August-Allsorts

August 1st

Pilates went better than it has for a while. I enjoyed the session more this time.
We went to a Car Boot Sale in the afternoon. Not as many stalls there this week, weather not as good as last time.

I don't feel as spaced out as I have bean. My left hip feels a bit sore though. Still getting a lot of spasms but not as strong or as long lasting, or at least most of the time. My arm where it was grazed is slow in healing and still bleeding. My foot where the inflamed veins are is sore.

2nd

Summer pups birthday today. Happy Birthday baby! Already two years old and still as sweet as ever, more so I think any way. She had a good day, got a new teddy and one she got last week. She loves the squeaky ones and presses them with her nose or paw to get them to squeak. She is very clever.


Summer's Birthday.

3rd

An average night with sleep and spasms, not too much pain. The moor hens nest that got washed away (mentioned in the last blog) are rebuilding another one in the same place. I told them that was not a good thing to do, but I doubt they will understand me . If we have more rain the same thing will happen again.

4th

A strange night not pain or spasms so much, but felt hot and cold more than usual. It might be something to do with the DIAZEPAN stopping. I feel that most now has left my system and I am able to function better. Headaches also improved. I think the extra pain tablets are helping. Less pain all round most of the time but I still wish I did not have to take so many.

Tablets I take daily:
ALENDRONIC ACID -70mg once a week for OSTEOPROSIS.
COLECALCIFEROL- 1.5mg 2 a day for OSTEOPROSIS.
CYANOCOBALAMIN- 1mg every 2 months for B 12 deficiency.
DIHYDROCODEINE- 30mg up to 8 a day for pain.
OMEPRAZOLE 20MG- 1 a day to protect my stomach against the tablets I take.
ORAMORPH 10mg/5ml- taken as needed ( a lot sometimes) for break through pain.
OXYCODONE 1omg/NALOXONE 5mg- 2 a day 12 hours apart slow release. For Pain.
PEPPERMINT OIL- o.2m - 3 a day for IBS.
SNO TEARS 1.4% EYE DROPS- As needed for dry eyes most days.
FERROUS FUMARATE 210mg- 3 a day for very low iron. (Not aways taken upset stomach)
GABAPENTIN 300mg- 6 a day for nerve pain.
IBUPROFEN 400mg- Up to 8 a day for pain.
LAXIDO ORANGE- Oral power for constipation (side affect of tablets). When needed.
TIGER BALM- I use a lot of this for muscle pain.
BIO FREEZE - Also used for muscle pain.
As you can see quite a lot but most people with RSD are on this much or more.


Lindsay here with the boys, bean doing a lot of toy sewing for them mending things and making clothes for Teddy's and Monkeys.

The moor hens have changed there minds and have not make the nest in the same place. Maybe she did under stand after all. Good job too as the water levels has risen and if they had done, it would have bean washed away again.

5th

Hip pain quite bad still, right one as well but I think its bean taking the weight of the other one so has decided to complain as well. Shoulders are very painful again I think that's because of the sewing. If I keep mobile hopefully they both will ease up. Took a few IBUPROFEN.

6th

A better day with less pain, everywhere looser. Moor hens are making another nest closer to the side still not that safe but better. I think she is desperate to have her chicks. I hope all goes well this time.


The new nest.

7th

Moor hen chicks have hatched out. I did not think this was possible but a man who knows about wild life said it was. I am not so sure. She has four pretty little ones. I am so pleased.

Aah sweet


In town for a few bits. I feel more myself again after stopping taking DIAZEPAN. Even though it caused a lot of trouble I think it loosened things up a bit. The side effects out way any good they did though. I could not have stayed on them.

Bad news - the moor hens nest got attacked by a cat and it got one, if not two of the chicks. When I came back from the common they were making a lot of noise and I knew something was wrong. The moor hens swam off with the two remaining chicks. Poor little things, how bad can it get for them. They have bean so unlucky but that's nature.

8th

When I took Summer for her morning walk the moor hens were there with 3 chicks. I am so pleased, I know she lost one but it was nice to see she still had the other three. The swans were there as well with their babies. They have grown a lot.



Pilates went well the best for a long time. I still can't get my arms up all the way to do all the moves, but managed just about all the leg ones and managed them well. Joints are still not good a lot of pain.

Summer's night time walk and the moor hens are back on the old nest. Away from the bank. They are not taking any chances with the other chicks. Clever little birds.

Notice the two duck minders just in case the cat turns up again.

9th

Going with Lindsay today for a baby scan, so up at 7.30, about an hour earlier than usual time. The baby is fine and Lindsay Is feeling better as well now her tablets have bean changed. Jay-Jay and Tommy-Lee went as well. Jay-Jay was very interested but Tommy-Lee was not. He said he saw it last time.

