The Diary Of Onebrokelady Aged 60 And A Half

Onebrokelady

dawnybabes said:

I like the econsult system as I can make lots of notes on it (and it’s documented onto the doctors system just in case in the future) 

I don’t know how to do this 😀

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge said:

I'm sorry you are having such a dreadful time. You are wise to try to take each day as it comes, and it's good you were able to be with your mum and help her.

A month's wait for a GP appointment is far too long. I think writing things down is an excellent idea, particularly if you feel you are forgetting things. I have trouble remembering everything at the doctor's, and I've not got nearly as much to contend with as you have. The system @dawnybabes mentioned is new to me but sounds like a helpful idea, and a diary gives a clear idea of frequency and severity.

I know you have been poorly for a long time, but I wonder whether all your recent stresses have made it worse? I remember the day after my mum died I lost part of my field of vision and was seen as an emergency, but it cleared up and only recurred during another period of stress. If there's any link between the severity of your symptoms and the amount you're coping with, perhaps you could hope for it to ease over time? I really hope so.

If the weight of a kettle is a problem, would it be an idea to get a lightweight cup as well as a hot water dispenser? I know some people find that makes life easier and we don't always realise a cup can be quite heavy.

I was hoping  it was stress related but sadly probably not. My blood results say otherwise and it’s got worse if anything. Obviously Dads illness and subsequent loss was stressful but I’m feeling ok about it now. Watching him struggle to live with dementia was very hard but I he’s at peace now so that stress is lifted. I miss him a lot and feel sad sometimes that he’s not here anymore but I’m also relieved  to be honest.
I’m already on it with the lightweight cup as my favourite mug is a small bone china mug that’s quite light even when it’s full 

Onebrokelady

in_need_of_direction said:

I absolutely love my hot water dispenser though it heats to just below boiling that you need to adjust for. It also reduces the risk of burns if you spill from the cup.  We got ours from the big river shop but found it for less in the r@nge.  According to ds, it speeds up the super noodle process.

I is it hot enough for tea that’s the main thing. The one I looked at had multiple temperature settings depending on which drink you’re making, it’s supposed to go up to 100 degrees 

Onebrokelady

milann said:

Sorry the funeral was so hard for you and that you’ve been in so much pain. A month is a long time to wait for an appointment to see the GP. Would it be worth trying to get a cancellation. Although I know our surgery has recently changed to online only and it’s atrocious.
Hows the jumper coming along…..I’m pleased you can still manage to do that 👍

Thank you 🙂
My surgery is always really busy so I’m not surprised to be honest but it’s very frustrating, I told them I would except a can cancellation so fingers crossed one will come up. An online only surgery is ridiculous, what if they need to examine you 😳 
I finished the front of the jumper and started a sleeve today, I was naughty and carried on knitting until I couldn’t stand the pain any longer but I go lots done 😀I’m fed up of not being able to do any of my hobbies, I’ve had to give up riding and I haven’t been on a nice long walk since around last May and I’m certainly not sitting here doing nothing at all. I am going to pick up doing some short walks around the same as I used to do with B twice a day because DD2 pointed out that I’ve got worse since not having a dog to walk so maybe that would help, I did say to her that we lost B the same day I took my last steroid so there is that too 

dawnybabes

Ours is off a link on our doctors web page (only available in surgery hours though) 

Onebrokelady

I really struggled to wake up this morning and ended up in bed until 11.30. This is what happens if I have a day where I’m out doing things. I met mum yesterday so today I had no energy whatsoever. I made myself get up though but I didn’t get anything done in the house, luckily it’s not very messy because I try to clean every day in case I’m incapacitated and have to spend the day in bed . The kitchen is always cleaned and the floors are always done every day so when I have a day like today it doesn’t matter too much. It’s those annoying jobs like cleaning the skirting boards and windows etc that I’m having trouble keeping up with. I need to get back into the TOMM method so it stays clean. So long as the kitchen bathroom and floors are clean I’m winning 😀

I did do some more knitting today and I’m now onto the sleeves . I did get a bit carried away and should have stopped way before I did but I needed to get to a certain spot in the shaping of the sleeve so I know where I am when I pick it up again. My wrists and shoulders were burning when I finished but hopefully I’ve got away with it 🤞I’m thinking I might knit some wrist warmers when I finish this jumper. I have a pattern and some sock wool that I bought for knitting socks but I still haven’t tried doing them. I don’t think I can concentrate on socks at the moment but the wrist warmer looks fairly easy 😀

I’m meeting a friend for coffee tomorrow so that will be Thursdays activity then I will be home in the late afternoon to hopefully do a bit more knitting if my hands recover from today.

