HELLO From New Zealand

Triciaxx

De-lurking because I've some experience of this. Referred pain is a pain felt away from the site of the problem. It's been explained to me as a confusion in the brain caused by the problem and pain both following the same path of nerves from the spinal cord. Z has given you some pointers to try and identify for yourself where the problem lies and this is important because I have had some nasty experiences with the medical profession who went for the simplest option - i.e. referred pain when there was more than one problem. :mad:

Good luck!

ETA : Sorry for your loss. Go gently on yourself - I felt the loss of my Dad for a long time and still miss him over 20 years on.

Pippilongstocking

Delurk ing to give u a gentle hug x

chevalier

Well I kinda didn't know what to write on my thread. There is alot going on, so maybe I will just brain dump it here.

Got back from my dads funeral and having recovered from the jetlag (took about 10 days for hecks sake must be getting old), I have been in agony with these pains in my heels.

In desparation I started taking the anti inflamatories that I had been given previously along with some paracetamol and codeine, really to just get through the day.

then last two weeks one or other of the kids has been off school with a rotten cold/cough. A really nasty one. DS1 was off all last week (though he did go into school fri morning so he could be in his school photo bless), and he ended up on prednisolone on top of his normal asthma meds because he couldn't stop coughing. So between that and slicing his head open at cub 2.5 weeks ago, he is going a bit stir crazy. They operate a mandatory stand down from all sport of 2 weeks over here.

Still he is finally over it all now, and is going to have I hope just a faint scar on his forehead, over his right eye. Could have been so much worse though....

But me and OH weren't spared cold either, OH even had friday and monday off work. But it has hit me like a lead balloon. temperature and everything. I guess my immune system has been lowered by all the travel and stress.

So I am still not over it yet, and had it affect my stomach in a highly negative way shall we say for two nights running. So haven't eaten anything since Monday night. Well anything proper. Did try toast last night and that was a mistake..... sigh.

chevalier

And in the middle of all this Monday, OH thinks that it is time for us to have a talk about me not having a job and wanting to finish of my OU course. Timing sucky much oh yes. Despite me trying to suggest that just now wasn't the best time but no.

So basically it comes out that he thinks the environmental science courses I want to do won't lead to a job, and so I shouldn't do them. Forget about that I would enjoy doing them. He said I should have found out who would hire me before trying to do any of the courses. Said I should send off speculative cvs to likely employers asking if they would employ me if I had such and such a qualification. Do more research. It isn't as if I haven't been trying but things like my dad keep on taking me away. So then he is saying that I could have been looking at all this whilst I was away. ER hello I don't think my head was remotely in the right place to be do this.

Am I being completely thick here or is he being a d*ck? I know he is worried about money. I know that his wage doesn't cover our outgoings. And I am prepared to get some sort of job now that would bring in some money IN THE SHORT TERM. But I am damned if I am going to spend the next 20 years or so of my life working in something soul destroying. I want a job I choose because I enjoy it. Is that so wrong to ask for. And that is why I want to do the environmental science degree.

And when we are talking about this, he flings into the conversation as an aside, that he is never going back to the UK. And that I decided we would come to New Zealand and he is enjoying it over here. Well that is great for him. He makes such definitive statements. Like with the cats. We are not having one. I have had cats for 35 of 44 years alive, and to never have a cat again, is just not going to happen. Yet to him it is done and dusted.

Maybe it is just because I am ill, but I am wondering where we are going at the moment....
chev

chevalier

Took DS2 for his delayed testing. We are getting them both tested because though they are very bright boys, they both have issues, that are holding them back.

So DS2 is now officially gifted, ie he tests top 2%. The lady doing the tests was really impressed with him. BUT he also has what she called a motor planning problem. Which she says is why his writing is so bad.

Does anyone know where I can get any information about this. The tester seemed to think that this would be a life long problem (for example she was saying he would get dispensation to use a computer for his exams at 16 and 18). So I would like to find out what I can about it.

Of course OH just pooh pooh this and thinks I must have misunderstood. So I have made him say he will come to the school when the tester comes to talk about the report, so he can listen to it first hand.

DS1 had to have his tests put off as he was too ill, so it will be interesting to hear what they have to say about him.

Sorry if all of this is so negative. I hope that it is just being ill. But there is so much to do over here at the moment, like if I am going to do a course then I have to enrol by july 1st.......

Ho hum.
chev

beanielou

Keep plodding xx

boredofbeingathome

chevalier wrote: »

Took DS2 for his delayed testing. We are getting them both tested because though they are very bright boys, they both have issues, that are holding them back.

So DS2 is now officially gifted, ie he tests top 2%. The lady doing the tests was really impressed with him. BUT he also has what she called a motor planning problem. Which she says is why his writing is so bad.

Does anyone know where I can get any information about this. The tester seemed to think that this would be a life long problem (for example she was saying he would get dispensation to use a computer for his exams at 16 and 18). So I would like to find out what I can about it.

Of course OH just pooh pooh this and thinks I must have misunderstood. So I have made him say he will come to the school when the tester comes to talk about the report, so he can listen to it first hand.

DS1 had to have his tests put off as he was too ill, so it will be interesting to hear what they have to say about him.

Sorry if all of this is so negative. I hope that it is just being ill. But there is so much to do over here at the moment, like if I am going to do a course then I have to enrol by july 1st.......

Ho hum.
chev

Well done to your DS for his brill results. A lot of problems with hand writing are down to techniques being taught. There are lots of theories about this and i will give you a couple of examples:

1. Do you find his handwriting is slightly neater when copying work? If that is the case, then it is down to the fact that he doesn't have to think about what he is writing and can therefore concentrate on the writing.
2. If his handwriting gets progressively worse if he is writing answers to questions - then it is because the brain is thinking and therefore he isn't able to concentrate as well.

So the theory goes, that if handwriting is retaught- properly, then it becomes an 'automatic' function and will therefore be easier on the brain and neurological pathways- a bit like driving is and automatic reflex, but very difficult when learning.

A lot of children have this problem and it is carries on through life. It is nothing to do with intelligence, otherwise all doctors would be struck off for bad handwriting..:rotfl:

I will try and hunt out some things which may help-although a good primary teacher who has taught handwriting ( a few years ago as they did have the best methods) would be able to help a lot.

boredofbeingathome

I found this which is quite useful for explaining some things. I am not sure about the exercises for the hand but it is an occupational therapist writing it. There is nothing to lose by it.

http://www.handwritinghelpforkids.com/basics.html#1

boredofbeingathome

There are some useful worksheets. I also think posture when writing is important as is relaxing the shoulder. Imagine how hard it is sometimes for a child to form these letters- look at the way he holds his pen and ask him to write something whilst just putting a gentle hand on his shoulder- you will probably feel the tenseness- and i bet his hand will ache at the end of it.

So look around for a suitable pen- the thick Berol ones are good, but let him try pencils which are larger- they do help, get plenty of practice with those. I also remember the little rubber grips that you can put on pens to help- it stops the child from gripping too tightly and creating the whole tense/tiredness scenario. The muscles also will work harder as he is trying more, so remember that it will take a few days to get into a routine, 20 mins max a day once he has found a comfortable pen/pencil to work with.

Hope that all helps Chev, please don't presume i am telling you how to do this and i am sure you have tried a few things.

Bob x

boredofbeingathome

And finally- this link

http://www.northerngrid.org/ngflwebsite/sen/handwriting.htm

I Will leave you in peace now