Frump to Fab 2024

helensbiggestfan

Good morning lovely ladies.  

Just sitting here with a face mask on.....multi tasking.  Lol.  Dentist yesterday for scans etc.  Bit of a set back. 4 implants ready to go, but one hasn't quite fully integrated yet, will need a bit longer.  Never mind.  Can go ahead with the four and then wait for the final one in about 3 months. 🤞

Day 17 of caffeine free, still no energy surge, 😂. Still feeling quite lethargic and tired, despite sleeping well.  Again I guess I just have to be patient.  But at least no cravings so all is good.  

Sukeyboo.  What a treat for the new tv.  

Have a great week. Keeeeep fabbing.

thepurplepixie

I've been following along,  Just wanted to say I was interested about caffeine and how sensitive you are to it.  I've never understood about it, I can have a big cup of coffee at bedtime and it doesn't affect my sleep at all, similarly if I'm feeling a bit sluggish a coffee does nothing to give me a boost.

I also find Michael Mosley irritating.

Interesting how we all vary isn't it.

FreetodoasIlike

Yes @thepurplepixie. He irritates me too. Although  I agree with @helensbiggestfan, he’s very knowledgeable. His wife, Claire Bailey, is a GP, and both are on TV and in the media. I read somewhere that she worked throughout COVID in the NHS - so I’ve got a lot of admiration for her (and the many other medical professionals- including nurses/care workers/key workers) who did as well. Although knowledgable, he seems to have made a lot of money with his TV (I recall they both did a weight loss TV programme a while ago). I don’t begrudge them but I think it’s a bit self-promoting and the show he’s currently doing is just a version of “you are what you eat”, which was financial and this show is just the same (i.e. supermarket secret shopping) with his medical knowledge thrown in. Hey ho, I’ll probably watch the show, as I have a series link!

@helensbiggestfan. Oh, love to hear how your implants are progressing. I know, after having 6, it’s a LONG process but well worth it in the end. I go mid-March for my next appointment. When I had my first and second implants (a long time ago) I didn’t have a bone scan - I guess that wasn’t the thing then. I had to have a scan for this round (I’m having two implants, with an implant bridge) and I know why I had to have it, as my dental surgeon explained it was to accurately place the implant. My bone density wasn’t great and he had to put some more bone substance into my gum when doing my implants. My dentist (although fairly renowned in my town) is not a dental surgeon and has a surgeon in the NW who is affiliated to the practice. He is Cheshire based (I live in Lancashire, although it’s Greater Manchester now, but I still live in Lancashire in my head!) and had to travel north of Manchester for the scan. In MSE terms, I utilised my concessionary bus pas, paid an additional £10 and it gets me free tram fare for a year. My Oh drove me to the next town and in 50 mins on the tram, travelling through a city, I was there. It was SO stress free, I had my scan and back all for £10 and I will certainly utilise this free tram pass in the future. Because of my bone density he recommended that I waited four months, instead of three, so I hope in mid-March the implants will set with the bone. It will certainly be worth it (I hope) in the end. Teeth are SO important.

What are your house plans? Any thoughts on your forever move? You’re in a great situation that you can take your time to decide. I know you have the time to use it wisely.

Off to be now - I regularly stay up late and rise late too. I am a night owl, not a a lark. x

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

Freetodo. Yes implants are a long process arent they, but as you say it will be worth it in the end.  I am really looking forward to being able to smile, laugh and talk without feeling embarrassed about the  state of my teeth.  You sound as if you are at a similar stage to myself.  

I am having 5, some single and some with a bridge so 8 new pearly whites in all. As I said the other day 4 are ready to go now, but 1 is not quite fully embedded yet. dentist said it's almost there so she's hopeful that another three months and then it will be ready.  If not then I might need to look at sorting out the bone.   Tbh I am surprised that my bone density was good enough to accept the 4.  I thought I would need grafts for all of them.  

Yesterday I felt a bit grim and dreadfully tired.  Lots of sneezing, sore throat and just feeling drained.  Today I'm fine again.  Thought I was developing a head cold but obviously not.  Anaesthetics, even locals, always get to me so I'm guessing Mondays dental anaesthetic was the culprit.  I know, I know, I seem to be allergic to so many things.  🤷‍♀️.  As I've got older some allergies such as animals and dust mites have eased off, only to be replaced with new ones such as intolerance to anti biotics and anaesthetics.

