Philip (Phil) England

  1st : 1:45am - My stomach feels like its on a spin cycle, my head is running a marathon and I can't seem to sleep 😩 Later - managed to get to Dad's house, its getting harder to go there, need to go back to do last few bits, but a break is needed. 2nd : Feel like I've been running after my mind all night, exhausted, and woke up crying. My back and neck killing me. I feel like shit this morning. 😭 Edit -  I need to get out of bed for my meds, and just discovered my right hip hurts too 😩 Finally.out of bed at around 11am, achy and my mind elsewhere. Been asked to decide on insurance cover for my father's house for the period going forward, how on earth can I even think about that in my mind state? I feel like going back to bed 😥 feel like 🤯 3rd : Day of Dad's funeral - Not too sure how I will get through today. Got a thumping headache and I feel sick again, neck and shoulders in agony and left hip too.  My sister worked wonders for after the funer...

A new month, July, half way through the year, nothing really changes much 1st : Hot and humid day, feeling like crap. Read all about humidity and fibro at http://www.itsmyblog.me.uk/2025/06/high-humidity-fibromyalgia.html 2nd : Fresher today thank goodness but feeling drained, more sleep needed. 3rd : Been awake since 3am, damn Fibro 😩 must push on with the day, Nero day today, must get my tablets done, and next week must order them before going away the following week dog & cat sitting. 4th : Neck and shoulders achy today and lower part off back. Looked out of the window of the bedroom and noticed my marigold plants had fallen over. 5th : Feeling tired today, hardly.no energy, but achy too, nothing too bad. 6th : Lower back and left hip sending shooting pains up my back again - damn it, really hurts and gets me when least expected. Going to get hot and humid later in the week again. 7th : Damn this shooting pain. Thursday can't come soon enough, pain meds review w...

1st : A new month, same issues. Feeling very achy and full of wind today, pain about a 5. Let me put this here as a reference to the levels of pain. 2nd : I should get out of bed, but hip killing and feeling strange again, neck also in agony. I'm going to try to push through the pain, had a gabapentin and two paracetamol about half hour ago (keep some at side of bed). Pain at a distracting 5 . 3rd : Slight pain, normal aches, a bit of an ok kind of day, pain at a 3 . Got lots done today. 4th : 4:30am - Hell, fibro flare up, in great pain currently, hate being woken up by it. Pain is at a 8 . I need the toilet but can hardly move. Gabapentin and paracetamol ( lucky I keep then by the side of the bed ) as soon as I can move a little and can reach the socket on the wall will turn the electric blanket on as heat helps. It's always the same after a day of relative normality, and a day of getting things done, wallop, my body hits back, why don't I ever see this on...

High humidity can exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms for some individuals. Increased humidity can make it harder for the body to regulate temperature, potentially leading to overheating and increased pain, fatigue, and discomfort. Additionally, some people with fibromyalgia experience worsened symptoms in response to fluctuating barometric pressure, which often accompanies changes in humidity.  Here's a more detailed explanation: Temperature Regulation:   High humidity can hinder the body's ability to cool itself through sweat evaporation, potentially causing overheating and discomfort.  Pain and Discomfort:   Some individuals with fibromyalgia report increased pain, stiffness, and headaches during periods of high humidity.  Barometric Pressure:   Changes in barometric pressure, often associated with weather fluctuations and high humidity, can also trigger or worsen fibromyalgia symptoms.  Individual Differences:   It's important to note that not...

We are in May, the month of my 50th. The month started ok, not too achy or in too much pain, about a 4 on the scale of things. 2nd : Had runs in the middle of the night but didn't get out of bed quick enough again. Just as I thought things were looking better.... false sense of security on that one. Pain at about 5. . Over did it again today, the pain killers patches not working, as pain is at about a 7 right now, things to do but can't. Here's a reminder.... 3rd : Woke up feeling sick, but not sick because of pain, pain level by the way at about 4, the sick feeling feels more like anxiety. Why is it setting in? well my mind is getting prepared for my birthday break. I need a few days to get myself in the right frame of mind. It's not easy and can't just be done. I also had to change the sheet on my bed again, had another accident in bed and couldn't get out of bed fast enough. I'm fed up of this. Over did it again today, pain in the ...

