"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

[Annb]

Just had a letter from the hospital in Inverness. It seems that, after all, they found "features within the area that require specialist assessment by a pathologist in Glasgow". They'll get back to me when they hear anything.

Not what I wanted to read, however, I don't really believe it can be anything very bad. I'll think about it when I hear more from them.

 

[Annb]

My parents told us when we were kids that a lot of beef meat in England came from Argentina and it was better to ear than the local stuff. This was because it took five to six weeks for the refrigerated ship to get to England. It was not frozen but well chilled. So well hung beef for tenderness.

It's odd, but I've just realised that, as children, we didn't have much beef. We did have mutton and sheep's offal. Chicken was only for Christmas (and you had to pluck and pull out the intestines for yourself). We did have Spam and corned beef (that was from Argentina) but never pork. This was in the days before much thought was put into the welfare of farm animals and my mother considered pork to be too dangerous, or requiring to be cooked for so long that it was like leather.

Our diet was very carb based - that was what was most easily available. Huge King Edward potatoes baked and stuffed with minced mutton and the inside of the potato - that was my favourite. Bread, cheese, Spam, carrots, and potatoes were our staple foods. More exotic veg and fruit were a very rare treat. I remember my mother standing in a queue at a greengrocer's shop for about half an hour to be allowed to buy 2 bananas. Eggs were rare until they started being imported from China in the 50's. Biscuits were sold by weight from boxes - you could buy whole biscuits, or broken ones (cheaper). We did have milk in plentiful supply and apples - living in Canterbury, we were surrounded by orchards.

But beef is absolutely nowhere in my memory, other than tinned corned beef, which my father banned from the house because he had been sickened of it in the army.

 

[Rachox]

Info for @Antje77 regarding my experience of Metformin. At the start I took one daily for a week, then two daily, then stopped increasing when I reached 3 per day. I had more poos daily but not particularly loose (sorry TMI!) along with odd stomach/abdo pains, but this was only for the first 10 days - two weeks only, starting the day I started them.
I have stayed on three per day for virtually the whole time since diagnosis, except for 2 or 3 months when I tried dropping to two, my average blood sugars rose by 0.5 mmols/l but I also noticed that my weight loss, which at the time had been quite rapid, stalled so I chose to go back up to three. This was all done with my GP’s blessing.

 

[Antje77]

At the start I took one daily for a week, then two daily, then stopped increasing when I reached 3 per day.

My endo proposed starting at 1000 mg, to which I immediately replied "500!" with the thought of increasing after a week.
Then we both got distracted so now my box of 30 tablets says take one per day.

So far so good, and if it stays that way I plan to increase in a week, as is usual, and play the idiot if I decide to ask for more. After all, she initially said 1000, so.

Still curious to know how long after starting people started to experience side effects. Days? Hours? I've been apprehensive all day, but nothing!
But does this mean I'm safe or may I get nasty surprises in three days?

I've had remarkably boring BG's over the past 24 hours on relatively low doses of insulin, but I attribute that to coincidence for now. Took the tablet around noon.

 

[shelley262]

Most our fresh meat come from the local butcher, so that gets put in the freezer so no worries about the date, the bit we get from Woolies gets used first in most cases, stuff like the extra bacon hocks we got during our winter time went in the freezer as well.

Same as fish and fresh prawns.

We eat a lot of mushrooms as we like them sliced up raw in a salad so they are preferred firm, the others can be fried or put in a stew.

My parents told us when we were kids that a lot of beef meat in England came from Argentina and it was better to ear than the local stuff. This was because it took five to six weeks for the refrigerated ship to get to England. It was not frozen but well chilled. So well hung beef for tenderness.

Tinned corned beef from Argentina had a bad reputation as it caused a cholera outbreak in the 1950's in the UK, I was a bit wary about a tin I found in the cuboard that was out of date, it tasted alright and now scours from it in savoury hash.

Gosh never heard about this but gather it was in Aberdeen in 1964 and was because a large tin used in a supermarket WMLow sliced it but tin had been accidentally contaminated by typhoid when washed with untreated water - you learn something new every day on this forum!
Including the Devil peeing on Michelmas day !

