The General Chat Thread (2016-2022)

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TastyReuben said:
Now, I can be doing something as simple as standing at the counter, buttering toast, and I’ll feel some part of my back seize up, all on its own, like, “Surprise! I think you should walk around hunched over for the next week! Enjoy!”
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That happens to me about once or twice a year. It usually only lasts a day or two, but I walk like a robot the whole time. I'm told it is a pinched nerve.

CD
 
TastyReuben said:
First, hoping for the best possible news for you on your scans this morning, SatNav.

For both of you, I know it doesn’t really help, but let me be your stand-in for your husbands for a minute:

We don’t mind supporting you when you need it. We made a commitment. We said we’d be there. We meant it. We’ll be there.

We don’t doubt for one second you would do and have done for us.

As to the “contributing” thing: this is an argum…er, discussion I frequently have with MrsT. She’s always been used to earning a good portion of our family income. More importantly, due to the way health care is funded here, her jobs have been a vital safety net the two times I’ve been unemployed - her job immediately provided insurance for me.

However, money is not the only way a person contributes. There’s companionship, there’s support for your partner’s emotional well-being. There’s being a second voice, a sounding board, and another resource for ideas for all the day-to-day BS we go through. There’s being a source of laughter and joy. There’s just being someone who understands what the other person is going through and says, “Hey, I get it. Want a cup of tea?”

SatNav…geez, you’re chasing chooks and chopping wood and putting out fires (literally and figuratively). You’re helping your husband with his own medical needs. You’re contributing!

Windigo…how much of your nervous system have you given helping with your stepsons over the years? Does your husband smile when he sees you? Do you make him laugh? You’re contributing!

Don’t sweat it. Just square your shoulders, put your head down, and focus on getting through what’s going on now so you can hopefully have some better days ahead together. Don’t be afraid to lean on ‘em when you need to - that’s why they’re there.

Hopefully, I didn’t overstep. Hang in there. :)
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That brought tears of joy to my eyes! If everyone only had that attitude.
 
87839


Quarter tea.
 
SatNavSaysStraightOn said:
In some ways no and some ways worse.
The discs concerned haven't ruptured, but are bulging badly and swelling (for which I can't take non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen) pressing into the spinal cord branches at L5 causing the numbness and paralysis in my left leg. Last time left my right leg almost totally paralysed. It never fully recovered. That's the good news.

The bad news is that I've been confirmed as having osteoarthritis in my spine. It's roughly stage 2-3 on a 0-4 scale. I can't have the nsaids to deal with the swelling, so am having to rely on steroids to help. Obviously that has it's own issues, but the spinal OA is not good news. Add that to the confirmed areas of big toe, knee, both hips, wrists and thumb and there's a pretty good guess that most joints in the body are probably affected.

Right now it's a case of dealing with this flare up and getting the pain and swelling under control. Long term doesn't look good for someone who isn't yet 50 and can't take the main treatment.

So I've got to loose more weight, keep exercising (probably not a problem, apparently I'm doing too much at present) and include low impact exercise and stretches. Try to strengthen the lower back and stay positive which is going to be very difficult as I come to terms with it. It's a degenerative disease that for me can't be treated and that's going to cripple me, it already is doing so.

I'm going to speak to me doctor once this flare up is over about seeing my Neuro surgeon again (unless there is someone else I should be seeing? ) to work out what changes I need to make to my lifestyle to best manage an incurable condition.

So the good news is that I don't need immediate back surgery, the bad news, I can't bring myself to repeat. I might be quieter than normal for a few days whimsy I deal with it all.
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Very sorry to hear this, it's hard to grapple with serious illness when you're young. I know. Be careful indeed not to push yourself too far, that can also make things worse unfortunately. I hope you have some support in your network you can reach out to. Hopefully they can treat the flare up well enough and prevent worse. :hug:
 
Windigo said:
Hopefully they can treat the flare up well enough and prevent worse.
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Treatment options are very limited to steroids only and right now they are not working. I've been sitting with an ice pack on my back most of the day (on and off) it's the only relief from pain I'm getting. Not been a good day sadly.
 
TastyReuben said:
I was just reading they’re predicting near-100sF for the UK this coming week.
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I thought it was bad here with about 90 f ( 38 to 40 celcius) . But we're lucky because it's only that bad for two days. Fingers crossed anyway because this is really bad for my heart ATM , not looking forward to it! 😑
 
Things are hotting up. We are being asked to put all waste outside for collection the day before as the binmen will be starting earlier than normal to avoid the heat.
The company we work for announced on Friday that on Monday and Tuesday it is opening at 6am so if anyone wants to start and finish early they can, days off were encouraged however nothing changes for us office bods as we have aircon.
 
India is like going crazy in terms of temperature, 50C for weeks, big areas were smelling horrible because of little bacteria were growing faster than usual in little, dirty spots and producing a big amount of methane.

Here in Berlin it cooled down for maybe one whole week, to 20C, now it's getting up again to 30C in the next days
 
TastyReuben said:
I was just reading they’re predicting near-100sF for the UK this coming week.
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Yep. Its supposed to hit an all time record. Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be the worst. If you don't hear from me after the weekend it will be because I've expired in the heat... I can barely cope with the mid 70's F, let alone the predicted high 30's C/100 F.
 
Morning Glory said:
Yep. Its supposed to hit an all time record. Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be the worst. If you don't hear from me after the weekend it will be because I've expired in the heat... I can barely cope with the mid 70's F, let alone the predicted high 30's C/100 F.
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You may have to brave the tub and run it full of cool water.

It was very hot there the last summer we were there, and it was in the ‘90’s then, and people were dropping like flies because they just weren’t used to it, so I can only imagine what it’s like now.
 
Morning Glory said:
Yep. Its supposed to hit an all time record. Monday and Tuesday are supposed to be the worst. If you don't hear from me after the weekend it will be because I've expired in the heat... I can barely cope with the mid 70's F, let alone the predicted high 30's C/100 F.
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Yeah, you guys aren't set up for that kind of heat. In Texas (as long as the electric grid holds up), 106F/41C next weekend will suck, but every house, building and car is air conditioned. Most cities here even give free room air conditioners to the poor, as well as electricity to run them.

A little advice for people not used to this kind of heat. Hydrate! Also, check on your neighbors, especially the elderly.

CD
 
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