General Chat

I had a shock tonight, my (ex)sil, who has remained a very good friend for almost 30 years since we split, emailed to say she is going into hospital to have open heart surgery to remove a tumour. She is 79 years young.
I am frightened for her, she has lived with profound hearing loss since the age of 2 following encephalitis. The internet has brought her out like never before, her hubby always 'takes care' of the phone so she was really cut off except in writing, because she lipreads.. Email has been a Godsend for her. She's a very bright lady but it's been hidden under inadequate communication., not sure she really comprehends what's happening here. Please remember dear Jane in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks,
Mary

I meant to come on here earier too.

I am so sorry to hear about Angie's Mum, poor girl has so much to put up with. I hope now she will get the treatment she needs for herself.

Ann
Glos

Colin you are not raving on here, you are getting things off your chest, we all need to, I think that is why this thread is so good. Thanks for remembering me by the way.
Well the first lot has gone, it was the Heart Foundation not Help the aged as I thought. They came this morning and took loads of bags of clothes and all sorts of things. Our porch looks so big now with it all gone. They said they will come back next week for other stuff I dig out, needless to say they will have to be books.

I have been meaning to come on and say I was so sorry to hear about Angela, she has enough to put up with bless her.

Love and hugs to all
Caz xx

Thank those of you who posted messages of sympathy for Angie.I can't seem to get her out of my mind, God love her.
Today is exactly 3 years ago that my aunty died.My lovely s.i.l phoned this morning to let me know she is thinking of me.I have mailed my sister as she will be feeling low today too. will ring her later.

Take care all of you.

Eileen xx

Colin, it is very therapeutic and you are not raving. I love to read what others have to say, it helps knowing you are not alone.

The Stephen Fry doco is on austar tonight, was going to watch it but ended up on here.

Gail

Something I forgot to add earlier.
Our ABC has recently shown the BBC's doco with Stephen Fry about bipolar, or as he called it, manic depression. It was interesting, but also a little distressing. I think for me the worst part was the constant emphasis on the highs, and the implication that bipolar people suffer terrible lows but are incredibly creative and happy people.
I was also interested that he said he would decline treatment. Sure there may be a fear that it his bipolar that makes him so talented.
I'm sorry to report that I am not incredibly talented and creative and don't get manically high, but have had some incredibly deep lows.
I had one hypomanic episode, 12 years ago. I had been on doxepin and lithium, but under medical supervision was weaned off the lithium. Three months later ... and back on lithium.
I didn't feel lithium was a chemical straight jacket, but it did contribute to some chronic renal failure and eventually I was able to change to valproate (Epilim) which I'm still on. I think it does help smooth the highs and lows.
I did try to ease off a few months ago. I felt OK but my girlfriend got very concerned. My doctor recommended I go back on it. Again, I don't feel that it blunts me, although I can get away with the whole dose at night and sleep off any sedation effect.
Sorry to rave on, but I find it's therapeutic. Perhaps you could start that book (make it an essay), Gail
I also think of you Carole, Ben, Caz, Mary and others on this board, even if I don't actually write to you.

Eileen so sorry for Angie's loss of her mum. Hugs to you both.

Liz, great you got the washer, was starting to smell you from here.

Great job Carole with the photo, bet his girlfriend will love it.

Colin, great to see you here, I have always found it difficult to talk to phycs, male or female, takes a while to build up trust I think, but have had the same problem, every thing is going fine then they leave, so it starts over again.

I am sure my clean freek thing started with my mother. I used to clean the house and iron from an early age, BUT, nothing was ever clean enough or neat enough. So, I would try harder and it still was never good enough. My saving grace were my grandparents and great grandparents, they never disapproved. I could really write a book, but I try and look to the future and do not dwell there too much, most of the time.

I can understand your worry with work, it is happening all over at the moment, even whispers at my OH's work. Which would mean we would have to leave here, and it is something neither of us want to do.