The caffeine one is strange,  I had been drinking caffeine for over 60 years. For over 50 of those years with no apparent ill effects.  It's only in the last few years that I began to experience difficulties with sleep, headaches, energy crashes etc, so I think I must have just built up an intolerance over time.  

The wheat intolerance and subsequent stomach problems began when I was a small child, although no one ever put two and two together.  My parents were very impatient with me and just thought I was being a difficult and fussy eater.  I eventually saw a GP about it when I was old enough to see a GP on my own.  He hadn't a clue what to do and just kept prescribing different medications.  I did develop a duodenal ulcer at the age of 17, thankfully managed to sort that out without surgery but it took decades to get to grips with IBS and GERD. 

I found most of the meds didn't work for long because they only masked symptoms for a short while instead of addressing the root cause, which was my diet.  And of course the body adjusts to most medications so they become less effective over time.  

It's really fascinating stuff.  Just a pity I didn't learn it earlier. Hey ho. Better late than never, I got there in the end.  😁. 

Re house plans.....no idea. Lol.  I'll know it when I see it,  

FreetodoasIlike

Sorry to hear about your various allergies Helen but it seems as though you’ve related them to your diet and you know what works and what doesn’t. Yes, I’m probably at the same stage as you with implants. This will be my third round (hopefully no more). My first “lot” - two front teeth with an implant bridge was unavoidable. Well, of course I could have had a denture, and I know many do have them, but the implants improved the quality of my life tremendously. This was 2007, and things have certainly improved since then. Unfortunately, I lost three of my bottom teeth as well as my three front teeth. My teeth LOOK Ok (not film star) but I can eat! That’s what is so important to me. Funnily enough, this last time was the only time I had to have a bone draft, as the bone was Ok the last couple of times. Hopefully everything will be Ok in a few month’s time.

No ‘fabbing” today.  I’m afraid, I still haven’t got my mojo back. Working on it!  I’m a bit down at the moment because I haven’t been to visit my mum for a bit. I’m afraid my head’s in the sands at the moment, as I really dread it, and next week she has her regular annual pacemaker check at the hospital. I will book a disabled taxi, which will take her wheelchair, but it’s so stressful getting her there. She’s a bit incontinent and is nearly deaf so it’s such an ordeal. Thankfully, this is the only appointment she may have to go to. The care home have weekly zoom meetings with the GP practice and the district nurse visits regularly, so the residents are well cared for.

I get that you’re in no rush to find your ‘forever” home. Like you say, you’ll know it when you see it.

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies.  

Freetodo.  sorry to hear you are feeling low.  Given you have such a lot on your plate it's hardly surprising.  I can sympathise.  I remember what it was like when my husband had to go for medical appts.  We had a wheelchair accessible vehicle but it was such hard work for me.  One of the reasons why I had to have chiro treatments to realign my body.  It's  not just the lifting, that's bad enough but it's because the difficulties of manoeuvring a large tilt in space wheelchair in and out of the vehicle required me to lift and twist at the same time, especially when securing the straps in a confined space..   Hopefully your taxi driver will do all that for you.  I think they have to do it themselves in order comply with safety regs - terms of carriage/insurance requirements etc and all that. 

It is so hard when a loved one is in a nursing home.  Ok you no longer have to do all the physical stuff but you still feel obliged to oversee their care.  And of course there's the guilt..........you know they are jn the best place and that realistically you could never provide the 24 hr care they need but still you torture yourself, wishing you could do more.  It's a horrible time for you.  

Took extra care with my hair this morning, using a new "thickening" product for my blow dry.  Looked really nice.  Then went out into the rain and wind to do my shopping and ruined the effect.  Lol.  

FreetodoasIlike

Helen Thank your your kind words and I know you’ve experienced similar with your late husband. I couldn’t possibly manage my mum in my small car (nor could I if I had a bigger car with wheelchair access). My mum walks very badly with a simmer frame now and couldn’t get into a car now. The home uses two disabled taxi companies and they hoist the chair into the taxi for me. When I had to take her for an emergency eye appointment, he even wheeled the chair up the ramp for me. He was so kind. Of course, I tip generously as such a service is a godsend for me. Still feel so guilty though about the fact she’s in a home. I know she’s in the best place as she couldn’t manage on her own, even with the carers she had four times a day. I sometimes wish I had a sibling to share the load. A sister perhaps, as women seem to most of the caring! I only even have two cousins (who live in Scotland) so it’s just me. I do have a partner of many years who was fantastic when my mum was in her flat. He drove her to appointments, did DIY etc. but it’s not the same as having a close sibling. And he’s 15 years older than me, so he’s no Spring chicken himself!

