General Chat 2008

[cnc]

Glad it went well. What form of allergy tests are they doing?

I've just had another round of RASTs, and wasn't very impressed by the ENT specialist this time, I think I need to push to be seen by the allergy team, rather than just ENT.

My course starts on Monday, which is rather exciting. It's a one year course, but I'm doing it over two because of my other problems.
How are you getting on with social services and the adaptations Copper?

[Copper]

They are looking at her blood. They took plenty out of her arm on Thursday :)

They will be testing her stool sample for lactose. My sister did ask if my niece should be having dairy in her diet for this to work and the Dr replied no. I fail to see how lactose is going to be found as my niece has been on a dairy free diet for a few weeks now. The Dr did discover just how little my niece is eating at the moment as she is scared it will make her ill. I must admit I was shocked that her diet is so poor.

The Dr wants to get her diagnosed ASAP so he can get her eating properly. He is testing her for anaemia too for good measure.

By way of a change I am gardening today. I did some yesterday until we had a thunder storm. It rained a lot but I have seen worse. In Bournemouth (about 7 miles away) they had flash floods!

After my second phone call asking when the shower was going to be installed for my mother I was told another two and a half weeks. True to his word a workman did turn up two and a half weeks later and asked if he could start the next day. My mother said no as she was baby sitting for my sister! Another two weeks have passed and on Wednesday the workman and the boss were going to visit my mother so the boss could show the workman exactly what he had to do. Apparently the workman did not have al the work listed on his job sheet - sigh. They were then going to make an appointment with my mother for a start date that suited her. I have not heard from my mother so I have no idea what is going on.

Good luck for Monday, Claire. I am sure that you will be ok as long as you pace yourself.

[jill]

Good Luck for Monday Claire, hope it all goes well.

November sounds along way off to get her test results. Testing stool samples for lactose isn't something i've heard of. Lets hope she is quickly diagnosed. She is lucky to have an aunt like you Copper who is knowledgable on such things. Best Wishes to your niece.

[rebecca c]

I hope your neice gets sorted out soon Copper, it is upsetting that she is frightened to eat. I cant see how there would be lactose in her stool if she is completely dairy free.

I am just about to go and pick up my eldest to take him and go back to my youngest who is in hospital (I have 10 mins to fill so I thought I would post) We took him in last night as he had a red rash spreading from a lump on his neck to his face. They were concerned it is a skin infection and admitted him for IV antibiotics. There is no improvement yet so we are just holding our breath at the moment.

Mike has been sitting with him this afternoon so I can get something to eat and a shower (there is nothing I can eat at the hospital)

He may be out tomorrow but I think it is probably going to be longer.

The good thing is his blood tests were normal and he is eating and drinking fine (although he is being sick) He is getting himself a little stressed and it is hard to relax him, they gave him some piriton too today which at least had the added benefit of making him nice and sleepy and relaxed.

There do seem to be a lot friends children and friends of friends getting admitted to hospital at the moment with skin or chest problems. the hospital is very full.

[cnc]

Sorry to hear that Rebecca, I really hope he improves quickly and can be home before long. I'm not surprised he's stressed, hospital isn't really the calmest environment to be in. The best thing my Mum did for me was bring in a cuddly toy, so that at least I had something from home to make me feel a little more secure. If he's not feeling too bad, then things like colouring books can help distract from what's going on.
Hope he recovers quickly.

[jill]

Hope your son is better soon Rebecca. Big Hug to you all:hug:

[Copper]

Rebecca, I hope your son gets well soon. It is very stressful running to and from a hospital when the patient is your child.

[rebecca c]

He is coming home today. then provided his blood cultures are negative and he doesnt regress that will be it with 10 days of oral antibiotics - 2 different kinds.

I took him a teddy in last night, his stress levels went down yesterday evening and he slept really well, I think it was a combination of side effects of the illness and the shock of suddenly being in hospital with no warning. one thing that seemed to help was the antihistamine as it made him relaxed and sleepy.

It is a bit funny as when my face is up the antihistamine makes no difference to the rash but it does take the edge of the weepiness and feeling down that I get with it.

We will have to cook him a tasty tea tonight to tempt his appetite back up, he has been muttering about my macaroni cheese (which I cook with mustard) so maybe that is the comfort food he needs.

Its going to be lovely to all be back home tonight, but we have managed really well considering there has been the dog and his brother to organise to and the nightmare of getting me fed.

[Copper]

That is good news Rebecca. I am sure that he will get better much faster at home with some TLC.

I guess this means you have to take time off work. I hope they have not been difficult about it.

[cnc]

I'm glad he's coming home. TLC can work wonders!! I hope he's back to normal soon.

[linny]

Glad to hear you son is coming home Rebecca, I know how hard it is to have a poorly child in hospital. There's a lot of chest and skin problems going around here at the moment too. My hubby and several neighbours have had chest problems over the last week and I've developed a rash on my neck. Father-in-law was admitted to hospital last night with breathing problems too.

Hope your son is well again soon. I was told they recover quicker once they're back home in familiar surroundings.

Linny

[rebecca c]

Thanks, he is definitely on the mend. Had them both off sick today and spent considerable amounts of time chasing the blood test results - still not back from the lab so hopefully find out tomorrow.

A friend is looking after him tomorrow so I can get back to work. She has not been well either and her son was in hospital last week. Seems wrong to rely on her but she is keen to help. Which is a relief as being at home with them nowadays drives me round the bend, I know the reasons why and have done something about them but it doesnt seem to help me deal with it all.

[cnc]

How is he doing now Rebecca?

I've been busy with starting my MSc, I'm really enjoying it, but my health isn't really appreciating it. Trying to establish what is causing my allergic reactions still, which is frustrating. Discovered, however, that I don't react well to what I think was a spider bite!!

How is everyone else, it's been a bit quiet on here.

[jill]

I haven't posted much lately as I have had yet more family troubles to deal with. My nana was taken into hospital with pneumonia on 15th September and sadly died on Sunday morning. I was very close to her, at least it was peaceful and she was in familiar surroundings as she had gone back to her residential home. She had filled alot in to her 94 years and I have some lovely memories of her which are comforting.

My dad has also been in hospital and his sister - my aunt who was in the same home as my nana - also passed away. So it has been a bit of a low time. Dad is fine but this coincided yet again with me having 2 weeks off so much of this was spent hospital visiting.

I did manage to spend a couple of days in the Lake District which was lovely, but rather wet. I would like to go back when the weather is much better.

I also had my job interview, but as yet we haven't heard anything. The HR Dept are on a go slow as usual.

In myself I am fine. I think all the stresses and strains I have had to deal with in the past couple of years have made me have alot more positive outlook and I cope alot better.

Hope everyone else is ok

[Copper]

Jill, I had wondered where you had been. I am sorry to hear about the deaths in your family.

Claire, I have missed you too. I wondered how you were coping with your MSc. Yep spiders bite - well the big ones do anyway.

My sister is staying with me for a few days so things will be hectic. We have not seen each other for years so we have a lot to talk about. She emigrated to Australia years ago.

[jill]

Enjoy your time with your sister Copper. Both of mine live away, one abroad but alot nearer than Australia. Have fun.

Don't study too hard so you make yourself iller (is that a proper word - maybe not) Claire.

[rebecca c]

Jill - sorry about the deaths of your nana and aunt, it is good you are finding some comfort in memories of them. 94 - that is amazing.

Claire - I am sure you will do it and find coping strategies to ease the strain on your health.

