Another path- the first year ......

[chopc]

Apologies if I didn't tag anyone. Hopefully have inckueded all current posters

Chopc - Durham-History
@jano69 -Durham -History
@OnTheBenchOfDoom -Durham - Computer science
@Majaso12 -Imperial - Biochemistry
@bendmeoverbackwards -Bristol- History
@Pumpkintopf -Imperial -Physics
@ChimneyPot -Brown (US) - Open
@Stillcrikey -Bristol -MML
@Tenpastseven - Bristol -modern languages
@Longtimenewsee - Durham - Chemistry
@MidLifeCrisis007 - Durham -History
@BigWoollyJumpers - Exeter- History
@SeasonFinale -Bristol- History
@Notagardener LSE
@Revengeofthepangolins UCL - History
@raspberryrippleicecream ? -Maths
@derekthe1adyhamster Birmingham- Computer Science
@Vargas -Durham -Geography
@AvocadoPlant Exeter -History

Hi all. Sorry to hear about travel disasters, but lovely that they all got on the slopes eventually.

Very sad to hear such mixed experiences for the History cohort. I have to say DD (Exeter), has obviously been really lucky. Full F2F, full time, lots of tutor support, no strikes. I've just asked, and she has had 6 essays per term, all marked within 3/4 weeks of handing in. Only one disaster so far, when she did a fantastic essay, the tutor mentioned that they loved reading it, but she hadn't actually answered the question!

DD came home last weekend, and after a couple of days of sleep, managed to get a job, her first! She is going to work in a very nice coffee shop at a museum, close to us. It's also good, because they run a "pool" of staff, so she will be able to work as and when she can, and as and when she is back home. They struggle to get staff because they are off the beaten track. She is excited and a bit stressed. She also has her first driving test on Tuesday. Has spent most of this week polishing up her technique. I hope she passes....... she (and we), have spent so much time and energy (and money), over these last couple of years. She's competent, but all this stopping and starting really doesn't help.

Have a lovely Easter all, we will be full house with older DD also back for a few days over the long weekend. Have been very lazy and ordered lots of Cook meals....... .

@SeasonFinale good on your DS for thinking outside the box and I hope he has a lovely day in Geneva.

My DD is a bit bored as lots left last night, lots of swapping of coaches as some needed to get back for work or onward travel. I can't wait to see my DD and hear all about her week!

@bigwoollyJumpers How fantastic for your DD getting her first job. Fingers crossed that she passes her driving test on Tuesday another huge step for our teenagers.

Just catching up after a few days away.
I hope all those skiing have/are returned safely after the travel disruptions.
@BigWoollyJumpers wishing your DD luck in her test today. Don’t know what the weather is like by you but it’s pouring down here - as it was on the day DD took hers. I think the examiner made allowances for the bad weather causing difficult driving conditions, so it can be a positive.

She failed - on the first roundabout! She had a perfect round with her instructor prior to the test, then after that early mistake the whole thing fell apart. Lots and lots of tears.

Oh well, onwards and upwards!!

@BigWoollyJumpers. Sorry to hear that. Hopefully she can’t get another test soon. We had lots of tears last Summer over driving tests.

Dd has been having problems with her stomach lately. She saw a doctor and been prescribed a pain killer and fybrogel and she’s had a blood test now. They are checking calcium, thyroid, iron and inflammatory markers. I’m getting worried now why they are testing for all that.

@Majaso12

Dd has been having problems with her stomach lately. She saw a doctor and been prescribed a pain killer and fybrogel and she’s had a blood test now. They are checking calcium, thyroid, iron and inflammatory markers. I’m getting worried now why they are testing for all that.

Oh, sorry to hear that. You know, it's actually a good thing they are checking everything. It will put your mind at rest if they all come back negative. Do you have ideas on what you think it might be?? DD a while back had lots of stomach issues, and had lots and lots of tests. All negative. Hers eventually improved when she changed her pill, although the Dr said it wouldn't be that........!!

[quote Majaso12]@BigWoollyJumpers. Sorry to hear that. Hopefully she can’t get another test soon. We had lots of tears last Summer over driving tests.[/quote]
I remember that..... she is going to try again in the summer. Sigh.

The doctor thinks ibs or could lead to ibs. She said she could feel a stool in her abdomen when examined and when pressed it hurts. It still hurts when dd presses there. We thought it could be linked to the pill but the first doctor she had a phone consultation with said it didn’t sound like it was linked to her cycles.

