What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

[Annb]

Fbg I have not taken it this morning because I was really hungry at midnight… A long story, I'll tell you in a minute.

Wildlife trail camera...
Badgers and the Fox

Badger KissyKissy, and a pair of badgers were in the garden pretty much all night, and Foxy Loxy as well who is very nervous that there are no cats on the swing all night.

I have no idea why, because there is pretty much always a cat on the swing most of the night. But the cats are not eating the cat biscuits here either during the night, although as soon as daylight came, the cats were queuing up to eat the same cat biscuits!

Foxy Loxy kept finding one of the badgers, KissyKissy, bumping into him, and he kept having to move out of the way very quickly.

Creative is another digital sheep painting in Procreate. I fell asleep half way through doing it, and luckily it was still here when I woke up, with the iPad still firmly grasped in my hands...

Right. My problem late last night was that an order for some eye drops had not arrived when it should've. Midnight had insisted last night that I go to bed early, at 7:30 and he wouldn't let me use any of my devices and sat firmly under my chin until I fell asleep. Consequently, I had been asleep a few hours when I woke up just before the time of midnight. Midnight, the cat, had obviously gone outside, and so I picked up my iPad. There was a message from Amazon saying they were really sorry about my eyedrops order, but also in the same message, said I had to contact the healthcare firm myself to sort it , because it hadn't been dispatched by Amazon, and it said I could not do that until Saturday and also said I had to give the firm another two days to sort it out.

I was furious for several reasons. And I needed that particular eyedrop because my prescription eyedrops are aggravating my eyes badly at the moment, and are unusable to me. I tried to do something about it there and then on Amazon, but the system wouldn't let me it was all automated for this and automated for that. But what I did find out when I went to the actual healthcare provider of my eyedrops order, was that in the last couple of days, there was a complaint after complaint after complaint by people who had not received the eyedrops. It went on and on. So something was up.

Also, when I went to the actual page of the same eye product and health care firm on Amazon, it had increased in price by three times, in just a few days. That was one heck of an increase on what I had originally paid for it.
So at that instance, I thought I'm writing this off for the moment, I'll pursue it next week sometime, and I'll go to eBay to see what I can find in this same eyedrop. Because I badly need them and they really do soothe my eyes.

On eBay, I found the same thing, the exact same make of eyedrop had increased by three times what it was a few days ago. Then I found two suppliers who are selling them for only double the price, and guaranteed that the expiry date was 2025, so I ordered a batch of drops from each one to make sure I have some.

I was stressed, but once I've done that I thought well I can relax now, but I was absolutely starving, so I had my breakfast in the very early hours. I couldn't wind down..

I was awake most of the night and fell asleep at first light. And then just before 9 o'clock, I had another email off Amazon saying that I was still getting my eyedrops at the original price, but it was from another healthcare supplier and that it was being dispatched today and I should get it in the next few days, and there was a proper tracking number with this one, whereas the tracking number with the eyecare firm that let me down led to nowhere.

I think Amazon had realised, that the original healthcare care company had gone rogue and were taking the money and not sending anything out, so Amazon sorted something for their customers.

I had paid for a whole year's supply, the firm had sold them as a years supply worth, so that was one heck of a relief.

So that was my hectic frantic night to get hold of my important eyedrops.

Can I have a day of rest today please, and without my cochlear ear again...

It is pouring with rain out there, but the sky is clearing, and maybe if I go out in the back garden, the sun might come and shine on me...

Have your best possible day!!!

I need some cuppas...

View attachment 59523

Good to hear that Amazon have taken action to sort the problem out for you. Worrying though in the interim.

Smashing sheep image.

 

[jjraak]

I have waited a long time in those transport languages as well! A depressing, place, full of people who had dementia, Alzheimer's, and just had hospital gowns on, they're being sent home in hospital gowns, it was freezing in that transport lounge... and I was offered a sandwich as well!

I think mine was just a few elderly ( what do you mean, look who's talking )

Who seemed pretty compus mentus..(but can you really tell ? )

But that scene does make sense.

