In the past few days I spotted these
On a bag of roast peanuts: warning contains nuts
On a yoghurt : Warning contains cows milk
On a box of paracetamol. : warning contains paracetamol, do not take with other paracetamol products.
On a box of sleeping tablets, zopliclone (not mine): May cause drowsiness
On a take out coffee: Warning Hot!
We really seem to live in a nanny culture where everyone is scared of being sued!
On a change of note I am still battling on, I am not going to, for the foreseeable future post any more about my ongoing struggles with my health as I think people must be sick of hearing by now and getting bored by it all so time for a change in blog focus for now. I have now got my youth counselling course work, it looks very in-depth and interesting. Also I have some exciting news, will post that very soon. I can't do so at the minute as I am posting from my mobile and the photos are on my laptop.
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Thursday, 22 July 2010
All signed up
I decided to bite the bullet and sign up for the "Diploma in Youth Counselling" as I am sure it will really benefit me and the children I support. I have added a link for some details.
Also I forgot to mention this in my last blog, I have been referred back to the hospital this time for tests to check my bone density and discuss whether or not treatment is required to protect my bones particularly in light of the fact that I need frequent course of oral steroids and there is a strong family history of osteoporosis, both parents and paternal grandma
Also I forgot to mention this in my last blog, I have been referred back to the hospital this time for tests to check my bone density and discuss whether or not treatment is required to protect my bones particularly in light of the fact that I need frequent course of oral steroids and there is a strong family history of osteoporosis, both parents and paternal grandma
Here comes the summer
Along with the rain, thunderstorms and associated power cuts, like the power cut we had at 3am this morning, trying to find your way to the bathroom in the pitch black is not my idea of fun, nor is being without a kettle.
Anyway the whole summer stretches out in front of me without the demands of study. I had a lovely e mail from Mr C today the tutor who marked my last essay and who will be my mentor next year in which he informed me that he was impressed with my academic ability particularly in light of the challenges that he knows I face.
But now what do I do with myself? I am considering undertaking a course in Youth Counselling which will greatly benefit my role within the church as "children's advocate". This role is far encompassing and covers a great deal but basically it means being there for a child should they need someone to talk to no matter what they want to talk about. The trouble is it costs £400.
In myself I am doing ok, I am off the steroids and aside from a couple of headaches I feel fine in myself at the minute, busy with work and looking forward to 16 days off in three weeks time. Again I have no real plans for this though sometime will be spent on preparing for my next module.
Today I am undertaking a special mission, a mission to get my nana a hamster so this evening I will be heading over to a local rescue to view the hamsters that they have in their care to see if there is one suited for my nana, I have one on reserve so I hope all will go well. I know it will have an amazing home. I am resisting strongly not to bring a little furry home for myself.
The 365 project has completely fell by the wayside, I will recommence it soon though. I am also giving some very serious thought as to what job I want to do when I change jobs, I know I want to do something different but I don't know what.
So thats me up to now.
Anyway the whole summer stretches out in front of me without the demands of study. I had a lovely e mail from Mr C today the tutor who marked my last essay and who will be my mentor next year in which he informed me that he was impressed with my academic ability particularly in light of the challenges that he knows I face.
But now what do I do with myself? I am considering undertaking a course in Youth Counselling which will greatly benefit my role within the church as "children's advocate". This role is far encompassing and covers a great deal but basically it means being there for a child should they need someone to talk to no matter what they want to talk about. The trouble is it costs £400.
In myself I am doing ok, I am off the steroids and aside from a couple of headaches I feel fine in myself at the minute, busy with work and looking forward to 16 days off in three weeks time. Again I have no real plans for this though sometime will be spent on preparing for my next module.
Today I am undertaking a special mission, a mission to get my nana a hamster so this evening I will be heading over to a local rescue to view the hamsters that they have in their care to see if there is one suited for my nana, I have one on reserve so I hope all will go well. I know it will have an amazing home. I am resisting strongly not to bring a little furry home for myself.
The 365 project has completely fell by the wayside, I will recommence it soon though. I am also giving some very serious thought as to what job I want to do when I change jobs, I know I want to do something different but I don't know what.
So thats me up to now.
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Talking of steroids (and other things)
I am now on my fourth course this year, oh the joys of severe asthma.
I started to notice the other day that things were most starting to slide, I was using my inhaler more and needing more puffs to get things under control. It amuses (and bamboozles) me that on the label it says "take two puffs as required, do not exceed the stated dose", that is 200mg, my nebuliser deliverers 25x that amount and I can take up to 2 back to back along with atrovent. Anyway it doesn't say how much time to leave between the 2 doses so I just work along the lines of 10 puffs, oh well that will 5 lots of 2 puffs so I am not exceeding the dose! Taking two puffs sometimes works but often in the words of my late and much loved grandma "its like giving a donkey one oat". My GP has also advised that I may use up to 10 puffs at a time.
