General Chat

Hi, particularly to David.
Some of this might be obvious to you, also I live in another country where some aspects of the health system are different.
I think it is important to see a particular dr in a small practice. That way you build up a relationship with him/her. Big medical clinics (do you have those? ones with a changing cast of anonymous GPs?) are pretty useless for people like us. If the doctor doesn't seem to want to know about your melancholy, find someone who will. This may take time, but 15 years is too long to suffer and it's worth spending time finding someone who will take you seriously.
I never count on my dr being on time, especially as some days are first come/first served, but NEVER allow yourself to be rushed. If someone else has to wait a little bit longer, that's tough on them but maybe your illness is more serious than theirs, and he/she can make time. I know my doctor ALWAYS measures my blood pressure, though with tablets it's been normal for years. If he can do it, even when I've gone about something else, he can listen if I need to talk. Hard, am I not???
Lastly, something I am not good at myself. When you're down, it is important to keep in contact with others. Some people can't handle people with depression or anxiety symptoms, but others can and if you get the brush-off try someone else. Kind regards, Colin.

We had a lovely weekend away. We watched the new Nicholas Cage movie "Knowing" and it was brilliant and very well done. We also went to a local club and had a great time. Not having to cook was great, though dinner on Saturday night was nothing to write home about, Lunch was really nice. Sunday night we had pizza, so something different. We both have very sore legs from walking on cement, which neither of us are used to.

Also went shopping and OH brought me 3 blouses at my favourite shop. Two of them were half price, so bonus.

Also went shopping for grandson, he is growing out of his little one piece suits, he has very long legs, so could not get these little suits in size 2 so ended up with pyjamas in size one, which are a slightly larger than normal, and they have little feet as well. We also got him a lovely little track suit for going out and some socks. That was great fun. I also got 3 pair of summer shoes/sandals for daughter at $5 pair, roughly 2 pound 40 p each. They did not have my size or I would have had some for me.

I also bought OH a DVD player for his birthday as the last one broke down.

Have not had a chance to catch up yet as have been a bit tired.

Carole, grandson is very well and growing so fast, have not had any new photos for a while so I am really hanging out for them. When I phone daughter she now puts bub on the phone and he tries to talk, blows raspberries and makes really strange noises. At least he now knows our voices. His other gran has been visiting again and she had a great time. Remember this is her first grand child and she is now 83.

Off to finish dinner, daylight saving is now finished so I am all over the place with the time just now.

Love and hugs

Gail

Morning all,

Just a quick message, as I still have one of my son-in-laws here.He came back with my ex. and myself yesterday & stayed over.

Am not ignoring the other posts on here, but am in a bit of a rush.

Thank you for your good wishes Carole & Deanna.

Just want to share this with you all. My eldest g.child Indra finally gave birth to another son yesterday morning (5-4-09) at 12.55. Liam Aaron, not too sure of his weight yet, but Andrea told me 7 pound something. It was another emergency C-section after a far too long labour.

Have to stop. Will try post later.

Eileen xx

David that was a good point Colin made.
I have a very good doctor, but it took me a very long time to find her.... in the practice I had been in for may years.
So keep trying.

Colin... how come I didn't think of that?
Is my brain getting 'mushy'?;-0)

Oh Gail.... the joys of shopping for a little baby.
I loved it when my children were little.
My grandchildren had all their clothes bought by their mummy's.... if I wanted to buy them clothes I just gave mummy the money.... I apparently could not be trusted to buy the right thing, which was amazing as I kept my own children so beautifully!! ;-0(

Eileen congratulations on your lovely new baby.... tell Indra I said she is a clever girl.
I don't think my Tony will ever have any children , but I KNOW that he would love to.... so would I.
No Eileen... not me... I would love him to have one for me!!... well, not him, but his woman.... I had better stop here Eileen, I could go on all day.. ha ha ha

Mary, how are you?
Thanks for the 'funnies.
Cher me up they do.

