Come and tell us your dull and unexciting news 32: Calmly through the day

[MissConductUS]

I've started a new one. Please join us and share the boring and mundane things happening in your world. It will be calming for all.

Here is a link to the prior thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5148913-come-and-tell-me-your-dull-and-unexciting-news-31-calmly-through-the-day

Welcome to all regulars, lurkers, and new contributors! Everyone is welcome to join.

Note there is one minor change to the thread title. "tell me your dull news" has been changed to "tell us...". I thought it was more in keeping with the spirit of the thread.

@MyrtleStrumpet

Bloody hell! I would not have the patience! There would be bits all over the floor! Glad your test results were negative. What a relief for you!

Went round a friend's house yesterday to give her a book and for her to put some stuff on my IPOD shuffle. Had hoped for some audio books but being me and not evening noticing it just said music!! So at least I got some music! Will have to find another one that accepts audio books.

After that she said she was going to our friend that has dementia (so she does not go out a lot), we decided to treat her to a meal in a local pub. As she said it is nice to get out sometimes!

I suspected yesterday that I might be coming down with something and I've woken up late (about 20 minutes ago) with a headache and feeling of heaviness and wooziness. I'm also tired and a sore throat is threatening to arrive.

I don't know how long it will take to play out as I am usually ill for at least 2-3 weeks with this kind of viral infection. DH has the most robust immune system possible. He's never been ill in the years I've known him except for a few snuffles.

A couple of years ago my GP prescribed montelukast as my these infections go to my chest which makes them unusually bad. I had asked years ago if anything could be done because I would never get a little cold, I would be full on very illand I've had bronchitis and pneumonia before.

The montelukast has been a game-changer because I just don't get ill very much now. This is my second infection since the Christmas before last! However, last year I was very ill again and my asthma didn't go away when I recovered. I was taking 20 puffs of Fostair a day (way over the recommended 8) and getting no relief.

I saw the nurse practitioners and I was begging for ventolin (salbutamol inhaler) but they said they don't prescribe any more because the lungs can become dependent. My Fostair should work (combination of preventer and reliever). To cut a long story short, I wasn't shaking the inhaler befire puffs because that wasn't in the instructions and I'm a very good follower of instructions.

Since then I've been OK and this morning I have upped my dose to two puffs in anticipation of a chest infection. Hopefully it will either be mild or I will be able to relieve the asthma effectively.

I attach some pictures of the items I have made so far so you can see the details. There is one big picture then I've focused in on each part.

The little potion bottles are beads with a gold crown and a bead on top. The books are either a string of paper folded concertina style to show an open book, or a block of wood with a sticker wrapped round it.

If you have questions, just ask. The little black thing next to the dresser is a cape and hood for a magician.

I'll post another set after this.

Second set.

Sorry to hear that you're feeling poorly, Myrtle. If you start running a fever, get a covid test. It's still going around.

I also take montelukast, for seasonal allergies, so I'm off it now. It is very helpful for me too. Do be aware that they've added warnings about how it can negatively affect your mood.

The details on those models are amazing.

I watched a bit of the Super Bowl last night. There was a thread on MN about it, which surprised me a bit.

Those are absolutely gorgeous @MyrtleStrumpet ! so intricate - must be lovely to slowly assemble it all together =) I hope you do feel better soon. being laid out for 3 weeks with an infection is not fun.

Thank you. It's very absorbing. Nothing done today because I'm unwell and I miss it already. I'm very impatient with progress and when I started I thought I would never get another one, but I might end up changing my mind because I can also see I'm improving.

I have three models arriving today (a sailing ship, Notre Dame Cathedral and a forest cabin - I discovered Temu 😩) but I think they're all wooden ones which don't require glueing and cutting. At some point I'll have a job and no more time, but right now they keep me occupied.

Apparently the montelukast only refers to children. My nurse practitioner said that either you get on with it and it changes everything or you don't and it doesn't work at all. I'm just angry that I wasn't offered it years ago.

Myrtle, I used salbutamol for occasional exercise induced asthma when I was training/competing and have also used it with very bad cough, ie with Covid and dependence, ie physiological, was never mentioned. After reading your post I did a bit of googling and can't find anything your NP described save one Cambridge paper about one case of dependence but it was inconclusive. I also read your NHS page about it and no mention. I'd ask my GP about it. It's miserable when breathing is difficult. I'm not a doctor, but my interest was piqued as I also use that medication.
And fwiw that's a ridiculously ignorant comment by the NP as your lung function is compromised.

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/salbutamol-inhaler/

The Super Bowl made our uk news because of the way the crowd reacted to Taylor swift MissC. Normally we are just aware it is a big deal for you guys iyswim.
I am ticking over, still have stomach pain and awaiting test results but no worse. Boring day of housework, batch cooking and food shopping. Was idly thinking on the drive home how much simpler it will be cooking for two in a few years.No packed lunches and teens emptying the fridge constantly.

I think there are two things going on.

One is that I've been using ventolin for almost 50 years and they are worried that it becomes less effective over time, which is what they said. The lungs become dependent on the drug (not like addiction) but won't dilate as much. I've tried to find the research but it's not been possible.

I should also say that once I began shaking Fostair it worked really well. I'm just so surprised it doesn't say shake the inhaler before use in the patient information leaflet.

The second is that the ventolin inhaler is the single largest cause of climate emissions for the NHS. Apparently 5% of its emissions are from ventolin. They're replacing it with salamol which tastes funny to me and isn't as good.

