When shall we three meet again? The not quite NT, not quite weightloss thread ......

[moosemama]

We were full up ladies, so we finally have our very own weightloss-ish thread!

The 2lb won't be proper weight TLP, it will be water - you would need to eat literally thousands of calories to gain 2lbs in that short a space of time. It will probably take a week to readjust, then you should be back to your pre-weekend weight.

Did you have a nice weekend though? That's the important thing.

Jury's out on how Mum feels about the traction - she was very traumatised by the whole thing, then stigmatised due to the caliper and of course at the time no-one explained anything to the patient so she didn't have a clue what was going on. She's now in constant pain all over her body, has had that hip and knee replaced and needs the ones on the other legs done, but has such a bad soft tissue reaction to surgery that she can't face it. She recently had an op to deal with a claw toe and that also refused to heal properly. She had it done in January (I think, could have been Feb) and still can't walk on it properly - it should have taken no longer than 6 weeks for a full recovery. Her consultant thought it could be Fibromyalgia, but it's looking more and more likely that it's EDS, as she ticks so many of the boxes.

Basically the wider implications of EDS that I'm concerned about, if you have one of the rarer types or a crossover of two types, are potential vascular ruptures and given that I have a brain full of holes that appear to have been caused by vascular events and I was having fairly regular neuro episodes over a period of 6 months last year that closely resembled mini-strokes - it's a bit of a worry really. Still, no point in fretting, it won't change anything.

Spoke to ds2's paed's secretary today and she said it would be a good idea to email him all the info I've found out since we saw him. So, I now have his email address, which is really good. Mum is considering going privately to see the top UK specialist and if she does and gets a dx, it will expedite my getting referred to the right people, although I'm due a neuro appointment fairly shortly and they may or may not be happy to refer. Same if ds2 is dx'd, they will want us all to be checked. Problem is, a lot of Rheumy Consultants don't know a lot about EDS and tend not to be up on the latest info and research, so miss a huge number of cases. There are three centres of excellence, UCLH, somewhere in Sheffied and one in Scotland - all of which I have about a snowball's chance in hell of getting referred to.

Also spoke to the LEA about ds1's statement today and was told there is a big note on the file that they are going to issue a second proposed statement - which is what I want to happen. Our Statementing Officer is going to call me in the morning to let me know where they're up to.

So, at least it feels like things are happening - although much of it is all still in flux at the moment.

Still fighting with dh on a daily basis though.

Wow, moose. That sounds like a very real possibility... I think I would be pushing for a referral on that basis in any case, if you can fight for the Dc's you can fight for yourself, too, (and not forgetting the genetic links and the fact that some symptoms can be easily traced right through). Such a lot to think about, you must feel like disappearing to bed and pulling the covers over your head for a week... Definitely call your neuro and ask for referral though, if your mum's private consultation goes ahead that will be a bonus. Your neuro might be able to send your MRI results off to the EDS team in the first instance, to see if they recognise the pattern? It would be a real breakthrough... And at least you would know what you are dealing with, rather than the 'probable MS'...

Brownie camp next weekend, so am up to my eyes in shopping lists and planning. This weekend (and yesterday) was dd1's last dance competition, so I was away in the city. We also had a huge snowstorm, but it only lasted about 12 hours and then melted. she did v well, and came back with 3 golds and a high gold, and the teachers picked up two choreography awards for the routines as well. A nice way to round off dance season! Just the end of year show to go, now, but that's not until next month.

Diet has completely gone to pot as we are so skint, so I am basically eating my way through the freezer... Ds had a really carb heavy day on Sunday and was absolutely foul, with really upset tummy, so am now wondering again about foods.