My son will be home at the weekend... Can't wait. I am marking it off on the calendar.
Anyone would think he was a little boy the way I go on, but can I help it... Ilove him to bits and I miss him.
See you all later.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Deanna XXX

Congratulations Eileen, wonderful news, I hope mum and baby are feeling better very soon.

Deanna, daughter in law would not accept clothes I had lovingly knitted and crochet, only brand name clothes for her children and not that junk.

Youngest daughter is grateful for anything we get for baby, I usually phone her when we are going away to see if there is anything she needs. We then post them down to her and her OH. She lives 75 klms from nearest shopping and does not have the internet as no reception as yet. So I also get to look things up on the internet for her. They were also grateful for any pre loved clothes etc, and have a pre loved pram as well. I did buy a new cot and mattress for grandson for Christmas, and one pair of sheets. My OH usually has to also by grandson an outfit when we are out shopping. Like you mine were also well dressed and looked after, so cannot see why we cannot do it now. MIL also buys thing as does other nana, some of it pre loved and always gratefully accepted. So everyone is kept up to date on sizes.

Deanna, it does not matter how old they are, they are always your babies. Glad he will be home soon, and what a wonderful trip he has had, apart from the bugs.

Gail

Well my appointment was kept and I was not only punctual but early.

My urine sample is normal
My blood pressure and pulse and weight are OK
They took 2 blood samples.
Results in 7-10 days

Thank you Gail for your good wishes. I am rather jealous, wish that I had someone to knit and crochet for my chlidren/g.children/g.gchildren. I know all such wonderful 'efforts' would be lovingly received.I am hopeless at knitting etc. Wish it was different. My (only) sister knitted and sewed a lot for my first born.She used to be very good at such things.One aunt was another good knitter-moi? NEVER!

Deanna, I know EXACTLY what you mean. I would never, ever want to think of having another child, don't care what the bible says. Was it Sarah who had a baby when she was older than us? The mind boggles!!! Mind you, there are a few women who have had a child, albeit is through 'tampering with nature', around out age, no, a few years younger.
My eldest g,child Indra is such a great kid. I have an awful lot of respect and admiration for her. Her son is the 4th g.grandchild. Her sister (second eldest g.child) had two girls, now Indra has two boys.

Am cooking yet another stir-fry meal.It is such a quick & easy meal that I take the trouble to do it each day, mostly with different fresh veg. don't eat much meat. Apart from the expense, I don't really like it, or the smell !!!!

Will try to get around to reading all the other posts soon, as soon as my mind stops 'boggling'- mild joke !

Take care everone and try to relax and enjoy the mild weather we, so maybe all of you too? are having.

Eileen. xx

Morning, just checking in, been really busy past 4 days with work, a rash of deaths (4) in one evening,always emotionally stressful, especially when unexpected.
My g'daughter Em was away at a dance competition all weekend, her team of 6 won 2 firsts, a second and third. She's very pleased, apparently the ballet dance was 'perfect', totally coordinated, the best they'd ever done..
sarah went grocery shopping with her Mum yesterday and surprised Mummy and the cashier by taking each item to run it over the scanner . . . she's much more aware than given credit for.
A friend at work told me yesterday that her grandson has finally been diagnosed with Aspergers, he is 12 years old and has not been in school for 1 1/2 years due to behaviours, only receiving 3 hours a week of tutoring. he is so far behind and so apprehensive about school attendance now. The BIG issue has been that he doesn't like to be touched ( a very common trait in autism) and when a teacher would put their hand on his shoulder he went out of control. Touch has to be on his terms. I feel very badly, I've wondered about this child's behaviours since he was 2 y/o but it's taken 10 years for the experts to make a definitive diagnosis. What a waste of time, and the child's life.
My friend, his g/mo, has been beside herself with anxiety for ages, one can only stand by, waiting for the experts and the red tape.
We've had so much rain the past 2 days, with vicious biting winds, and some snow, more of the white stuff forecast for tonight, please somebody send us spring. It was beautiful one day last week, had my hopes up, then cold set in again.
Must ready myself for work, thank goodness I am on days off - as of tomorrow - feeling tired and headachy.
TTFN,
Mary