Mum got sent in by care home, without us knowing

A long wait too before getting back to the home

I only found out after, or I could have gone and got her myself
(Mum was Mobile enough but too away with the fairies to be left alone )

Add in those at the lower end economically & the chances family have the ability to transport patient personally reduces dramatically.

And yes to the leaving hospital insufficiently dressed

Sure it's the 'ward is warm'.
And 'ambulance heating will be on'..

But just sitting still in anything near cold, & the heat just seeps out of our bodies.

A hospital gown IS clearly NOT a suitable clothing at all, in those circumstances.

As kind as the staff were, it was indeed a miserable experience .

 

[SlimLizzy]

22.02
8.45am FBG 5.7
Have persuaded MrSlim to plant the trees in my preferred location. Along the boundary line where there are already a few trees and the ground is too rough for mowing. There are already far too many obstacles for the mower, I don't need another five. Add to this the fact that of the last five fruit trees three succumbed to mower damage, its a good argument in my favour. Its also a damp place. With predictions for drought conditions already this year. We are told we have had a winter drought. Its true. Yesterday I had to water alread some pots that were dried out.
It was damp this morning, but now I am ready to go outside there is a fine drizzle falling and it's cold. Probably not enough to be useful for the national water supply, just enough to make working outside unpleasant. Not ideal weather for digging our heavy clay soil
@gennepher its good that you are getting the desperately needed eye drops and at a reasonable price.

 

[gennepher]

Good to hear that Amazon have taken action to sort the problem out for you. Worrying though in the interim.

Smashing sheep image.

Thank you for the sheep compliment @Annb
It was good Amazon acted promptly. The order will probably arrive just fine, but I will be on slight tenterhooks until it actually arrives...

 

[Annb]

Morning team D.

FBG was in the style of that Liverpool FC lamp, a week or so back.
6.4

Perfect, IF you're looking for something middle of the table,
...very ho hum.

As for PorterGate: MIA.

I was lucky enough to not need porters during my many hospital visits
(Dept location almost first entrance inside hospital)

But I did obviously need for leaving hospital both times.

First time may point to understaffing.

Dec 24.
Hospital filling up with new covid patients
I was in a 4 berth HDU, the coughing coming from neighboring wards was constant.

I was getting as dressed as possible & was sat in chair, ready to go by 9am, as told porter on way.

At around 12:30 I was back on bed, being served lunch.

I had queried it, and told porters can take a while & waits for transports can be long.

So best eat now while you can, who knows when you'll eat next, sort of thing....so ok, I order.

Bit of an ordeal, getting back on bed but the chair just proved too uncomfortable after an hour or so..but I manage eventually.

As I'm sat starting to eat, porter enters ward & asks for me, and comes to bed all business like.

I point & explain food has just arrived, will I have time to eat it ?

Without a moment's pause, he rolls his eyes, turns and flaunts away, muttering about waiting etc.

Nurse comes over moments later, ask what happened.

I explain the hissy fit (I was annoyed & frustrated )

Same porter eventually returned, as I got myself tidied up to exit straight away off bed

An awkward moment as he's clearly annoyed being ordered back.

Deciding it's just a bad day for him, I apologise for earlier, explain what nurses said about delays getting home.

He explains how busy they are, not enough of them.

Honours even, we both agree it was just a bad moment & let it go.


Deposited in transport lounge, (think large classroom size waiting room.)
I was offered tea & biscuit.

And after many hours
(I was the only one & there was some issue because it would take two people to get me home)

I was kindly offered a sandwich by the lady in charge

I arrived home sometime before 10 pm...(which then became another epic saga )

So, from my limited experience.

It's too few of them, trying to move more people then the system was geared up to, pre covid.

And on a side note, the transports home, I believe were private companies (Falcke for definite the first journey, the second, some sort of minibus )

Perhaps pointing to where PFI & privatising segments, has undermined the NHS, as the balance once private becomes more profit over patient ?

