding down or feeling grounded? Drop your tea suggestions in the comments—I'm always on the hunt for new ones, especially after being told off about my caffeine consumption... awks.  Speaking of self-care, I’ve started doing my own lash extensions. It’s been a while since I last had my lashes done professionally (the last time was in 2019 before Cyprus), and I’ve missed that little glam touch. Since I can’t get my nails done anymore due to CVID-related infusion prep (it’s a whole thing), my lashes are now my go-to for adding a bit of sparkle and feeling like other girls —yo...

   A Dietitian Visit This morning, I had an appointment with a dietitian. Not through any great act of foresight on my part, but via a self-referral scheme I didn't even know existed—because apparently, healthcare has a secret menu, and I'm only now discovering the off-menu specials. Lovely. And she was genuinely a legend and I am SO GRATEFUL. I can also see why this info is hidden behind gatekeeping....  I won’t sugarcoat it—my BMI is 30. Borderline, teetering on the edge of very obese, and while BMI is a questionable metric at best, the practical reality of weight in medical settings is that it's the first thing brought up, no matter what you actually came in for. Anyone who has ever set foot in an NHS practice knows the drill: height, weight, then the inevitable speech. It’s one of my greatest fears that, at some point, my weight will be used as a barrier to baseline medical care. That fear was part of what drove me to make this decision. "Eat Less and move more an...

The Journey to My Diagnosis: A Story of Illness, Perseverance, and Discovery In my first year of university, I entered the music program full of excitement, ambition, and plans to pursue my dream of becoming a classical singer. But my journey quickly turned into a frustrating and confusing series of illnesses. It all started with a simple throat infection, or so I thought. I was just 20 years old, and when I visited the campus doctor, I was told that I should be able to fight it off. I was given antidepressants and sent on my way with no real explanation or further investigation. But the infection didn’t go away. It worsened, and soon it spread to my voicebox. I was prescribed 250mg of penicillin, but still, the infection lingered. My coursework became harder to keep up with as my health deteriorated. I requested extensions, but it wasn't long before I had to resit my second year under medical circumstances. I was constantly sick, and the antibiotics just kept coming., and they a...