What are you up to today if you have a chronic illness? Thread 5

[MewithME]

Here we are again. 😊

Link to last thread 🧵 https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5458553-what-are-you-up-to-today-if-you-have-chronic-illness-thread-4

@TeaAndStrumpets oh I’ll add that to my watch list! We are current watching slow horses and the night manager in the evenings and I’m sure it’s too much for me late in the evening!

@Oioiqueen my hair got shorter over the years once I had children and I only grew it during Covid, but I also have thinning hair and used to leave dropped hair everywhere which is not good for the vacuum cleaner. I only wanted a few inches off but DH interpreted shoulder length as neck length and took rather a lot off! Luckily it's a bit longer at the sides so less like a convict crop!

I 've sometimes wondered if being boobless would be freeing as bras are such a pain, but I suppose they are such a big deal for confidence etc I can see why reconstruction is desired. So many women are not well endowed I'm sure you don't look like a man!

Much slower in pace, not horribly violent and very British!

Going in to the GP about a small lump on my side. Don't like going to the GP but DH says he'll give me a lift. But worried about it but best to get checked I suppose.

Also need to make a dentist appointment for me and DS. I think I'm putting that off because it's got so expensive. Always something isn't it

You won't look like a man!

It must be a huge adjustment. Do you like makeup? Is there anything you can wear that will make you feel nice?

I'm just on my lunchtime lull before a meeting this afternoon. Body is fizzing and tinnitus is loud.. Grateful to be at home today.

Hope you are reassured about your lump @Orangesandlemons77 .

Our dentist is NHS but the hygienist has just gone up to £88 a go. I have been put on yearly check ups , but DH has a few dodgy teeth and goes every three months out of fear! It's really unfair as he's always been religious about brushing but I think sometimes it's genetics.

Just catching up with everyone. Tired here after a bad nights sleep and pain seems to have really cranked up today. Had sore throat/ painful ears for a few days but they seem a tad better today however my neck and shoulders are now really painful. Honestly I swear the pain/ discomfort moves to a different bit of me every few days! One thing settles and something else decides to flare up. I have a little plug in heated massage thing that normally feels too powerful but I’ve just angled it on my shoulders and I think it’s helped loosen them a bit.

Very wet and windy last night and woke up to flooding on the field we live next to, our boundary is the flood defence wall so it’s unlikely to come over but always feels a bit hairy to see moving water so close! Couldn’t walk the dog there today even I was up to it as she’d be swimming! Currently in bed hoping for a nap and then may watch an episode of Ripple on Netflix, thanks to whoever recommended that.

Hope everyone is okay after the latest storm.

@TodayIsatrickyone I think it was me with ripple, we need to finish it off. It’s very underrated.

@TeaAndStrumpets gosh I'd have gone mad at him about that. Yes the vacuum thing was one of the reasons why I got DH to shave mine. I could see it everywhere taunting me. Our robot vacuum kept just switching off on its run and I'd have to sit and cut the hair out of its roller brush. I cut it whilst I could and it'll be donated to Little Princess Trust when I get round to sending it.

I didn't want breast reconstruction as I wanted to be able to know quicker if the cancer returned. That didn't exactly work well in hindsight. I enjoy exercise and it was very freeing not having anything getting sweaty and in the way.

@MewithME

I dont usually wear make up very often but was debating it as I think it'll help. My eyes are so dry though and I feel like my eye lashes have thinned so I should really give it a go before they disappear completely I guess.

I usually try and wear feminine colours such as pinks and purples but I looked in the mirror yesterday before going to chemo and I think I could have actually passed as either gender as I was wearing neutral blacks and dark greens.

@Oioiqueen I think some nice skincare products are my favourite treat for making myself feel better. I do wear makeup but not all the time but I love a bit of mascara and a tinted lipbalm and a dab of something on my cheeks. Makes a difference for me.

I got some drops for dry eyes as mine have been iffy in menopause. They're quite soothing.

@Oioiqueen i suppose maybe a grandad shirt with pintucks would fit the bill? Appreciate t shirts are so comfy though.

That sounds tough @Oioiqueen
I agree re nice skin care I have a favourite moisturiser that I ask for at Xmas/ birthday. I’ve also discovered the worlds speediest make up routine that actually makes me feel more human which is a tinted moisturiser and a tinted lip balm. If I’m feeling super fancy I add a dab of blusher that DD gave me and some mascara as @MewithME suggests! Some days I don’t have the energy for even that but when I do, I think I look less bleurgh!

@Stressybetty you have prompted me to make a hairdresser appointment - it's a little thing but I think it does lift the spirits and self confidence.

Very, very wet here. Horrible neighbour cut down a 200+ yr old oak tree a few years ago and since then our garden just turns into a bog during winter. Lots of road closures and poor people having their houses and businesses flooded.