It may be that porters are overworked. That's no reason for them (as part of the care team) to vent their frustration on patients. It's unprofessional and unkind. You don't have to be a member of one of the old "professions" to behave in a professional manner.

 

[gennepher]

I think mine was just a few elderly ( what do you mean, look who's talking )

Who seemed pretty compus mentus..(but can you really tell ? )

But that scene does make sense.

Mum got sent in by care home, without us knowing

A long wait too before getting back to the home

I only found out after, or I could have gone and got her myself
(Mum was Mobile enough but too away with the fairies to be left alone )

Add in those at the lower end economically & the chances family have the ability to transport patient personally reduces dramatically.

And yes to the leaving hospital insufficiently dressed

Sure it's the 'ward is warm'.
And 'ambulance heating will be on'..

But just sitting still in anything near cold, & the heat just seeps out of our bodies.

A hospital gown I clearly NOT a suitable clothing at all, in those circumstances.

As kind as the staff were, it was indeed a miserable experience .

I never wanted to go through that long wait again @jjraak
Especially as I was nearly the last one out after nearly 7 hours. But I was happy the hospital gowned ones left before me. But each person that left before I did, felt like another nail in my coffin...so yes, it is a miserable experience...

 

[gennepher]

22.02
8.45am FBG 5.7
Have persuaded MrSlim to plant the trees in my preferred location. Along the boundary line where there are already a few trees and the ground is too rough for mowing. There are already far too many obstacles for the mower, I don't need another five. Add to this the fact that of the last five fruit trees three succumbed to mower damage, its a good argument in my favour. Its also a damp place. With predictions for drought conditions already this year. We are told we have had a winter drought. Its true. Yesterday I had to water alread some pots that were dried out.
It was damp this morning, but now I am ready to go outside there is a fine drizzle falling and it's cold. Not ideal weather for digging our heavy clay soil
@gennepher its good that you are getting the desperately needed eye drops and at a reasonable price.

Thanks very much @SlimLizzy

It sounds so you might have a lot of watering to do especially to establish those fruit trees with a shortage of rain....good luck. I hope they all survive and grow plentifully...

 

[jjraak]

Been having trouble with our landline recently and decided it was actually the handset in the kitchen that was causing it so Neil bought a new one - much more complicated than the old one and has fixed it on the kitchen wall. Now I'll have to be shown how to use the basic functions. That's all I'll use no doubt and also no doubt, it will take me ages to remember how to work it.

Yeah, i hear that .

Had similar here

After working out what features we needed, get new landline phone

Lauren struggles to use it & gets frustrated.
Not overly complicated, just a bit of a faff button pressing to get to menus.

I try to mansplain it (very poorly)

Eventually it's used so little (we all use mobiles instead) I unplug it.

The only landline is the very basic (aka, useable by all ) one hanging in kitchen.
But it offers the back up if mobiles have issues .

Not looked at another landline phone in years

Presume if they still want sales, they mimic how mobiles look & operate.....suspect not all do .

Q. Does anyone still rely on just a landline anymore ?

 

[jjraak]

It may be that porters are overworked. That's no reason for them (as part of the care team) to vent their frustration on patients. It's unprofessional and unkind. You don't have to be a member of one of the old "professions" to behave in a professional manner.

I hear you @Annb .

But I know we're all human, with frailties in many forms.

A frustrating day for us both, and a simple apology eased both our burdens, I like to think.

 

[Annb]

Q. Does anyone still rely on just a landline anymore ?

Yes - we do. I bought Neil a mobile early on in their development (modern enough to have a camera on it, but still fairly hefty). He never used it. Under pressure from Tom I bought one to keep in the car because I was teaching at night-school and he wanted the reassurance of knowing I could get in touch if I needed to. That must have been around 2000. I never needed to use it and eventually vodaphone de-registered it. Under pressure from a friend, I bought another cheap one and never used that either. It was also de-registered. I bought 2 new SIM cards but couldn't remember how to use the first (Erikkson) one and never did understand how to use the second (alcatel) one. So never used either of them.The NHS Patient Access Service wants me to use the alcatel one so they can send me a code to change my password. Where was it? I eventually found it in a drawer, but it didn't work - recharged it, found it had somehow used all the money I'd put in it all that time ago. So now have to figure out how to put money in.

