Old Style Ways and Poor Health part 2.

pollyanna_26

This is a continuation of the OS Poor Health Thread'


The previous thread has many hints and tips and discussion on various health matters. There is discussion on ill health benefits some of which needs updating.


Everyone is welcome . Due to forum rules please do not recommend prescription medications as that's the role of qualified consultants and gps.


The link to part one is below.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5524040/os-ways-and-poor-health


I've finally started a new thread so I hope friends old and new will join in.


As always thoughts are with dear Wolfy and Mr Wolf and those friends from the previous thread. It would be nice to hear from you all.


Hope to see mothernerd and beanie who recently joined in .
pollyx

maddiemay

Hi Polly, great to see a new (continued) thread, I have often thought of you and many of the regular visitors to the previous one. I had not posted there for quite a while, nor very much elsewhere, feeling it was important to conserve my mental energy and restrict keyboard time as my hands have been so very painful.

On the plus side, other bits of me that are generally painful because of the RA etc have been behaving themselves and not causing too many problems.:):):)

OH and I (together with Miss Border Collie) have enjoyed many jaunts in our caravan. We both enjoy visiting historic sites, gardens, and interesting engineering.

If you read this LameWolf, I have enjoyed making and eating Nut Loaf to the recipe you kindly posted for me:A

pollyanna_26

It's lovely to see you again Maddie. Very good news re the RA. I too
cut back on screen time initially due to lots of appts but also problems with the laptop aka Triggers Broom.Each time a part was replaced another failed.


I can't remember if I posted re dds PIP reassment a few months ago but despite a lot of messing around she was again awarded enhanced rate for both daily living and mobility. We then received an ESA50 for reassment . I've posted this elsewhere this week but she was assessed on paper , medical history and consultants and gp reports. Top award again and in the support group . I've looked at recent statistics and a higher percentage of claimants with long term conditions are having paper assessments now . So back to the days of incapacity paper reviews . It was such a relief not to put her through the travel and stress and I hope more people will get the same.


In my usual manner I've just noticed the mis-spelling twice of reassessment my hands are not good either at the moment so I'll leave them there!


At the moment I'm using a mouse and not liking it. Too used to the touch pad which is latest failure.


I always enjoy reading of your caravan jaunts and they're much better for physical and mental health than staring at screens so post as and when .


We were out for 11 hours today at Drs a couple of other appts and the pharmacy. Superdoc has been firefighting a number of flares with dd. Psoriasis, mouth ulcers, cold sores etc . PsA, Arthritis and Ftbro are kicking so quite a relief to be spared the face to face.
He believes she needs barbotage again in both shoulders but is trying an oral steroid until she's up to the procedure.


Pharmacy was a nightmare . Today was a record 19 meds. 6 were in stock 7 they could give a few days and the others were out of stock. I have a number of owing slips but once we checked them when we got home no Oramorph and no owing slip.


I'll need to phone the practice manager on Monday and ask her to print off a copy of today's prescriptions before I go back to the pharmacy. DD has suggested she photographs future ones on her phone while I sit filling in the backs with has a prepayment certificate in the waiting room.


I haven't the energy to work out the cost of 19 meds but the PPC is worth it's weight in gold.


I decided a while ago I would follow the lead of mothernerd and the turtles and find at least one gratitude in each day.


Today I am grateful for Superdoc.
For having time while out and about to sit in a brief spell of sun between the showers to finally update the thread while dd gave me a quick lesson in cut paste and post a link'
Finally for the chief pharmasist who offered transfer to the care home section a couple of months ago which today being the last monthly meds before a possible brexit menas she is on the system for next month.. They've done that a few times in the past during shortages and it's important for the meds that can't be stopped suddenly.


I hope our friends find their way back . Much love to Mr and Mrs Wolf and hopefully furry guests for you. Tink, candy , AOT and so many others I can't forget WCS and her advice on pSa.It would be lovely to hear from the wonderful Larumbelle but I haven't seen her around for a while. Hope to see Mothernerd and beanie here .in fact too many to name .


I'm beginning to wilt so goodnight take care and keep pacing.


Sleep tight

pollyx

westcoastscot

Hi Polly, been on a longish break from The internet. Can't recall when I last posted - retired early in June last year and living on tiny savings. Have been in flare since then pretty much - recently started biologics so hoping for some relief there.
Still living a very quiet life, getting by day to day. I've found much of my natural optimism and buoyancy has deserted me so trying to regain that. I think not being able to do more than small amounts of anything at a time has taken a lot from my life and am struggling to adapt.

Other than that I'm prepping for brexi t as well as harsh weather.

Sounds like you've had a lot on of late, hope you get a spell of peace for a while
WCS x

pollyanna_26

WCS I've just written a long reply to your post and off it went into the ether so I'm trying a shorter version.
It's lovely to see you here and discover you finally have the long awaited retirement.


After such a long wait and that difficult commute it must be such a relief to be at home and able to pace yourself rather than pushing beyone your limits.


The past year seems to be one of those years when many are flaring and it's a sruggle to do everything that needs doing. Finding optimism and bouancy is a hard one but ypu can only do what you can manage when things are a struggle.


It's so difficult to adapt and accept we can't always do all the things we used to. It's a matter of pacing where possible and keeping an eye on the "spoons"



I hope the biologics help reduce the flares .