Hi all, feeling a little better but still very tired, I did make an effort to go out with o.h. on Sunday afternoon, which put him in a good mood, but when we got to the place this continental market was supposed to be on, Sat and Sunday, we were told it was so poorly attended on Saturday that the stall holders had not bothered to set up Sunday - typically it hadn't been advertised very well. We had a wander as it was a nice afternoon, and the area was by the Riverside, with new apartments going up and a lot in an old flour mill now, and then had a coffee in one of the bars there, so not a wasted visit, and got me out in the sun and fresh air.
Was very tired Monday tho
Been trying to sort out a holiday - found an availability in the cottage bookings at the place on the Norfolk coast that o.h. likes, end of Aug/early Sept, altho he doesn't usually like going away when the kids are still off school, I thought it worth trying as it's quite a quiet village etc - lo and behold, when he checked at work someone else has changed from their booking in June, which stopped me arranging something a while back, and has now booked that fortnight - oh well, back to the drawing board!
I am just fed up with going to this village when the nights are pulling in as we have done in the past, it means I can't go off out on my own as o.h. is usally asleep in the early evenings and isn't keen on going out to eat, whereas if the days are longer I can sometimes get him to eat out and walk back before it is dark, or I have to drive back in the dark.

Mary, I am glad Em enjoyed herself and her team did so well, and that Sarah got busy at the checkout, she does make strides sometimes doesn't she? I am sorry you had so much to cope with at work and hope it eases off soon, altho I guess with the bad weather things will still be difficult for you in one way or another. You take care now - at least you might get a little rest on your time off? Hope Spring comes back to you soon.

Gail, lovely that you enjoyed your weekend so much and did some good things. It's great not to have to cook sometimes isn't it? I do like the expression you used for the baby things, pre loved sounds so much nicer than second hand.

Eileen, congratulations on another little one in the family, your granddaughter sounds a lovely Mum and I am sure the little fellow will bring much joy. It's good to hear you are cooking yourself healthy meals, I like stirfries too and they are quick and easy, altho I do like meat with mine sometimes. Glad you are enjoying nice weather, as we have had some bright days too, it does help doesn't it?

Deanna, you sound the way I am over my lad, you just can't help worrying about them even tho you try not to show you are fussing lol A shame he doesn't seem likely to make you a Grandma but who knows, sometimes these things happen out of the blue when you least expect them to. Don't give up hope yet !
By the way, are you doing much reading now only I have some more titles for you if so.

Colin, thanks for reminding us that it is good to keep in touch, I haven't had the energy to add much lately but we should make the effort when we are low especially as that's the time we need the contact most I think. It's good you have a compassionate doctor, mine is pretty good and never looks at her watch when you see her, whereas some of the male doctors in the practice are almost brusque in their effort to keep the appointment to the minimum time.

David well done for seeing the doc again and being early, hope the blood tests show all is ok and you manage to discuss your worries and depression, hope your brother is doing ok, too.

To Lily, and Carole, and anyone else I haven't mentioned, I do think about all of you but the old brain is feeling the strain lately so my apologies if I owe pms, emails or just replies on here.

Take care everyone,
love
Lizxxxx

I feel so panicked this morning, i took one imodium last night to help today, but it hasn't done a thing.If I take two I get such bad headache later in the week cos of dehydration. I have quite a way to travel today, last thing I want is to be stopping in the bushes with this young lad in the car. Very tense about this morning. I want to cry and stay home. Wish I could choose who I travel to work with, it would be so much easier but the job does not run around me. These are the times I feel so alone with my problem. No one else knows just how bad I feel. I tell oh but he goes off to his work, and I'm alone. Well must move a bit nearer towards leaving the house and safety of my loo. CBT tomorrow
waste of time I think .

That episode sounds very unpleasant. I sincerely hope things have calmed down for you

Hi Carole, hope things weren't as bad as you feared, have you ever thought of typing a little slip out about your problem and handing it to the people you work with, so you wouldn't have to talk about it but they would understand your tension and fears and make allowances?