My youngest is fully better. The stress of it all hit a week or so later but we are back on an even keel.

My chest is bad again, i've really been hitting the steroids this year. some concern that it may be the chest infection I had a month ago resurging so its back to the docs to do a sample tomorrow. My tummy is better now since going very gluten free so that is one thing and I seem to have found strategies which help to stop my face swelling.

Keeping busy at work and home, started doing some preparatory work for my teacher training (all things being well) next year including brushing up on my English grammar and some background reading. Have had the opportunity to do some sixth form trips which is interesting and stimulating. Having some big successes with students this year so everything is going well.

Took my eldest shopping in London yesterday and we had a lovely day out, stuff the credit crunch!(hope I dont live to regret that) Bought him a lovely dinner jacket to wear in trendy style over his jeans.. very cool dude! He has a lead part in his drama group's play in February. Youngest was happy as his dad found him an England shirt for 3 quid - Chalk and cheese!

Copper I hope you enjoy your time with your sister.

[cnc]

Sorry to hear that Jill, I hope that you are managing to cope ok.

I can't live life waiting to get better so I'm making the most of it, and I'm loving my course, although I have to spend tomorrow on Hampstead Heath, so may have other opinions of it tomorrow!!
Whilst in the quest to try and improve my allergies, the ENT Doctor found an additional problem which isn't ideal, but he seems to think it's operable so that's something at least.

I hope you have a lovely time with your sister Copper.

Sorry your chest isn't behaving Rebecca, I hope that it improves soon. I am glad the gluten free is helping though. My friend is doing her PGCE at the moment and I keep having to check through worksheets to see if they make sense!! You sound very organised and I hope it all goes to plan.

[jill]

I am coping fairly well - trying to keep occupied. The funeral is on Friday so once that is over then we can start to move on - i've been helping my mum with the arrangements which has been difficult at times. I am taking comfort in knowing that my nana had had enough, the past year had been difficult for her but she had done plenty of living, travelling and making memories in her 94 years, and in comparison to some people she certainly didn't look that age.

You seem to be enjoying your course Claire, and Rebecca you are busy too - i'm sure you will get there in the end. I still haven't heard about the job.

I finally finished decorating our front room on Sunday - I only started it last November. I need to take the new curtains up so that will be my next job. My excuse for not doing them yet is that they need to hang for a couple of days first. How i've changed - at one point it would have all been done but I certainly take things alot easier now - I learnt the hard way.

[jill]

Found out 10 minutes before I left work today that I didn't get the job. Feeling a bit cheesed off but i'll get over it.

[rebecca c]

Sorry that you didn't get the job Jill, you had to wait ages to find out.

My chest is not improving as it should if it was just asthma, but I did a sample on Monday so I should know by the end of the week if it is an infection and then I can get on with the antibiotics. This does not depress me too much as it is 2 years (a long time by my standards) since I last had any.

I watched a Imagine last night which was about Juliette Binoche doing a dance project with a dancer called Akram. I thought the dancer was quite inspirational (less impressed with Juliette) and was struck by him saying that your body is a carrier, it carries your experience and the experience of your parents and relatives.

Got a busy day at work tomorrow with my group doing a presentation at an event which I have organised from our side of things. I have had more positive responses to my requests for assistance than in the past and I am confident that this is mainly that a continued professional attitude slowly builds you a reputation and people learn that is how you work and respond in kind.

[Copper]

Sorry to hear that you did not get the job, Jill.

I hope that your chest improves soon Rebecca.

I am recovering from a whirlwind of activity with my sister :lol2: My sister and brother in law are now in France but they will be back here Monday week.

[rebecca c]

Taking a while to improve but it is and I am going to have to be on the steroids for 3 weeks total. They are starting to making me feel pretty grotty and emotions are starting to shoot about a bit.

[Copper]

I am sorry to hear that the steroids are making you feel ill. It will be a long three weeks then. Half term soon, does that make things worse or better for you?

The hospital have decided that my niece is not lactose intolerant as the stool test proved it. She had not eaten dairy for weeks though so I don't believe it. I predict trouble ahead.

I found this on the web
If necessary, a stool acidity test, which measures the amount of acid in the stool, may be given to infants and young children. Undigested lactose fermented by bacteria in the colon creates lactic acid and other short-chain fatty acids that can be detected in a stool sample. In addition, glucose may be present in the sample as a result of unabsorbed lactose in the colon.

[cnc]

Sorry to hear they're making you feel grotty Rebecca, but hopefully they'll make you feel better in the long run.

As we always say Copper, if you feel better without eating it, then it's the right thing to do. Hopefully someone with some sense will get involved soon and get things sorted out.

I'm having a bit of a mixed time at the moment, my ENT specialists can't decide what to do with me, one wants to operate, another one says no, and I'm just left in the middle of it all- so I decided to be proactive and demanded to see my specialist again to find out what is going to happen.
I had a bit of a nasty relapse last week and have lost some of the function I'd been working hard to gain, but I'll get it back again, it's just frustrating, but part of the illness.
I'm still smiling though :D:D

I'm really enjoying my course, it's hard work, and probably not the greatest thing for my health but I'm having a great time, and I don't think many people have seen me so smiley for a long time (which says something really given that I'm just about the smiliest person these people know!!).

I hope you're all doing okay and life isn't giving you too much of a tough time.

[jill]

I know what you mean about emotions shooting around Rebecca - mine have been rather haywire for a while now. As you all know i've had a lot of stress to deal with but hopefully they should settle down (fingers crossed) been to doctor and had bloods and checkups and an ultrasound and everything is ok - Just my age I guess - at 41 I should expect them to play up a bit but it reminds me of when I was a teenager bursting into tears.

Claire I hope your specialist doesn't take too long in deciding what they are going to do with you, ops don't sound good but if it will help?

Felt quite positive today as I had the feedback from my interview yesterday, however I got into a rant when I heard something today which I should have already been told about during a briefing session so that put me in rather a bad mood - I think I shocked a few people as I went off on one. Calmed down a bit now though after i've had a bit of a think. Also had a nice facial tonight and am going for a freebie Indian Head Massage on monday evening as my beauty therapist is just learning how to do them and needs a guinea pig. Roll on the weekend.

[rebecca c]

Had a good day out on some field work today with A level students. Childcare I arranged was a big success and came home to happy settled house, despite the fact youngest had a busy day as he did cycling after school.

Jill - Of course you are emotional after what you have just been through. I sometimes dont deal well with my emotional ups and downs but sometimes I find it helpful just to make a note of them on my health diary. They are often closely linked to PMT or to periods of ill health or trying new drugs/supplements. Or of course having to deal with difficult emotional issues. I was really wired up on Monday night as I had a particular difficulty at work which I cant go into here.

I have been feeling anxious about my chest - I think I might write all my thoughts down as a flow chart to try and get them into some kind of perspective.

Claire I have had lots of ENT procedures and often they have made little or no difference. Operations to reduce the mucus production didnt work and polyp removal now only helps for a couple of months which is hardly worth the time and risks involved. I was never offered two possible choices and my parents always thought doctors must be right. In retrospect I may have tried other things first. If you are not sure perhaps you need more time and information before you can make a decision. My chest consultant always encourages me to collect all the possible info and then make a decision when I am ready, he takes away the time pressure other consultants put on me which is helpful. I know our illnesses are very different and my ideas arent often that helpful to you, I would say though that I believe I would actually be a lot (for example all the doctors told me that the serevent was not likely to be causing problems but if I hadnt stopped using it I am sure I would now have eosinophilic leukemia as this is what the blood tests were beginning to show) more ill if I hadnt decided to trust my instincts a lot more and found a doctor who respects me for doing this.