Then I starting waking at night more than normal and became increasingly breathless and wheezy on exertion. I have a test for this, and carry it out by walking up the stairs to my flat the more wheezy/breathless I get the more trouble I am in, in case your wondering I don't spend the day confusing the neighbours by constantly walking up and down the stairs to my flat. By Monday night I was feeling pretty rough and my pf was dropping to around 65% of what it should be, not a massive drop but a drop no less and one that I could really feel.
I sat in my flat knowing what I needed to do, start a course of steroids but I toyed with the idea hoping that it would magically get better by itself which of course it didn't and wouldn't. My reluctance comes from the fact that I really don't enjoy being on steroids because of both their long and short term side effects. By Tuesday morning it was obvious I could put it off no longer and so I now on my usual dose for a few days, I see my GP tomorrow for a review.
In reference to my earlier post, three or four posts ago about the emotional impact that recent events have had on me I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that this is as good as I am going to get but, I realise at the same time I have never really come to terms with having polyarthalgia and osteoarthritis either which was formally diagnosed in November last year. I am taking a low dose of anti depressant again something I really didn't want to do because it feels like I am not coping as well as I should be but, I really think right now that its the best option for me as I seem to on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, again something I don't like. I am scared as to what the future holds, this in turn is having an impact on my Christian faith. How can I propose to trust God and have faith in Him when I am scared what the future might bring?
Yet there is much that it is positive in my life and much to look forward to and I need to keep a positive outlook in my life, I feel that it is both vital and important. For example the other day after yet another bad night I got up early to find the piggies screaming for breakfast, so I gave them a small amount of food, planning to give them the biggest percentage of their breakfast later and I popped a small cabbage leaf on Harries head, those who have met Harry will back me up when I say he's not the brightest piggy in the world, he sat there occasionally gently trying to move the cabbage leaf off his head, seemingly oblivious that it was in fact his breakfast was on his head, while I stood and giggled helplessly. It was only when, 5 minutes later his cage mate Sparky removed it did he figure out the fact it was food. Its the little things that make life so special. Next week I am meeting up with my wonderful and now "famous" friend B (watch this space)and helping out with a childrens treasure hunt. Here's hoping that non of the children have recently had chicken pox as it has the potential to be very serious illness for me if I catch it. I have much to be grateful for and much to live for, its just a case of finding a way of fitting it all into my life and finding a way out of this rut that I seem to of got myself stuck into.
On a final note I mentioned that my consultant had discharged me, that is not strictly true. I am an "sos" appointments system for 2 years, that is if I feel I need to see at some point in the next two year I can if I need to book an appointment.
I started to notice the other day that things were most starting to slide, I was using my inhaler more and needing more puffs to get things under control. It amuses (and bamboozles) me that on the label it says "take two puffs as required, do not exceed the stated dose", that is 200mg, my nebuliser deliverers 25x that amount and I can take up to 2 back to back along with atrovent. Anyway it doesn't say how much time to leave between the 2 doses so I just work along the lines of 10 puffs, oh well that will 5 lots of 2 puffs so I am not exceeding the dose! Taking two puffs sometimes works but often in the words of my late and much loved grandma "its like giving a donkey one oat". My GP has also advised that I may use up to 10 puffs at a time.
Then I starting waking at night more than normal and became increasingly breathless and wheezy on exertion. I have a test for this, and carry it out by walking up the stairs to my flat the more wheezy/breathless I get the more trouble I am in, in case your wondering I don't spend the day confusing the neighbours by constantly walking up and down the stairs to my flat. By Monday night I was feeling pretty rough and my pf was dropping to around 65% of what it should be, not a massive drop but a drop no less and one that I could really feel.
I sat in my flat knowing what I needed to do, start a course of steroids but I toyed with the idea hoping that it would magically get better by itself which of course it didn't and wouldn't. My reluctance comes from the fact that I really don't enjoy being on steroids because of both their long and short term side effects. By Tuesday morning it was obvious I could put it off no longer and so I now on my usual dose for a few days, I see my GP tomorrow for a review.
In reference to my earlier post, three or four posts ago about the emotional impact that recent events have had on me I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that this is as good as I am going to get but, I realise at the same time I have never really come to terms with having polyarthalgia and osteoarthritis either which was formally diagnosed in November last year. I am taking a low dose of anti depressant again something I really didn't want to do because it feels like I am not coping as well as I should be but, I really think right now that its the best option for me as I seem to on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, again something I don't like. I am scared as to what the future holds, this in turn is having an impact on my Christian faith. How can I propose to trust God and have faith in Him when I am scared what the future might bring?
