Hoarding...not just on TV

whitewing

sybil, if you do nothing else, you really ought to call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and discuss those symptoms with them. They may be able to put your mind at rest, and if not, they can suggest what you need to do next.

elona, I forgot to say that I am glad DD is at home now.

Jojo, glad that you got checked out properly.

I am reading and finding every post interesting, whether it is about hoarding or life.

I bought a pair or shoes and a pair of ankle boots yesterday and new shoes for daughter. Now I should throw out the shoes they replace - daughter's old ones are scuffed and tightish and my old ones are actually broken,.

DD is at grandma's all day so the house is tidy and staying tidy for hours. Wonder if I can persuade DH to do a couple of cupboards and a drawer.

Also have an old printer that can copy but can't be linked to the computer, and a new printer cartridge for it. Our newer printer does not take the same cartridges, nor does anyone's I know. I don't have the Tesco receipt for it any more. Cartridge is still in date. I will be copying some stuff in November. But will we remember to use it then? (We didn't last time we had a batch of copying to do).

blossomhill_2

A quick wave from me; :wave: I acquired quite a few new things this week but also liberated several others so am busy churning them round the house and freeing up space; the front garden looks like a tip as I am stashing things there ready for a bulk collection, but I am trying hide it under a tarp and ignore it rather than remodel the carp pile, as I have a tendency to think I have achieved something when really all I've done is turn one type of rubbish (eg branches/documents) into another type of rubbish (shredded branches/paper)

DD admitted she has been telling people how well I am doing, which is scary as she is probably letting slip how bad it was to start with, but I'll try to take it in my stride and play it
down (!)

Moths have made an easy decision for me by chomping into my endless stash of winter nightclothes, so out they go and I'll get one nice new set instead and turn them round quickly in the wash

I've got rid of my matching pillowcases and will now just have plain ones, whatever the duvet, suddenly makes life much simpler

JoJo, wishing you improved health, your experience sounds like DD's recent one where she went for day surgery and the staff over-reacted and tried to admit her on the spot for her long-term condition - sense prevailed and she had the op and is very much better for it

((hugs)) to everyone else with long-term conditions, mediocre health, coughs, colds, the winter blues or just an off-day (have you had your flu jabs yet?)

Jo_anne_2

It is interesting to read everyone's posts here. Hugs to those facing personal challenges xx

We look a boot full of stuff to the tip yesterday, which felt good. There is now room for me to get into the garage to sort out more stuff - which feels like an achievement. I understand what someone said above, about things still nagging at you until they physically leave the house.

I have also found room to set up my sewing machine for the first time in years! Yesterday I made a small bag. I'm pleased with it, made with scraps of fabric and decorated with odd pretty buttons (I've got plenty of those!) It felt good to do something creative for a change.

blossomhill_2

Well done Jo_anne! Creativity triggers something in the brain so you will have improved both your home and your thinking!

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

I would have decluttered one of our houseplants to her but couldn't quite do it. I was thinking about it in the car. I have a houseplant that was given to me by the type of friend who will notice and be hurt if it disappears. However, I never wanted it. I have cherished the thing for three years now and it has multiplied. Then I realised that the only reason she gave it to me is that hers had multiplied and she had filled her windowsill with beautifully tended examples of the thing.

So actually, neither of us wanted it.

Unfortunately, this does mean it will have to go on the compost heap but I can't seriously pass the thing on to someone else.

PQ - one of your local CS might be very glad of this/these, they don't all, but some are very happy to have a tray of plants on the counter

SpikyHedgehog

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

Elona - that is such good news, fingers crossed.

Jojo - I hope you feel better soon.