It really isn't me that needs it - it's other people. Don't really see why I should have to have one, just ot please other folk/organisations.

 

[gennepher]

Yes - we do. I bought Neil a mobile early on in their development (modern enough to have a camera on it, but still fairly hefty). He never used it. Under pressure from Tom I bought one to keep in the car because I was teaching at night-school and he wanted the reassurance of knowing I could get in touch if I needed to. That must have been around 2000. I never needed to use it and eventually vodaphone de-registered it. Under pressure from a friend, I bought another cheap one and never used that either. It was also de-registered. I bought 2 new SIM cards but couldn't remember how to use the first (Erikkson) one and never did understand how to use the second (alcatel) one. So never used either of them.The NHS Patient Access Service wants me to use the alcatel one so they can send me a code to change my password. Where was it? I eventually found it in a drawer, but it didn't work - recharged it, found it had somehow used all the money I'd put in it all that time ago. So now have to figure out how to put money in.

It really isn't me that needs it - it's other people. Don't really see why I should have to have one, just ot please other folk/organisations.

I hate the way they deregister your mobile phone @Annb

It has happened to me twice. I always kept the spare phone in the car, obviously with the Sim card and it obviously with money on it, in case I forgot to put my own mobile phone in my handbag when I went out. Because, as I cannot hear on the phone, I cannot use a landline phone or Street phone (if you can find one nowadays) with being deaf, if I'm in trouble or the car breaks down @Annb

I used it once a month by sending a text to my normal mobile phone, just to show that it was active (after the first one got de registered), but it made no difference. It still got de registered and I lost the money on it...

So now, I do not have a back up phone in the car. Actually I think it was 3 that got de registered, because I have 3 useless mobile phones.

They were all set up with important text numbers, RAC, Police, and more. And I had to register those things again each time my spare phone got de registered. So stupid.

 

[ianpspurs]

Morning all - just when started - from a slightly wet area of The East where US military personnel and their families are better at following God's word, through Jermiah, than me (Jer. 29:4-7). Yes, it is Ash Wednesday and the Lenten theme for C of E is Dust and Glory. Resonates if reversed for the journey the natural party of government UK, copying USA as per, have been on of late. @gennepher hug for the eye drop and historical hospital transport sagas. Thanks for the sheep and cats creative and concern over our Tuesday. There was a twist in the tail but that's for another day. @Annb hug for more pain and mobile phone hassle. In this area traditional landlines are being phased out from April when one must plug into The Hub - digital innit bruv. @Krystyna23040 the winner is for both sharing your fbg and the efforts you are making. Definitely what taking back control actually means. I look forward to you returning to where you deserve to be in a just world. The lack of porters in hospitals and general reward for previously key workers - remember them? - suggests absence of both foresight and basic justice: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain” It appears the oxen are sending a message but the bean counters are building a war chest for tax cuts to save the landslide that looks to be coming - sunken cost fallacy. That was a partly political broadcast on behalf of a nation desperate for leadership, whatever colour rosette is worn, not naked personal aggrandisement and hewing out cisterns that hold no water. Bound to be a Bill Withers day for someone and if that's not you it'll shine when it shines - other Ozark mountain daredevils chunes are available.

 

[jjraak]

Nice sentiment @ianpspurs

I did read a quote that went something like this ....

"An essential worker is one who strives to help keep You alive.