With regard to teeth. (I know I go on about this a bit!! I will stop after this, promise). There’s a lot in the media about the lack of NHS dentists at the moment, and it was heartbreaking to see on TV the long queue of people waiting to enrol for an NHS dental practice that had recently opened. I wish it was different. Everyone, in this country, should be able to get basic dental care. I wish this and any future Government (whatever party) would address the issue in their manifesto, but I suppose it’s all down to money (or lack of it) and NHS dentists were leaving in droves as they weren’t being paid enough and could make so much more going private. Such a pity. 

It’s not snowing here in the North-West but it’s very wet and cold with sleet. Just glad I don’t have to out today. Is anyone else having snow? I hope this is the last of the bad weather and that Spring is around the corner. I think everyone always feels better when the weather warms up.

This thread is very quiet, what is everyone doing with their “fabbing” journey? I think it’s so good to read of the little things others are doing that are making a difference. Do you think it’s like getting into a routine? I’m afraid I’m just doing the basics, but I’m going to strive to do something more every day. Maybe soak my feet today? A bit more exercise? I have one of those vibration plates. I bought it to see if it improved my leg circulation but I hardly ever use it. I was also gifted a foot massager/acupuncture type of thing (at my request) and that’s just in a cupboard gathering dust! I’m not a gym “bunny” but hope to walk a bit more when the weather warms up. What little steps is everyone else doing that you know will make a difference to your physical and mental health? As well as making you look more “fabulous” of course - that goes without saying!

thepurplepixie

I'm in the south west and it is raining and very miserable.  The rain never seems to stop.

I'm not feeling very fab, I need to do something with my hair.  I think I need to just let it go grey  but it is such a horrible dark grey I find it depressing, I wish it would just go white overnight.

I'm recovering from a back injury a few months ago and I need to do my chiro exercises but I don't seem to have the energy to do them.  I think being in pain for months is starting to show in  my face so I need to get things sorted.  I've started using a retinol product and I'm pleased with the results so far, 3 weeks in and those lines from nose to mouth have virtually disappeared.  I just need the elevens to smooth out a bit.

It is interesting reading about the implants as I don't know anything about them, the bone graft thing sounds scary.  I'm lucky in that I have all my teeth and my check up last week didn't show up any issues, long may that continue.  I don't drink or smoke and my weakness is I have a very sweet tooth so I think I'm lucky that I haven't had more dental issues.

I'm planning a trip to visit my DD and GS so I need to go and look at train tickets.  Hope everyone is feeling more fab than I do.

helensbiggestfan

At the moment my main fabbing seems to be sleeping. Lol.    After my last post, I crashed out on the sofa and slept for an hour.  I do feel better for it though. I guess I'm playing catch up and, after all, they do call it "beauty sleep". 😁

My other main fabbing at the moment is eating healthily, without too much concern about dieting as such.  Just trying to make sure I eat good nutritious food, eating clean, avoiding all highly processed foods.  I am exercising again, just starting slowly with pilates stretches and a few minutes on the treadmill. Also trying to pay more attention to skin care.   Oh and drinking more water.  

Basically I am listening to my body and trying to give her what she needs,  sleep, rest, good food, gentle movement.  I have punished my body long enough, now it's time to give myself the TLC I need.  I will up the exercise in small increments. What I really need is some warm sunshine......hopefully not too much longer.  

I'm also taking extra care with my brain too, feeding her only good content, avoiding the constant doom and gloom news.  Instead I consume uplifting content, feel good films, interesting  books, motivational videos or podcasts. Just trying to remain positive and optimistic. 

Today I bought myself some tulips and daffodils.  A very MSE way of uplifting my spirits.  

thepurplepixie

Really pleased with my train tickets, I am MSE as I have my senior railcard and I split ticket.  Just about to pay £26 for my tickets when I suddenly noticed I could go first class for £31.  Never seen such cheap first class before so I am looking forward to my trip even more now.  I really think that was £5 well spent.