I feel like no one talks about how much your body image changes when you go through a diagnosis like this. From the first week of diagnosis where I couldn’t eat anything and lost a stone, to being put on steroids to reduce the pressure and swelling in my brain and combat my symptoms which caused me to put on two stone over the next month and my whole upper body to be covered in spots – and that’s not even mentioning the chipmunk face! Then there’s the ever looming threat of losing your hair on top of everything else. It’s a wild ride, especially when you have to stop working and just ‘rest’ which does NOTHING to help any of this OR your mind because your just a couch potato who is either watching Netflix or out for lunch! 

I think it’s similar to postpartum – when your body has just done something incredible, like having a baby or surviving brain surgery and we expect it to just ‘bounce back’ and act like it hasn’t just been through hell and given you something amazing. When I was a few weeks postpartum with Chester, I had a fuck it moment and posted a picture of myself wearing ‘not much’ but holding my newborn in my arms whilst breastfeeding. (Pic below for proof). Love island was about to start and that show had already taken multiple lives through suicide. So I did this to show that normal bodies exist and that they should be celebrated. And that our bodies are incredible – mine had just safely given me my second baby for god sake! But this kind of thing doesn’t seem to be acknowledged in the same way in this kind of situation. Like it shouldn’t be celebrated in the same way as postnatally. But to that, I say – BULLSHIT. My body has gone through so much and given me so much over the past few months and I’m so grateful for that (apart from the brain tumour it created for me out of literally nowhere). If I was brave enough, I’d recreate the pic but brain tumour edition 😂. Maybe I’ll wait until I’ve got my bald head too and then it will be an extra special treat 😂. You’ve got that to look forward to 🤣

What I’m basically trying to say is that body image when you go through a tough diagnosis (of anything), or a big change in your life is REAL. And even though it might not feel very nice when you don’t fit in anything other than your leggings right now. Look at the bigger picture. Look what your body has done for you. I’ve never been skinny, but also, I’ve never been bothered! And with now bringing up a little girl, this seems more important than ever!

Wow, I really should practice what I preach a bit more 🙄😂

See you on the other side jeans! 👖 

Love Jen and Nev 🧠👁️⚡️

Pre knowledge of Nev, and just living it up not giving a f***.

2 weeks postnatal with my Chess. Again, not giving a f*** and being proud of what my body has done for me.