General Chat

Went to bed earlier than usual last night, so here I am, as expected up just turned 4am. Cannot do a great deal, dont want to wake the rest of the family up. I suppose i could start the ironing that has mounted up again. But decided to log on here. Jenny.

Morning Jen! I've been up since half past four! - Spring has sprung - lovely as it is - blasted birds and their dawn chorus! How are you?

Morning Mags. Not too bad at all really. But just sick and fed up with these cramps in my feet. Have decided to get an appointment with the Dr. Luckily I am able to survive on five hours sleep and with Spring just about here, I do like to get up early. Just do not know what to do once down here on my own. How are you? Jenny

Not too bad thanks. (she says sitting here typing with gloves on! lol) Have some problems with finger ends (disappearing mostly lol) - may be as a result of Reynauds or just the dreaded weed! Back at the hospital this morning for the results of tests and stuff they did a fortnight ago. I need to give up smoking! - am trying - got myself a dummy cigarette and it works - at least it cuts the number of real ones I smoke. perhaps I ought to get a packet of 20 of them! lol Birds are still twittering away here - it's lovely. I shall be glad when it's got a bit warmer. I love being out in the garden this early with the birds for company. (mad woman!) Best to get those feet sorted - do you have back problems as well ?- perhaps that could be affecting the nerves to the feet.

Mags Hope you can give up smoking its hard I did it 16 months ago was a heavy smoker smoked from 16 Im 57 now Good Luck Linda

You have probably hit the nail on the head. I too desparatley want to give up smoking. But its the same old story, wait until I have done such and such. We are going to Amsterdam for the weekend and I shall need my ciggies during the 14 hour sailing. Plus I have two more Dental appointments in the next fortnight. Since joining Gr I am on the Pc for hours and hours, and tend to smoke more and more. I am sure once I have managed to give up the weed, I shall find lots of silly little aches and pains disappear. Jenny.

Thanks Linda. I should never have started again. I did give it up and put on so much weight it did my head in. LOL - Some would say that I have never recovered from that. lol Going from 9st 12lb to over 18st ain't funny by anyone's standards! But I suppose there were a lot of other contributing factors in there too. Not just giving up. I developed asthma so was on steroids and it meant I couldn't tear around like I used to do so even though I didn't eat any more- I wasn't burning it off I suppose. Now doc and hospital have said that if I don't I could be in big trouble. They aren't nagging which is good otherwise I would just smoke more! It's like the stop smoking adverts on the tv - one of those comes on and I light up! Fingers crossed today doesn't bring any surprises. Chest xray clear and bloods so far normal - including cholestrol which DID surprise me! lol Jen - the daft thing is -I flew all the way to New Zealand without a ciggie and never even wanted one! (27 hours) The lad sitting next to me even offered me niccotine gum but I didn't need it. I think most of it is habit rather than addiction. I did say to my doctor when he suggested the no smoking clinic they run that all I needed to do was to chuck this computer out the window!! - I smoke more on here than anywhere else.

Good Luck to you to mommy Linda

I have diabetis so should have give it up 4 years ago but carried on then developed heart problem stopped and put 3 stone on but have just lost 1 stone Linda

Have you got a no smoking clinic they are very good went there for a month Linda Sorry was typing when your message came up

Mags. Just saw that you mentioned back problems. I do not get probs with my spine. But do suffer from tiny little swellings to to left of my spine at the back of my pelvis. These come and go and are very painful to touch. I get one the side of my second and third toe. These are excruciating at times. But my biggest problem is my hip. After sitting at my desk on the Pc, I come to start tea, iron, wash up etc and within ten minutes in agony with my left hip and have to lie down. Dr has said my hip joint is fine and prescribed Volotrol and Codiene Phosphate. But neither seem to help. Jenny.

Linda - I added that bit! - Sorry lol They have a waiting list so I have put my name down. I am hoping (HaHa) to be able to ring and tell them I don't need to go (she says with fag in hand) Jen - Best to get that sorted. It sounds a bit like sciatica. I used to call that 'Flamingoitis' - the only way I could relieve the pain when standing for more than 10 minutes was to stand on one leg! LOL Gawd don't we sound like some old crocks? lol - Anyone got any operation scars they want to show???

Mags. Dr says it is not Sciatica because I get no pain running down my leg. If I stand upright I am fine. It's when I lean forward that the pain starts. If I never sat down all day long I would have no problem at all. But those days have gone now where I would work 16 hours a day. Jenny. Forgot to add. Do you want to see my appendic's scar. LOL

They said life begins at 40 wow never had so many aches and pains since then had to retire at 43 with arthritis and gone downbank ever since lol Linda

Jen - Nor did I! - I thought I had a problem with my hip but it turned out not to be. When it's playing up - press your fingers in the natural dent in your (whispers) buttock (if you put your thumb at the side of your hip then the fingers should just about be in the right place) - If you go through the ceiling - it probably is sciatica. I had about 6 weeks physio to strengthen the back - made the world of difference. Boo Hoo - I ain't got no scars! Linda - I think I started falling to pieces when I was about 43 - when we moved to Bristol - I think I should have stayed where I was! Arthritis can be very very painful - thank goodness I don't suffer with it. Where have you got it? Julie - I think we all reach for the packet in times of stress but I do wonder how much that is really a comfort thing rather than a need for niccotine. Perhaps we should all get a baby's dummy! lol

The worst part is my back and neck but also have it in my feet hands and hips but never mind always somebody worse off just keep smiling lol Linda

They said at the no smoking clinic that the craving is only 3 mins long so I used to play mahjong by the time the game had finished my craving was gone Linda

Julie – ROFL – can you imagine it? Colour co-ordinated dummies? We could all look at each other and think ‘Aaaw poor woman she’s stressed out – wonder if she would like to chat?’ Then we could sit dipping dummies in cappuccino froth in the coffee shop! What about the men? Would they have ones called ‘Macho Really’ or ‘Feminine Side’ or would they disguise theirs as beards and moustaches? Linda – That sounds dreadful! –How on earth do you cope with that much pain and immobility? I take it you are on medication? Do you take fish oils or evening primrose as well?

I went to a Clinic two years ago and found it very helpful. Got the patches and managed to go 8 months without a ciggie. Mind you I put two stone on. Oh where did I go wrong. I would recommend the Micro Tab. Like a little saccharine tablet that you pop under the tongue. It really does take that really bad craving away. I bought a pack a couple of weeks ago. Boots is the best place to get them. £15 odd for 120. Thats it, sod Amsterdam and Duty free's. I am going to have a go again. To be honest, I am sure hubby only booked this weekend away so to get the duty Free's. I am sick and fed up of feeling so tired and ill all the while. Might even give up the booze also. I keep saying come the 1st of April, I will do it. Jenny.

I dont take pain relief as I take 13 other pills a day for heart diabetis and cholestrol Im not to bad its mostly in the morning it eases off as the day goes on Thank you Linda