hello again everyone
Posted , 6 users are following.
I haven't been on here in weeks so thought I would catch up.
So glad to hear it isn't GCA, Jay D. I agree with the others - change of doc would seem appropriate.
For those of you who remember, i was having problems with a run of bursitis, excess mucus affecting my breathing etc.. Well, I took the antibiotics and asthma inhaler ny GP gave me - the antibiotics seemed to improve the breathing but the inhaler didn't. I have now determined the problem is coming from acid reflux.
The night of the Royal Wedding, my father was rushed into hospital in Plymouth with what turned out to be pneumonia, lack of oxygen in blood, and fluid on lungs from a worsening heart valve condition. He is nearly 88. He is also still on Pred for PMR- has been for years. We had to rush down there and I then took a week off work (difficult in term-time when you teach) as my miother isnt really safe at home - she overbalances.
He is back at home now and quite a bit better but still weak and has gone down to 7 and half stone (not clever in itself).
Would you believe it, the moment I got home after that week, I went down with raging cystitis and had to go to see a GP at the local out of hours surgery (didn't know such a thing existed before). So then had to have a 2nd course of antibiotics in 2 weeks! Interestingly, my chest problem improved substantially after that so i do think I had an infection there - still a bit of mucus but in a different league.
Have been back to work for 2 weeks now but am feeling SO exhausted all the time - partly anxiety about my father probably but I think I am also run down.
What a tale of woes - but that is why I havent been on here! I feel decrepit before my time and want to retire.
Beev 
0 likes, 20 replies
BettyE
Posted
Teaching is tiring even when you are on top form with not a care in the world so cannot imagine how you have coped. Small children and frail parents do take their toll though I've only had other people's small children to deal with I have to admit.
Did you have a different AB second time round? They don't all deal as well with cystitis et al as each other. Good that you have knocked that one on the head at least.
If retirement is any sort of option, don't hesitate. Is there any chance of part time or supply these days?. I found myself teaching more hours in the two years after I retired than for the previous five but it was far less stressful as I knew I could always say \" No, thank you \" if the 'phone rang at 7.30 AM and I didn't feel like it.
Re acid reflux: Many years ago I was prescribed Proton pump inhibitor which made me feel much worse. Someone recommended Manuka honey and Yeo Valley yoghurt and I've never looked back. Cannot do any harm and even tastes good. I believe it's Mrs. K on here who also recommends.
Hope you feel much better very soon and also your parents.
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
Just the sort of stresses we don't need when suffering with PMR but sadly they're unavoidable.
I'm not surprised you're feeling exhausted after all you've been through and a double dose of antibiotics wont have helped either. Do hope your father is recovering well and that you will be able to relax and build up your strength again during half-term holiday next week - bet you can't wait and I bet retirement (plus retriever puppy! :wink: ) can't come soon enough for you!
Hope things start to improve for you now, Beev.
MrsO
mrs_k
Posted
MrsO forgot to mention her terrific remedy for acid reflux.
Juice of one lemon (I stick mine in the microwave for 30 seconds - more juice) split juice into three parts and drink with water three times per day. No more acid reflux and no need for PPI's
Cystitis. One wine glassful of cranberry juice everyday and the gynae's recommend it as well.
If you get cystitis - here comes the nasty thing - first signs, one teaspoonful of bicarb mixed with as little water as possible.Then a couple of hours later another dose. Should have knocked it on the head by then.
It is wonderful what old fashioned remedies can do.
And as MrsO would say - a proper yoghurt and a spoonful of Manuka Honey 10+ if possible.
PS Aldi have the jars in at 10 and 15+ for 3.99 this week. (Normally I pay 10.99).
Mind how you cope with PMR, teaching and parents makes me think you are wonderwoman - but watch out stress is a murder when you have PMR.
Mrs_G
Posted
Nice to hear from you but not surprising you are feeling a bit under the weather with all you have been doing and the worry on top of it
I would say you are as the general expression goes \" run down \" and neeed abit of TLC for yourself There are things you have to do work of course !! and look after your parents but dont take on anything you dont have to and take all ther supplements you can ie the yog and honey to improve your general well being to fight infection
I too have looked after elderly sick parents in the past and know it is a terrible worry that doesent leave you so try and get all the help for them you can
Your chest seems to be an ongoing problem that hasnt been solved and needs looking into One of my friends whio has had a cough for nearly 2 years and has had lots of tests they have now found out that when she had breast reconstruction after breast cancer they moved bits upwards !!!! as she had no fat on her body ( lucky her !!) except in the tummy area and they have moved her osoephgus a fraction and that is causing the problem and the irritation So sometimes these things take a while to find
Hope you have a good rest in half term
Mrs G
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
mrs_k
Posted
Just looked and yes they have. Did not know about the UMF label. I bought 4 jars, all they had left.