He had paed appt today, and she wants us to try enuresis alarm again, but in conjunction with the psych. And he has to have another compulsory toileting time in his daily routine... That said, he went to the loo whilst we were waiting for the doc as she was running late. He had a bit of a panic about him, and asked if we could go home. I said no (had no idea what he was on about - it's not like he's never had to wait for a doc before!) but then he asked if there was a toilet he could use. Result! (until we got home, obv, and because we've tinkered with his routine he's been hideous tonight and refused to eat (there was a small piece of tomato skin in his pasta sauce), and went to bed in a strop)

Dd1 and I went to visit the school she wants to attend today as well (honestly, I think i want to go to bed for a week) and it seemed really nice, tbh. They were v cagey though, and kept making 'not sure if we have room' noises. (Tis a catholic school and we aren't, but neither are 50% of their students). They were also at pains to assure me that if they found dd1 a place but not dd2 (we don't want to move her anyway) it would be for space reasons, not disability..... They encouraged me to go home and talk it through (obviously so that they could discuss if they want her lol) and call tomorrow. Dd1 and I laughed about it n the way home - she's quite old enough to understand that 'we don't want you' has to be niced up to 'we don't have any space' if they decide our faces don't fit! She will be gutted if they say no, though.

Right, have to go back a bit further as I must have missed ages!

I might even weigh tomorrow... I was so busy all weekend that i didn't bother!

Hi madwoman

Huge congratulations to your dancing diva - all those gold awards, what a star!

Its good that ds asked to use the toilet at his appointment, tiny steps I know, but at least they're in the right direction.

How will you feel if dd get's into the other school? It's got to be easier having them in the same one really. I'm dreading mine being at two different ones come September 2013.

You're bang on the nail about me wanting to hide in bed with the covers pulled over my head at the moment. I am sooooo tired I can't keep up with all the stuff that's going on really.

Ds1 is all over the place, either sobbing and wailing or hyper and teasing his siblings constantly. His stomach is awful and we're pretty sure he's been glutened somewhere along the line between Legoland and meals out. We've tried to be careful, but he seems to be getting more and more sensitive even to cross contamination now, so eating out is always going to be a potential problem.

He did really well at school yesterday though, his teacher came to find me at pick up time to tell me how proud they were of him. Apparently he was playing with his little group of friends at lunchtime and the others were all tempted to go off and get involved with a 'rough' game that most of the rest of the year was playing. He didn't want to get involved with the rough game and ended up left on his own quietly crying. Reading between the lines I think he missed some major social cues, as he said they all just ran off and left him, all of a sudden, but his teacher was watching and said the other kids weren't mean or anything, ds1 just got really lost in the crossover between the two games and ended up on his own.

He was really, really disappointed that his best friend left him and said he felt really alone and lonely and carried on feeling that way all afternoon. The good bit was that he managed to control his feelings and get on with his lessons, even going as far as partnering someone who isn't on his agreed teamwork list in PE. He said he still felt really sad and alone, but managed to keep it in his tummy instead of letting it out. This is a massive step for him, as normally he would have spent the whole afternoon sobbing and wailing and accusing the other children of deliberately victimising and excluding him.

I told him I was very proud of him and why and then let him use the laptop to go on the Star Wars and Lego sites to play games. Cue face.

He's back to bouncing off the walls and tormenting the other two this morning though. I think controlling himself at school is really taking it out of him and we're getting the consequences here at home.

I have a headache and feel really sick this morning, so not planning to do much of anything. Have emailed the Paed and asked if he wants me to forward all the medical history stuff and have to wait for the statementing officer to call, so might just mess about on t'internet for a while I think. Dd is happy making small toy animals fly out of her toy ferris wheel for the moment, so I'm going to take advantage of the peace.

They are already at two different schools, now, and we've had them at three different settings before (and in different counties lol). The big difference here is the bus service! All I have to do is get them out of the house - I don't have to drive anywhere! Next year the holidays are all the same, which helps, and the year after, dd2 will be moving to the same school as one or the other of them anyway, as she will be out of elementary, so they will back into two schools, whatever they are (and if dd1 doesn't move now, she moves after next year to the high school for y9, so they still won't be in the same place )

And that's without even considering the potential homeschooling of Ds.

Ah, I'll give them a call later and see what they say.