And it does say online the pill can cause constipation, it’s the extra estrogen. They aren’t considering that.

@Majaso12

And it does say online the pill can cause constipation, it’s the extra estrogen. They aren’t considering that.

Interesting. i think many of these things are slightly hormone related. DD used to get very bloated, and go from constipation to tummy upsets with really, really, bad faint inducing cramps. Cutting down on dairy has helped too. She can have it, not allergic, just an intolerance. If she has too much she gets tummy upsets.

@BigWoollyJumpers. Dh was lactose intolerant at her age, started when he was 16 and he grew out of it. Had different symptoms though.

I get myself worried about what they could be testing for like IBD.

Always a worry @Majaso12 but it sounds like the doctor is being thorough which is good.

@BigWoollyJumpers that's a shame for your DD. Fingers crossed that she passes at the next attempt.

Hoping it’s just constipation and that’s what caused the pain and feeling sick. She seems ok now and eating normally. I thought it could have been a stomach bug, she was in a lot of pain on and off from last Thursday until Sunday. She has been getting pains on and off at uni but nowhere near as bad. She thought it was period type pains but doctor didn’t think so. I wonder if a different diet and maybe not eating as much fruit and veg as she does at home night not have helped. I also noticed she wasn’t drinking as much water as she used to. I know I’ll worry until she gets her blood results back.

Majaso, about not drinking enough water. DC is complaining water in London tastes awful so not drinking enough.

@Notagardener. Dd hasn’t mentioned that. Said it’s because she can’t always be bothered to go to the kitchen to get some!

Hi all
Hope your Dd is feeling better @Majaso12.
I just remembered that Dd still needs to reapply for student finance for next year .. so thought I’d remind you lot as well
Hope you are all having a great Easter

Hope your DD is ok Majaso.

My DS was referred to to GP from blood donors, and after delayed blood tests, due to him getting Covid in the meantime, had a two week referral to the endoscopy clinic. We got an airBnB last week to take him in, luckily gastroscopy and colonoscopy haven't shown anything, so back to GP next week.

Otherwise he's fine, two more weeks of lectures, exams and allover at the beginning of June!

Dd says she feels a lot better. Did have some stomach pains a couple of days ago. The doctor is ringing with her blood results Thursday so hoping they’re all normal.

@raspberryrippleicecream. Hope your ds gets on ok at the doctor’s. What did his blood test show if you don’t mind me asking? That must have been stressful having those tests done.

Hello everyone!

@BigWoollyJumpers sorry to hear about your DD driving test! Summer is not so far away and I suppose it would be too much to reapply ASAP?

@Majaso12 sorry to hear about your DD stomach troubles but it does sound as though your doc is just being thorough.

My kids used to make fun of me for telling them to drink water as a "cure" for most ailments but it is true ........

This may be TMI but I was constipated for years and what finally sorted me out was ...... running!

@Majaso12 so sorry your daughter is going through this. Hopefully she will get answers or it gets sorted with the fybrogel.

@raspberryrippleicecream horrific procedures to endure. I have only had a gastroscopy but that experience haunts me. I hope he is okay.

@BigWoollyJumpers driving tests seem to be much harder than when I passed my test. Ds is looking into learning to drive and has been watching lots of mock tests on YouTube, mainly the ones showing fails so he can learn from their mistakes.

@chopc both my sons have those time marker water bottles so they can monitor their drinking. I have to admit we have filtered water at home but Durham water out of the tap is actually nicer than our filtered Yorkshire water.

Echoing @Longtimenewsee about student finance. Don't forget to apply. Ds had an email back in March I think and did it then.

Ds1 returns back to Durham this weekend for exam season. Ds2 will sit his GCSE exams at the same time. Feel like it has crept up on me, I can't believe he is almost finished at school.

Well that was Easter. DD1 heading back to warwick tomorrow. 5 weeks sounds like a long time, but it's gone really quickly.
Exams this term, and also A levels for DD2. After visiting Exeter yesterday she's decided she prefers Cardiff, so is ready to firm. Weve got her home for another year, as she is defering to do an art foundation.
DD1 never managed to book a driving test. Lessons were so disprupted that she wasnt quite ready when she left. She'll probably wait until after uni now as no urgency.

@Majaso12 I'm not exactly sure about the blood tests, but levels and cell counts were off balance, some of which could have been explained by Covid. He had absolutely no symptoms of anything else.

Sorry to hear @BigWoollyJumpers hope she gets another test slot soon.