Yet there is much that it is positive in my life and much to look forward to and I need to keep a positive outlook in my life, I feel that it is both vital and important. For example the other day after yet another bad night I got up early to find the piggies screaming for breakfast, so I gave them a small amount of food, planning to give them the biggest percentage of their breakfast later and I popped a small cabbage leaf on Harries head, those who have met Harry will back me up when I say he's not the brightest piggy in the world, he sat there occasionally gently trying to move the cabbage leaf off his head, seemingly oblivious that it was in fact his breakfast was on his head, while I stood and giggled helplessly. It was only when, 5 minutes later his cage mate Sparky removed it did he figure out the fact it was food. Its the little things that make life so special. Next week I am meeting up with my wonderful and now "famous" friend B (watch this space)and helping out with a childrens treasure hunt. Here's hoping that non of the children have recently had chicken pox as it has the potential to be very serious illness for me if I catch it. I have much to be grateful for and much to live for, its just a case of finding a way of fitting it all into my life and finding a way out of this rut that I seem to of got myself stuck into.
On a final note I mentioned that my consultant had discharged me, that is not strictly true. I am an "sos" appointments system for 2 years, that is if I feel I need to see at some point in the next two year I can if I need to book an appointment.
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Steroids, clarifying a misconception.
For many asthmatics steroids form an important part of their asthma treatment, for some they are literally a life saver. Steroids are mainly administered via inhalers for example flixotide, budesonide, beclomethosone, symbicort and so forth. During acute phases of asthma steroid tablets or hydrocortisone may be needed. In rare cases asthma patients may need to take steroid tablets daily.
They have the potential to be a pretty nasty drug carrying lots of side effects, these almost always only arise from taking steroids tablets or high doses of inhaled steroids, in most cases were steroids are administered via the inhaled route the amount that enters the blood stream is minuscule if at all any.
Much has been made of in the press that Raoul Moat was addicted to steroids and that this may of contributed to his "rampage" and his mental health issues. The idea for this post was was formed in my mind the other day when my colleague commented, "Best be careful Louise, you might be the next with all the steroids you take".
I then proceeded to explain to him what I am going to to explain to you now, many people do not realise that there is more than one type of steroid and the steroid that he was abusing was very different to the one used to treat asthma and many other conditions but, the press fail as they often do, to make this clear. Right now I am guessing there may be people fearing the drugs they are taking, making them reluctant to take them and thus putting their health and lives at risk, at the same time there may well be loved ones scared about there mental health in light of what they have seen and read over the the past few days.
To clarify the facts the steroids used to treat asthma and many other other conditions are known as glucoorticoid steroids which, incidentaly also naturally produced by the the body. The form of steroid abused by Raoul Moat was anabolic steroid, this also has its medical uses but is frequently abused by body builders and its possession is illegal except of course for medical use.
I hope that anyone with concerns regarding the steroids they or their loved ones, work colleagues etc are prescribed now feel at least a little bit reassured that your/their medication, prescribed by the GP or specialist does not carry with it the added potential of causing you/them to go rampaging around Britain's highways, byways and countryside.
They have the potential to be a pretty nasty drug carrying lots of side effects, these almost always only arise from taking steroids tablets or high doses of inhaled steroids, in most cases were steroids are administered via the inhaled route the amount that enters the blood stream is minuscule if at all any.
Much has been made of in the press that Raoul Moat was addicted to steroids and that this may of contributed to his "rampage" and his mental health issues. The idea for this post was was formed in my mind the other day when my colleague commented, "Best be careful Louise, you might be the next with all the steroids you take".
I then proceeded to explain to him what I am going to to explain to you now, many people do not realise that there is more than one type of steroid and the steroid that he was abusing was very different to the one used to treat asthma and many other conditions but, the press fail as they often do, to make this clear. Right now I am guessing there may be people fearing the drugs they are taking, making them reluctant to take them and thus putting their health and lives at risk, at the same time there may well be loved ones scared about there mental health in light of what they have seen and read over the the past few days.
To clarify the facts the steroids used to treat asthma and many other other conditions are known as glucoorticoid steroids which, incidentaly also naturally produced by the the body. The form of steroid abused by Raoul Moat was anabolic steroid, this also has its medical uses but is frequently abused by body builders and its possession is illegal except of course for medical use.
I hope that anyone with concerns regarding the steroids they or their loved ones, work colleagues etc are prescribed now feel at least a little bit reassured that your/their medication, prescribed by the GP or specialist does not carry with it the added potential of causing you/them to go rampaging around Britain's highways, byways and countryside.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Confirmed....
I had a letter today from Glasgow Caledonian University confirming my marks and awarding me 74% overall for the module.
Yet again, as has been the case throughout the course I am at work when my results come in meaning that the scope for celebrating is severely curtailed.
A longer update will follow soon
Yet again, as has been the case throughout the course I am at work when my results come in meaning that the scope for celebrating is severely curtailed.
A longer update will follow soon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)