After the hospital they all came back here. the boys had a water fight with there new guns. Everyone got wet and they got very excited. Jay-Jay came running in and knocked the door straight on to my right hand just where the bony bit sticks out above the wrist. Very painful my hand swelled up straight away.

Late pm hand quite swollen up very painful. I think the RSD has locked on to it. You would think with all the pain tablets I take I would not feel this as much but its not the case. In fact its the other way round. Any pain is made worse, doubled or even tripled. I have taken extra MORPHINE to cope with this.

11th

Hand very swollen up my knuckles have disappeared may be I have cracked a bone. My hand is very shiny and dark also very hot. Still painful. Lindsay and the boys are here, Suey as well. They walked down (well the boys are on there scooters), about a mile and half may be more. We played hide and seek upstairs. Good fun. When I am feeling good I can play more with them.

After a good dinner I don't know where the boys put it all. We all went to the park so they could have a good run around. Gave us a rest too. All too soon it was time for them to go. they all walked home as well. Quite a long way for little feet, they are just eight and (nearly) six.

12th

Hand very cold today still painful but less than it was, so long as I don't press down or grip things. I still need to keep it moving so the RSD does not take a liking to it. A easy day today watered the garden and green house, toms doing well had a few already. Cooked tea and put together a few Lego models.

14th

Fair night. Joints very stiff and still a head ache. I am sure a lot is from the stormy air we have bean having. The swelling to my hand has gone quite a bit, just swollen on the right side. The bit that hit the door. After the walk on the common I felt quite a lot looser in my joints and even my head felt a little better.

Spoke to Doctor Metta on the phone, a newish thing our surgery has started. You phone up and speak to a Doctor and if he thinks you need to see him he will arrange it for that day. A good idea as you don't have to leave the house a lot of the time and gives the Doctors more time for the patients he has to see. He was pleased the tablet increase had helped with the pain. I told him my inflamed veins were a lot better as well. Still to carry on using the cream. I asked him about my hand and he agreed that it sounded like it could be cracked or chipped.

15th

Pilates - I did quite well again still not able to do any arms over my head moves yet, but most of the others I managed. Still getting of lot of spasms not lasting as long but painful all the same.

The pain from my foot made me cry, what did I do? Dropped a piece of Parmesan cheese on it yes cheese, three inches long by an inch wide. Laugh if you like it is funny in a way. My two biggest toes swelled straight up and burnt like fire, typical RSD. People with RSD will know only too well about this. Others you don't have RSD will properly find this hard to under stand. Here is a link http://fightingrsd.com to a good RSD web site also on the main page right hand side. This explains RSD quite well, better than I could and I have had it eight years.

The air feels a little better as we have had a storm and a good down pour. This hopefully will help with my headaches.

16th

Swelling of toes has gone down but toes are bruised. The hand that got hit by the door has now got a very big mosquito bite on it. The bites I got a few weeks ago have only just gone. At the moment I seem to be getting a few extra painful things I could do with out. That's the thing about walking Summer at night is, all the insects are out and looking for a bite. At least they are not as big as the ones abroad.

18th

Awake early even though I did not go to bed till 5.30 and even then I did not sleep well. A very warm day.Wayne and Will are here they arrived last night. We have a wedding today, Helen and Chris. Wayne and Will are going to the blessing renewal of vows.



We are all going to the reception tonight. Helen and Chris actually got married last week as mentioned on the last blog. This was a celebration for all the friends and family that did not attend the one in Mauritius.
The reception was good Helen and Chris both looked very smart and happy.

Yummy cakes.
Blow up dolls on a wedding night?

The Music was loud and the vibrations caused me a lot of pain. I had to go and sit outside it was still very warm and very pleasant . Once out there I shook a lot and the pain was terrible. I sat out side with Wayne for a while but it became clear that the RSD had won this time.

Paul and I decided that it was time to go. After saying our good byes then headed home. I was pleased the venue was only ten minutes away . Once home I was able to have some MORPHINE. Wayne and Will stayed. I was pleased I was able to go and at least we stayed a while about three hours so pretty good. The bride and groom were very happy to see us.

19th

Pain about back to normal levels. We are going out for dinner. Much better than me having to cook. Every one had a good meal. Wayne and Paul had a twelve inch hot dog meal. Will had steak and I had a mixed grill. It was very good.
Soon it was time for Wayne and Will to go back home. The weekend had bean great despite the pain.

20th

Today is the day I have bean waiting for- PHYSIO and ACUPUNCTURE. I saw a man called Nav, he was very nice. We talked for a while and he asked me how I thought ACUPUNCTURE helped me in the past (He had already read my notes from the last PHYSIO that did the massage). I said its better that any thing else I have had so long as it kept constant, and went on to explain about Wietse and the last seven years.