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
purplecat
Posted
With regard to the effect of stress on the body - I recently took my elderly cat (she's 18) to the vet as she was very distressed and had blood in her urine. He diagnosed acute cystitis and said that in cats it is almost always caused by stress - I wonder if humans are similarly affected?
After a bumper antibiotic injection, she was soon back to normal thank goodness.
Hope your stress levels go down soon Beev - I would certainly recommend early retirement from teaching - if that's possible these days. Anyway - take it easy as much as you can.
Hilary
MrsO-UK_Surrey
Posted
Does your honey have a manufacturer's name on it or does it just come under the Aldi name?
Not all Manuka honey is guaranteed to be 5+/10+ and those that are have the mark \"UMF\" on the jar to guarantee the antibacterial strength, hence the high cost.
beev
Posted
Mrs O - fancy remembering about the Golden Retriever puppy!
Thank-you all too for all your health tips. I am kind of afraid to stop the Omeprazole at the moment as, when I took the uncoated pred I had such a violent reaction and it has taken for ever to calm it down again.
I am thinking that I will wait till I'm off the Pred(!!) and then try to stop the Omep gradually while taking these other things.
Ive noticed that if I eat higher fat food, the acid reflux is worse. So, being a totally sensible and logical person ( :? ), I came home tired and fed up today so made some rock cakes and then ate 4 of them!!!! How pathetic is that.
I am 60 in December, but have so little in pension scheme that I should really continue. My husband is probably being made redundant too as his office is being closed (Benefits Agency) which could well lock me into working longer.
Or maybe I should retire anyway :?
Thankyou all again
Beev
Mrs_G
Posted
I can definately relate to the eating the wrong things !! I know I should be eating low carb on the steroids so why do i want pasta one day jacket potato the next and a sandwhich instead of protein for a snack !!!!!!
As for the retiring look at your finances and see what you can do Eileen put a long piece on one of the forums about her and her husbands attitude changing after he suffered ill health and having extra cash is nothing if you arent fit enough to enjoy it
I took early retirement at 50 when my job moved miles away up the M3 and it was leave in the dark and return home in the dark My husband had also changed jobs and had to travel more and we had moved house and were having an extension built !! It was going to mean if I carried on working someone to look after the horses twice a day 4 then !! Vets appointments Farriers so we decided I wouldnt work any more but it also meant my husband didnt have to help with the domestics at home and all the horse work was done by me So weekends were free which he appreciated especially with extra travelling and a new job It was the right decision for us It means my pension isnt as high as it would be but I could draw mine at 50 so Ive had 12 years already !! I only paid the small NI stamp so dont get a state pension till my husband is 65 You just need to work together on it
Best wishes
Mrs G
beev
Posted
That sounds very tempting but my husband is already stressing at the thought of him being made redundant, although he has a teachers pension (from 12 years ago when he left teaching through ill health) and I am currently the main bread winner. I do worry about just changing the source of stress - worrying about money instead of job!
I know its difficult to say, but what amount do you think 2 people can survive reasonably on without a mortgage etc???? Sorry - leading question!
Beev
mrs_k
Posted
Look in your inbox.
Mrs_G
Posted
Im afraid I cannot comment on the expenditure as my husband is still working so not watching the pennies yet !!!!!! but when we retire Hm
My sister in law is one of the most ecconomical people I know Never ever wastes food buys what she needs only Her clothes are bought only when she needs them, would only get books form the library , but the way she manages money means though they are retired and not on a huge income ( pensions havent been kind to all ! ) they still manages cruises and to run a motorhome but if they go away she will always cook
I will need to get some lessons from her when my husband retires !
I know Mrs K has emailed you but what you need to do is sit down and work out all your essential bills on either a weekly or monthly basis and what you projected income would be ( I did work for a bank so did this for people on a regular basis ) I think if you know whether you would be able to manage or not will make the decision clearer for you but their are benefit if you have to retire through ill health and pension credit is i think available for people over 60
Hope you feel better today
Mrs G
fiftiesgirl
Posted
Hubby retiring end of August....... this will be the real test!!! BUT it is amazing how you manage after retirement...... I found I did not need a 'working' wardrobe and now only buy things when I absolutely HAVE to have things...... I menu plan and shop accordingly, buying things locally where possible....... I cook from scratch and always make double and freeze for another meal.....
We still run two cars and will continue to do so as we both have different interests etc and could not cope with just one at the moment..... living in a village with no real bus service means we have to have our own transport
We are still planning holidays etc and hope to do a lot of travel ( once my PMR is further on down the line and I am on lower steroids....) in a year or so.......
I also made sure we had a good stock of bedding and towels so we would not need to buy any in the future!!!!
I love retirement and would highly recommend it...... so if you do the paper exercise and find it does not look good ( mine looked horrendous when I did it!!) in reality I found/find it is very different.....
Good Luck with working out a way to retire...... can you get it on ill health grounds?