Skipped my swim as energy felt low, plus the leisure centre is on a lane that tends to flood. Went and stomped round the local wood instead feeling sorry for myself but have at least moved my body today. Think I might need a day off work tomorrow,my brain feels like mush.

@VikingNorthUtsire that's great.
The hairdresser I've been going to for years is fabulous, he's very gay and tattooed (if I'm allowed to say that these days). Has a tiny tiny salon and no assistant so always running over time. I usually have to wait up to an hour but everyone loves him, gossip is flying everywhere so I sit and soak in the atmosphere. We usually have a good chat and it is exhausting but fun too. Find I have to be in the right mood to go and I only get my haircut probably every 6 months or so.

That sounds nice @Stressybetty . I wouldn't cope with it but sounds fun. I have my new mellow hairdressers where you can book quiet appointments where they don't chat. Bliss 😊

I'm exhausted today. Not sleeping well and just worn out from everything I think.

I have had to nap after work. Meeting was a struggle to concentrate. I hate it when people have bad quality mics on headphones and I struggle to listen to them because the sound is so tinny. Somehow it's my noise intolerance going on. The person chairing sounded so bad. I had to keep switching the volume down but was bad when I had to speak.

I've just fallen asleep after work. Absolutely shattered . Need to make dinner now.

I've got a really sore mouth too. Mouth ulcer and sore gums. I sweat it's another weirdness of MEcfs.

Went to the GPs and saw a nurse about the lump, she thinks it is a lipoma but said to come back in a couple of weeks and see if it has changed at all. So that was somewhat reassuring.

Then DH and I went to pick up my gabapentin from the pharmacy and the pub is across the road so went there for a drink, it was the first time I had been outside in ages.

I thought it seemed a bit less cold and there was actually a bit of sun out. Some snowdrops in the shared garden which is nice.

Then came home and slept for an hour or so before dinner, which was very easy (filled pasta for the DSs and a bowl of 'protein' cereal for me.

I really need to train them to cook more, they are old enough but just well, don't maybe they are to used to getting it made for them.

Hoping for a peaceful evening for all

Yep he's been fainting and having reflex anoxic seizures since he was a toddler and they really frighten him. He's also petrified of being glutened outside the home as he knows how I'll it makes him. It's a whole mental health mess unfortunately. He's in his final year of primary school, I'm dreading the transition to a new school and new senco's/assistants to deal with and renegotiation of his schooling.

It sounds like your grandson is working really hard to make a future for himself. They try so hard and it's heartbreaking to watch.

We're off to the Beryl Cook exhibition today.

Poor little chap. He will be so different in a few years time. Although we have had the problems with school with DGS he has grown into a lovely young man which you would not have expected from how he was at primary school.

Morning all!

Up early, DH out for the day so I am going to search the house top to bottom for our boiler instruction manual which is hiding somewhere. Not urgent but annoying. DH has looked but he isn't as good as me at finding things! It will be two inches away from where he's searched.

My stomach is still in knots with IBS so the hot water bottle will earn its keep again today. Maybe I'll have a shower, then again maybe I won't.

I am still stressing about the bloody planning department slowing down our sale but obviously can't change that!

Oh you gadabout! Enjoy your day!

Have a lovely time 🙂

Morning all,

@FuzzyPuffling enjoy your outing!

@TeaAndStrumpets good luck with your search. My DH was grumbling to himself yesterday whilst packing a parcel for sons bd as he couldn’t find the parcel tape…. I glanced over at him rummaging through the drawer it usually lives in and spotted it on the table right next to where he’d been packing up the parcel 😂

Im summoning up some energy to go and do a bit of a tidy up and clean today. I feel a bit better than the last few days but just cba with housework if my being honest but needs must.

Feeling a bit anxious today, a couple of family things worrying me but me worrying won’t change the outcome. Plus I can’t remember if I said yesterday but I live near a river that’s burst its banks. Happened many times since I’ve lived here and we have a very effective flood defence wall abut does always feel a bit hairy when I can see water instead of the usual field so I think that’s adding to my general anxiety today. I can monitor online so that helps to see the levels are not the highest they’ve been since we’ve lived here though I’ll feel happier once I see them start to go down.

@TeaAndStrumpets can you download a copy of the boiler manual?

beryl cook sounds brilliant, I’d love to see that.

I have my little one (I mean he’s a five foot something ten year old, but my latest edition) off as he’s got a cold. His attendance is excellent so he can have a day rotting in bed.

I hoovered half the house! This is a big deal for me. I’m quite knackered now. The cat is jolting and the plumber is coming.

@TodayIsatrickyone thinking of you. The anxiety I hope will fade down a bit. Sounds like you’re managing a lot.