(next bit is a bit self indulgent so can be ignored up to *)

August my feet were so swollen that I couldn't get socks on. The dr ran some tests, and at the beginning of September told me I had intermittent heart disease. I got an appt to see specialist in November. A fortnight ago breathing became a bit of a challenge and so I finally got water tablets. Now I am getting pains in my chest, and I don't know what that means. It could easily be indigestion. However I really can't do much. Today my lovely next door neighbour is taking a huge linen press out of the house, and I can barely move to clear stuff out of the way. Once it is gone there will be a gap and I will be trying to clear out a lot of stuff and rearrange stuff because I will finally have room to move and get at stuff. Except doing anything, like dancing for less than five minutes with little bear yesterday, makes the pains worse. I am still considering indigestion as the most likely option with the tablets, but worry that it isn't. So clearing the room is going to be really difficult. I have shirts to iron for next week and nowhere to put the stonking great ironing board that was a real mistake to buy. During this time when I have been on my knees, my husband has not so much made a sandwich.

* ....
hugs to all

It's not self indulgent! Self indulgent would be saying "neighbour is going to take the linen press, but I am lying on the sofa having little bear put grapes in to my mouth while watching husband scrub the carpet with his toothbrush"!

I agree with Whitewing - give NHS direct a ring and discuss it with them - do you go make an appt to see GP again tomorrow, get husband to take you to A&E, phone an ambulance, take some rennies and try to get on with stuff...? They are always very helpful when I phone them.

whitewing wrote: »

sybil, if you do nothing else, you really ought to call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 and discuss those symptoms with them. They may be able to put your mind at rest, and if not, they can suggest what you need to do next.

elona, I forgot to say that I am glad DD is at home now.

Jojo, glad that you got checked out properly.

I am reading and finding every post interesting, whether it is about hoarding or life.

I bought a pair or shoes and a pair of ankle boots yesterday and new shoes for daughter. Now I should throw out the shoes they replace - daughter's old ones are scuffed and tightish and my old ones are actually broken,.

DD is at grandma's all day so the house is tidy and staying tidy for hours. Wonder if I can persuade DH to do a couple of cupboards and a drawer.

Also have an old printer that can copy but can't be linked to the computer, and a new printer cartridge for it. Our newer printer does not take the same cartridges, nor does anyone's I know. I don't have the Tesco receipt for it any more. Cartridge is still in date. I will be copying some stuff in November. But will we remember to use it then? (We didn't last time we had a batch of copying to do).

Would school/scouts/brownies be able to make use of the printer?

blossomhill wrote: »

A quick wave from me; :wave: I acquired quite a few new things this week but also liberated several others so am busy churning them round the house and freeing up space; the front garden looks like a tip as I am stashing things there ready for a bulk collection, but I am trying hide it under a tarp and ignore it rather than remodel the carp pile, as I have a tendency to think I have achieved something when really all I've done is turn one type of rubbish (eg branches/documents) into another type of rubbish (shredded branches/paper)

DD admitted she has been telling people how well I am doing, which is scary as she is probably letting slip how bad it was to start with, but I'll try to take it in my stride and play it
down (!)

Moths have made an easy decision for me by chomping into my endless stash of winter nightclothes, so out they go and I'll get one nice new set instead and turn them round quickly in the wash

I've got rid of my matching pillowcases and will now just have plain ones, whatever the duvet, suddenly makes life much simpler

JoJo, wishing you improved health, your experience sounds like DD's recent one where she went for day surgery and the staff over-reacted and tried to admit her on the spot for her long-term condition - sense prevailed and she had the op and is very much better for it

((hugs)) to everyone else with long-term conditions, mediocre health, coughs, colds, the winter blues or just an off-day (have you had your flu jabs yet?)

My & DS2's flu jabs are booked for mid October, funnily enough just after my friend from church & her DD - I never knew we went to the say GP practice till we were talking about flu jabs!

I didn't make it to town this week, so my bag of CS stuff is still sitting in the sitting room.