I also love salmon and tuna and FISH and Seafood and all that yummy stuff. Used to love going fishing, but cannot any more. I have not tried fish oil, have been taking other vitamins and stuff though.

Thinking of every one of you

Gail

I have been reading messages every day or two but haven't added anything (I did try to add to Tony OZ's Victorian Bushfires discussion but somehow it went Pffft straight into the ether). Have been busy with work and also may be a little flat. It's a worrying time in a small company, and someone was "let go" yesterday. Hopefully, the last although I suspect not..
Book collections: I don't think my is out of the ordinary, about 3 bookcases, the floor pile and the small by-the-bed pile. But I read voraciously. Often have 2-3 on the go at the same time. I also often re-read books, even ones I've read recently!
My problems are mild, but I had a couple of thoughts in recent days.
A couple of you have mentioned the problems of a woman telling her problems to a male, especially I guess when there are relationship & sex issues. My psych was like me a male, but most of the counselling type people were female. I never found that a problem. The only prob was that they kept on leaving. It happens in the public health system.
It was interesting to read people whose phobias may relate to parents. My mother caught me on the roof putting up wires for a radio aerial when I was about 14. Be careful, don't fall. Years later, on a building lookout, I saw a fellow with a child lift her up so she could see- and sat her on the parapet. If she had wriggled he could have dropped her a couple of hundred feet. I still freak out when I think about it. Now I am scared of heights. Slowly getting over it. In my work, having to walk on a catwalk outside a 26 storey building and on the grid 30 feet above the stage of a large theatre helped. The head helping conquer the heart, but I'm not ready to do the harbour bridge climb.
Has anyone tried fish oil? I tried a few years ago with no discernable effect, but perhaps was not taking enough, only about 500 mg a day. My aim is to take a couple of grams a day. I also try to have salmon or tuna meals a couple of times a week.
I may only appear occasionally from now on, but perhaps this board is another source of help.

condolences to Angie x

My mum phoned me last night " Oh er we are in HELL of a mess", whats up I asked. Dreading the answer thinking, dad
is he on the floor, is he being sick and mum can't cope?

(None of this) " We can't get the telly on"! "He has done something and we can't get anything other than a screen saying something about 45 mins. I tell oh who said pull out the plugs for five mins. I tell mum to do this, and can hear panic in her voice what plugs, I can't do it, do you mean the plugs in the tv or what? The wall just pull them all out ( I thought this easiest) then plug back in and ring me back. All the time I was thinking I just got home I don't want to have to go out again they live a good 20 /30 mins away when traffic leaving work. Mum rings back that had done it panic over. Why the panic? I guess she thought they would miss Coronation St.

Wonder if I'll be in bad books with J at work today, he fell asleep in the car going home last night, so I took a photo and sent it to his girlfriend! He looked like sleeping beauty (not).

My sympathy to Angie, I hope she has lots of support to help her through this difficult time.

Lizxx

Dear Eileen, sending gentle hugs to Angie, what more can one say.
Mary

This is just to let you all know that Angie's mum passed away peacefully last night. That poor woman, she has had so much to tend with already with the tumour on her brain that urgently needs operating on, God help her.

Eileen

Same for me Gail, I have been so far down in my black hole since I last saw oncologist that I didn't even have the energy or inclination to post, but I sometimes looked in and there you all were. I too can't imagine where I'd be without you all.

Caz xx

I still love to read y/caz, but the net has opened up a new world for me as well.

Look at all the lovely friends I have made on this thread, I do not know where I would be without you all.

Gail

I am also surprised at how many of us have mini librarys at home, I have still got my Wind in the Willows that my dad bought me for my eighth birthday, so the inscription inside says. All carefully backed in brown paper to preserve the cover, I used to do that with my books when young, must have realised the value of looking after them even then. It's lovely because it has my dads writing in it and he passed away 32 years ago.