Cherryfudge

Someone on another thread commented about using old socks to make fingerless gloves... quicker than knitting but might be fun! Then you could take your time over knitting the wrist warmers.

I hope you have a lovely time with your friend tomorrow.

debtfreewannabe321

I'm so sorry about the family disputes putting a downer on what should have been a day to say goodbye in peaceful circumstances...my family is much the same a big divide down the middle so I completely empathise with that.

I've only tried to make a few Drs appointments since lockdowns and honestly- I've cancelled all of them before even being seen they ranged from 3 weeks and upwards of a month to wait for them! I dealt with the problem myself each time. I just can't understand that wait time.... Also sympathise a lot with the pain problem and being sent away with painkillers instead of them trying to find the solution..I ended up spending a lot of money to go private (all on CC!) as Dr had diagnosed me as hypochondriac I'm sure with my bad back. Turned out it was hip dysplasia from pregnancy and it was causing horrendous sciatica and I had two hernias!! So don't give up ...you know your own body better than the Dr who sits with us for five minutes...keep on at them and I hope you get somewhere soon with it.

I hope you have a lovely day out with your friend today 😊 

Makingabobor2

Have a lovely day with your friend and stay warm  The cold definitely makes pain worse. My arthritis is a lot worse this time of year and I wear wrist warmers nearly all the time now.  3 pairs for £4.99 from the Big River site, and they are really warm, but also thin enough to wear under my leather gloves when I go out. They also come up over my knuckles as well, which is lovely and cosy. 
Maybe a nice thermal top and some fleecy leggings would help you as well. 

foxgloves

Hello OBL,
I was sorry to hear that the family split was in evidence during the funeral. These things are so difficult. I know we will have a similar thing in time. The thing with these rifts is that they go on for so long & so much water under the bridge that they are not easy to mend. I can't see the one in my extended family ever being resolved tbh. As you say, the thing to concentrate on is that your Dad isn't suffering any longer. It sounded as though it was his time - not much fun for the elderly once they can't enjoy the things they liked because of dementia.
I don't have anything constructive to add about your difficulty getting a Dr's appointment....& indeed getting some kind of solution when you do get one. At our surgery, a new system has just been launched. Haven't had to use it yet, so can't say if it is effective, but it is for people wanting to book an appt with a GP which is non-urgent. This was virtually impossible under the old system as it was always a case of 'You have to ring us tomorrow at 8am', then when you ring, you are not an emergency/urgent so can't be seen. I wonder if there are early signs of things being missed because of this, as the new system is that you request a non-urgent GP appointment & this list of people is triaged by a GP, I assume to ensure that the right people are prioritised. Sounds good, but I'll reserve judgement until I've tried it.
I too wondered about you not getting your daily walks now that you no longer have your dear old B, as I remember something you told me  - & I often quote it - "Motion is lotion". I have got really tight hip muscles at the moment & nothing frees them up as well as walking around. Sitting makes them seize up. I agree that knitting for long periods can challenge arthritic hands. Mine don't like to be too cold either. On very cold days I do sometimes wear my wrist-warmers indoors & sitting with my hands on a furry hot water bottle is helpful too if they are sore (thankfully they are not too bad atm).
Re getting a diagnosis, I wish I had something practical to suggest, but you will know the medical sector better than me. I can't help wondering if you have some kind of long Covid sort of scenario which has interacted with your fibromyalgia & other conditions, but I have no clinical knowledge, so am only speculating. You did have it more than once though, OBL, & I think were quite poorly with it.
Ah well, this is just to convey my sympathies & to say 'Keep on keeping on'. I hope things pick up for you.
F x