Nav said that's where is the problem is as I can not do long term ACUPUNCTURE. Cutbacks again. He carried on talking and asked about what treatment and who I was seeing now consultant or Doctor. I said none and explained about the pain clinic. He said Lincoln was not the best for chronic pain treatment. Nearby Hospitals (about an hour plus away) were better and he would have words with Dr Metta straight away and see what could be done to help me.

I was disappointed to say the least as I was putting all my hopes on this. I know its no use to me starting and stopping ACUPUNCTURE. This still felt like a kick in the teeth or another door shut in my face. The times I have wished I had a different condition to what I have got. One that's easier to treat. I now need to wait again to see what the next move is.

22nd

Pilates was quite good still not able to do all the arms moves did all the others, but a lot of pain and spasms at times. For the past few days I have had a lot of joint pain again. Whole body quite painful at times. After taking Summer on her common walks, generally I feel a bit looser, but not all the time. At the moment PAIN is the enemy. I think for the past eight years it has bean.

Later Helen came to do my hair we talked as she cut and styled, mostly about the wedding. They both loved the nut and bolt figurine we got them, also the glasses and picture frame. Wayne and Will got them a traditional picnic basket. They are using that this weekend hopefully, if the weather is good.

23rd

Wildlife Park trip - I'll put this in a separate post which will be published later in the month.

24th

Jay-Jay said he had a good sleep ( he stopped the night after yesters days trip.) but strange without Tommy-Lee. They share a room with bunk beds. I feel very tired and heavy headed again. Almost spaced out. We are going on holiday on Sunday so a few things to do be for we go. Watering the green house, washing and ironing. Of course packing.

25th

Lindsay and the boys are here but not Suey. Summer was disappointed, but she will be staying with Lindsay while we are away. We are going to Amsterdam for a few days to see Andrew.

Seemed very strange when we took her round to Lindsay's house later on. I kept looking for her in the early hours of the morning then realised she was not here.
We are setting off about ten tomorrow. So thought it would be best if she stayed there the night then I did not have to walk her and she would not get upset when she saw the cases.

The Amsterdam holiday will be also on a separate blog later in the month.

That's August blog, it does not seem possible, maybe now its the end of Summer we will get some better weather. To think we had a drought warning earlier on in the year.

Hope thing are good with you all. I am told many times of Karma. So if I am getting mostly bad days some one must be getting some good ones.

All the best,
Love Gill.

AMSTERDAM

26th August

Paul and I are going to Amsterdam to see Andrew for a few days holiday.

I decided to play it safe and took quite a bit of ORAMORPH (MORPHINE) before we set off. The journey was pretty good. Flying from Leeds Bradford Airport. So just about the same travel time as going to Wayne's in Halifax.

We gave up our bags, hoping we would see them again.  Going though customs with hand luggage  I had to put my ORAMORPH  in the tray for them to see. It was under the 30ml limit so OK. Later on I realised that there was a 200ml bottle in my cabin bag as well. I thought I had put in the main luggage, they did not pick up on this.

We are flying with Jet2.Com. On to the plane. We found our seats and sat down. The planes are quite small so not too many people on board. Plenty of leg room as well. After the usual check the engines were fired up then the longest taxi to the run way ever. People were looking out of the windows wondering when we would take off. I thought we were never getting there.

A few minutes later we were in the air. A cloudy day so lots of fluffy clouds. Looking out the window  was almost like being in a dream I felt like I wanted to step out on to the clouds.

  
    

   
 Coming in to land.

We have landed safely not too bad for pain levels. I did take a lot of  ORAMORPH though. After customs we retrieved our bags, thankfully they had not got lost. Then we got a train which is under the Airport so that was easy. Last time we came, Wayne was with us so he looked after us, now we were on our own. The train went straight to Amsterdam Centraal (Central). I had to take more Morphine for the pain. After asking directions and being sent the wrong way, more than once, we arrived at the Hotel. This should have bean about a ten minute walk.  More like an hour.
.

 
 

Very nice too. This time we were more central than the last visit bit noisier but  less walking. After a lay down the pain lessen slightly. We met Andrew for a meal.  Chicken and chips for me, very good too..

 
  I thought Andrew looked a bit thinner.!!

Andrew took us to his favourite coffee shop Voyagers. We met the owners, they were very nice people. Stopped there for a while a bit smokey for me though.

Home then a nice soothing bath. When I checked I had taken about 50ml extra of MORPHINE to help the pain even then it only dulled it. Bed about three.

27th

Fair night, just about everywhere hurts. Breakfast in the hotel was good, help your self buffet type. A very warm day. We looked around most of the day. A lot of pain and spasms. We met Andrew and he took us back to Voyagers, where we met the other owners. She told the customers not to swear as Mother (me) was in the shop. They did as she said. One man even apologised when he forgot. Magic,

Still more pain then I would like.

