Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

beanielou

Beanie to Dusty. 
Hope all is well in your world.

pollyanna_26

I'm glad to read your PIP turned up at last Beanie. It's hard but as I told youngest many a time it does come eventually.

Mrs CD I've been wondering if Dusty would prefer posting on the Poor Health Thread.

It's a while since it was active but I was thinking of one of the regulars who used to post there. Last time I saw her on the forum she was trying to sell her house and I've wondered ever since if she managed to get any sense out of the estate agent/ solicitor I can't remember which.

Grandmanerd used to post there before she was a grandma and so did Mar.

I did enjoyDustys posts though I confess I'm not fond of board games.  She did speak of interesting things and I was thinking of her on Saturday when my friends and I finally managed the delayed camper van trip up the West Coast and down the East coast we delayed during the Queens death and journey to London.

We were finally inside Old Trafford since pre pandemic on Saturday. Brilliant to win the Derby. Wonderful that a billionaire who's supported UTD since boyhood seems about to buy the club that would be goodbye to the Glazers.

I looked at the stopped clock and thought of Dusty almost February and the memories. We travelled home through snow and it's still snowing tonight.

Not common here but when it snows it forgets to stop. BBC forecast showed the golf courses covered in snow.

pollyx

dustydigger

Hi people! Sorry to be MIA,I have had a serious ear infection - an almost continuous thing these days - and that led to a godawful vertigo attack still in full force I'm sorry to say. Had to get up to wait for asd@ delivery. Like last week I will have to ask the driver to bring everything in for me as I'm dizzy as a duck. Standing I can only hold my head at a certain angle,moving even inches left or right makes my brain slop about in a rotten way,very sick making.

Very difficult sitting at computer,which is why I've not been on here.  Vision is a bit blurry,so reading is a bit difficult,so I have to watch moronic TV for entertainment.

@pollyanna_26

I gave up posting on the Poor Health thread long ago,I found it too depressing. Same with the Pernicia Anaemia Society a forum,(not on MSE) which was just full of very desperate unhappy people despairing at the lack of understanding orsympathy of the medical folks. One size fits all,one needle every 3 months despite in numerous cases one jab being inadequate.There are an amazing number of people who buy there own supply of medication,and inject themselves much more than once every 3 months,some even weekly. They gave up on getting help from the NHS. I have a few problems,could wish at times I got the jab every 2 months,but I truly think I must be building up better reserves in my blood. Not much stronger physically,but I can certainly say  that the brain fog and depression are much less.So I dont get to angry with the docs over the PA. I do however  take umbrage at the surgery's attitude to thyroid. They only want to check one certain thyroid marker,and if that is in the normal range,thats it,they say you are fine.You may remember me ranting a while ago that while the surgery say my thyroid is fine,I have a huge number of symptoms. Its crazy!

you can see my rant on the subject and my list of symptoms on page 64 of this blog

Anyhoo,I have shown you I am alive - but NOT kicking,I would fall over if I tried to balance on one leg to kick while my brain is swirling around like a washing machine. - but once I've sorted asd@ I will lie down again. Will be back as and when I feel up to it so dont worry.

Oh,there's the asd@ van arriving. Gotta go!

pollyanna_26

I am sorry you are struggling Dusty. I don't recall you posting in the past on the Poor Health Thread but when I started the second one I did identify some clear guidelines were needed.

Just two simple things no Snake Oil or random found online "Cure^ I was already aware a couple of posters had their online gurus and both youngest and myself had experienced the pain clinics which seemed to be more whose pain was worse. Not the reason we went there we enjoyed the various appts with the pain Dr who was spot on with meds and others like the physio who provided the very helpful exercise sheets. So our pain clinic visits were just for useful advice.

There seemed to be a gap on the forums for those with health problems once Prepare at Home was no longer posting.

I was hoping for a helpful  thread with hints and tips to make life easier with housework , cooking and lots of day to day tasks. The feedback is there on the thread and very helpful still.

Two posters ignored the No snake Oil or Online Gurus and I reported them myself.

One of my friends belongs to a few online support groups and is constantly frustrated by contradictory advice. Personally I listen to my body and my excellent GP who spent years training.

I have no idea what your GP is like  but a proactive one can make a big difference.

Some people did find the info on Prepayment Prescription Certificates  useful. Youngests monthly repeats  initially cost more for one month than the annual payment so well worth buying.

I suppose it depends what people are looking for. Some welcome info on Disability benefits others on Physio etc. Many useful info on housework and cooking over the years. The sushi roll for putting on a duvet cover was one that stuck in many peoples memories  including mine as did a tip from Cranky when I mentioned feeling unsteady carrying dirty laundry downstairs Her solution put it in a bag and throw it over the banisters has been my solution ever since.

It's a shame there isn't the in home help available now due to the cutbacks. I know the men in the family are busy with work but could any of the wives spare a little time to maybe prep meals or do a little hoovering etc to help out?

It sounds as though you need some support to get through the days tasks. I'm wondering if Mr Dusty would help with the housework if asked.

Saturday at Old Trafford I  stared at the clock thinking not long to February. The best thing possible would be for the Glazers to sell the club to  a  fan since childhood.

pollyx

ETA No idea about the NE but are there any of those warm spaces near you?