Well, fell asleep after arriving at accommodation. Didn't get anything to eat, no cuppa. Hey ho, must have been tired, was a long sleep from about 6:30pm to just now, very peaceful here. Need a shower before tackling the day and driving the Nissan.  Driving on the wrong side and using different arms to do that they normally do isn't easy. Love the motorways here, but they are toll roads, so need to pay to use them. WEDS 7TH MAY Pains when I woke up about a 5. Last night after all the driving they were about a 9. After a great holiday, and driving a car that I didn't like, its great to be home to my own pillow and bed. Also great to be home to a decent cup of tea! Visited Luxembourg and also visited Strasbourg. On the way to Strasbourg discovered a great radio station, Nostaglgie - https://nostalgie-radio.de Kind of missing France, the UK sucks 😞 

2nd April : Trying to juggle fibromyalgia and life isn't easy. I have some wonderful friends who have been a massive help along the way, then there's Carl, who was a star and a massive help as he got the kitchen cupboards on the wall.  I also have friends who listen to my outpourings. Thank you to those, Neil and Carl.... big time.  I try to push on through the Fibro and pain, but am very aware of my limits and know I do push through them, then wonder why I am rendered useless the next day. I get very frustrated when I can't do what I want to do, in fact that is the general rule in my entire life. I'm so fed up of having to watch what I can do .  I do need to take some me time, but know this won't be possible for a while. I'm going away for a week in May, setting off late on the 5th May and returning at some point on the 11th May.  7th April : Finally picked up new TV for Dad from Currys, not the correct one as ordered, 40" seemed to illude the ...

APRIL 3RD: Woke up with thumping headache at 3am, my back in excruciating pain and left hip feels like it's itchy inside, want to crack it open and scoop the itch out, and got trapped wind too. Couldn't get back off to sleep. As day went on pain subsided just a bit, mostly due in part to gabapentin and CBD oil.

Wednesday 12th March: Had the initial persistent pain meet up, learnt about different pains, and different families of pain killers, most interesting. Good to meet with others in the same boat. Now to work out my pathway, starting with medication review. Thursday 13th March: Nero today, he knows when I'm feeling down, sat beside me most of today. He's such a good dog. When I do move to a ground floor flat or bungalow I need to get my own dog. Slight twinges set in early evening. Friday 14th March: 4am - waking up in early hours with your left arm feeling like you want to crack open the bone and scratch inside it.... another reason why I hate fibromyalgia. Neck and back in agony too but not as much, 8 out of 10 - need the toilet, but it's difficult to move. So need help with nights like this, but I can't predict a fibro flare up at all. Maybe I should have taken that flat in that complex, but wasn't ready for that. Looking at what the council have, I DON'T WANT...

A friend of mine commented on  my post last night... "...Did you know they are no longer accepting fibromyalgia as a disability as Labour states it can be managed?" IF it can be managed, what with? my doctor has no idea what to prescribe me for it. Fibro affects people in many different ways. In my case it ramps up my daily pain, causes me to feel my bones are itching on the inside, I get brain fog and forget simple things.  It causes me stiffness and stops me in my tracks. I get woken all hours of the night, can't get back off to sleep. Can't get out of bed in the morning, even when accomplished that I end up trapped in my flat.  How can it be managed? I would like to know. Chain saw to chop off affected part? Sledge hammer to my head? I use part of my PIP to get CBD oil to take the edge off my pain, but even that don't get shot of it. I also use my PIP for my Motability car. Without that I would really be stuck. I suffer with social anxiety so public transport i...

Been to Morrisons today, had forgot my inhaler. Why is it when I take it with me I hardly ever need it, yet when I leave it at home I need it?  I got in to a bit of a panic and couldn't catch my breath - home now and feeling calm. I have no idea what caused it, I just felt my self going, so I held on to my trolly and found a quiet part of the store to calm down. There is a table in one part of the store at the far end away from the checkouts, so I headed there and sat. I need to talk to my doctor about this. These attacks are causing me problems, especially as I have no idea what is causing them. I need to sort out my anxiety issues as a matter of urgency, I am aiming to do a bus journey ahead of what I hope to be a pathway in to work in the new year. Maybe something is telling me to slow down? As I type this I am feeling a slight pain on the right hand side of my chest, am sure I will be ok. Early to bed for me. Sometimes I hate what my body throws at me, I really do.