Hopefully the statementing officer won't be too long, but at least you know they are doing something! Kudos on the keeping it together at school, though. Ds1 is a bit like that and can spill his emotions all over the street at a perceived slight, when in reality there was no malice at all. With him it's tied up in expectations and control, though, I think. The psych is supposed to be helping him see things in different ways - I guess sort of empathy stuff, but it doesn't seem to be having an effect yet!

Have a sit on the sofa and a nice cup of tea whilst you let the world go on around you x

I think I've worked out why I felt/feel so rough. Think I have an ear infection. Have had ear ache intermittently for a couple of weeks now, getting a bit worse over the past few days. Then last night it suddenly felt much worse and that side of my head and ear went bright red, then I spiked a temperature.

Had a really bad night last night, very little sleep and feel worse this morning. Really quite shaky and pathetic.

Not going to bother with the GP. I don't think they do much for ear infections anyway. Dh has booked the afternoon off, as I have a double school run on Thursdays due to ds1's beloved cricket club.

Unfortunately, I have to bake and decorate a load of cupcakes and sponges tomorrow for FIL's birthday party on Saturday. I really don't have any choice, as it will cause a family ruck if I don't do it. Last thing I feel like doing is blooming cake decorating.

Oh - and Statementing Officer didn't bother to call yesterday and isn't in today.

Sorry for the grumble. Will rumble off again now and leave you in peace.

You need antibiotics. Seriously. A couple of year's ago my ear canal completely closed up in an ear infection, leaving me deaf on one side. The first antibiotics did nothing, but they truied different ones and it responded straight away. Ear infections can be the pits if they get hold, so do go to the GP before the weekend if it doesn't clear straight away...

Hope you feel better x

Oh, I thought they didn't do anything for ear infections unless they absolutely had to. I went to the GP about something else a couple of year's back and they found blood and pus behind my ear drum (same ear) but said they wouldn't give antibiotics as it would most likely clear up on it's own. I've pretty much had on-off earache in that ear ever since, but not usually this bad.

So grateful dh booked the afternoon off, as it's p-ing down with rain and really windy, which wouldn't be fun - might have been tempted to wear dd's ear defenders if I'd had to go to the school.

Dd has gone with him dressed in her music festival finest, all of which arrived this morning. Full snowsuit, navy with bright pink stars, dayglo lime green monster face hat and bright rainbow striped wellies! She looked completely bonkers, but at least I now know she won't be cold and/or wet at Bearded Theory.

She sounds fabulous.

I guess different docs have different ideas... But we know that anyway, lol. it doesn't sound as though it went away on it's own though!

Go back to bed and let dh be superdad....

Thanks madwoman.

Ear feels a teeny bit better today, but I developed a killer headache on the same side last night that won't shift, not even with cocodamol. It's not a migraine as I know them, but I can't see properly out of my right eye. Feel generally awful actually, wobbly legs, shaky hands, the works. Gawd I'm sick of my body - I think I need a nice new one!

Ingredients have arrived for the cupcakes, but I can't face even attempting to bake them at the moment. Think they might end up being food processor jobs, rather than lovingly hand mixed. I was planning to do football ones (as per my profile photos) and chocolate flower ones, plus a batch of lemon gluten free ones for ds1. It all seems like an awful lot of work now though.

Party tomorrow and then we're supposed to be going to a museum of canal history on Sunday to help ds1 with his current school project. All I want to do is sleep.

Moose - that does sound alarming re:possible vascular connection with EDS, agree about getting that checked out, possibly you could take preventive aspirin or other meds? And get thee to GP re:ears, it might be an external ear infection, which they would give antibiotic drops for anyway. hope you feel better soon.

Madwoman - what a pain re:school and DD and their attitude, I hope they wise up to disability discrimination etc and take her.

ps- any chance of buying the cupcakes and distressing them a bit?

Thanks TLP.

I think frontline treatment is beta-blockers, which wouldn't be a disaster, as I've been on them before a few times for migraine - not that they worked for me.

