Round in circles

Last Wednesday saw K & I at the GP to get the results of her blood tests – full blood count, glucose fasting tolerance (diabetes), thyroid, coeliac, liver, kidney, bone. Nothing sinister was found.

You’d think we’d be delirious about that. Well, we’re not! The GP then said that K is depressed and this is causing her symptoms. The reason for this diagnosis? She cried in both consults, she had only been to college twice (for less than 3 hours in total) in the past 9 days, and that she didn’t go out very often.

Let’s break this down a little. If you feel so totally, overwhelmingly tired all the time you tend to lose the ability to smile all the time. Add in to that a new symptom that reared its ugly head between both visits – random, stabbing pains that painkillers don’t touch – and of course she’s going to feel emotional. Then add in that all the blood test that you were pinning your hopes on to show a problem that could be treated (and thereby hoping you’d then start to feel better soon) came back ‘normal’, thus removing that hope, then you’d really be hard pressed to not cry.

She went to college immediately after the successful blood taking – one that had the nurse wiggling the needle around to catch the vein that was hiding in there somewhere (and I should point out that K gave her permission to do this) – but couldn’t concentrate and felt shaky so I had to fetch her home. The next several days were spent in a fog of exhaustion. She did some college work at home – thank goodness for an understanding college and teachers – but often ended up needing a good nap during the afternoon (at least 2 hours). There’s really no point in trying to get to college (2 bus rides and about 10 miles away) when you struggle to walk down the stairs because you are so tired.

As for not going out much in general there’s a long story attached to that, one that the GP didn’t bother to ascertain. Y’see, K doesn’t have many friends within walking distance – even if she had the energy to get there. When we took her out of school one previously good friend in particular decided that K was to be victimised and sent packing at every opportunity. Why? Don’t know. This girl could blow hot and cold all the time with any of her friends. Anyway, K gained some new friends at the home education group. Unfortunately they all pretty much lived at least a bus journey away, and some lived in neighbouring counties. Now K goes to a college that is not on our doorstep and all her friends there live at least one, if not two, bus journeys away. That in and of itself isn’t the problem. No, the problem is that round here the buses finish running at about 7.30ish in the evening! Yes, that’s right! Anyone wanting to use the bus to get back home had better be heading home very early. No chance of a bus back from the nearest town, nothing! I could understand it if we lived in a very rural area but we don’t. Mind you, we don’t live in a big town/city either. So it’s not that K doesn’t WANT to go out, it’s that she can’t get back unless one of us is available to fetch her. We don’t mind here and there but it’s not something we can do several times a week.

I’m not arguing about the depression diagnosis. My daughter quite likely IS depressed at the moment. It’s that the GP thinks that she has been depressed for ages and this is causing her symptoms, whereas both she and I think that the ongoing symptoms and their associated effects are causing the depression. Everyone who has had regular contact with K over the past year or so has said that they wouldn’t have put her down as depressed, yet they can ALL see the change in her in the past couple of months or so.

The GP gave her the contact information for a young person’s service called italk. K has called them and had an initial chat. She will get another call in 2 weeks to discuss possible courses of action for her to try (with them). We talked about it and decided that having somewhere to vent her frustration would be a good thing. Plus, at least the GP can’t say we’re not trying, eh?

Thanks to K’s new pain symptoms she gets a new round of blood tests, this time looking at auto-immune markers. AND she gets to repeat the glucose fasting tolerance test – where you can only drink water in the 12 hours preceding the stick. This test came back normal – the GP showed me the results – and he was happy with that when we saw him at 9am on Wednesday morning. By 11.30 he was on the phone to K asking her to add it to the form he had given her. Harrumph. There were two tests – serum and thyroid – that came back saying abnormal but he said that they were only just outside the limits and wouldn’t be responsible for her symptoms.

Any words of advice gratefully received.  However, if you feel compelled to say hurtful stuff – don’t.  I have enough to deal with at the moment.

Update on K

A few posts ago I mentioned how K’s current health is bothering me (and her).  A visit to the GP got her sent for blood tests.  The first appointment for that was a disaster – 2 nurses, 2 attempts each (all they’re allowed) and no bullseye.  So on Tuesday I took her to our nearest major hospital where, after a bit of wiggling around a bit, the nurse got lucky and filled the necessary tubes.  K, however, was left rather shaken by it all and couldn’t cope with college – she went in but couldn’t concentrate or stop crying, so I had to fetch her home.

Home, where she has been ever since, lacking most of the energy she had last week (which was still below her usual self).  I’ve spoken to the welfare and guidance officer at college about what is going on as far as we know, as I don’t want any sort of blemish on her records.  Later today I will be e-mailing her teachers to get all the work sent home.  K can spend 2 – 3 hours working before needing an equivalent nap.  She’s in line for a D*/D* (top grade) in her BTEC and she doesn’t want to blow it by missing so much college time.

