The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

greenbee

softstuff - see whether you can work out the timing so that they are working enough to let you sleep properly, but give you a bit of time in the morning (then again, i only sleep for about 4 hours so it might not be possible for everyone). You can gradually move the timings round to suit you. Good to know you've got something that works at last!

I watched 'The doctor who gave up drugs' on catch up last night. In the second episode there was a woman who had started with back problems and ended up with pain everywhere and taking vast quantities of painkillers. I recognised the way she moved and felt (and some of the drugs!) from 20 years ago - that was me. Minor back problem that got worse and worse as I was medicated more and more. And like her, exercise and body awareness was the solution. I didn't take up martial arts, but I did start with yoga and pilates - and I know I need to keep exercising to keep well. It also helps with mood (so made sense how the woman with depression improved too - interestingly when I was in Denmark last year, one of my colleagues took me for coffee at the place where he goes 'ice swimming' in the winter, and Finnish colleagues tell me they break the ice on the lake for a swim after a sauna... so countries with high levels of depression are clearly already aware of the benefits of this).

SailorSam

Morning People,
I was just checking the calender and it's an anniversery. From when i got attacked & stabbed when i was driving the Cab one night. 1995, that's 21yrs ago now, it doesn't seem that long. I can remember almost as if it was yesterday.
I got the calender down 'cos i'm writing another reminder........ I'm going to be a Comedian !!!! ........ I'm going to learn how to do it, or i think i am. I'm not sure what they do. Last year our local Radio station announced they were having a comedy day with a professional Comedian talking about the secrets of the trade. I phoned then but they only had a limited number of places and the thing was already over-booked. Well they said 'cos it was so popular they'd arranged a second one, so i've phoned and booked in for next month. It's only 2hrs.

Softstuff

I can heartily attest to the powers of pilates and physio... but will be !!!!!!ed if I'm jumping in a freezing lake Greenbee :rotfl:

nursemaggie

Softstuff are you sure it says a full stomach not do not take on an empty stomach. You do not need to force down a lot of food. You just need enough to protect your stomach lining. As you are feeling nauseous may I suggest two gingernuts with a hot drink. It may help your nausea too.

It was brilliant greenbee wasn't it. I could not believe how much it did for the lady in pain. She must have had a terrible time coming off all those codeine.

I had the same but not so many painkillers. I had physio and exercises to do at home. Then my op stopped them because I could not do stuff to strengthen my abdominal muscles after such a big op. That was why I was looking on YouTube.

I thought the walking group was good too. Every GPs surgery should have lots of those. They do not need to be run by a professional a volunteer is fine.

I am hoping to get into a free 50+ class to get fitter and a free Tai Chi class. There are lots of free classes paid for by the council if you are over 50. Ours may be because the life expectancy in Bolton is not good. I noticed last summer when I walked through the cemetery a few times, even now a lot of people die well under 70.

Glad to hear you are improving Mar it will probably take quite a while. Perhaps a little exercise will help you. Just take it slowly.

monnagran

Hester: I get really worried about you. Please give yourself a space every day when you can just be alone and relax. And there is a magic word to use when people keep asking you to do things. It's difficult to say but after a bit of practise you should master it.
Ready now......NO.

nursemaggie, Greenbee, Softstuff et al : I do applaud you on your exercise programmes. I'm afraid I'm very much of the " up, down, up, down. Now the other eyelid," school of thought.
I do quite a bit of walking since giving up the car so I'm not completely lazy. On the other hand, I've never suffered from back trouble or aches and pains either. (Fingers in ears, Karma)

Mar: So glad you are feeling a bit more positive. Actually, you can scrub that last remark. I absolutely loathe people who urge me to think positively. It usually happens when you can't even believe that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel.
Anyway, I'm glad you are feeling a bit better.
Someone else who looks forward to long, dark evenings. I'm good at cosy.

Sailor Sam: that is a horrible anniversary to have to remember. I hope you have some more pleasant ones to celebrate as well.

I have a day filled with glorious nothingness today so am going to try to write some long overdue letters.

x

westcoastscot

Softstuff mine in theory last for 24 hours, but i time them so that i'm most comfortable at night/early morning, when I know I can't be arsed and won't feel like eating. Can you switch yours around to that?? It might be easier to "manage" a wee while in the day to bring them around to a better schedule than suffer at night or in the morning when food is the last thing you want?

Hester, hoping things improve for you soon.

Fuddle, save your breath pet! :-)

Edited to add: Monna - hilarious!!!! up down up down :-) will use that at the clinic next month!!

ivyleaf

SailorSam sorry about horrid anniversary! Good luck with the comedy

Re: exercise - OH is actually supposed to do physio exercises every day to keep him more mobile, but he doesn't do them, partly because (as you said, nursemaggie) finding the space to do them is a problem, but largely because it hurts too much! He did do them for a while but in the end he just couldn't face it any more.

mardatha

Softstuff... I really think we need a deep and meaningful talk here about channelling your inner Viking Maiden..
you do it, I'll sit here and drink tea and watch.
I have been walking round the ENTIRE WHOLE VILLAGE every day.
Which takes me 5 minutes.

carlislelass

We don't fast for cholesterol blood tests

nursemaggie

monna you probably do more exercise walking. It does not matter what sort of exercise you do as long as you exercise. You have one advantage over most of us you have the beach to walk to.

Mar I wish I could walk out of the terrace housing in five minutes. I know I would be more motivated if I could get to see more than the same house repeated for ever. I am going to have to walk the long way round to Mr M. Trouble with that is I try not to go to the shop too often.

I found out yesterday that life expectancy is falling in the west. They think it mainly caused by lack of exercise. It has been falling since 2010.

ivyleaf watch the program Greenbee mentioned, with your OH. It is a real eye opener. Your OH really does need to do some exercise. It really does work. He will have to do them slowly and build up. They give you these exercises and give you no help to motivate you. Just putting a few people together would do it.