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

Gosh never heard about this but gather it was in Aberdeen in 1964 and was because a large tin used in a supermarket WMLow sliced it but tin had been accidentally contaminated by typhoid when washed with untreated water - you learn something new every day on this forum!
Including the Devil peeing on Michelmas day !

That's it, it was the 60's, and came in big tins. If remember from what I read about it it was Armour brand corned beef.

 

[shelley262]

My endo proposed starting at 1000 mg, to which I immediately replied "500!" with the thought of increasing after a week.
Then we both got distracted so now my box of 30 tablets says take one per day.

So far so good, and if it stays that way I plan to increase in a week, as is usual, and play the idiot if I decide to ask for more. After all, she initially said 1000, so.

Still curious to know how long after starting people started to experience side effects. Days? Hours? I've been apprehensive all day, but nothing!
But does this mean I'm safe or may I get nasty surprises in three days?

I've had remarkably boring BG's over the past 24 hours on relatively low doses of insulin, but I attribute that to coincidence for now. Took the tablet around noon.

I had metformin reaction quite quickly and mine continued to give me low levels of gastric troubles through the two years I took them. Once gp said I no longer needed them I was happy to stop and my gut settled again. Think it’s very individual sounds promising for you that no reaction yet - crossing my fingers for you. I’d happily take Metformin if it suited me.

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

Doesn't Australia have its own rich source of tales?

I forgot to mention yesterday in the other thread, that the face mask I have on is part of a indigenous Australian story of the dreamtime. It's about the "Rainbow Serpent" and I have put a wiki link to it, interesting read.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Serpent

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

The Blue Care nurse brought a box of fruit and veggies in with her this morning visit, here partner won several in the raffles at one of the sports clubs in town.

It helps the budget along, and I thought it was nice gesture of sharing, so a maximum of good karma points awarded to them for that.

Heap of cherry tomatoes and chillies in the bottom of the box.

 

[Annb]

It's just after 3 am. I was busy and only went to bed at 1.15 am but at 2 am I woke up with another one of my suffocating dreams. These dreams unsettle me so much that I can't think of laying down in bed again. So that's me up. Might fall asleep in the big kitchen chair; who knows? Watching BBC news just now to bore me sufficiently to go to sleep.

Also feeling hungry just now and wondering what I could possibly eat that won't put my BG up. I don't know that eating in the middle of the night is a good idea anyway.

This is the kind of time when I could easily start having a look at Amazon or Lakeland and allow myself to be tempted into buying something I could do without. I actually have received a copy of the Lakeland Christmas catalogue and am already tempted by some of the things in there. No - I think I'll stay away from their website.

 

[Annb]

I'm thinking of buying one of those pillows that prop you up in bed so that I can go to sleep in my bed sitting up. A straightforward pile of pillows doesn't work - I just slump down from them and end up desperate for breath again. A straightforward back support would have the same effect. I'm thinking of, perhaps, one of those inverted "V" shaped pillows, or even a thing that looks like the top part of an armchair. Has anyone tried either of those?

 

[lucylocket61]

I'm thinking of buying one of those pillows that prop you up in bed so that I can go to sleep in my bed sitting up. A straightforward pile of pillows doesn't work - I just slump down from them and end up desperate for breath again. A straightforward back support would have the same effect. I'm thinking of, perhaps, one of those inverted "V" shaped pillows, or even a thing that looks like the top part of an armchair. Has anyone tried either of those?

I have 3 pillows. One is straight across, the other two form a v shape, diagonally across each other.

 

[Antje77]

I'm thinking of buying one of those pillows that prop you up in bed so that I can go to sleep in my bed sitting up. A straightforward pile of pillows doesn't work - I just slump down from them and end up desperate for breath again. A straightforward back support would have the same effect. I'm thinking of, perhaps, one of those inverted "V" shaped pillows, or even a thing that looks like the top part of an armchair. Has anyone tried either of those?