Are you still managing to grow your own? I've struggled with the garden over the last couple of busy years but the herbs and veg seem to look after themselves and if the worse comes we can live on herb soup!


DD is minus a consultant at the moment as she's retired and they're struggling to find a senior to fill the role. The only other option is to go back to the consultant many miles away . We put in a formal complaint over her attitude to dd supported by our GP so not going to darken her door again.


It's a faint hope but hopefully your winter isn't too harsh this year.
Are your sons ok? I still laugh at the table leg knitting when I look at the legs of my farmhouse table.


As for the B word , I know you've advised and supported those struggling in your work role. In my small way I do too and it's going to be so difficult for those on the breadline.


So many of us can buy extra bits and pieces but I and I'm sure you can't stock up with lots of things on a limited income.


You've put a big smile on my face today popping up here. I have wondered how you were faring over the last few years so it's a relief to see you have your freedom.


If you feel low or frustrated look out of your window at the wild and wonderful place you live in . We'd be up there if Superdoc would uproot his family.
Take care and count the spoons. Hope you can pop in from time to time. Apart from hearing how things are I'm interested to see if the biologics make a difference.
Take care
pollyx.

pollyanna_26

Here it is Mar. Still no sleep but I'll pull myself together and join you.


WCS I'm not sure if you'll see this but Mar misses you. Like myself she's very glad you're retired .
pollyxx

pollyanna_26

After posting this morning I ate my porridge and instead of getting dressed decided to take my brew and a couple of hot water bottles to bed for half an hour. It was wet and miserable outside so it seemed like a plan. I fell asleep thankfully after drinking my tea and putting the cup on the bedside table. It seems the sleepless nights had caught up with me.


It's been mainly trying to pace when possible here over the last few months. Various flares and difficulty getting all dds meds. Recently it took a month to get an important anti viral which helps to minimise chances of various infections etc due to the supressed immune system.


As usual the weather plays a big part when it comes to pain and flares. I read the result of the " Cloudy with a chance of Pain" daily weather study a while back.I first mentioned that study on the original thread and many of us already felt weather had an effect at the time.


For those who weren't aware of the study Professor Will Dixon and his team at the university of Manchester set up a daily tracking system. Everyone who joined via the app would get a prompt each evening to record weather conditions that day and pain levels. It was focused on long term health conditions.


At the end of the study they found a clear link between weather and pain. Humid ,windy days came top. We do find they have an effect but wet and damp days are also a factor along with very cold days.


That scientific team carry out a lot of research and at times offer certain trials to people with various conditions . The genetic link for our three conditions back to my mum was a result of their research using regular blood samples from Rheumo patients.


I'm hoping a few of our friends will creep back here. I've managed to see a few posts from Wolfy elsewhere on the forums. She's still plodding on with furry friends to cheer her up through difficult times.


I seem to have a long list of things to do . The usual cooking for the big freezer has fallen by the wayside a lot compared to previous years. The gardens will need a fair bit of cutting back and weeding when the weather improves. However the snowdrops and muscari are flowering as are a number of winter flowering shrubs. Herbs have survived neglect. I'm beginning to think I've created a form of hands off gardening by default.
pollyx

mardatha

Found you Polly. I agree that weather has a lot to do with some conditions.

Tink_04

Glad I found you all again :T

It has been a while and a lot has happened! I finished work before Xmas and I'm enjoying beginning new adventures, I feel a lot less stressed and although I'm struggling with routine at the moment I am enjoying myself.

I am trying to look after my health a bit more so have been more active in walking the dog, I need to drop some weight as I can feel myself getting sluggish and suffering the effects of carrying too much around. I have given up alcohol :beer: which is a start. I don't really enjoy it and i think my health can do without it. I think I should try my GF again as I have constant heartburn off the bread etc and it really doesn't agree with me, I've just been too lazy to change my ways but I need to make some sort or headway.

I still struggle sleeping at times (like tonight) but it is more once or twice a month rather than a week now which is good.

Looking forward to catching up again!

Tink

mardatha

Tink I tried to go GF and I got really odd symptoms when I ate shop bought GF bread and cakes - I think some of the odd ingredients they put in them are not good.
I have just stopped eating anything with flour in. And stopped all sugar apart from honey. I just need some energy, this constant exhaustion is driving me mad.
And I wasn't all that sane to begin with..

pollyanna_26

Welcome back Tink it's good to see you here. I was thinking of you and the family on Christmas day and remembering our discussions about not needing to go overboard at such times to keep up with those splashing the cash and ending up often in debt as a result.


I pictured you all with your warm blankies, hot chocolate and simple family fun. I hope you all had a relaxing time.


I'm glad the break from work is helping. The planning you did in advance on your Losing a wage thread along with your Slow Cooker and Simple Life threads was such a good idea rather rhan going headlong into dropping an income . Well worth the preparation . I hope you're both ok and your husband is enjoying his new job. Your little ones will be a bit bigger now so are hopefully still mucking in at home and working alongside you in the garden when the weather is good.


I've never tried GF but I see Mar has mentioned her experience. Losing weight is beneficial healrh wise but a lot can be done via dog walking, growing your own ( combines exercise and healthy eating) and general pottering about.Hope your parents are well and look foward to seeing more of you here.


It's obvious winter has an impact on this thread . I think this winter it's been the quietest year so far. In time it will be good to see former friends return with their hints and tips and comments on day to day life.
Look after you.
pollyx