Just a thought,

Lizx

WELL..........
I have just managed to delete a half page of chit chat.... again!!
I could cry.

I had just written messages for Gail, about our daughters and baby clothes and DIL and labeled clothes ....
Eileen about having 'late babies'......
Goodness knows what else... and was just telling Liz about my latest book................. and it all disappeared! S***

however....
Liz.
FOOTSTEPS IN THE SAND
by Sarah Challis
Tony left it in a pile of gifts for me for mothers day.
It is about two cousins who are left a a request in their great aunts will. YES... REQUEST... to take her ashes on a journey to Africa.
There is a reason but I don't know yet what it is.
NOW... tea is ready and I am angry with myself so I am off.
I am having an *I will never get well again* day....
Oh well.
Have to leave you all and will be back tomorrow, if I feel able to take another disastrous day!
goodnight my friends
love to all I have missed Deanna XXXX

Book sounds good Deanna, hope you enjoy finishing it, and don't get cross with yourself - you are doing so well, and of course you will have backward feeling steps but onwards and upwards!

Better go, fairy feet is stomping about upstairs getting up for work, this is my cue to go to bed!
night all
Lizxxx

Hi, just a quickie to catch up. David, so glad you saw the dr again.
Gail, your daughter must be in a remote place like my sister. Local town is a two pub town. 40 km to Glen Innes. She usually prefers to come to Sydney. About 7-8 hours. Brisbane is closer, but she can stay with friends in Sydney or rels in Newcastle.
Deanna, I think you're marvellous, with what you've been through. Seem to be coping well. Not sure why you're deleting stuff. Maybe the "buttons" on the board (reply, submit etc) are badly labelled.
Up front Vods, perhaps do what I don't do often- keep in touch with the others through this board. Perhaps it is less stressful than having to deal with people who know all about you.
Maxi Mary, I do feel for you. One sister worked in a hospital, but in maternity so deaths were reasonably rare. As someone who has lost close relatives, is any death ever really expected?
I don't have children, rather to my regret. I do like kids and am envious of the joy they are bringing to some of you, especially grandkids that you can give back to their parents!
Just didn't meet the right lady until it was too late for her. There are also medical reasons why we couldn't have children, apart from our age.
Claddagh, know what you mean about stir fry. I am rather lazy; We can get frozen mixed stir fry vegs in the supermarket, not the cheapest way to get them but time saving. We will even have grilled lamb chops or a small steak and do a vegie stir fry to go with it. But if you don't like meat, you could probably stir in mushrooms, tofu, lima or other beans, even out of a can, near the end just to warm them up. We have a recipe for Mongolian Lamb which we stir-fry, adding among other things a can of tomatoes. Sounds odd, but tastes delicious.
Colin

Hi, I have the flu so feeling a bit sick, and miserable.

Colin, I too live in a small village with one pubs, still fairly isolated. Daughter is 75 kl from nearest town, not a village, but a small property, they do have the phone, thought it is intermittent, and phone will not work for internet. They have a mobile phone for backup, but as reception is poor, mainly use it to text. It is a really beautiful place, as it the place I live, even when we have droughts, I would not change it. I guess we are both used to being slightly isolated.

I agree with Colin, Deanna, you are doing so very well. I can also understand the frustration, which is normal, but think about it, our brains never do catch up to our bodies. I know how old my body is, really I do, but my brain is so much younger, and that is what is frustrating, it never does what my brain wants it to. Unfortunately, also part of ageing.

Also, the buttons are a problem on the boards, I often hit the wrong one, and have only managed to get the message back once.

David, my hat is off to you and Colin, how brave you both are, and sensible. I know how difficult it must have been for you both to join us. We welcome you with open arms, welcome to our family.

Mary, I hope you are recovering from such a bad night. I know when my parents passed away, the nurses were hit as badly as we were.

Carole, hope today went a lot better for you.

Anyone heard from Y/caz?

