Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

sugarbaby125

Purple Pixie,

I have always had lots of water to drink before blood tests, on top of my usual daily water intake. I have sometimes had to warm my hands up under a hot tap, but I would never wear a jumper on a hot day as it would make me extremely uncomfortable. 

I insist on going to an experienced phlebotomist when I need blood tests now, knowing that they will always be able to get blood from me on the 1st attempt and they cause me so little pain, that sometimes I am not aware that they have already inserted the needle. They use the smallest child size needle on me, as that stops my very small veins from being traumatised. It took me years to become confident enough to stop nurses and doctors from attempting to take blood from me. Doctors and nurses just do not have the necessary skill to take blood from people like myself that have very small, deep set veins. 

helensbiggestfan

Good afternoon lovely ladies...,

I have added my bit to the Maman tribute thread, let's hope the powers that be sit up and take notice.  

SUgarbaby. I have similar problems with getting blood out of my veins,  I think some medics are just better at it than others.  One trick one nurse told me about was to make sure I drink plenty of water before I let them attempt it.  Even if you have to have a fasting blood test you can still drink plain water without it affecting the readings.  The other thing is to try and relax, easier said than done if like me you are needle phobic.😱. I have to look away and go to my "happy place" whilst they do it.😂.  Anxiety will make us more tense and make it harder for them to do the procedure so I guess anything that helps us to relax. 

Oddly enough I had to have blood taken the other day too. The nurse who took it was brilliant, got what she needed In the first attempt so a big relief.  I always make sure they take it from my left arm (my right is my dominant arm) just in case there's any bruising or soreness.  Same with vaccinations.  

I also take a small amount of blood myself a couple of times a week  ....just a finger p r i c k to check my blood sugar levels.  At first I really struggled and it would take me several attempts to get enough but with practice I've got quite good at it.  Again always from my left hand and I always drink plenty of water first.  I tend to bruise easily so if I have to do it more than twice in a week I make sure I take it from a different finger, otherwise my finger becomes very tender.  

Pixie.....I think what you are doing with your masks is the best way.   The advice is bleach kills just about everything, probably just as effective a boil wash, if not more so, so I'm pretty sure you are doing it right. If I'm not mistaken 60 isn't actually a boil wash anyway, so your neighbour is probably wasting her time. 60 is the minimum recommended for towels etc but I doubt it would completely sterilise masks.  I'm sure yours is the better method.  

Lovely day here. I have just come indoors for a break and a cuppa, it's really hot outside.  

I'm pretty tired. My chiro days are usually Monday and Wednesday and I find the treatments do tend to wipe me out, so Monday's through to  around Thursday I find my energy levels can be a bit low. I've actually got a third treatment on Friday this week because I had to miss one and I need to catch up so I have not really planned much for this week.  

I'm not even half way through the programme yet so I guess it's still early days and I can expect to feel tired at times.  I feel it is working though, my pain levels are much improved and I feel more flexible.  

I am managing to exercise most days although I had to give yesterday a miss. I was just too shattered after the chiro session, and ended up dozing on the sofa most of the afternoon.  But I am doing ok, now doing Zumba and/or Bollywood dancing For around 30 minutes and then tai chi for about 30 minutes, plus a few minutes with hand weights.  So roughly just over an hour a day.  It sounds a lot but it's easy to fit it in to my daily schedule ...it would take me longer than that just to get to and from the gym, so although there's no social interaction with anyone it's a pretty efficient way of making sure I exercise.  The exercise is definitely starting to pay off, already I can feel my core is getting stronger, I look and feel more toned already and my lower back feels much better.  Just need to up the hand weight exercises so I can firm up the bingo wings.  😂🤣

Other than that not much news.  I fully intended to start planting  up the border  that  I cleared today but it's too hot, the plants would probably just wilt in the heat so Maybe tomorrow.  Apparently it will be cooler then.  

Covid figures are starting to rise again..........it's not looking very promising.  😞. 

My sister works for a well known pharmacy chain. Their chief pharmacist has tested positive after developing symptoms. I am astonished to learn that the rest of the staff are not being tested unless they too develop symptoms.  what???  They are all livid, the only advice they have been given is to keep wearing PPE.  They have not shut the retail section for deep cleaning either.  I can appreciate they need to keep the pharmacy bit open but it just seems so reckless, no cleaning, no testing, no tracing.  My sister is at real risk because she has moderate asthma (severe at times). She has been hospitalised with breathing difficulties several times over the years, although she has been better since moving out of London.  Even so, her lungs aren't that great so I'm concerned.  

I thought the whole point of testing, tracking and tracing was to keep The number of new cases to a minimum but when even a chemist  doesn't follow protocols then there's not much chance of controlling any outbreaks.  

Then they have the gall to blame the general public for the rising number of cases.  😡.  