I'd love to buy the cupcakes, but dh's uncle is a recently retired head pastry chef from a rather large and posh hotel, so he'd suss in an instant and then I'd be in trouble. If it was anyone else I'd just tell them I can't do it, but dh's family are particularly tricky to handle and only need half and excuse to fall out with me/us - again!

Morning ladies.

Right, new week, new start, renewed resolution to hit my target weight.

My diet has been truly horrendous over the past fortnight, everything from large bags of Revels to massive home made cupcakes with swiss meringue frosting and I am paying for it - big time.

Weighed in half and hour ago and I am 163 lbs!

It's all my own doing, I fell completely off the wagon through stress and feeling poorly, but I am determined to sort this out and still hit my target of 144 lbs by 25 July.

The only fly in the ointment is the music festival this weekend, but I am going to be extra strict with myself in the week and try not to blow out too much while we're away.

Just had fruit and fat free yoghurt for breakfast, got salad for lunch and veggie soup for tea.

Ds1 and dd are coming down with nasty colds and ds2 did himself a damage bouncing on the bouncy castle at FIL's party on Saturday (obviously not a good idea for a child with dodgy joints, but I didn't have the heart to tell him he couldn't go on) so we are an unhealthy lot this morning.

Ds1 also burst into tears this morning when he realised the music festival is this weekend. I've been reminding him daily and explaining what will happen etc, but I think he's been in denial, so when we were going through his diary for the week and I pointed out that Grandma will be picking him up on Friday he got really upset, first that it was this weekend and then that it was two nights. This is the third year we've done it, with exactly the same routine and we've done everything we could to prepare him, but he hasn't taken any of it in.

Just me again then? Ho hum.

Weighed in again this morning and am 157lbs so that's slightly more acceptable. I was obviously carrying around A LOT of water after my food indiscretions last weekend.

I have ds2 off school today. He was screaming in pain with his legs, bless him and there was no way he was up to walking to school. I feel awful now for not being firm and supervising his bouncing at the weekend, as he's been in pain ever since and it seems to be getting worse not better.

Ds1 is off to his best friend's house for tea after school, so it's just me, dd and ds2 until 6.30 pm today. It feels very strange.

Have had my ever so exciting fat free yoghurt and fruit again this morning. Failed dismally to have salad for lunch yesterday, when I went to the fridge and realised I hadn't actually bought any. Dh picked up a couple of basic salad bits last night though, so will try again today. Finding very hard to get back into eating properly.

Sorry! It's been brownie camp a gogo, here. But thankfully all done and dusted now. Dropped a huge ball yesterday and forgot ds1's psych appt, so am v cross with myself. In my head it was today, so I got up this morning ready to organise picking him up from school etc, and then went to check the time and realised it was last night. Feckity feck.

I called and apologised and asked to reschedule though, and they' ve fitted him in in two weeks. Phewee.

I ate crap all weekend and seem to have put on 4 lbs. so I'm also pissed, but adamant it is blooming well shifting. We had invited another group to camp with us, and I didn't know their leaders v well, but they were lovely, and we have half a plan to get together to hike this summer, so I'm pleased. And the area was so beautiful it made me want to drive out and hike out there, so I'm spreading my exercise horizons a little. Everyone else was moaning about not being able to get into their summer clothes, so I have company!

Still massively skint, but have paid mortgage. Need to sit down and go through stuff today and do a grocery shop. The sun is shining and I feel the need for fruit and salad, so all good.

At least your weight seems to have settled again!

Hi Madwoman, glad you had a good time at Brownie Camp. I have done similar with hospital appointments in the past, even got as far as arriving at the hospital for a gallbladder scan, only to be told it was the day before. Fortunately they weren't busy, so they did it anyway, but they were pretty cross with me, felt like a naughty schoolgirl - and this was only a couple of years back.