Hi to everyone I have missed. I am going back to bed.

love and hugs

Gail

Morning all:
I seem to have a knack of messing up my Citalopram!! Night before last I forgot my dose, was totally stressed after work and feel asleep from exhaustion. Upset with so many deaths the evening at work. Yesterday noon, I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, shaking like a leaf, feeling faint, heart racing, legs restless,more than usual. Was wishing I had a blood glucose monitor as I thought perhaps my blood sugar was low as I hadn't eaten. Suddenly hit me I wonder if it was because I'd missed a dose. So I ate, drank some juice and took my pill, within an hour I was myself again. Have to remember not to miss, it was quite a prolonged procedure to wean down from 80mg to 40 mg last August, but obviously I need to maintain it there.
It looks like we've been approved for 2 service dogs for Sarah and Gareth. They will be labradoodles and are already in foster homes for autism training. One of the charities here will assist with fundraising so that's a great help. These are a mix of labrador retriever and standard poodle, the mix chosen because of intelligence, sensitivity for seizures, plus strength. They will be coming from the USA, from a place in North Carolina which specialises in dogs for various disabilities.
Could have used a service dog this morning!! Stopped my van at the school, got out and went round the other side to open the sliding door. Suddenly, Gareth opened the door on the drivers side and leapt out into the passing lane. and started running into the parking lot away from the school. Good thing we were a bit late, as there were no cars driving past us. had a service dog been with him, he would have been stopped. We won't think about what would have happened had we been on time and the parking lot been full of moving vehicles.
Just want to say hello and send hugs where needed, I'm still coping with my 50lb of carrots, today the shredded ones are becoming gluten-free carrot and pineapple muffins - I hope. Rapidly running out of time before school pickup. LOL
mary

Hi. I have been reading since we got back from holiday but not really had time to post. Deanna, you will get well, you are getting on excellently, you can't expect to run before you can walk, you are at the fast walk stage now.Not sure why you are losing your postings but a couple of times I have hit the General Topics at the top instead of the reply button so maybe that is it. Try copying what you have written before hitting any buttons at all.

Gail, sorry you are feeling unwell, flu is horrid, hope you feel better soon.
YCaz spoke to Dutch (Joyce) a couple of days ago to thank her for organising her surprise. She is getting settled into her flat and does not as yet have the internet connected.

Mary, that just proves that you need your medication then doesn't it, you had better try hard not to forget it. The service dogs sound lovely, big dogs will take a lot of feeding though. Hope they get along together. what a relief for once that you were late this morning and that there was no traffic, another few grey hairs!

Not done a lot since we got back, I have done lots of washing and OH has done lots of ironing. He played gold today and i went into town, but i forgot the schools are on holiday and town was a bit chaotic so not all that enjoyable really.

Ann
glos

Hi all thanks for pm's about Tuesday. I had taken one imodium but it wasn't enough to stop the need to keep going back to the loo. But boy did it leave me with a bad head ache. Just getting over it now. I went to the loo once I had picked up my pasengers and the young lad told me I should have gone before I left home ( yeh right, shut your gob and ****off) No I didn't say anything to him. Barbra never said a word. Most people at work know about the problem I have some are of the oppiniom I should not have taken the job knowing I was like this. Others are more understanding. When I took the job it was supose to be a two day week job. I could take imodium until I settled down and wouldn't need it any more. I never seemed to settle into not needing it. But they wanted me to work three days most weeks and four some weeks. CBT was ok it's so embaresing talking to a strange man about my toilet habbits.
This morning I am seeing the psychothrepist (thats not right but I can't see why!) This is one I will worry about nearer to the time to leave home in about half an hour. I think I will need tisues for this one. Will take some asprin now. talk later and let you know how it goes. But have to go to work so it will be later I come back.

Sorry it's been all me. I am thinking of you all, and the messages you have left about what is going on in your life xxx

Just thought Caz moved house Monday, so she is prob up to her eyes in jobs to do. Hope she is taking care not to get carried away and do too much xx