I am so glad the course is good and making you happy.

[cnc]

Mine isn't either of those two options, it seemed to involve my nose rather than my sinus, there are problems with inflammation and then some sort of cells that weren't meant to be there and are stopping things getting in and out of my nose. I like to be different what can I say?! A couple of people I know have had polyp removal and sinus drainage surgery, but I can't find much about this kind of thing. The other part of the problem is that the medication isn't working.
I'm hoping that my eventual referral to the allergy clinic will be able to help with some of it, but it's not going to get rid of these cells, but if the inflammation lower down can be reduced then the cells might not cause such a problem (wishful thinking!?)
I do really appreciate all the ideas and input you give me :)

Sorry your feeling anxious about your chest, I really hope that things improve for you soon. Do you think that being on the steroids is making you more anxious as well? Just think about everything you've achieved recently despite the chest problems.

I hope you all have nice and relaxing weekends.

[jill]

Rebecca - writing things down certainly helps, you can then see a pattern and often just jotting it down gets it out of your head. I know this is slightly different but when my mum was having her chemotherapy she started writing a diary of how she was feeling each day and what her symptoms were, then each time she had her next session she could look back and know she would be better after a couple of days. It is so easy to forget little things which may be significant.

My only plans for the weekend are to take the lining up on my curtains, and out for lunch on Sunday.

[Copper]

Jill, Rebecca and Claire I hope that you all feel better soon.

It is great to hear that you are happier Claire.

I have nothing to report as I lead a dull life :) I am looking forward to the extra hour in bed this weekend.

I intend to get a lot of family history papers sorted out this weekend.

My eldest daughter is currently in Canada on holiday. She says they are very good when you mention intolerances and understand what they are. One alternative milk there is hemp milk. She has had no problem getting soya milk and wheat free bread. She even managed to eat dinner out in a pub.

[jill]

Successful mission - curtains are now finished, hung up and gathered. What will my next project be? Loads to choose from.

Had a walk to the shop this afternoon for the TV Mag and decided to have a bit of a walk round the village - wasn't out long though it was bitter cold.

Happy Family Treeing Copper. You always seem to be up to something so it can't be that dull. Hemp milk - never heard of that, good to hear that intolerances are well catered for if you are travelling to Canada.

[Copper]

It was not that cold down here yesterday. I spent about 45 minutes in the garden doing some pruning. I ignored the piles of leaves everywhere.

I am actually doing some cross stitch in the evenings. I also told my niece that I would knit her a bolero but I need her measurements before I can make a start. I have the pattern and yarn ready and waiting.

What will I be doing today? Oh yet more family history but this is for a friend. I find it really interesting and it exercises the grey cells. Yesterday I had to think hard about her Taylor family in London.

[rebecca c]

Had a good day yesterday, chest is finally picking up although tummy is bad (I'm sure that will improve as I step down the steroids) anxiety is down. went out with my old neighbour who is 87 and puts me to shame (healthwise)we had a good old gossip and it was uplifting to see her so well. Took my son to romeo and Juiliet which was good and then we went and listened to some live music in the library (surreal) as it was open all night as a special brighton type celebration of clocks going back. Made me remember how much I love living in Brighton.

Planted some bulbs today until I was wet enough, now waiting for boys friends to arrive for a sleep over.

Realised I have done well over 20 hours overtime this half term, am just wondering if I need to be a bit careful about this as the school refuses to pay me/upgrade me and are definitely getting a pretty amazing deal but the job would be unrewarding if I did it in a basic way. I shall just keep an eye on things, once I get my PGCE place I can always take my foot off the pedal and I have already started some extra background reading for that so I could take that a bit further and progress my ICT skills which would save time next year.

Mind you I helped a teacher put some music on a powerpoint which was a job that the whole ICT department had been unable to do so I must be doing fine with my ICT too - another good reason for a pay rise!!!!!!

[jill]

Sounds like you need a pay rise Rebecca, don't we all (lol) I am sure you will be rewarded eventually. I had some more good feedback on Friday, my contributions are being recognised by higher management - lets hope I am rewarded aswell.

I managed to fill a wheelie bin with leaves this afternoon, and it was only from a small area. Good job we have two garden waste bins as we don't like putting too many leaves in the composters as they take ages to rot down.

I started scrapbooking my family tree a couple of years ago and I think with my nana passing away I will start doing it again to preserve some of the memories whilst they are fresh in my mind. It will be nice for my nephews and niece to look at when they are older.

Looking forward to tomorrow evening when I go for my Indian Head Massage. I love having my head massaged at the hairdressers so I hope it is good.

[jill]

Enjoyed my Indian Head Massage at the time, but I didn't half feel rough yesterday morning when I first got up and this lasted through the day. I was warned it may have side effects and it certainly did. I would recommend if anyone has one not to have anything planned for the next day. I was contemplating going back to bed for a couple of hours and going into work late but I managed to drag myself in but felt wish washy all day. Been on a trip to Loughborough today, delays on the M1 meant it was a 3hr+ journey home.

[Copper]

I think that I will give an Indian massage a miss. I hope that you have recovered now Jill.

I hope that you feel better soon Rebecca.

I spent about 45 minutes in the garden doing yet more pruning. I cleared a load of leaves off the net covering the pond.

It was just under 7C here yesterday. It poured with rain last night. We need pouring rain on Friday night to keep the yobs away.

My youngest phoned and told us that she had 3 inches of frozen snow on her car yesterday morning. She lives just outside Reading. Brrrr

David Tennant is leaving Dr Who after the specials which is not a surprise really. It just won't be the same without him.

[jill]

Yes i am fine now, felt ok yesterday aswell.

Is something big happening on friday Copper or is it just local yobs that are causing a nuisance hence the wish for rain? Never been a Dr Who fan so this news won't bother me. Not into Sci Fi at all, Paul reckons I have no imagination.

Weekend has already started as i'm not at work tomorrow.

[Copper]

Yobs use Halloween as an excuse to throw eggs etc. We did have a quiet year last year.

A word of warning, our local Tesco is selling After Eights which now contain butter fat.

As Tesco did not have any of their Finest after eight mints I was forced to buy some Bendicks bitter mints, which are very very nice :lol2:

[cnc]

I hope that November is going okay for you all. My health seems to have taken a bit of a battering recently and decided to put me in my place so I've been keeping a low profile for the last week or so, not through choice though!!

Have just treated myself to some of my Easter egg, although how much of a treat an out of date Easter egg actually is, remains to be debated. Rather more worryingly I ended up doing some Christmas shopping today. Penguins seem to be popular this year for decorations, which is good for me, but bad for my purse:D

Hopefully I'm going to be seen by an allergist and my ENT consultant at the same time to see if they can get things to settle down again- I had to go back on extra steroids after a medication change didn't go to plan.
So as you can see things are as calm as ever in my world!!
I had my parents over during half term which was lovely, they looked after me well, and cooked me nice meals that I don't usually get as my carers are only in for 30 minutes at a time.

Hope all are enjoying their weekend.

[Copper]

I have missed you Claire. I had a feeling that it was your health keeping you away from us here. I hope that the specialists manage to sort things out soon.

