OS menopause memories?

moneyistooshorttomention

Beecher - I'd just put "nutritionist Glasgow" into google. I just did that and it came up with several instantly.

Though I did put in "nutritionist my location" just after that and came up with precisely one some distance away - and she had her photo up on her website (reaction "That's a no then - I wouldn't go and see her - as she needs to lose more weight than I do - by several stones"). So I guess they vary in quality (ie from someone who has done a very short course etc etc up to someone who has done a very "full on" eg university course and their picture shows them looking slim/healthy).

lessonlearned

NHS provision is dire here so I paid privately £80 to see a nutritionist worth every penny. A two hour session which also included some reflexology on my feet. I have followed her advice and have not needed a follow up appt. I am confident I am on the right track now. However I wouldnt hesitate to see her again if necessary.. .

I already knew about my conditions having struggled for years and had already made some dietary changes - gluten free.She advised me to take it a stage further and Eliminate all grains for a while and then reintroduce one at a time and see what happened.

I had been taking omeprazole for 10 years and it was no longer helping so I decided to ditch the meds - did it slowly to avoid acid reflux rebound. Took about 6 months and I just worked with my GP. He was always ready to help and advise me with complimentary medicines and therapies. Some GP are less open minded.

She did offer blood tests but as I'm a bit needle phobic we decided to bother. :rotfl: TBH they probably weren't necessary because my problems were long standing and I knew what exactly what was wrong. I had been visiting GPs for over 40 years with my symptoms. They never offered blood tests, just meds to mask the symptoms but never getting to grips with the cause.

If getting to see a nutritionist is difficult then it might be worth you looking at the Paleo Protocol and the FODMAP way of eating.

I know I sound like an over enthusiastic convert but changing my eating habits has transformed my health and my ljfe. As long as I stick to the programme I am well and more or less painfree.

I have even managed to start doing a bit of yoga and Pilates. I can definitely rcommend exercise to help over come joint and muscle pain. You just need to take it slow and steady.

lessonlearned

Beecher.....I am actually quite horrified that your doctor would prescribe cocodamol For stomach pain.....it is notorious for causing constipation.

You might be better with an antispasmodic to try and calm things down.

However all those things only mask symptoms, they do not get to the root cause. Probiotics go a long way to addressing issues like IBS and GERD because they rebalance the flora in the gut.

Obviously still go ahead with the ultrasound though, just in case there's something else going on.

Money - I also found adding more alkaline foods helped to combat over production of stomach acid.

beecher2

i will keep it in mind. I'm doing nothing at the moment as I am well but something to keep in mind. I have had countless blood tests in recent months and what I need to do is get a copy of them. It costs £10 so I was too mean to do it before, but would be handy to know. They keep telling me my hormones are 'normal' and I keep thinking 'aye right'.

beecher2

About probiotics, I'm not sure if I should be taking them forever or giving myself a break from them. Was going to go down from 20 billion to 10 billion - does that sound wise?

LameWolf

Tipsntreats many thanks for the thought re the wigs - unfortunately, to get back to looking like "me" I need long and red! Very red! :rotfl:
Not sure why I'm worrying about it really; it's only DH who'd notice, when all is said and done.

lessonlearned

beecher2 wrote: »

About probiotics, I'm not sure if I should be taking them forever or giving myself a break from them. Was going to go down from 20 billion to 10 billion - does that sound wise?

There's no harm in trying, you can always go back up again.

Do you like yoghurt.....the plain unsweetened stuff.

I eat plain full fat Greek yoghurt every day, mild and creamy and full of good flora for the gut. Fab with berries, although any fruit will do. A little Honey if necessary. I don't usually bother I find fruit adds enough sweetness. Top with flaxseeds or a few chopped nuts. Makes a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast.

moneyistooshorttomention

Beecher,

Who is doing these blood tests for you?

I had one recently - checking for something else specifically - and this great long list of figures came back and I understood a bit of it (hence knowing what my iron levels are). But that blood test was done by the NHS and I just casually asked for "my printout of my results please" at the doctors surgery and, as expected, got given them. There was no attempt to charge me for them and I would have been astonished/horrified if there had been.

beecher2

That's what my doctor's surgery charges - they tell me any figures if I ask them which is why I know my ferritin levels, but if I want a print out or even to know what they tested, I pay the £10.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=160

I think it is at the discretion of the practice and if the receptionist wasn't such a horrible woman, she'd probably have given me them. I was pretty horrified myself, and will ask for every record they hold, just to get my money's worth

lessonlearned, yes I like Yeo yogurt but have weetabix for my breakfast. Takes me 90 minutes to get to work and 30 minutes of that is spent walking and I'm absolutely ravenous if I only have yogurt.

dandy-candy

Well I certainly had a scatter brain moment this morning. DH dropped me by Euston station so I could run to catch my bus. I flew off across the main crossroads but missed it, then realised I had my shopping bag but had left my handbag with my mobile and wallet in DH van :eek:
I ran back across the road and saw his van, screamed out his name , but he drove off! I saw two guys waiting to cross the road and one was holding a mobile so I gaspingly asked if I could call my DH (explaining why) and he kindly let me. I would have been stuffed otherwise!

Then I got on the bus and couldn't get the card reader to work because I kept tapping it on the screen instead of the reader.....:rotfl:

Beecher: I don't choke, just wake up feeling like I have a hangover and really carp. It's DH who says I stop breathing and he has to keep giving me a nudge.

Re. Probiotics, I was at the London permaculture festival last weekend and a lady there did a demo making sauerkraut which is apparently full of good stuff for bad guts if home made - shop bought is pasteurised and no good. She said you need to start small and build up in eating it or you get wind.