House plants: My best friend usually brings me a bunch of flowers when she visits (& I take her a bunch of flowers when I visit her) but this summer, she gave me a big plant that's too big really for anywhere in the house I keep house plants but too tender to keep outside over winter. It took me quite a bit of thinking about before I managed to keep it on the patio to brighten up the garden then put in the compost bin when the cold got it the other day... (Do I keep it & find somewhere else for it to live, do I give it mum to put in her greenhouse over winter, do I give it to mum to live permanently in her conservatory...?) I decided my friend wanted me to have the pleasure of looking at the plant, not the stress of worrying about it! (Eventually )

VJsmum

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

I would have decluttered one of our houseplants to her but couldn't quite do it. I was thinking about it in the car. I have a houseplant that was given to me by the type of friend who will notice and be hurt if it disappears. However, I never wanted it. I have cherished the thing for three years now and it has multiplied. Then I realised that the only reason she gave it to me is that hers had multiplied and she had filled her windowsill with beautifully tended examples of the thing.

So actually, neither of us wanted it.

Unfortunately, this does mean it will have to go on the compost heap but I can't seriously pass the thing on to someone else.

MIL is down visiting and brought me a cyclamen. I bl00dy hate the things. Only just got rid of 2 others her and SIL bought. She means well but I now have to put up with another.

GQ - your words resonated with me. I am not on my uppers - far from it. But I, too, know what it is like - and I don't think that "fear" ever leaves you. I didn't really go without but I know what my mum had to go through to provide for us - and I don't want to be in that place.

OH decluttered some bags of clothes to the textile recycling that could have gone to the charity shop (and didn't take the bag destined for recycling!). I feel guilty - but I didn't do it.

whitewing

VJsmum,

You don't have to put up with it. Give it to someone who'd like it, or talk yourself into liking it. It's a cyclamen - an fairly neutral object, but maybe it stands for the fact that your mum doesn't listen to you?

I like the observation above about feeling purposeful because of simply changing a pile of hoarding to a shredded pile of hoarding.

DH or DS has opened a new tube of toothpaste when the old is not finished. That selfish attitude annoys me because it takes weeks for me to use the old one while everyone else uses new. So I have taken the new tube away while I train them to use up/chuck out the old.

sybil??? update?

Have unpacked the dishwasher, watered the house plants, put all the dry washing away.

DH has promised to do some decluttering but is now watching grand prix highlights.

I work from home so am doing a couple of hours' work, in between MSE.

Byatt

Sybil, as Spiky said call the NHS direct line as in *now*. I don't want to panic you or worry you and I am sure there is a simple explanation, but you can't leave this. Too many women ignore symptoms. These symptoms are warning signals so you can do something about what's happening sooner rather than later.

Please let us know you have called them.

xxxx

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Sybil, going by yesterday's experiences, I wouldn't hesitate to say you should present to A&E. If you can't be persuaded to do that, then go to your GP in the morning without fail and tell him/her you're having chest pains that worsen with activity/what they feel like, that sort of thing. Then they can work out whether it's indigestion, stress or something else.


DH and DF will just have to fend for themselves for a couple of hours as, to put it bluntly, they'll have to do that with LB if you drop down when doing their precious ironing because you've been ignoring pains that aren't indigestion or stress from your situation.

alec_eiffel

Glad you went to be poked and you GP acted swiftly Jojo.

Sorry for everything I'm not going to comment on but I am absorbing it all. I try very hard to not hoard food. We used to have this thing where luxury food or treats would go to waste which is madness but it was all part of the scarcity thing - we would always throw away mouldy juice because neither of us wanted to be the one to finish the bottle. Crazy but it happened. So now we have a pantry with things we know we're going to eat, we have a spare or two of things we know we're going to use quickly like tomatoes and pasta but no spare of things we eat but won't suffer if we don't have any, like chestnuts and quinoa. It seems to work as we have enough to make meals if we can't go shopping but nothing goes out of date.

We had a massive win today. We emptied the garage and the garden. Plus DH got rid of some electrical stuff. The electrical stuff makes up a lot of the junk still in the garage but some of it went to the tip today. For the first time in over a year there is no pile of garden waste in the garden and all the shrubs are trimmed. Things seem manageable for the first time and at a push we could get the car into the garage!

Sorry for anything really important I haven't acknowledged.