November - hmmm endless fireworks The cat is a nervous wreck. Even I jumped a mile when the my next door neighbours decided to set light to their fireworks on the 7th. The youngest child there is 37!!!!! An hour later we had the usual huge display in the school playing fields behind us. At least I was mentally prepared for that. The cat was laready in his safe place behind the sofa :)

My niece had another hospital appointment to discuss the results of her blood tests and stool sample. The lab tested the stool for everything but lactose. The poor child has to send in another sample. The Dr was very nice and told us what my niece is not suffering from, coeliac, allergies etc. He did agree this time that the stool sample would be negative if my niece was on a dairy free diet. My niece is eating some dairy at the moment.

The Dr then said that no matter what the results of the stool were, he wanted my niece to see a dietician and go on a dairy free diet. I then said so she is probably lactose intolerant to which he laughed and said I was putting words into his mouth. :lol2:

Make of that what you will.

[jill]

Sorry to hear you have not been well again Claire - I thought it must be your studies that were keeping you away. I discovered that Aldi are stocking the rum truffles again which I love so i bought myself 4 bags last week supposidly for Christmas, one bag already gone so I bought 2 more bags yesterday. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Looks like your niece is going to have a bit of a long haul at finding out the problem Copper. Hopefully with your support and knowledge nothing will be missed.

I received a photo of my great-great-grandad today so it has reawakened by family history research. I've been busy all afternoon updating my computer program and am going to spend the evening doing some more. I was so pleased when my mum said it was definetly him.

[Copper]

The only problem my niece will have is accepting that she is one of us ie a special person. I think the Dr wants her to go on a dairy free diet for life not just as a test.

It is that time of year again when mice find their way into my loft grrr. We were woken up many times last night by a mouse clog dancing above our heads. I have 3 humane traps in the loft so hopefully I will catch it soon.

Jill, how exciting to receive a photo of your great great grandad. I have been busy on my family tree too. My mission is to get everything into the computer and sources noted too. I should be able to reduce the number of lever arch files round the house.

[cnc]

I hope that they make a decision soon about your niece. She should embrace being special, it's a good life :)
Nice to see I'm not the only one with specialists who won't explain precisely what's going on. The ENT specialist said to stay on my medication, but we're not sure if he knows precisely what I was taking, and whether it's okay to take them long term, and he won't give anyone a clear answer about it, which is fun!!

Sounds like the two of you have both been busy with the family tree, I hope that you don't find too many skeletons in the closet.
Hope the mice leave you in peace soon- I don't have a roof, so at least that's one less thing to deal with :) Am waiting for the heating engineer to come and fix the leaking radiator though so I should be able to have heat in the hallway soon.

Hope you all have lovely weekends, and are enjoying the better weather today.

[rebecca c]

Claire I hope you are soon feeling better, it is interesting that the consultants can see the point of seeing you together. Pehaps you could prepare a list of what you are taking now and put it on your file at the hospital.

Copper it sounds to me like the doctor knows it is the lactose that makes your niece ill but would be professionally embarassed to put it down as a diagnosis or possible diagnosis.

We will get there one day.

My chest got better and I've been busy. Not just with work but with the boys and nice stuff too. I have my interview on Tuesday and have been preparing for that all day and my Open university interview will be soon too.

My problem is my face flared up badly again on Thursday night and it is the first time it has been a bigger flare up since March and hasnt been this big for a long time. However I am now 70 to 80% sure it is gluten intolerence as I accidently seived my pasta in the same colander as the boys wheat pasta on Thursday tea time. I was so angry with myself for my mistake.

My face is not the only thing it is also tummy, aches and pains and a slight temperature. I did also eat a box of Turkish Delight over the course of the week so it could also be the flavourings in that. but it is a huge coincidence.

My research of rashes that are associated with gluten intolerence/coeliac is that they can take up to 2 years to clear after you stop gluten which might account for why I was still getting some redness.

still a bit confused and anxious about it all. I guess only time and perseverence will tell. My face is probably going to be all peeling for my interview now.

[zoefruitcake]

Hello, you may remember me from such comments as 'Cheezly is nice, honest' and I'm sorry I've been gone so long I'll be back on here more often, honest' :)
sorry :p

Nice to come back and see familiar names again. No idea why I just got out of the habit of being on here, I should try and return. Been a busy year for me, I left my husband and moved back with the parents after having been gone 17 years - that's been fun. Relocating with my job soon and just had an offer accepted on a flat. Oh, and I met a new man, who is trying to get his head around cooking food I can eat

Hope you are all well

Zoefruitcake

[Copper]

Rebecca, good luck with the interview. I hope that you feel better soon.

Zoefruitcake, welcome back! It sounds like you have had a stressful time.

The mouse stopped making a noise after one night but sadly we heard another one yesterday evening. I am sure that they get in through an air vent by the front door. I can't do anything about it as the gas boiler is in a cupboard in the hallway so we have to have the vent.

We have just been out to Aldi (fairly new store in Poole) and found the lamb shanks and rum truffles. Thanks Jill.

[jill]

I was going to tell you about some other chocolate that I get from Aldi Copper - then realised it has soya in which I believe you can not have - Moser Roth - Dark Chocolate with Cranberry and Dark Chocolate with Orange and Almond. Worth a look out for anyone else though who can have soya.

Been busy checking through the plans from the architect, couple of ammendments that need making. Think with this credit crunch and uncertainty at work that we won't be rushing into any major house renovations just yet.

Forecast snow for the weekend - could do with out that. Got plenty of coal and wood though so we may be chilling out in front of the fire.

Hi again Zoe, a man who can cook food what you can eat - now that is good. Paul thought he had managed to get shopping cracked until I told him about whey.

Oh Rebecca, it is one thing after another. Hope you are feeling better soon. You certainly appear to react quite badly.

Hope you are feeling abit better as well Claire and are studying well.

Take Care everyone.

[cnc]

Welcome back Zoe, I remember you:) Sounds like things have been busy with you. Hope to see you around here a bit more.

I hope that the plans get sorted soon Jill, I'm waiting for a date for my building work, I've been told it'll be done before Christmas but I'm not holding my breath!!

I really hope that you feel better soon Rebecca, good luck with everything, I'm sure you'll do fine, and if they judge you because of your health problems then that's their loss and most certainly their problem, try not to let it stress you out too much.

I had a bit of a disaster today, I was getting out of a taxi in my chair and the ramp decided to come away with me as well, meaning that the chair and I fell a foot or so straight onto the concrete floor (it was one of those van type taxis, so it was a fair drop). I'm rather sore now, and a bit shaken but nothing too bad. Just feeling a bit sorry for myself, and not looking forwards to the aches tomorrow morning!!

[zoefruitcake]

thanks for the welcome back Copper, Jill and CNC :)

That drop sounds nasty Claire :( I hope you feel better soon

[rebecca c]

Hi Zoe welcome back - sorry to hear you have had such a time of it but glad to hear things seem to be turning around for you.

Clare that fall does sound scary - dont think I would like that.

Jill know what you mean about the work we would like to get the loft done but have decided to hold off for the time being.

The interview went really well and I was offered a place today so they must be keen, they have also asked me to come in to talk to this years students about how you make the work simpler for students with special needs. Lots of positive comments about my acheivements which is nice. So its hard to see how it could of gone better. Didnt discuss my health much as only came up in context of needing special support just said I am asthmatic, I have to fill in a seperate form about health and I dont think it will be a problem but if they are unsure I know my consultant will fight my corner as he has told me to go for it.

I am quite excited and pleased with myself - my hard work has paid off, I am the first person interviewed and accepted too.

