From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

kayannie

Don't worry about taking up people's time on here. I for one got quite anxious when there was no post off you for a while with an update on your 'patient'. 
So glad to hear that there's been an improvement & that your DH has not gone into work. It sounds as if he's in no fit state to return to work until he's fully recovered and if he can delay going back until after your holiday, so much the better.

The break will be good for all of you, I know how stressful it is looking after someone who is ill.

KA x

KajiKita

Seconding the comment on not worrying about taking people's time on here - if they are not interested they can always scroll on by.

I know how hard it is when one's OH is ill - there is nothing you can do to help per se but you also don't really feel like you want to leave them in case they need you / they deteriorate further (I had this last Twixtmas when Mr KK screamed and howled (literally ) for three days, non-stop, whilst the nerve from his spine to his thigh, being squashed by his ruptured disc died ... one of the most traumatic things I have ever witnessed ...) so I am glad when you report in and tell us all how things are going (but equally, don't feel that you have to for our sakes!).

I think you are veggie rather than vegan? Could scrambled eggs with tinned tomatoes, maybe with some mashed potatoes be a soft food option that will introduce a bit of variation but still be swallowable? 

KK

 

Greying_Pilgrim

I have to say kayannie because holiday has been booked - for some months - and this week is a short working week anyway, I wouldn't be worried if DH didn't return until November. Thanks for your support.  

With regard to DH, I know he's not faking, he's not a fraud, when he's at work he's 100% committed, so he needs this time for self-care.  I'm not ignoring the impact on household finance, but we operate our budgets and life in a MSE vein, so that we can (perhaps) be better placed to roll with the punches at times like this.  Dh must get better, and I don't want him distracted with worry about wages. If all else fails, that's why we've an emergency fund. 

Ow - KajiKita - I'm wincing just reading about your DH's issues.  I bet every slight movement was agony ☹️  I do have a few potatoes, so could have mash.  I'm just wondering what to do with the mash (a nice problem to have).  We had omlette last night, so I wouldn't have enough eggs left.  But I love that you've thought what we could have that is 'patient friendly' - although I cannot contemplate tinned tomatoes on a plate with anything...... 🤮  Soz.

I wandered into Greying Town to move some money around so that it's in the right place to pay the cc bill for the window staged payments when the time comes.  I did spend some money - non food and a pack of jaffa cakes as a treat (and soft so DH has managed to indulge), I will dig out the receipts just now.

I shall whip up some soup just now.  I can probably do pea soup again, I'll have a think in the kitchen tho.

Ta for being here.  It's appreciated.

Greying X

KajiKita

It wasn't the slight movements that were an issue for Mr KK, it was just existing ... I've never seen anything like it. It was utterly brutal and the NHS just left us to it ... And Mr KK is no softy - he often comes home, with cuts, bumps and bruises and has no idea how he ended up with them. Anyway, that was the end of our 2024 - I really hope we NEVER go anywhere near something like that again ....

I'm glad the mash suggestion has given you an idea and I'm sorry the idea of tinned tomatoes has set off your Ugh-ometer!  

I found this:
Eating well with a soft, moist diet
Unfortunately it has various meat / fish ideas but it may trigger some other useful thoughts on food options?  

KK 

Greying_Pilgrim

Hey Thanks KajiKita - I remember a leaflet similar to that when mum was ill.  So I went with mashed potato, using the last of the tatties - I was worried there wouldn't be enough, so I chopped in some swede to cook with the tatties too.  There were veggie sausages and baked beans too.  DH chopped the sausages so that they weren't too onerous to eat, and it was clean plates all round.  

DH is improving.  The pain hasn't totally vanished, but has lessened.  His ear is definitely 'drier',  so progress is being made.  DH feels 'wiped out' today.  Not too sure if it's the effect of the drugs, broken sleep, the infection, or a combination.   Whatever infection this is, it impact isn't done with DH yet.  He's retired to bed with a hot water bottle. 

Speaking of which, I need to purchase new hot water bottles - we threw one out this morning, don't want those things 'failing'.  

I have submitted meter readings. We used £3 more energy this month, than last.  It's following the same pattern as previous years, but also energy prices went up at the start of October.

Um, did I say what we had for lunch?  I used the remainder of the soup from yesterday and mixed it with a carton of passata.  I heated it up (added in a tsp of sugar), whisked in some cream cheese and some smoked paprika with a few other herbs.  It was quite tasty, and made just enough for the two of us, no leftovers, which is what was required.  

Thanks for popping by.  So appreciated.

Greying X

Cheery_Daff

Glad DH seems to be heading in the right direction. Not nice to see them ill - I'd rather be ill myself 😬 Mr C had shingles a few years ago, that wasn't pleasant at all, for either of us. Nothing on the scale of Mr KK - although I suspect it may have been similar when he had a slipped disc 20 odd years ago. Fortunately he hadn't met me at that point 😬

Greying_Pilgrim

I totally forgot to add - I hope you guys realise that i "carry you around with me each day".  I was in M&$ f00d-all today and I'm pretty sure that it was rt that mentioned dragon fruit in relation to keeping a good flow in terms of digestion.  I knew that M&$ sold the fruit - albeit they are expensive, but I could see some yellow stickers.  Unfortunately the yellow stickers were all on the pomegranates that were alongside - presumably all the M&$ pomegranate shoppers had flocked to MrL, as they were in the PoTW, weren't they?  So I didn't get a dragon fruit - but I thought to look, because of the chats that we have on here 😁

Cheery - shingles is so unpredictable, and certainly in our family the onset of shingles - albeit it in much older family members has been the gateway illness to other, more debilitating conditions ☹️I know there is the vaccine now, but I'm pretty sure if it could be eradicated, the NHS would save a packet on treatment of that, and associated illnesses.

Greying X

VintageHistorian

My Mum has had chicken pox twice (including once as an adult) and is now counting down the years until she's eligible for the new shingles vaccine as she never wants to experience chicken pox and it's associates ever again.

KajiKita

We had mash, sausages (mine were veggie!) and beans tonight 😊 Synchronicity! 😉 

If Mr GP is eating sausages he must be improving a bit, but I can quite understand the early to bed with a hot water bottle! The first goof night’s sleep he gets will be transformative for him - hope it’s tonight 🤞

KK

badmemory

I only had a very mild dose of shingles years ago.  But I have a dead spot on my stomach I could stick a pin in & not feel.