Watty's Awakening

PennysIntoPounds

Good that you're reviewing spending but don't feel bad about it, that's what we acquire finances for isnt it, so that when it's a tougher patch for whatever reason we have a go-to to get through

greenbee

I'm trying to review spending and work out what I actually need to live on. It isn't going well… Trying to separate the costs associated with sorting out the house/finishing moving in (like yet more blinds!), and creating a garden (plants, materials, landscaping help, billions of water butts), as well as living in a not-finished house (easy to deal with food as I don't have a proper hob and the kitchen is impossible - huge, but impossible) from what I would actually need to live on if everything was done and working is difficult.

But I need to work it out - with the job market as it is, unemployment may not be a choice in the medium- to long-term.

debtfreewannabe321

Hi watty, I've just caught up with you. May I ask what tests you had done that you paid for? I'm considering getting my heart checked. We seem to have some overlapping symptoms and my doctor has said all down to menopause and old age 🙄 (I'm 47!) ECG came back clear but my cousin has a heart issue and just had a stent fitted and it wasn't picked up on a 24 hour ECG only a week one. Like you, I've had energy only for working and nothing else and if I do do other things I pay for it for days. I don't remember my mum or aunts or nans getting 'old' like this 🙈🤔😆.

Loved catching up on all the adventures and stories will try to keep up for a bit now I'm off work 😊❤️.

Watty1

Hi Debt free ….. I started speaking with a cardiology nurse at the local private hospital which was a free chat to work out what was needed. I had some bloods done (onedaytests) a year ago as my energy was low so I told her the findings and what I had acted on (was very low iron). So her plan was a cardiology check up which was £995 and included an ECG, Echocardiogram and blood tests to check lipids, diabetes, thyroid. All of that came back clear other than high cholesterol - not that high - then the meeting with the cardiologist was included. He reviewed all the tests and symptoms and family history and said angiogram and most likely stents needed to be fitted. That was £10,000 with refunds made if stents not needed. (I have had a refund of just under £8000). VNM paid which was super kind. We discussed it and just wanted a solution to what seemed like severe angina at that point.

As all of that came back clear cardiologist wrote to my GP with some suggestions for further investigations. To GP credit when I finally got the appointment with them he said that my symptoms were classic cardiovascular and he was therefore going to do more bloods for everything the cardiologist recommended plus a couple of his own ideas around lung health and also referred me for a few more tests as he admitted that my symptoms were very odd for someone who is apparently healthy on paper and was of the opinion I should be able to do more than get up, go to work, go home, eat and go to bed. I'm doing so little now that I am really rather fed up but have also given blood tests to a pal who is an alternative health practitioner and am following her advice mostly and that does seem to help. I can at least get through the day working now without laying on the sofa for a break every couple of hours.

Watty1

Spending review done. I think the way I'm going to look at this is that in times of stress it is easier just to solve the problem (we have lost xx and need it so lets just get another one on amazon). This accounts for the high random spends. Then the food bill was ridiculously high. VNM horrified. I had suspected this would be the case as one week a mindful chef order turned up with 5 meals after the day after the usual order from a and c which came one day after a huge supermarket order. These were stress food orders rather than considered and they all sort of turned up at once so some things ended up being frozen. I can think about eating out of the freezer later.

Being positive, this has helped me think about future spends as part of giving up work plans because these times may happen again. OK so we wont be trying to juggle a busy work life alongside other issues but clearly there are times we may need to spend more than a considered budget so I need to factor that in.

There were also more bills for the consultants finishing the reports for planning all of which I just shoved on my credit card. Today I need to review business accounts and pay myself something. My PA did another 15 hours so I need to pay her too as I am so grateful for her and we have discussed her doing extra hours this month as well. Paying her gives me a break to spend time on the sofa. I'd rather I was buying her time so I could have fun but it is what it is for now.

debtfreewannabe321

Thank you for that I appreciate the in-depth info … I will have a look for places round here I think and see what I can get ❤️. Big hugs for the energy thing. It's horrible I'm continually saying, I'm exhausted, I'm tired etc and I'm sick of hearing my own voice so I suspect everyone else is fed up with me saying it. But like you there wasn't a lot wrong on paper (had low vit d but the tests after that showed it was back to normal with a supplement).

Watty1

Frustrating isn't it. I too am fed up of saying I’m exhausted.

WelshmansDaughter

I've been reading a little about trauma this week. The interaction between hyper vigilance and hypoarousal might be of interest to you.

Watty1

That sounds interesting @WelshmansDaughter. I've been reading a little on sites about that and yes, I do identify. If you would like to let me know what you are reading (pm if you don't want to share) that would be lovely especially if it is a good book.

rtandon27

@WelshmansDaughter - that is fascinating - please do let me know as well what you are reading - I've been a bit of a mess the past 5 weeks, and my lovely GP is supportive, but I'd like to also help myself iyswim!

@Watty1 - I'll join you on the exhausted train! - is there a carriage for extra-exhausted to the bone?