Face is getting slowly better, really going to do the full coeliac thing for a few months to see how much it helps and record it carefully - have bought a new colander for my things!!!!!

[Copper]

Congratulations Rebecca. You must be on cloud nine :)

Claire that fall sounds bad. I hope that you don't have too many aches and pains now.

Jill I do eat chocolate which contains soya but I have to be careful and ration myself :lol2:

[jill]

At last Rebecca, that is good news, so pleased for you.

On dear Claire, that fall is all you needed, hope you are not hurting too much.

Trying to decide on what type of windows we want. House is part stone part brick. Some are white UPVC, but do we want hardwood or brown UPVC or more white? Decisions Decisions, got a plumber coming round next week to discuss radiator positions. Want to try and get everything corrrect on the plans before they are submitted.

[cnc]

That's great news Rebecca, I really hope you enjoy it. They'll be used to dealing with people with different health problems, they usually only care about how they can support you. They'd be looking at a huge legal problem if they forced you out because of your problems, or even refused to make reasonable adjustments, so I really wouldn't worry about it. They're interested in your abilities as a teacher not your health problems.

After a few days with some rather tender bones I don't think I'm too much more damaged than I was before- although how you can ever tell with me is debatable ;)

I braved the shops last weekend and took advantage of the discounts, I was back home by 11 am and with nearly all of my presents bought, it wasn't too stressful as it wasn't too busy when I started and then I was going the opposite direction to everyone else when heading home.

Finally sorted the advent calendar problem, Mum ended up getting me the more expensive one, she did suggest at one point that I just didn't have one, which didn't go down very well!! My argument was that my elder brother gets one (apparently two), so it was only fair I got one :)

Have you made any progress with deciding on the windows yet Jill?

Did anyone get snow?

[zoefruitcake]

why does your brother get two advent calendars Claire? Does it count down quicker with two ;) Glad you've got one now though

[cnc]

I've no idea why he gets two, possibly because he's a greedy so and so!!I think possibly because they're a lot cheaper than mine :)

[jill]

Yes we had snow on Sunday morning - it woke us up hitting the window. Fortunately is had cleared up by late afternoon.

I haven't put any more thought into the windows - plumber is coming round tomorrow night so i'll decide after then. Been rather busy with the family tree research and scrapbooking what I am finding. I've just finished a 2 page layout with some old photos and census returns.

I haven't really started thinking about christmas yet. All i've bought are 2 jars mincemeat, a stolen and 3 big bags crisps (plus the rum truffles that have nearly all gone:lol2:)

[zoefruitcake]

Claire - oh yeah, I suppose his are cheaper ;0)

Jill - family tree research and scrapbooking? I love both activities, especially combining them

[Copper]

I had a mad day yesterday as I sat and wrote a list of what presents I wanted to buy. I ordered most on line and bought a couple in Argos today. I just have beads to order so that I can make some jewellery.

My family history is way out of control. I need to file more paper. It can only get worse once we have access to the 1911 census next year :lol2: I have a number of old photos which I need to sort out too.

[jill]

I didn't realise 1911 Census was coming out next year Copper - how exciting, what month is it going to be in?

Plumber came tonight, came up with some good suggestions and now we know more what will be involved. Just need to win the lottery:lol2:.

[Copper]

You can read more about the 1911 census release here

http://www.1911census.co.uk/

In a nut shell it will have a "staggered release" next year. There is one piece of information that will not be released until 2012, this is anything recorded in the box for blind, deaf etc

[Johanna]

I have both my children's and my husband's birthdays between Oct 23 and Dec 8, so I get birthdays and Christmas sorted early. Most things here, just waiting on some online purchases. But I have to list what I've got...I forget! I opened my wardrobe to find a rubik's cube and two stylophones (oh the 70s are back with us again lol).

I actually stood in a card shop yesterday about to buy cards for people for whom I've already bought - so was recounting what I had out loud lol. I love Christmas but as a stressed working mum in her 40s, it's catching up with me.....sherry intravenously please :D

[jill]

Hi Johanna, don't know about the sherry but stressed, working, and in 40's is familiar.

Thanks for the link Copper, I did do a search after seeing your post last night and was quite excited at finding that the census will be hand written by the householder. That will be excellent for my scrapbook.

Coming down with a cold - typical been as it is the weekend.

[cnc]

My flat is full of birthday presents and Christmas presents at the moment, not aided by the fact my parents left half the Christmas presents here by accident, so I've had to store those as well!!

First Christmas in my own home so had to buy decorations, not too many as there's not much space- realised I needed to check the fairy lights today, which was quite good fun:)

Had a bit of a nightmare trip to the hospital on Thursday, I was meant to be going to 2 appointments, this being me, however, 6 appointments and 6 hours later I was finally home!! More bad news for me unfortunately, but hopefully they can do something about this one, so that makes a change:) It's apparently extremely rare so they're not really sure what they can do..... The plus side was it meant I didn't go into uni on Friday and didn't have to do my presentation :D :D

I hope you're not suffering from your cold too badly Jill. These things always like cropping up on weekends don't they?

[jill]

My colds not too bad - not like man flu anyhow. I have just had a mass sneezing fit though and was threatened with "Sneeze again and i'm gonna have to kill you" but i'm still here:lol2:. Think i was disturbing a TV prog. - tough!:lol2:

[Copper]

Claire you are greedy with all of these strange ailments. You must be a challenge to the medical world :)

Jill I hope that you feel better soon.

[jill]

I'm still here, feeling worse than I was yesterday, its only a cold though but why does it have to strike at a weekend and make you feel so rough:(. At least i'm contributing to keeping tissue manufacturers in business.:).

[rebecca c]

Havent posted for a while but I have done nearly all my christmas shopping. Have an OU interview next week so I am going to get behind a bit now as will have to prepare for that.

I havent got a cold but something has set my nose off and it is hideously blocked what with the polyps up there as well, quite vile.

My parents had a nasty time on Friday night as a car hit and killed a cyclist as it was overtaking them. they coped with it all very well but as you can imagine it really shook them up. He was only 22.

[jill]

I have finally started thinking about christmas - not done any present buying yet but i've got a couple of ideas.

Good luck with the interview Rebecca, how shocking for all involved in the accident.

We didn't get the snow we were expecting today, but looking on the telly lots of other places did. Hope it misses us.

[cnc]

Good luck Rebecca:) That accident sounds horrible, how terrible for all involved.

My parents are apparently snowed in, but we've had nothing but rain. I'm busy trying to sort out feeding various friends over the weekend, as I'm having people over to belatedly celebrate my birthday, (it was on Wednesday). I have a very tasty dairy free chocolate cake, which I'm slowly getting my way through:D:D Had a nice birthday and looking forwards to the weekend.

Hope everyone is okay.

[jill]

Belated birthday wishes Claire. Enjoy your weekend celebrations:eat::wine:.

[rebecca c]

Happy Birthday weekend Claire - have a good time.

feeling a bit stressy as I have found out that my acceptance of my place at Brighton uni didnt go through properly so the UCAS system now says I have declined it - Computers huh. I have emailed them this evening and my course tutor says she will help me sort it but it still leaves me on edge all weekend even though I cant believe its not sortable. Trouble was it was a system I had never used before so I have no way of knowing whether it gave me a usual response or not. Ahhhhh!

nose still yuck but OK apart from that.

[jill]

Oh dear Rebecca, i hope that problem is sorted soon.