While using a food bank to make sure they can do the same for themselves "

 

[gennepher]

Morning all - just when started - from a slightly wet area of The East where US military personnel and their families are better at following God's word, through Jermiah, than me (Jer. 29:4-7). Yes, it is Ash Wednesday and the Lenten theme for C of E is Dust and Glory. Resonates if reversed for the journey the natural party of government UK, copying USA as per, have been on of late. @gennepher hug for the eye drop and historical hospital transport sagas. Thanks for the sheep and cats creative and concern over our Tuesday. There was a twist in the tail but that's for another day. @Annb hug for more pain and mobile phone hassle. In this area traditional landlines are being phased out from April when one must plug into The Hub - digital innit bruv. @Krystyna23040 the winner is for both sharing your fbg and the efforts you are making. Definitely what taking back control actually means. I look forward to you returning to where you deserve to be in a just world. The lack of porters in hospitals and general reward for previously key workers - remember them? - suggests both foresight and a lack of basic justice: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain” It appears the oxen are sending a message but the bean counters are building a war chest for tax cuts - sunken cost fallacy - to save the landslide that looks to be coming. That was a partly political broadcast on behalf of a nation desperate for leadership, whatever colour rosette is worn, not naked personal aggrandisement and hewing out cisterns that hold no water. Bound to be a Bill Withers day for someone and if that's not you it'll shine when it shines - other Ozark mountain daredevils chunes are available.

Thank you Ian
Take care...

 

[lindisfel]

Morning all - just when started - from a slightly wet area of The East where US military personnel and their families are better at following God's word, through Jermiah, than me (Jer. 29:4-7). Yes, it is Ash Wednesday and the Lenten theme for C of E is Dust and Glory. Resonates if reversed for the journey the natural party of government UK, copying USA as per, have been on of late. @gennepher hug for the eye drop and historical hospital transport sagas. Thanks for the sheep and cats creative and concern over our Tuesday. There was a twist in the tail but that's for another day. @Annb hug for more pain and mobile phone hassle. In this area traditional landlines are being phased out from April when one must plug into The Hub - digital innit bruv. @Krystyna23040 the winner is for both sharing your fbg and the efforts you are making. Definitely what taking back control actually means. I look forward to you returning to where you deserve to be in a just world. The lack of porters in hospitals and general reward for previously key workers - remember them? - suggests both foresight and a lack of basic justice: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain” It appears the oxen are sending a message but the bean counters are building a war chest for tax cuts - sunken cost fallacy - to save the landslide that looks to be coming. That was a partly political broadcast on behalf of a nation desperate for leadership, whatever colour rosette is worn, not naked personal aggrandisement and hewing out cisterns that hold no water. Bound to be a Bill Withers day for someone and if that's not you it'll shine when it shines - other Ozark mountain daredevils chunes are available.

Hi Ian, I see the RSPB have bought some more land adjacent to Lakenheath Fen reserve and are expanding the Fen into the new area.
D.

 

[ianpspurs]

Hi Ian, I see the RSPB have bought some more land adjacent to Lakenheath Fen reserve and are expanding the Fen into the new area.
D.

Good to know. How are you after yesterday?

 

[dunelm]

Good afternoon from the chaos and mayhem that are the ninky nonks and little miss pamplemouse who we went to collect this morning. Yes, it’s half term and time to visit the grandparents - their parents will arrive Friday evening after work. What fun. It’s also a new slipper day for grandad as his current ones have now given up the ghost. Replacements arrived this afternoon and I had forgotten how snugly they fit when new. Tomorrow is International Bin Day so the old ones will not be hanging about long. Art bit, adding some flesh to the bones. Hope you are all managing to have some pleasure in the day. I am looking forward to my phone consult with my GP tomorrow.

 

[Annb]

Em is in from school and reminded me of her suggestion about a birthday present for gr grand daughter (10 on 14 March). So I have just been on Amazon and ordered it. Should be here on time.

She's the third member of the family born on 14 March that I know of. My Dad was born on that day in 1915 and there was another one of the family born on that day - but I don't suppose it counts - it was way back in 1717. Don't know right now how many times grandfather he was (probably about 7 or 8 times, given about 30 years to a generation) but shan't be buying him a birthday present.

 

[Krystyna23040]

Fbg I have not taken it this morning because I was really hungry at midnight… A long story, I'll tell you in a minute.