Myrtle, interestingly I read a bit about the emissions issue. I have to question that... I mean, on what scale?
Could it be of all NHS pollution that one is the greatest, but it is insignificant in terms of amount?ifswim?

Re being on the med 50+ years. They are worried it may become less effective? Aren't you your own case study? Again, I'd likely question GP on this. However, if the other works, then problem solved.

Reading about hfc's in inhalers now 🤓

Ok. Have now read a bit. Good to know.
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2023/hidden-contributor-climate-change-asthma-inhalers

https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/09/is-your-asthma-inhaler-bad-for-the-environment

https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5092423/new-study-looks-at-the-environmental-impact-of-asthma-inhalers#:~:text=Transcript-,People%20with%20asthma%20know%20how%20important%20inhalers%20are%2C%20but%20they,inhalers%20creates%20a%20carbon%20footprint.

I love how thorough you are! It's the equivalent of driving 170 miles. They changed the gas years ago as it was adding CFCs to the ozone layer. I used to be on Becotide which was withdrawn because of CFCs and they out me on Clenil which made me cough. It took years to get me a good preventer.

I'm now OK with them withdrawing ventolin. At the time I was getting no relief from Fostair but once we realised the problem was me not shaking the inhaler, it was fixed.

Myrtle, I always try to read a few uni-type sources to get an understanding for things. Habit 🤓🤓🤓

The ironic part is lots of asthma is cause by pollution so if we could sort out we might be able to use less medication. I am on medication for lots of things and it is always a nightmare finding the right one. Often the cheapest is tried first.

My asthma is caused by a severe allergy to grass pollen, cat dander 😭, feathers, fur coats, cold air and impact exercise. It developed in a very rural part of England in the early 1970s away from industrial pollution and traffic.

I am not allergic to dogs or horses.

My husband was put on montelukast, and not only did he stop needing beclometasone, but he needed salbutamol so infrequently that the inhaler went out of date! Our GP also told him it either works perfectly or not at all.

It's a chilly -7c here. I'm trying to convince Havoc it's still bedtime and am hoping for a bit more sleep before sun is fully up...🤞😀

Havoc, I was up early too, and it was -7c here as well.

I got a statement from one of the two doctors who did my cervical disc replacement last April, showing that I owed them $9k. They were out of network for my insurance. The lead surgeon was in network, and the other agreed to take whatever my insurance company paid, which I sent them a few weeks ago. So I panicked a bit and was girding for a big argument about it. I called and spoke to their billing manager who told me that I didn't owe anything, they are appealing to my insurance company for a larger payment. She sent me a new statement saying that I had a zero balance.

Today is DS's birthday. Presents are wrapped, a card is signed and DH is picking up a cake from the posh bakery on his way home tonight.

This is what the reservoir looks like after the snow we had on Sunday. There's more in the forecast for tomorrow night. I hope it stops before I have to leave for Orlando next week.

Phew, what a relief that the medical bill is sorted out .... And I hope your son has a lovely birthday!

it's grey cold mizzle here. You'd almost think you were in Manchester.

I can't imagine having to choose your surgeon or surgery based on price. I a also assuming you have a large co-pay as well as high premiums. I'm waiting for ankle fusion surgery and my surgeon will be one of two people. I'm thinking about the shortest wait and the fact that one of the consultants is a rude arsehole.

If I was in New Jersey it would be $25,000 which is the most expensive aside from Alaska according to one website. And I'm not sure if that covers the hospital stay, pain relief and the cast or if they are added on.

We are so lucky to have the NHS.

@MissConductUS

What a relief for you that you do not owe anything!

Sorry to all those who are feeling poorly. Hope you all have a speedy recovery.

I am actually a pretty happy bunny at the moment.

My friend gave me a phone which she got when she thought she lost hers. I was thinking I would have to go again and set up audible to get some books and found my library had been saved!! I put so many free books on there so the fact that they are still there is remarkable. I know someone with much more technical know how than me (not hard!) would know how and why it is ok but I will just sit here in blissful ignorance thank you!!

@MyrtleStrumpet
Yep. Praise indeedy for the NHS (I work for them after all!!!). Anyhow the hospitals have always been good but not that happy with the GP. Ah well....

Myrtle, I don't shop for a surgeon based on price. Any medical provider who is in network with my insurance has already negotiated a price with them for whatever they're doing. The only reason I agreed to have an out of network surgeon assist was because he agreed to take whatever my insurance offered him. And he was supposed to be one of best in NY.

I had a $100 copay for the surgery, and my premiums are about $300 per month for myself, DH and DS. My employer covers most of the cost, as is customary in the US.

Any prices you find online for surgery in the US are what is called the "charge master" price. It's a starting point in negotiations. No one pays the charge master prices, particularly large insurance companies. They typically negotiate 60-80% off those prices.

US medical insurance is complicated, but there's a lot of lack of understanding and misinformation about it in the UK. There's a lot I admire about the NHS, but it also has some very serious deficiencies and challenges. My cervical disc replacement was scheduled for three weeks after I had a definitive diagnosis by MRI, which there was no wait for. And the care was excellent.

I know someone with much more technical know how than me (not hard!) would know how and why it is ok

All the books are stored against your email address so you only have to download them again (for free). I assume you logged in and saw them.

We use AskMyGP so I can usually get a fast response on the same day from the GP. They will even arrange a same day appointment if it's urgent.