[Copper]

I hope that you get this problem sorted out soon Rebecca.

I had a mad moment yesterday evening and decided that enough was enough and I had to rearrange my family history books and files. I am determined to make more room somehow. Sadly my books are in 3 rooms so now everywhere is a mess. I gave up at 11pm and this morning I have to try and get everywhere tidy.

[jill]

Mess is not good at this time of year Copper, we need to be relaxing:lol2:.

Went for a Christmas lunch yesterday - 8 of us, it was very pleasant.

I have been food shopping this morning - Aldi and Morrisons. I picked a free magazine up in Morrisons that had lots of receipe suggestions for Christmas so I am practicing today with honey glazed parsnips and carrots and crispy potatoes. If they turn out good then they will be on my menu this christmas. I don't normally try things out before hand but I am doing a roast for tea so I thought I would give them a try.

Intending on making a couple of christmas cards this evening.

[rebecca c]

I think I have sorted my problem, it should be properly sorted by tomorrow and they have said they will help me do it on the computer so I dont make the same mistake again.

developed a yucky cold this weekend which went to my chest ended up having today off, on the plus side it is first day off this term for me (a few for children) and I have already had two chest infections to fight off. Also would of had to take steroids anyway as nose has been terrible.

I have ordered an air purifier in desperation at getting my nose sorted. it is a lot of money but probably worth a try after all the steam cleaner has been a big success. may get a new (second hand car) this weekend too, have seen a fiesta that looks promising.

Have another interview on Thursday up in Milton Keynes so that will be quite a big day with presentation, group interview and journey hardest of all leaving the kids behind when mike is in london that day too. Trying to stay chilled about it and conserve my energy.

[rebecca c]

Feeling worse today - tummy bad too (wonder if that is the pattern for this bug) - dont see how I'm going to make this interview.

[jill]

My belly hasn't been too brilliant today either - maybe a delayed reaction to the Christmas pudding and brandy sauce that i had whilst I was out for lunch on Saturday. And I took 2 lactase tablets. Are a few moments of pleasure really worth it just so you can eat a "normal pudding" once or twice a year. It was good though.

Hope you manage to pull yourself round for the interview Rebecca.

[Copper]

I can't cope with the thought of being ill after eating out. I give the chef 20 questions and hassle the waiting staff. If I am not sure about something then I don't eat it.

I am going out to eat on Monday evening. The chef is the same one as we had at this pub last year. I am going to phone the pub tomorrow to remind them that I am dairy free and another person in the group is coeliac.

I hope that you feel better soon Rebecca. Can the interview be postponed?

Claire, I hope that you enjoyed your birthday celebrations.

[rebecca c]

I dont think I can postpone it, I had to turn down the first date they gave me as I had my other interview and then they said they would only offer one more date and if I couldnt make it that would be it.

I am feeling a tad better today after a night of aches (although have lost weight and chest is getting worse) so my plan is to get all prepared go to bed early and get up very early to take the steroids to see if they kick in. I may have to start my journey and see how it goes. If I dont make it I will have to ring them and beg them for another chance. I can also expect some IBS in the morning so I have to give that a chance to clear. On top of which if the boys are ill they will have to be driven to a friends.

It is so daunting leaving the boys behind while I go elsewhere it certainly makes it even harder being ill and then there is the risk I will make myself more ill if I push too hard. Finding it all a bit overwhelming to be honest it was a big enough thing to cope with if I had been well.

Sorry feeling sorry for myself, or have I just bitten off more than I can chew. It is ironic that to get a place on the most flexible course I have to put myself through all this.

Who'd be a woman?

[Copper]

I hope that it works out well for you tomorrow. I will be thinking of you.

Yes being a woman is hard these days. Having children, total responsibility for the housework and garden and working part time was very hard for me. The paid job was made harder in that I was doing a full time job in half the time :eek:

[jill]

Good Luck Rebecca. You will be fine, everyone gets a jippy belly before such a thing. Go sell yourself, you deserve it. As my mum always says - Do your best. It is daunting doing something different but just think how pleased you will be with yourself when you have had your interview. That in itself is an achievement.

[rebecca c]

Thanks for your support but I have missed the interview as I just decided I was not well enough after another night of aches and pains. They said I can have one more date. It is a funny bug luckily my airway is OK and it is not really really bad but I just dont feel well enough to do much and as soon as I do try to do something I am knocked out by it. Could be a lot worse but starting to feel frustrated and annoyed and a little guilt for taking so much time off work.

Try to make myself feel better by realising that it is not me being weak as all the local schools have been severely affected by all the bugs going round and plenty of other teaching staff have had to have time off.

Now I shall put the time to use and write some xmas cards.

[zoefruitcake]

poor you, there are some really awful things going around. I hope you feel better soon

I was sitting in an office yesterday were all I could hear were coughs and sneezes, I don't rate my chances.

[Copper]

I hope that you feel better soon Rebecca, don't rush it. I guess it will be third time lucky for your interview.

PA has just told me that she has received an allergy alert for something she ate on Sunday. I have posted the details on another thread. She is not happy as it made her ill and she still feels ill today. She is moving this weekend!

I will have to start the holiday baking soon. First up will be the wheat, gluten, dairy and egg free mince pies. I made them last year and they were yummy.

[jill]

Sorry to hear that you didn't manage the interview Rebecca, hope you are feeling better now.

Not good that PA was made ill by the food Copper. Manufacturers should take more care.

Christmas baking - I bought some of my ingredients last Sunday so I will get together with my mum and have a good baking session. We always put a christmas album on when we do it to get us in the festive spirit.

[rebecca c]

Feeling much better today - have lost 4lbs!!!!!! So a weight has been lifted in more ways than one. (good news for pigging out at xmas!)Also another school have offered me an interview type day so that is good news.

Zoe I've never tried it but my cleaning lady swears by collodial silver spray once a day to stop herself getting these infections. apparantly some health stores sell it.
Working at school has felt like a hospital at times over the last few weeks, however I am of the opinion you get it one way or another.

I need to do some baking for something at school next week so I shall have to follow your example Jill and listen to some xmasy music I love all that.

[Copper]

PA was in tears on the phone last night as she felt ill. :( I did not sleep very well last night as I am worried about her. My husband and I talked about it late last night and I think she has another intolerance. Her diet is already pretty restricted so my husband thinks it might be soya causing a problem. I will phone her later to see how the move went and suggest she tries a soya free diet for a while.

She is looking forward to coming home as I will be doing all the cooking. I have a soya intolerance so I can make sure that everything I make for her is wheat, gluten, egg, dairy and soya free. No wonder she is unhappy.

I am making the mince pies later this morning.

Rebecca, I am pleased to hear that you feel better now. I hope the interview at the other school goes well.

[jill]

I'm sure with some motherley TLC, PA will be better soon Copper, it must be a worry for you all. You have enough intolerances between you that you could really do without any more.

I went Christmas shopping today, I managed to get a few presents bought and got rather cold and wet. I've just bought some more on-line which i'm rather pleased about particularly when I went to print a confirmation off and saw it was snowing outside. Does this mean we will have a White Christmas and that summer will come at the proper time of year :lol2:.

[rebecca c]

I'm really sorry PA is feeling so very unwell and at such an impossible time. I hope you find the cause soon. I know she is very familiar with the kinds of symptoms you get with a food intolerence but it may be worth bearing in mind that there are an awful lot of virulent viruses around and I keep overhearing people talking about having been really ill and off work with bugs with a whole range of symptoms including tummy problems. I know I worry a lot about my eldest following in my footsteps and find it very distressing to think that may happen.