  I have just the other day had my 'Migration to Universal Credit' letter through the post, so have filled in the online form and now wait. Getting it has made me decide to push on with more of a blog on Fibromyalgia and Anxiety, to name just two things that run my life. Just yesterday I made a massive decission to stop doing my voluntary work with SA Radio Live, the local community station for Swansea. There is a very good reason for this. I am finding my new time slot a difficult one to cope with. My slot was at the end of the day, and getting through it leaves me totally exhausted. It hasn't been an easy choice to make as I do live doing my show with them. At the same time, I have decided to keep doing my home recorded 1 hour show for Islands FM as this will give me a bit of an escape and take my mind of things in a small way. I do need to put my health first. I have joined a few groups on line for Fibromyalgia and am awaiting my GP to get me in with the Persistant Pain ...

  Mental Health Update - September 2024 I'm wondering if the ammount of physical activity in ones life can affect your mental state? Here's two days from my Fibro blog: Saturday 14th September:  Pain at about 6 out of 10 this morning. Off to Radio Tircoed for about 4pm to train a few people up on Myriad system, then do my show. Felt totally drained when I got home. Pain at about 8 out of 10. May have over done today. You know, going to do something while good to be busy, it totally can floor you mentally and physically. Sunday 15th September:  Off up to Radio Tircoed today, pain first thing at about 6 out of 10, didn't sleep too well last night, but must get to Tircoed for about noon. Done a bit more training then covered for Karl between 1pm and 4pm, the emails didn't want to be opened this afternoon on the main studio computer, lucky one in the production room was letting them be opened!. Not a bad show, but by the time I got home felt drained and my pain was at about...

  Visit from Police  Yesterday was a bit of an arresting day, well the afternoon was anyway. Following a recent bump in Tesco's car park, Motability and the insurance company had been in touch with South Wales Police who popped by to see if all was ok. Apparently as I have health health issues, they need to check on things. My Dad had just left within the hour previous, and had said he was feeling rough. This kind of stressed me out, PANIC PANIC PANIC.... and breath! I did tell them this, and as I have a blood pressure monitor checked my blood pressure while they were here. Their initial responce was ' we should get an ambulance ', I told them not to, and checked again just before they left, by which time it had dropped close to normal levels for me. I do think however the sight of a young man in uniform may have aided in the high blood pressure reading. I'm fine though, and so pleased to know that these checks do occur, just wish they hadn't yesterday in the light ...

So after months of having Karl Burtonshaw trying to get me to start back at Swansea's only community radio station he has succeded! I'm back!  Karl is a very  persistant chap! I startted back on 20th April with my show, In The Groove , which airs on a Saturday evening between 6pm and 8pm, LIVE. If you have followed me for a while you will know what the show is all about, it remains that but with added extras, such as local content. Also on board at the station is Shaun Tilley, ex-Swansea Sound & The Wave plus BBC and other stations. He is a radio legend and someone I have been following the career of over time. He has big plans for the station, which, at time of typing this blog, is not public knowledge, so won't be put here until it is. I've been made part of the management team going forward, which is a massive honor for me, and shows that someone who is in the know in the radio world has faith in me. I've been a big part of Radio Tircoed's past. I was the...

 Recipe: Chinese Style Pork Strips Slice and dice a red onion and a pepper, also cut up a bunch of spring onions, and thinly cut up a few cloves of garlic. Add to a large sauce pan and fry off, along with some salt and pepper, also some paprika. Add to the pan some strips of pork. After about 15 mins add an egg cup full of red wine vinegar, soy sauce and apple juice. Bring to the boil and then simmer for a further 15 minutes, then turn the heat off, leave covered. As with all one pan dishes, time is your friend. Leave for around 4 hours to a day. When ready to eat, bring to the boil again and simmer for 20 minutes. To serve cook some microwave rice or maybe even some rice noodles. Enjoy your meal 😊 Here is the full recipe list 1 red onion 1 bunch spring onions 1 pepper 1 pack pork strips 3 cloves of garlic Egg cup full soy sauce Egg cup full red wine vinegar Egg cup full apple sauce To season add salt, pepper and paprika Serve with rice or rice noodles