Hi everyone,
Sorry for not getting on here sooner, seems to have been a really busy couple of weeks! Work (mainly), but also struggling to catch up with stuff at home. I had thought the current flare was easing, but actually the fibro is still pretty bad, no idea why or what more I can do to try and ease it at the moment. Swimming - when I can get there - seems to help me 'stretch' out, I'm using the jacuzzi at the gym, and the steam room too. I'm trying not to be too reliant on pain killers but most days end up giving in, using lots of green muscle gel, using my tens belt, trying to doing a least some gentle walking every day to ward off the stiffness, all my usual 'tricks' to ease the pain, but so far not a lot seems to be helping. The 'restless legs' type symptom (which also affects my arms and shoulders) is making sleep difficult, some nights I've only managed a couple of hours shut eye and frustratingly, it's affecting both my balance and my grip - can't tell you how many things I have dropped lately! Concentration is poor too. Getting anything done is like wading through treacle, I am so slow and clumsy at the moment. I've contacted my boss, asking if I can carry over a chunk of my owed time and so cut my hours for the next couple of weeks (sitting at the laptop definitely exaccerbates the back pain), but so far no response and I am actually considering going to the GP and asking if some time off might help. This current flare has lasted so long now that I'm beginning to worry that this is my new 'normal', which is a very depressing and worrying idea.
Son is down for just over a week - he arrived with his GF, and my grand-tortoise, Bert, and Granddog Jessie. Odd and sad not to have Patch, the granddog that died here too
It was son's birthday yesterday, so I started work very early (well, if I'm awake at 4, I may as well make the most of the early start!) finished at 1 and we headed down the coast for a 'birthday trip' out - son's idea of bliss, on the beach with bucket's and nets, rock pooling, followed by an hour or so in the arcades on the 2 pence coin drops - it was very silly but good fun, and at the end of it all, son had managed to win an assortment of daft key rings and a toy yellow mini! That was followed by a meal out - which was really nice - and back home, shattered but having had a really nice day. Fibro pain took some of the shine off for me, though it didn't spoil the day, but youngest managed to lose her new smart watch, which resulted in a strop from her, where she took her upset out on everyone. She really annoyed me, though she did (after a while) get her act together and start behaving. However, that wasn't until after we had retraced our steps, back to the beach, the arcades, and even the loo's we had stopped at, trying to find the watch, as she hadn't a clue where she could have lost it. She is incredibly careless with her 'stuff' - I'm wondering how many items (phones, head phones, watches) she will have to replace before she starts to learn!
We visited Mil on Saturday, taking her in fish and chips. Again we found her very 'fiesty' - the poor young carer with her leaned towards her to point out we had arrived, and got such a slap in the face for her efforts
As usual, the fish and chips were split between Mil and another resident (she can't manage it all, and its a shame to waste it), but whereas last time she packed away her half portion, this time she struggled - he appetite is very poor compared to what it was. The jaw and mouth movements, from the TD, I think have quite an impact on her ability to eat. Still no word from the HBM - long may that last!
Amy, I am so glad to read that all is calm with your Mum - long may that last too, though I totally understand the not wanting to get complacent, hun. Its always a case of waiting for 'the next thing' to happen, isn't it ? xxxxxx
JM, glad you are enjoying your holiday - cycling in that sort of heat sounds hard going though. Yes, the Horseshoe Pass is still smouldering, sadly, though I believe the pass is now open to motorists again. Driving to the coast yesterday, despite the fact that we did have a couple of days of heavy rain just after we came back from Ireland, you can see how dry everywhere is. The fields and mountains are brown and scorched yellow, rather than green. Very, very muggy here - not that sunny, but so humid! Hope your brother managed to sort out the freezer for your Mum xxxx
Spamar, how are you? Has the pain eased for you, and are you feeling better? xxxx
Slugsta, how is Skycat? Hoping all is OK with you, 2 jays, Celia and everyone else xxxxx
To finish - Luna(tic) is still settling in really, really well. It feels like she has been ours forever, she is such a sweetheart. Very much my girl, though she is affectionate and loving with everyone, she is by my side constantly. She is so playful, and sahe and Seamus play for hours. No joy in keeping her out of the garden pond - so we bought her a kiddies paddling pool, lol, which she loves, and though she is constantly leaving wet footprints around the house, at least the poor frogs are getting some peace!. She is also enjoying having Jessie dog here - another playmate. Saturday afternoon, we took all 4 dogs to Alyn Waters (JM knows the place well) and they had a ball in the river. So I'll end with sending love to all, and adding some pics from the river-romps, hopefully they will bring a few smiles
Take care everyone xxxxx
All four, posing at the start of the walk - from L to R, Jessie, Seamus, Luna and Busta
Jess and Luna cooling off - Luna has a trick of just lying down in the water, wagging her tail and looking very pleased with herself
Busta - looking gorgeous at 17 years old!
Posing Jessie
Jess and Luna playing