Jill well done on all that shopping.

I have just about done shopping thank goodness just pants and socks for the boys stockings!!!

I bought a new old car today, on the way we drove in my car as Mikes is at the garage and probably dead. We drove through lots of floods and my car slowly but surely flooded with water until I had my feet off the floor so my new vehicle couldnt have come a moment too soon. It is especially good news as now I can go to see my sister for a christmas celebration next weekend.

[Copper]

I am pleased to say that PA sounded happier late yesterday afternoon. She had managed to move most of her goods and chattels into her new flat. Today she has to move some kitchen items and her book shelves. Her friend told her that they would fit in a taxi, if she booked a certain make of vehicle. It sounds complicated to me. I think that she is going to see if she can find another friend to help carry them to and from the taxi. I am not sure that a taxi driver will be happy to carry them up to her second floor flat.

The mince pies turned out ok yesterday. The pastry is a bit fragile but then it is everything free.

Today I have to make everything free chocolate fairy cakes.

Rebecca, thanks for the warning about the tummy bugs. Her tummy problem has been going on for over a week. I guess time will tell. I hope it is a bug as she has more than her fair share of intolerances already.

I can't believe the perfect timing for your new to you car, excellent news.

Jill, shopping on line is great. The only downside is hoping that Royal Mail actually deliver the goodies. My postman delivers the post at random times, never mind the Xmas post. He also walks at the speed of a snail.

[rebecca c]

I am glad PA is feeling a bit better and has managed her move OK. I will keep my fingers crossed that it is just one of those horrible bugs not another intolerence.

I am back to work today - feeling much better just like I have some residuals of the infection and a need to get my strength back up.

[zoefruitcake]

not heard of collodial silver spray, I think I'll get some in, thanks Rebecca

[Copper]

I went out to dinner last night and feel fine today.

PA is still ill! She is currently conducting an experiment and has cut out all soya from her diet. Yesterday she was feeling a bit better so I was hoping that we had found the cause of her illness. Sadly she went out last night and within an hour of eating the starter she felt ill and was very bloated. Once that had cleared the system this morning she had a larger breakfast than she has managed in the last 10 days. The starter was a vegetable terrine and contained mushrooms which she is intolerant to. She had to tell 4 people that she did not want gravy on her dinner as she is wheat and gluten intolerant :(

Eating out with a dairy intolerance is not as difficult as we think. PA has so many intolerances that it is a nightmare methinks.

She is out tonight to the same place so she will skip the starter and pudding will be fruit salad. We are hoping that she feels ok afterwards if not she will speaking to her GP.

[rebecca c]

I have multiple intolerences and suspect I may be coeliac and have just about given up eating out. I really hope PA is feeling better soon.

My eldest is now ill with the fluey bug and it is hard getting him to eat as he has no appetite. His symptoms are similar to mine.

Someone at work went home with it today and most classrooms have 4 or 5 kids off and the same number again looking like they should be at home.

Off out now to do some shopping for the youngest's christmas party (lets hope he doesnt then get ill before the party) and try to get a tree into my new car.

I love my new car. Mike's is dead now too so he is getting new car in new year.

[Copper]

I hope that you managed to get a tree in your car. Did it drop loads of needles?

At long last PA feels better. It looks like soya might be the problem. We will test this when she is here. She will eat some soya ice cream and see what happens. Like me she has not replaced all dairy with soya and like me she has developed an intolerance to it.

I have just found a recipe that I kept from a magazine. It is for chocolate sorbet :lol2: I will make it soon so we can sample it over the holiday. I will let you know if it tastes ok.

[rebecca c]

I havent managed to get a tree yet as the two places I have had time to get to have been sold out.

Still trying to get the eldest better.

I have been a bit chilled at work this week, still working hard but havent felt completely connected to it. Some good people are leaving and some are going through big crisis.

There is recipe which might be useful for PA in Nigella express which is chocolate macaroons made with ground almonds not flour (not good to me as almonds are high in salicylates) they would be lovely with a sorbet. Let me know if you want me to put it online.

Started some counselling (mainly to try to think about all the impacts my health and diet bring on me) and I feel it is already starting to help quite alot.

[Copper]

Thanks for thinking of PA and your kind offer for a macaroon recipe. Sadly almonds are another thing that PA is intolerant to. :(

I hope that you your eldest gets better soon.

Good luck with the search for a tree.

[jill]

Take plenty of money with you when you go on your tree search Rebecca. Paul has been out tree hunting today, some real ones are £40. He managed to get one which was reduced from £20. to £10. It is only a small one which stands in our fire place to fill the gap. Don't imagine it will last very long but who wants to be paying £40. for something that will be disposed of in 2 weeks. We do have an artificial one aswell which I have managed to get decorated. Finish work tomorrow until the 5th Jan apart from going in for one day so I will get in Christmas mode proper tomorrow after our works Christmas lunch.

[rebecca c]

Mmmm lots of people have told me where I can get a tree so I guess I just need to get my but* in gear.

Mike has just bought a new car too which he is picking up on xmas eve its a peugot 307 with 18,000 on the clock. Could do with it this weekend so we could get a bigger tree, I am trying to persuade my friend with a land rover to bring me one from her village!!!

Eldest is finally starting to feel a bit better thank goodness. I am feeling OK but have still quite warm and with small bit of tummy pain.

Youngest has had is party and it went well just a few for a sleepover now!!!

[cnc]

The last time I ate out was in my college canteen and I had a very exciting meal of jacket potato with baked beans!!

I've had the misfortune of picking up a mouth, throat and larynx infection, I'd been hoarse for a few days but just thought it was the time of year for it, and went to speak to the doctor about something else, when he discovered this instead, so I'm on treatment for that until at least Christmas Eve and possibly New Years Eve. Still having a lot of problems with my allergies, but hoping to stay off the steroids for now, as it'll just make my infection worse.

Have decorated the house, mostly with penguins, I have a very small artificial tree on a table and then my presents on the tier below. Discovered tinsel is quite good for stringing across walls to hang trees up on.

[Katerina]

Hello all.

Just wanted to butt in and wish everyone a happy and healthy Christmas. I don't know where the time goes, I just seem to be running to stand still these days :rolleyes:

I have had this flu bug too, it also seems to affect my stomach. I was most annoyed to be throwing up last night :mad: so I've hardly eaten anything for 24 hours. I hope I've got over it by Christmas day, I love my special Christmas dinner, which my mum prepares for us really carefully to avoid my intolerances.

[rebecca c]

Thanks Katerina - I hope you shake that flu off soon it lasted 5-7 days for me and my son although some people have had the experience of feeling better then worse again so take it nice and easy even when you start to feel better. It did effect our tummies a bit but not too much.

Clare - I am sorry you have an infection, take care of yourself and get better for xmas. The penguins sound fun - I have some little polar bears to decorate the table with on christmas day.

Tree now sorted a friend picked up a perfect one for me -£30 so not too bad. All decorated and looking lovely. Off to my sisters tomorrow then my sons party on monday. Also been invited to a solstice celebration to watch the sunrise tomorrow so I figured I will do that as it is so warm and it will be different and non comercial.

[jill]

I just want to do a candle decoration then I will have finished all of the trimming up. Baking tomorrow at my mums. All the shopping is now done so a quick hoover round and a clean of the bathroom on Christmas Eve and everything is ready. There will be 11 of us at my house on Christmas Day so it won't be quiet. Just hope my one remaining internet order turns up else 2 little boys will be missing a present.