Hey ho,  I just need to stay calm and focussed on what I can do, rather than fret over things over which I have no control.  I am still shielding and not going anywhere other than medical appts and a bit of shopping,  Still staying within our small family bubble to protect DIL. She's 34 weeks now so not too long to go.  It looks like it will be an elective Caesarian at around 39 weeks unless she goes Into a natural Labour before then, so I guess we are looking at around 5 weeks max. now. She has done well although It's not been the easiest of pregnancies. I do still get a bit concerned about her anxiety levels at times so I will be glad when it's all over.  Thankfully they have said they will stop at two.  I don't think my nerves could take it again. 😂

thepurplepixie

LL I do think it is a good/easy way to do it.  I'm so glad I got white masks, a half hour soak in nearly boiling water with the washing up liquid and a bit of bleach and they look so clean and I feel they are safe.  I think some people can't think of washing without a machine and a face mask isn't much of a load is it.  I haven't been out today so 3 nice clean masks ready for action when needed.
Sugarbaby one of my funny (horrible) experiences was when my first son was born, it was standard to have a blood test the next day, no idea if they do it now.  Anyway the phlebotomist came round and struggled to get some blood, ended up with half the amount she needed but said it would have to do, then she knocked it over and spilt it on my notes so I never found out if I'd have passed that particular test as neither of us felt like going through it all again.  The best person to do it, well the anaesthetist was good and they told me he could get blood out of  a stone, but the very best was a Genetics Consultant who was doing a test for a faulty gene we have in the family.  I was so amazed I said he should run classes.  I'm normally black and blue after a test but there was barely a mark when he did it and it was painless.  I think he might have been a magician.
We're an awkward lot aren't we.

thepurplepixie

LL terrible that they can't get tests.  It all seems a bit shambolic doesn't it.  They seem to be blaming the young at the moment, they have to blame someone as it couldn't possibly be down to them.  As if we haven't got enough going on they are starting about Brexit again  I can't decide which word I hate most Brexit or unprecedented.  I'd like to ban both.  I love the news and anything current affairs but I think I'm going to have to ban it all or I will scream. 

That poor woman in Iran, Nazanin I think, I shouldn't moan with what she's going through.  I hope they get her home soon, it must be like living through a nightmare but she can't wake up.  I'm not sure I can worry about Andrew Lloyd Webber and his productions at the moment, I know it is sad but we have to keep some perspective.  I do like live theatre but I wouldn't go at the moment even if the theatres were open.

helensbiggestfan

I'm half watching the news right now........So depressing.  Yes  I noticed that young people are now the current scapegoats.  

La la la - Fingers in ears, I'm not listening,  

I think I'll just have to cheer myself up with a good film.  😂.  

thepurplepixie

I'm going to have cake and a cuppa.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.

savingfortomorrow

I started pilates again after a year and an operation. The core is have zero strength. I wanted to sleep. I have to rebuild strength slowly, even when I was heavier I had more strength. It is scary how we loose what we don't use. I didn't  believe the nurse when she said the operation  would affect doing pilates but she was so right.  
Next week will be better

I hate portmanteau words. Please call it what it is. Brexit.. it's a simple word that overshadows complexity and legalities. 

LL your sister is at risk.  It's a terrible state of affairs. The staff need to be tested even for peace of mind, everyone  will be looking at each other on case if a cough or sneeze. 
The team needs to know for their self interest, commercially  I would argue customers  are going to avoid the place not knowing if it is a hot zone and for medicine safety it is better to get the staff tested for a safer environment for  all.  But what do I know, the powers that be set the tone and tune.

sheilavw

Yesterday I completed my 100k in Sept challenge to raise fund for MND. I completed 107.8km in 9 days. It helps running around a massive school all day, walking my Daughters dogs and swimming.

I haven't a cotton mask, I just have a stock of the disposables, I tend to wear a face visor in school. I find masks very hot and uncomfortable but will always abide by the rules and wear one.

thepurplepixie

Well every day is a school day, I didn't know what a portmanteau word was so had to look it up.

sheilavw my masks are 3 layer cotton, they fit well round the edges but aren't tight across the mouth and nose and I find them easy to wear, in fact I tend to forget to take them off.  The shop I bought them from doesn't have them now and I didn't keep the wrapper so don't know where they come from.  So annoying as I'd like another pack in case mine get lost/damaged or whatever.

Well last night it was young people who were blamed for spreading the virus, this morning the testing system isn't failing it is just that too many people want tests.  Nothing is ever the fault of this govt, I'd think so much more of them if they stood up and said this isn't working so we are going to do x y and z.  The childish response just makes me think, "It's wasn't me mum, it was the big boys down the road."

It is weird, I coped really well with lockdown but the thought of doing it again is really oppressive.  I think if it is going to happen I wish they'd just do it.  I'm going out today, I just feel I need to before we can't if you know what I mean.

  We are lucky down here in the south west, we really haven't had the issue that some areas have had, I'm amazed that having all the holidaymakers back didn't seem to cause any issues but I do have worries as two of my children and their children are in areas that are more seriously affected.

Keep safe everyone, and LL I hope your sister is OK.

chanie

Morning fabbers,

sheila amazing work on your challenge.  Well done.

My children have been back at primary school for a few days now.  It’s difficult to get much out of them, but they seem happy enough.  As I’m not working, it means my days are free.  Bliss.