Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

Mr SA takes omeprazole for his reflux. 

badmemory

I do too.  But I can't take it for over 2 weeks as the side effects cut in.  So I try very hard to avoid taking them.  The daft thing is curry even vindaloo causes no problems but bought bread does (other things do too).  I was the same as a kid when I had appendicitis,  could eat curry but lumpy mashed potatoes would set it off.

Sun_Addict

badmemory said:

I do too.  But I can't take it for over 2 weeks as the side effects cut in.  So I try very hard to avoid taking them.  The daft thing is curry even vindaloo causes no problems but bought bread does (other things do too).  I was the same as a kid when I had appendicitis,  could eat curry but lumpy mashed potatoes would set it off.

Mr SA has terrible problems with his bowels and takes anti diarrhoea tablets daily. He had a burst appendix years ago and was very poorly in hospital. 

Cherryfudge

I'm on Omeprazole, and I've cut right down on wheat products as it was suggested I try cutting out bread and for a while it really helped reduce the symptoms. Interestingly, today has been the best for weeks. Not entirely symptom free but minimising what I ate yesterday evening and avoiding aspirin seem to have made a difference. It's so easy to slip into a new habit without noticing and I suspect it's worth trying this again - though I need to find the coated aspirin again as that's to prevent blood clot damage.

And today... we have heat again! Glory hallelujah! It's so nice! The man who fitted the log burner came round and serviced it, swept the chimney and stayed for a bit of a chat. He's had the worst year but he's still cheerful and positive. He even tidied the heap of firewood and set a blaze going for us, which we've kept up all day. We've now put a night briquette on - I doubt it will still be burning in the morning but it'll keep some background warmth for hours so it won't be so low first thing. In fact the hall is now 17 degrees.

We both managed part of online church this morning, then DH had to brave the rain because the choir was singing in the High Street as part of a Christmas fair type thing. At least the stage was covered and when we went for a walk later, the rain having paused, we got to see quite a lot going on.

I pulled out the flower arrangement I made the other week and trimmed the bits worth rescuing, then went out looking for more bits to put in. I'm quite pleased with the result though it's mostly green and white. DH is very tolerant because while we were walking and admiring Christmas trees later, I kept commenting on what was growing in the hedgerows and examining bits of ivy to see how the flowers were developing! I know it's not likely to be a long term interest but it's a challenge to find colour and shape for free this time of year, and I like a challenge and a bit of creativity.

I went and searched the wood heap from when we had the tree surgeon in and brought in some small logs. They were mostly soaked but we put them in the hearth away from touching the burner and to my surprise they have dried well without getting at all too hot. We are low on the commercial briquettes so this will be a bit of a money-saver as well as clearing that bit of the garden and making a bit more space in the shed where the briquettes were.

Dinner was chicken chasseur so there are mushrooms to use up in something else at some point. It occurred to me to try boiling rice on the top of the wood burner for dinner and this worked perfectly! Somehow it reached boiling and maintained it without ever boiling over, so I put the pan back on later and made hot drinks for free. I don't yet have a meal plan for this coming week.

Duolingo kindly gave me one of the random three day enhanced memberships so I've done extra this evening, and finished week one of a French course I found on Futurelearn. This is supposed to be basic but it's a bit challenging in places, listening to unfamiliar voices with a couple of new ways of saying things.

Expenditure:
Household (log burner service and chimney swept) £60.

Keedie

Glad that you've got heating again and managed to boil rice and have hot drinks all from the wood burner! Sounds like the engineer needed a friendly face to chat to and it sounds like he enjoys connecting with people despite having a rough year. A positive outlook can really make the difference doesn't it? I'm glad that your symptoms are giving you a bit more relief today.

liselle

Cherry, I have at last seen a dietician who, interestingly, said that bread, especially toasted, is a real trigger for IBS. I’d always considered toast to be a safe option! Eggs can be another, seemingly innocuous, trigger.Hope your flare-up calms down soon.

Cherryfudge

liselle said:

Cherry, I have at last seen a dietician who, interestingly, said that bread, especially toasted, is a real trigger for IBS. I’d always considered toast to be a safe option! Eggs can be another, seemingly innocuous, trigger. Hope your flare-up calms down soon.

That's interesting, @Liselle. I couldn't find anything on the NHS but it was actually a doctor who advised cutting out bread. I do miss it but not enough to set off the reflux.

The last couple of days have been better, thanks. Not perfect but definitely better.

Cherryfudge

We have a lovely sunny day so I've been running relays with the washing machine trying to get all the laundry done before the weather changes again tomorrow. So far I have a load of mixed quick wash items and another of reds, a handwash (done in a bucket using the shower for hot water) and I can hear the first of two hot washes is coming to an end.

I raided the freezer and made a batch of curried parsnip soup for lunches. One day I will eat enough to have some freezer space. One day. I'm also thawing some chicken to have tonight with pasta and chorizo.

We've realised tonight is the only night we'll both be in for dinner, mostly thanks to Christmas meals out.

The best news is that the boiler is ordered and should be installed tomorrow morning! We've opted for a smart thermostat as well: it changed the way the discount is applied but it still amounts to £100 off the bill. I've also paid using my CC so that's about a fiver in points, and ordered through Give as You Live so my charity gets £30. I forgot that last one as I don't shop on line much but do click through there on the off chance I'll buy something and the charity will benefit, so I was very happy when the email popped into my inbox.

I just have the one heater on low at present. The log burner was out by morning but had obviously stayed on duty much of the night as the house is warmer. DH is at the shop - all different from last week when he was in hospital having test done! They're going to put him on a portable monitor but he's had no recurrence.

Well, the light is fading so I'm sure I'll be putting the tumble dryer on for the bedding. I also need to get the hoovering done before we relight the log burner, as the through draught can suck the smell of the fire back into the house. Oh, and while it's nice out, I'll get in another bucketful of logs.

Floss

Ooh, enjoy your new boiler! I spent all of the Platinum Jubilee weekend customising an IKEA kitchen cabinet to sit around mine, as much as i love it, I wanted it hidden 😁

Keedie

Wow you've had a super productive day. Glad that your husband is back to being sprightly and you've had a good saving with the smart thermostat, cashback points and giving to charity. It makes such a difference when your home is warm doesn't it?