Wildlife trail camera...
Badgers and the Fox

Badger KissyKissy, and a pair of badgers were in the garden pretty much all night, and Foxy Loxy as well who is very nervous that there are no cats on the swing all night.

I have no idea why, because there is pretty much always a cat on the swing most of the night. But the cats are not eating the cat biscuits here either during the night, although as soon as daylight came, the cats were queuing up to eat the same cat biscuits!

Foxy Loxy kept finding one of the badgers, KissyKissy, bumping into him, and he kept having to move out of the way very quickly.

Creative is another digital sheep painting in Procreate. I fell asleep half way through doing it, and luckily it was still here when I woke up, with the iPad still firmly grasped in my hands...

Right. My problem late last night was that an order for some eye drops had not arrived when it should've. Midnight had insisted last night that I go to bed early, at 7:30 and he wouldn't let me use any of my devices and sat firmly under my chin until I fell asleep. Consequently, I had been asleep a few hours when I woke up just before the time of midnight. Midnight, the cat, had obviously gone outside, and so I picked up my iPad. There was a message from Amazon saying they were really sorry about my eyedrops order, but also in the same message, said I had to contact the healthcare firm myself to sort it , because it hadn't been dispatched by Amazon, and it said I could not do that until Saturday and also said I had to give the firm another two days to sort it out.

I was furious for several reasons. And I needed that particular eyedrop because my prescription eyedrops are aggravating my eyes badly at the moment, and are unusable to me. I tried to do something about it there and then on Amazon, but the system wouldn't let me it was all automated for this and automated for that. But what I did find out when I went to the actual healthcare provider of my eyedrops order, was that in the last couple of days, there was a complaint after complaint after complaint by people who had not received the eyedrops. It went on and on. So something was up.

Also, when I went to the actual page of the same eye product and health care firm on Amazon, it had increased in price by three times, in just a few days. That was one heck of an increase on what I had originally paid for it.
So at that instance, I thought I'm writing this off for the moment, I'll pursue it next week sometime, and I'll go to eBay to see what I can find in this same eyedrop. Because I badly need them and they really do soothe my eyes.

On eBay, I found the same thing, the exact same make of eyedrop had increased by three times what it was a few days ago. Then I found two suppliers who are selling them for only double the price, and guaranteed that the expiry date was 2025, so I ordered a batch of drops from each one to make sure I have some.

I was stressed, but once I've done that I thought well I can relax now, but I was absolutely starving, so I had my breakfast in the very early hours. I couldn't wind down..

I was awake most of the night and fell asleep at first light. And then just before 9 o'clock, I had another email off Amazon saying that I was still getting my eyedrops at the original price, but it was from another healthcare supplier and that it was being dispatched today and I should get it in the next few days, and there was a proper tracking number with this one, whereas the tracking number with the eyecare firm that let me down led to nowhere.

I think Amazon had realised, that the original healthcare care company had gone rogue and were taking the money and not sending anything out, so Amazon sorted something for their customers.

I had paid for a whole year's supply, the firm had sold them as a years supply worth, so that was one heck of a relief.

So that was my hectic frantic night to get hold of my important eyedrops.

Can I have a day of rest today please, and without my cochlear ear again...

It is pouring with rain out there, but the sky is clearing, and maybe if I go out in the back garden, the sun might come and shine on me...

Have your best possible day!!!

I need some cuppas...

View attachment 59523

What a nightmare but great that Amazon sorted it @gennepher

 

[Krystyna23040]

the winner is for both sharing your fbg and the efforts you are making. Definitely what taking back control actually means. I look forward to you returning to where you deserve to be in a just world

Thank you @ianpspurs. The journey back to normal for me blood sugars just got a whole lot better. Today I mixed my mascarpone cheese and inulin with lemon juice instead of vanilla and it was so amazingly delicious.

It really cheered me up and felt like a really wicked special treat even though it was low carb - and even better my blood sugars didn't go up to high afterwards.