So relieved for you that you managed to get your mortgage sorted. We're going to be on the bones of our backsides by the end of this month, everything seems to need money throwing at it at the moment and we don't actually have any to throw. We always seem to be the same around this time of year, just in time for my birthday at the beginning of June. I really need to find some way of making some money from home.

I wish I had a decent kitchen with no dogs in, as I found out I could sell my gluten free cupcakes for as much as £2.50 each and people are selling them for £22.00 plus £3.00 delivery for six, mail order. Everyone thought the ones I did for FIL's party were from a local boutique bakery, so I'm fairly sure I could get away with it. No chance with our awful tatty kitchen full of dog beds though. Wouldn't want to get into celebration cakes though - too much stress, too many late nights and far too many things that could go wrong.

Weight: I am down to 156lbs this morning, so heading back in the right direction. Most of it must have been water and I'm sure your 4lbs are similar and will melt away in no time. I'm not up to exercising at the moment, but am being sensible with eating, if not actually dieting.

Trying to potter and get things organised for the festy this weekend and seem to be going around in ever decreasing circles.

Still haven't got ds1 to start the project he was given just before the Easter Holidays (that I didn't find out about until the week after the holidays ). He is genuinely interested in the topic, but has some sort of barrier to actually creating a project from it. He can't even seem to get going using the computer this time. We've come up with the idea of doing it as a sort of podcast/video - so am hoping his teacher will agree. It has to be handed in on the 23rd and has three separate topics to cover!

I'm going to weigh tomorrow to see if any different. Could well be a little bit of water retention (fingers crossed)

Cupcake business would be a great thing.... Any chance of rearranging the kitchen situation?

Dd2 is doing the same thing with her blooming cp book. She is thrilled by the idea of it, but then hits a wall if she tries to do anything. . This weekend we are going for it though. Nothing else on and it is a bank hol here, so we have three days to get the thing finished. Looks like we are on the same timescale!!

Meant to say, have agreed to meet friend this afternoon for dog walk. She is doing about 8km every afternoon, so am going to try and tag along as much as possible... That's got to be worth something, eh?

marks place

sorry, been awol as busy few days at work etc. Down to 12 stone 7, which I am v pleased about. But getting rather boooooooored of calorie counting!

Glad the cupcakes were such a success, Moose, definitely sounds worth pursuing as a sideline, as the gluten free element is kind of a unique selling point?

8 kms a day sounds brilliant Madwoman, you do that at brisk pace, you won't be needing boot camp!

DS's residential went well, thank god, just seems to have been one small accident the morning of the day they returned. He got a certificate from school for being the best joker am assuming that's a good thing, and they don't think he was being a tad erm attention seeking! seriously I have seen him play the joker, to try and avoid having to make the effort of conversation....

Oo, well done Ds! I would be chuffed to ribbons about the lack of accidents, tlp. and woo! On the weight loss too!
Just back from my hike - didn't wear v sensible shoes so have a couple of hot spots, but legs are tired so I know I worked out! It was probably only about 6 km I think, today, but given that I was juggling 3 dogs on the lead, I think I did quite well...

Hi TLP

Well done on the weight loss and I am so pleased to hear ds's residential trip went well - especially as there was only one accident.

Know what you mean about being bored of calorie counting. I think that's half my problem and the reason I haven't been able to get back into it properly since Christmas.

6K is great Madwoman. Kudos for walking 3 dogs on the lead as well, I used to hate doing that and still find it a pita sometimes now we only have 2. My dogs have Ezydog harnesses and we use the Cujo waterski style lead handle and a Cujo lead extension for each dog. The handle has a built in bungee section that acts as a shock absorber and because the handle and clip swivel around, the leads don't get tangled like they do on normal couplers or if you have separate leads. They cost a fortune, but we've had them for years now and they're still as good as new, even after going in the sea etc. Unfortunately, dh drove off to the ferry and left them tied to the gate post at the family holiday home in Ireland last summer. He was in big trouble, as he didn't realise until we were actually on the ferry. I'm hoping my cousins, who used the house after us, will have untied them and put them indoors, so we get them back this summer.