28th

After the overnight rain it looked very dull. The sun soon came out to another very warm day. Today we are going to local flower market. Bought some bulbs and a few gifts.
 
 
 
These were up side down. Not a side affect of the MORPHINE.   
A local man that looked interesting.



A street performer.

    
  
 Of course they have cheese.




Some of the local people were a bit strange.!!





Met up with Andrew at night and we had WOK to WALK - a noodle take a way meal. It's very nice and all cooked in front of you. Pain a little down now. The meal played up my IBS though.

29th

Went on a boat trip  and saw a few sights of Amsterdam.

 
  The boat we went on.

 
  
  
 Skinny bridge.
 This is a view of five bridges in a row.
 
 
 
 A big liner that has come in to refuel.

 
 Some of the many  skinny houses. Land was very limited, and still is, so people built up.

Also went to a market at Waterlooplein (square). Like a Flea market. A bit of everything. I bought a bike lock, the type that most bikes have on in Amsterdam  locks your back wheel. Hopefully it will fit. Very bloated and fat feeling. Change of food I would think.

30th

Guess what another sunny warm day. So lucky with the weather  another look round .Not as bloated today. Back to the flower market for second look.


  Then on to Dam square.

 These two said no to a picture till we had given them some money.

 

 After money dropped in the bowl-- OK now.


 
  

  This man was more friendly, took a liking to Paul's hat.
  
A good meeting place
 
   Some of the many bikes around Dam Square.

Met Andrew, and had some sandwiches in a very pretty park. A few showers but we were able to shelter under the trees.

 
 Fountain in the park very nice, till it rained.

Back to the hotel for a rest as going out tonight for a meal at a Tibetan restaurant
Back in the room, I had a lay down and even a few minutes sleep. Still more pain and spasms than  normal.

Later Andrew met us here and on to the restaurant for dinner.  We came here last time with Wayne but I was not too good so asked to come back here again. The waitress was a bit distant but the food was good. A rice meat set meal for Paul and I, and a veggie one for Andrew with the extra bits as well. Jasmine tea as well.

The first proper rain of the holiday, a proper down pour with thunder and lighting. Bed about about four after a bath they do help to ease the pain. Pity I can't stand them for longer. I get a lot of pain in my foot if I do.

31st

Found out I had left the bath room window open and the floor was wet.  After our last breakfast we packed up and was all ready to go. We are lucky we can leave the cases here till later as the flight is a afternoon one  Quite a lot of rain over night cooler first off. Getting a few presents and yet more pictures.  Met Andrew for a drink then a last look around.

There are many street performers in Dam square, this was one of them

 



 This man escaped from a straight jacket and chains.

 Paul Enjoying a drink in Dam Square.

 Andrew doing the same.
 Paul and I.

 
 Horses getting ready to take people around Amsterdam for a bygone ride.

 Big clogs outside one of the many shop around the square.

 More clogs.

 One of the bike Taxis.
 Politie = Police.

As  I was walking along I went over on my right ankle and twisted it. Lucky I had my trainer shoes on more support then sandals that I had worn for the past few days. The pain was terrible. I tried to shut it out but it was stronger than me. A lot of MORPHINE later, still bad.

After doing everything we wanted we headed back to the hotel with some sandwiches for dinner. They let us eat them in the hotel reception. We picked up the cases and headed to the station. By now my ankle had swollen up a lot. I dare not remove my shoe as I would not get it back on again.


Time for a few more pictures I took along the way.

 Trams.

 Trams and bikes - the main forms of transport.

 More bikes.

 A funky light

 One of the many Coffee shops.
 
  
 Across the water.

 Bike park at Centraal (Central) Station.

Centraal (Central) Station. A very nice looking building,


We said our good byes and got the train to Schipol Airport.

 The plane we are flying home in.

   
A nice end to a good few days only mared by YET MORE PAIN.
 
On  to the plane, a bit of turbulence going back. A good flight not too much RSD  pain, a lot from my ankle. Very soon we were back at Leeds Airport. Straight though customs then to the car and home.

Summer is with Lindsay and the boys, so no mad greeting.  Lindsay came round the next day.Summer arrived back all kisses and wagging tail. She had a good time and did not miss us too much. The boys and Suey loved her being there and did not want to bring her back.

 Jay-Jay had taught her a new trick.

 
 Jay-Jay wrote this.

We both had a good time, a very expensive place to visit and can be dangerous if you forget about the bikes coming from a different direction. Hope you enjoyed  the Amsterdam blog. I certainly enjoyed the visit.

This is the present that Andrew bought with the money Lindsay sent him for his Birthday.

A bottle stopper. Special glass called Milleflori all hand made and blown very nice.

See you all in the next blog.
Love Gill

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