It might be worth seeing if you can find a bed with an adjustable frame so you won't have to fiddle with pillows.
Around here you can always find them in second hand stores or on give-it-away groups on Facebook. Beds are often things people don't need when inheriting from their parents, so the beds go to the dump or are given away or sold for very little.

It's also something you'd like to speak about with to someone. I don't know how it works in the UK, but here the first call would be the GP, who would refer you on to the same organisation which provides wheelchairs, stools for in house moving, special mattrasses for bed sores, beds for women who are planning to give birth at home and such.

My friend bought one a couple of months ago, and it has helped her a lot!
Not for breathing but because her gastroparesis make her nauseous at night, sleeping with her upper body elevated makes it a little better.

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

I'm thinking of buying one of those pillows that prop you up in bed so that I can go to sleep in my bed sitting up. A straightforward pile of pillows doesn't work - I just slump down from them and end up desperate for breath again. A straightforward back support would have the same effect. I'm thinking of, perhaps, one of those inverted "V" shaped pillows, or even a thing that looks like the top part of an armchair. Has anyone tried either of those?

I have this on my Amazon wish list, Luxdream 2Pcs Wedge Pillow and Headrest Memory Foam Bed Wedge, keeps the head and shoulders up.

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B084KY...colid=S7M243755DJ0&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[Annb]

Here we are again. It's 3 am and I've been up for an hour. Had a mug of tea and checked the TV. Nothing there that I want to see - all repeats from the last couple of days - and they were repeats even then or Telesales channels. "Animal Cops" will be on in 50 minutes, so I'll put the TV on again then.

Thanks for your responses to my query. The Occupational Therapy department at our local hospital can supply equipment. I could ask them for advice, but I have found in the past that they don't want just to advise, but to supply things. When Tom was sick, they loaned quite a few things, from a special wheelchair for the shower to a hoist and a hospital bed with an air mattress. I don't need them to give me equipment (which is what it would amount to) but they might have some experience of the different products which would help me to make a decision. I might give them a call later.

 

[Annb]

I just spoke to an Occupational Therapist on the phone. She insisted on sending out one of the back supports that they have but couldn't advise on anything different. If it doesn't do, I can just give it back and make up my own mind. She did say that Amazon might not be the best source, so I might need to find a different, specialist supplier. Have to have a hunt across the internet and see what organisations I can find.

 

[Antje77]

I just spoke to an Occupational Therapist on the phone. She insisted on sending out one of the back supports that they have

Hopefully this one will be just what you need!

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

I was off food a bit yesterday, but I liked the rib roast at the Brothers club, they also do a nice steak there as well.

Just had a text from the lady who cuts my partners and my hair saying she will not be here today as she is still feeling unwell. I'n staring to get a bit shaggy dog looking.

Also waiting for the plumber to come and fix the hot water tap in the kitchen as it's leaking water everywhere. Be here sometime this morning.

Had some good rainfalls over last 24 hours, it really hammered down last night on the tin shed out the back, good sleeping weather.

 

[Annb]

Went to bed at 11 pm last night but was awake again by 1 am. Got up before 1.30 and watched a few "comedy" programmes on TV. Still not sleepy (at almost 3 am) but felt pretty hungry so made myself a sandwich with wholemeal bread. Just short of 30 carbs. That's it - no more carbs allowed today.

Em wasn't meant to be coming in yesterday but she turned up just after 3 pm anyway - some sort of communication lapse between her parents. Each thought the other was picking her up from school. When nobody turned up, she just decided to come to me. Just as well I wasn't out. Not that I usually would be but I do occasionally have an appointment to go to. She was wearing her last pair of school trousers without holes in the knees. No longer the case - a hole about an inch in diameter has appeared on one knee. Her tights are the same - holed and laddered after one wear. Toes gone from her shoes. She really plays rough and goes through clothes at a rate of knots. I think DIL is intending to go to the mainland to get new school clothes for her. She is 9 but is having to wear clothes for 10-12 year olds. Never thought she would grow so quickly - as a baby she was tiny!

 

[Antje77]

When nobody turned up, she just decided to come to me.

Good thinking!
And I have a feeling she doesn't need much of an excuse to visit you anyway.