When your finances have settled down I can highly recommend MBT Trainers for walking. I started wearing them after I had ds2 and wear pretty much nothing else these days. They are £££s so I only have one pair of trainers and wear them until they literally drop to bits, but they really sorted out my lower back pain and have helped to tone my legs and bum. I really notice it now if I wear anything else. I get sacroilliac and symphsis pubis pain and pain in my hip and knee joints. Can' recommend them highly enough really, I recommended them to my friend and my Mum and they both wear them all the time now as well.

And that ends the Moose product promotion for this morning.

Those leads look brilliant! I m definitely going to invest in those! (is it wrong to be so excited?). Dh said last night that he thinks I was right about the dogs being the reason my shoulder flared up initially - he's been walking them and said he can feel the same thing occasionally with his. That Bungy type stretch might help a lot!! Will try and hunt down a stockist today...

I looked at MBTs a couple of years ago. My sis swears by them. And given that I am now sporting a lovely blister from yesterday (it was boily, I got sunburnt, and it was my first day of the year with no socks ) I do need a better plan if I'm going to be doing lots of on leash stuff. Normally we go and potter in the woods, or at the off leash area, and they chase sticks and balls, but setting off on a hike every day means I'm going to have to think about my own comfort lol! The current dog walking shoes aren't going to cut it!

I feel very virtuous and uplifted again though. It was a 'new' type of activity that I can do whenever and not feel self conscious, so I feel a bit revived. Have been managing salads for lunch every day as well, as something simple like salmon in the evenings (fortunately I found some in the freezer!!) so am getting my mojo back. Unfortunately there's no boot camp today. Ah well. I am hiking tonight with the cubs though, so might only do an hour this morning with the dogs.

Third dog is going home today, so back to two. She's quite sweet for a little dog, but the quiet will be nice! I couldn't believe she walked so far yesterday - she walked Solidly for about 4 hours altogether, with still bucket loads of energy. Mine have plenty of energy, but do head off for a stream and a drink if they spy one. She was like the Duracell bunny. I'm going to giver her a bath this morning, before she goes home... She's white and fluffy, (well, kinda grubby and matted at the mo!) so goodness knows how that will turn out!

Despite my sunburn, it is snowing today. Ds has a field trip as well. To the wetlands, lol.

Onwards and upwards.

I was stoopidly excited when we got our Ezydog leads, they solved all our dog walking issues in one fell swoop and were so worth the investment.

I love walking, it always lifts my mood, but I never seem to remember that, so don't do it often enough. I used to walk daily from spring until the school broke up until the end of July and loved it, but have barely managed a couple of trips this year.

I wondered why you suddenly had three dogs, though it was me being dopey!

My border collie x belgian shepherd (old lady dog) can walk all day without a break. Well I say walk, I mean trot round us in continuous circles, herding us all up! Lurcher boy does about half an hour then flakes out - less if he is allowed a burst of free running early on. When we go on holiday we walk up through the forest to get to the beach and by the time we get to the beach he conks out for a good long nap before he get's up enough energy to run around and play. Hopeless hound he is.

Ds1 went on a trip to the local river yesterday to do pond dipping and measure sound vibrations from the motorway - he had a blast. Ds2 did a tour of the local village to learn about local history this afternoon. I was standing there talking to my Mum in the middle of the living room when all of a sudden there were 40-50 children and teachers waving at me! That made me wish I'd stayed at home and weeded the front border last weekend instead of going to parties and canals. The only child who didn't wave was ds2 - awkward child!

No stockists in Canada, so will have to order from the US and face the import taxes

Need to find a tape measure for the harnesses though. Am tittering like a crazy at that, because i have, of course, been half heartedly looking for a damn tape measure for a year, to measure me... two birds with one stone?

Lol at ds2. He was obv thinking 'what' s so exciting? She's supposed to be there, it's our house...'

Right. Dog bath time. She's so titchy I'm going to do it in the kitchen sink...!