A number have opened here and are very popular and cover all sorts of interests and hobbies. Maybe something like that would give you a break and no need to worry about the heating bill while enjoying some company and a change of scene.

tooldle

Probably not an immediate comfort but, i am aware of ongoing work focusing on alternate delivery methods for B12, to allow the patient to self medicate rather than rely on their 3 monthly surgery apt. GP's do know patients obtain B12 for themselves. 

beanielou

Feel better soon Dusty  xx

MrsCD

You poor thing, dusty. I hope your gp has given you something for the ear infection, and it gets better soon. You have enough to deal with without that as well. Take care and rest when you can. xx

Muddy_Walker

Please don’t go Dusty - in the short amount of time I’ve known you, you’ve taught me a lot. I love your posts especially about books! And you don’t sound like you’re moaning to me at all! You have a great way with words.
and you are very much loved xxx

dustydigger

Hi people,guess what,Dusty,despite rumours to the contrary,is still alive. Still got the vertigo,getting in and out of bed is a nuisance,but I can walk about fairly well,and can hear the TV as my ear improves.A few days ago I could hear nothing. Another week should see me much better,as 2-3 weeks dizziness is par for the course.

Will try to slowly tidy up today,in case of visitors,some of the tribe pop in for a quick visit Friday if they have things to do over the weekend. However I think they will probably turn up Saturday or Sunday with cards etc for my birthday. I'm 75 on 31st,Tuesday.

Trying to pull myself together. I am getting cabin fever,but darent go out with this vertigo in case I fall,and anyway its so cold and miserable I dont want to! Last time I poked my head out was to go to the surgery for the jabs and blood tests. Last years test sent the docs into panic,when they thought I had cancer because my blood was so weird. Last blood sugar test showed a level of 103! ouch... Anyway,this time it was 50,not too bad. I remember way back in March 2017 the surgery told me I was diabetic,and really frightened me the way they discussed it. They had me thinking I was dying soon. I had had a hysterectomy in August 2016,and a knee replacement in December which went poorly,and I took 3 months to recuperate,so it was a major effort to get into walking,and losing weight,but I stuck in and lost well over 40 lbs.I got my blood sugar down from 56 to 39,putting the diabetes into remission. ,and though I have put some weight back on,I steadily lost 1 lb a month so I was 15st 10 lb when I started the metformin 6 months ago.Sadly I am back up to 16st 1lb,highest weight since 2020 Depressing.

I got a lecture when they phoned about my results,I must lose weight etc. They were on about that last Sep,but Mr Dusty was going through a bad phase,I was suffering from my back etc etc etc. With the brain fog and depression I knew I couldnt cope with the stress of dieting on top of everything else,so I didnt try. Hasnt gone down well with surgery,but I find them incredibly unhelpful when I need support (remember not getting treatment for the thyroid?) and I must do as I feel.

Anyway,they are now on Mr Dusty. He was 10st 6lb,but  we have been just sitting down all the time. Precovid he went to town almost daily,and he bought milk or bread etcat Tesc*,a 10 min walk from the bus station. That 20 mins exercise was ideal. Then covid started,and then Tesc* closed down,he rarely goes to town more than once or twice a week,and not all the way over that far side,so no exercise now..So he's up to 11 st 2lbs,his pre diabetic status is a bit dodgy,and his kidney function is down. The surgery want him to lose a stone. Good luck with that,I few years ago I tried to help him cut back,and it took 6 months for him to lose 6 lbs. The only thing he accepted was to use artificial sweetener in his tea! That was pre covid when he was out and about a lot. I just couldnt get him to change his habits.He is totally stubborn that he is fit,has a good diet etc etc.And he is in denial about the diabetes.

So I am going to have the unenviable task of getting his exercise and diet sorted,as well as my own. I would ruthlessly get myself onto a plant based,intermittent fasting regime. It worked before,I could lose 3lb a week regularly,but now on metformin I am lucky to lose 1lb a month if I really try hard.Doing that while trying to sort Mr D at the same time,when his cognitive functions are slowly declining is going to be a mountain to climb.

So I have to simplify my life,strip down to minimalistic life choices really. cutting out distractions. Time spent online is clearly going to have to be cut.

So here on MSE I will be cutting back on time spent here. I will continue with this thread,but in a smaller way. I intend to do a ''That Was The Week That Was'' post every Sunday,giving updates on my stressful life,and probably a quick Wednesday or Thursday update to answer any posts. { will also do my posts on the Cutting Down on Alcohol thread,on the same days. I will really need to take care not to slip back to drinking as (false) comfort.that thread keeps me on the straight and narrow.

So people,you will only see me twice a week,.I am glad I sorted my finances through this thread,I think struggling with money would be the last straw. I am however very comfortably sorted in that area.

Take care everyone. WE will plod on,as dear beanielou always advises us.

Off now to do potatoes (I tried to start a potatoes once a day regime yesterday,and boy did it go down like a lead balloon last night.Much research needed on what he will eat.......sigh......)

Then I must wash my filthy filthy hair. Been too wobbly to bend over sink to wash it. never gone 9 days before in my life I think.

I'll see you all on Sunday for updates and thoughts. For now its make dinner,wash hair,and then cope with Mr Dusty. He is out having his flu jab at the moment.

Havent checked this post,hope its OK. I am getting really dizzy trying to focus on the screen.

What a life. 

beanielou

Have the very happiest of days on Tuesday xx

I think that people that don't have health problems themselves just cant or dont get the fact that sometimes it is too difficult to just add in something else.  I so get this.