I'm excited now as I've just checked our council planning website and our planning application is now in - 3 years of thinking and designing and it is actually happening.

Hope everyone has a lovely time over the festive season and we are all able to tuck into some dairy free goodies.:xmas::wine::eat:.

[Dianne]

Hello - ive just found you all today and I have to say im very relieved. ive been checking out old threads and I find its almost like reading a diary, Everyones symptoms are my own. ive had spots round my jaw line for 15 years (as well as many internal symptoms) Ive been told that they are linked to digestive problems but no one told me how or why or gave me any usefull advice. I have said for years that I was allergic to 'something' but never went deep enough. so I might cut out Cheese for a while or bread or Quorn (being a veggi) but I never felt quite well enough.... then six weeks ago I bit the bullet and cut out all dairy.... yyiiiippppeeeeee spots have cleared, no more bloating, no more abdominal pains and so im going to be celebrating Chrismas this year feeling happy and well ..... I know that this might not be the correct page to tell you all this but seen as im going to have a Happy Christmas I thought I would wish every other Dairy Free person out there the same :o I will look forward to reading more threads next year

[jill]

Hi and welcome Dianne. Happy Dairy Free Christmas to you. Lots of alternatives out there for you to be tempted with.

[cnc]

Welcome to the site:) I hope you have a fabulous Christmas and enjoy all the festivities.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful 2009.

[rebecca c]

Welcome to the site Diaane, I am glad you have found out the cause of the problems.

I think I shall be busy from now on in so HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE:xmas:

wishing everyone and their families a merry christmas and a happy new year.

I am all set except the I should of defrosted the freezer in advance and now its playing up - oh well.

[Copper]

Welcome to the site Dianne. Enjoy a symptom free Xmas and New Year.

Seasons Greetings to everybody here.

[Dianne]

thank you everyone - ive just made a fab pud. 100g dark chocolate (Green & Blacks) 250ml soya cream - slop of brandy (carefully measured)
melt choc and whip in mixer for 5 mins with cream and brandy. put into Ramkins... very nice although I adapted it a bit and put an Amoretti biscuit on the top and a sprinkle of icing sugar . once set its very rich and very creamy mmmmmm

happy christmas :lol2:

oh ..... and it made 5 small ramikins

[cnc]

I hope you all had lovely Christmas festivities and haven't eaten too much!!

Things are mad around here already, a couple of days before Christmas the care agency decided to cancel all of my care and made some unfounded and incorrect allegations about me, meaning social services have had to suspend my care until I can be reassessed, meaning that I'm currently not able to spend much time in my home alone, which is annoying to say the least, which combined with the fact that my allergies have all flared up and I'm on medication to treat the side effects of the last time I was on steroids, as well as the steroids, so it's making for not an ideal start to the new year, but it's not all bad.
I got some lovely presents for Christmas and have been made to feel very much loved and cared about which is always nice. I also had a wonderful couple of days as I got to spend them with an aunt I've not seen since I saw her in hospital 2.5 years ago, which made my Christmas really special :)

Hope you've all had suitably nice Christmases and the start of your New Year is going to be less eventful than mine!!

[Dianne]

Hi Claire - sorry to hear about your troubles. it puts my life into perspective!! I hope things calm down for you soon

I had a paddy on Sunday... rather like a 5 year old would. I decided it wasnt fair to be surrounded by chocolates and pudding and not be able to have any, and seen as i had gone all Christmas without anything rich or creamy or containing chocolate I deserved a break. so i had a chocolate !!! .......and became immediatley ill... which served me right.... then I stropped around sulking for a while and saying things like ... its not fair all I wanted was one bloody chocolate!!.... my son (aged 20, who keeps me grounded) just smiled at me and said.... and now you have had one ..... and now your paying the price :o .. Which was true. Then he gave me a hug which was better than any chocolate and put everything back in its place for me :)

I just find all this so hard sometimes, especially being a veggi, and then I realise that im quite lucky. So long as I keep off the dairy im well and healthy and have very little to complain about.

I love this site - its refreshing to learn that im not the only one out there, and that other people will understand (well maybe not about the paddy)

have a great new year - what ever your doing -

[Copper]

Oh Claire that is awful. What is wrong with these people?! :mad::mad: My sister is currently having to deal with a newly qualified social worker who is an idiot. I can't go into details but I can say that these do gooders don't live in the real world but in a text book rosy looking world. As a friend would say they are all bar stewards.

I hope that things get sorted quickly and that social services move faster than their usual speed.

Dianne, we can eat plenty of dairy free chocolate. My daughter has bought me loads of chocolate from Hotel Chocolate. I have to ration it though as it contains soya. My mother in law brought round a box of Roses chocolates all wrapped up as they were a gift to her. She insisted that I unwrap them. She would not listen to me when I told her there was no point as they would contain milk. I had to unwrap them and then shout (she has selective hearing) out the ingredients. She then got into a strop but she did take them home again.

[rebecca c]

Claire what can they be thinking of? I hope getting it sorted out is not too stressful for you and doesnt interfere with your studies. I am glad you had some nice presents.

I had a nice christmas my main present was a lovely warm puffa coat - I have never had such a warm coat. We went for a walk on the seafront on christmas day and saw a fox on the beach (sorry not photos as no camera although he gave us lots of amazing photo ops) which was a real surprise. The only downside was my mum got poorly with an upset tummy on christmas evening.

My fluey symptoms came back for a couple of days but they are gone now and I feel really well.

Trying to get some work done so must get on, this is procrastination. Although it is only work I have volunteered (or been volunteered to do).

[jill]

Oh dear Claire, I do hope this is sorted soon, this is certainly something you can do without. Obviously somebody not doing their job properly.

Slip ups do happen Dianne, but after a while you begin to realise they are not worth it. Believe me there are lots of dairy free chocolates about. I'm just coming to the end of my first box of Elizabeth Shaw Liquer Chocolates - i've got another 3 boxes to go at, then there are all the other chocolate goodies which I have in my cupboard.

I've had a lovely christmas, lots of family around. I cooked for 11 on Christmas day, then 7 on sunday. 10 of us went out for a meal yesterday, and I had a couple of hours in work this morning and i'm just chilling now.

[cnc]

Slip ups do happen Dianne, no-one is perfect, but in time you will realise that there are so many dairy free chocolates avaliable these days that you'll never want to stray again. I had a lovely truffle last night and have a whole load more to munch my way through soon. Speaking of straying I was having cheese envy the other day when in Asda, and then I remembered what it does to me!!

Copper there are some sites that do soya ones, but I'm not sure what they taste like, but might mean you're able to eat a bit more chocolate which is always a good thing ;)

I'm still staying with my parents as planned at the moment, but unfortunately the stress of everything means I've lost quite a lot of use of one of my legs, which is fun whilst staying in a house with stairs, but these things happen, just hoping it's only temporary, on the 'brightside' it means that social services may well have to increase my care- the words 'I told you so spring to mind!!' I will be contacting the relevant people about this after it's all sorted as it shouldn't be allowed to happen.

I had a lovely lunch at Frankie & Benny's this afternoon with a friend, they actually have a lot of things that are DF, as a lot of it is fairly simple food and even said that they would have no problem doing a DF pizza as the bases were milk free. I got my birthday and Christmas presents from her as well so I've been spoilt again today:)

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful new year.

[rebecca c]

Happy New Year everyone.