My hubby doesn't read much but is always pouring over maps and he has every book by Alfred Wainwright that's been produced.

Gail the nets ok but you don't get the pleasure of opening a book knowing you are going to find the answer in it, or just learning new facts.
At least what it tells me is that we are an intelligent lot on this thread.

Caz xx

Ohhhhh! Carole, sounds so familiar.

My books have always been a refuge for me, mainly SciFi, historical novels etc. Was escape ism for me and at times still is, but have now found the NET and have so much information that my tiny mind will not hold it all.

So it looks like we all a mini librarys' in our homes. I find that amazing as know many people that have never picked up a book to read my OH included.

Gail

Thanks Liz I feel (up to now) quite relaxed about todays trip.

Did you also get don't wear lipstick, a policeman will see you and arrest you? I also can't swim I am too afraid of the water.
I know I am missing out but do not have the confidence to learn.
Warnings were not spoken to me but nearly shouted, Come here hold my hand, get off the windows (she hates any marks on her windows) don't do,go, touch, talk !!! Arhhhhhh!!
What on earth will happen to me if I do any of these things? I know now she is scarred stiff of all these things. I encouraged my kids to do and talk for themselves, I hope I have done a reasonable job!!

I got some new books yesterday, one a big history book. I didn't want my oh to know I had spent so much money so sneaked them in when he wasn't looking. What am I like I earn my money!!

Curtsies to HRH Gail

Carole, our mothers must have been related!!! Mine saw fear where there was none, and spoiled any spontaneous childhood things like swinging on railings, toppling and cartwheeling etc etc, she made me scared to try anything. Consequently when I first saw the gym at my new school when I was 11, I was petrified, couldn't climb a rope for fear of falling, or do any of the activities, had never been encouraged to give things a try.
When I had my son I was determined not to be like that with him and would not let my Mum stop him either, he was doing cartwheels at an early age and joined a gym club at the age of 5! I made sure he could swim too. took him to lessons from the age of 3 as I have never learned and didn't want him losing out on the pleasure and fun of playing in the water, as I had. Of course, I taught him to be safe and to cross roads etc properly but didn't put the fear in him as Mum had me. He had roller skates, a skateboard, scooter and bike very young and did fine with them. We were lucky that there was a park across from our house so he was able to climb on the climbing frame higher and higher as he got taller, it was a big semi circle fixed in the ground at each end and very high in the middle, like a big curved ladder and he loved it, also there was a really high slide he loved to go on. Sadly due to health and safety etc it was taken away when he was about 8 but he had the fun and exercise till then and other less exciting things were added to the play area. There was also a wooded area next to the park, only small but with lots of trees to climb, and a rope swing some lads put up so he got the fun there too and is still in one piece to show for it.
He has just done his first Thai boxing fight, didn't tell me till it was over in case I worried, he has some bruises but enjoyed it. My Mum would have had forty fits lol


Well done for coping so well with your trip yesterday.

Lizxx

Maximary, I know it was not you that posted. It was very strange and just hope the person that did delete will come back and talk.

I know this thread has been helpful to me and would hope we can pass that on to newcomers.

Gail

Carole, are you reading up on some of my ancestors?

Books I love em! The smell of new ones reminds me of Christmas as a girl. The information. My favorite is Kings and Queens of England & Scotland.

My need for the loo is because when doing anything my mum warned me be careful, cats scratch, dogs bite, birds nip, swings with people on ( you get kicked) cross the road you get hit by a car, (need clean underwear we all know that one) don't touch drop of go near so many things I am frightened of my own shadow! Fear causes adrenalin and that causes you to need the loo (fight or flight)

Been a busy day on here read most of it, who is the phantom deleter?

Gail what are you like? lol

Caz I'm glad your stones come out wouldn't want to hear you were having to have an op xx

Me? I went to the loo a few times at home then went for my lift and didn't need to go again, so it went better than I expected today. :o))