So, we wait for the phone call that the blood tests have shown something.  Not sure what’s going to happen if they come back ‘normal’.  (They’re checking for anaemia, diabetes, thyroid, coeliac, glandular fever, liver, etc).

Public Service Announcement

After experimenting with the issue, to make sure of my facts of course, did you know that after a couple of glasses of wine you feel that you need more to eat than is strictly necessary.  In fact, it’s not just a small corner of chocolate that you go for but the whole darn lot, no matter the size.

The moral is, therefore, don’t drink and eat if you are trying to lose weight.

(Also, still no spots BUT a wicked mouth ulcer is STILL here, a week after making its impending presence felt).

Hardly dare to mention it

Today has been a rare day by recent standards; we’ve had a lot of sunshine.  I decided to make the most of it and walk to the Post Office to post a letter.  I kept my hands in the light as much as possible and, as of 5 hours later, THERE ARE NO SPOTS/MARKS/ITCHY BITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Check out the link to polymorphic light eruption and my skin issues – down the bottom on the right – to see why this is good stuff.)

Go me!

Just 1lb to go before I hit my first target.  Talk about slowly, slowly. 

My next goal will be for a whole stone – 14lbs.  Hopefully it won’t take anything like as long.

I’m an addict

My vice is Alchemy.  For those of you who have never heard of it, keep well away.  It sucks you in and drives you onwards.  It’s a game whereby you put together various things to make new things.  For example, you start off with air, earth, fire and water.  If you put water and earth together you get mud.  If you put fire and water together you get steam.  And so on.  All these new things you create can then be put together with other things to create even more new things (until you get the little symbol telling you that you’ve reached the end with that creation).

There are different versions.  I am currently stuck on how to make stars from the sky.  I’ve tried lots of different things but can’t work it out.  I have, however, made Tom & Jerry, Twilight Saga, Star Wars, etc.

(Please do not confuse this Alchemy with the PopCap games one where you slowly turn a board gold).

We interrupt this pause in blogging

Yeah, I know.  Been a long time.  Since I’ve been getting some psychological treatment from my homeopath, backed up with various pills to take, I have found less need to drag out my soap box – and less need to shout about what’s going on in my corner of the world.  Are things having less emotional impact or am I spiralling slowly into depression?  Who knows?

The diet I’ve been on works – when I can be bothered to follow it properly.  Again, it all comes down to state of mind.  If I’m having some serious emotional turmoil then I crave all the ‘wrong’ stuff.  I’ve been ‘off plan’ for a couple of weeks with only a 1.2lb increase to show for it.  Phew!  Today I’ve taken the proverbial bull by the horns.  For lunch there was plenty of salad with some gammon.  Dinner was a full roast with plenty of courgettes, mushrooms and a few CARROT stick.  Why the capitals?  Because it’s a new food for me.  As are strawberries and custard.  Some folks are going to be in for a shock when we next get together.

D is now working at Sainsbury’s as an internet shopper, as he was at Asda before Christmas.  This time it’s permanent, subject to him passing his probabtionary period, 12 hours per week.  Whilst not earth-shattering it is, at least, a job.   It pays more than the dole so he is happy.

K is giving some serious cause for concern.  In recent weeks she has been very pale, tired and breathless.  Last week’s GP appointment was good.  He listened, heard, and modified his thinking away from “well of course she’s tired, she’s 18 and busy with friends when she should be in bed”.  Because there’s one thing my daughter doesn’t do and that’s be out late every night (in fact, almost any night).  So, on Friday we’re off to the local ‘Dracula’ unit to have several glass phials filled with her blood, testing for such things as diabetes, thyroid trouble, coeliacs, anaemia, amongst others.  We are both hoping that something shows up, though preferably NOT diabetes or coeliacs.  K has problems with artificial sweeteners – bring on Autistic symptoms – and would rather not have to miss out on really tasty bread from the bakery (not to mention my own rather wonderful home-made cakes).

A’s shoulder continues to take two-steps-forward-one-step-back.  He sees the specialist again on Monday.  Otherwise all is well in his little world.  Unless, of course, you count in the fact that I am trying to separate his wallet from £5 – £10K.  (Which he is also happy about).  We are looking for a new kitchen, and are slowly getting our collective minds together as to what, exactly, we want.

So, sorry for the long gap.  There’s not been much to tell.

Calling all birdie people

Especially if you know your small European garden birds.  I’ve got a new visitor to my garden.  So far, I’m thinking it’s either a Blackcap or a Marsh Tit.  Any ideas, folks?

(Edited with a free bit of software called FastStone.  Simple enough that even I can use it.)

Karma

My last post, titled “Shock and awe” didn’t just have that effect on my family.  Oh no, it had to bite me on the bum too.  Why?  Well, after a very healthy – as in not fried – full English breakfast for dinner (we do that sometimes) followed by a seriously naughty strawberries, cream, ice cream, marshmallows and crumbled chocolate chip cookie I gained A WHOLE 3LBS!!!!!  After fighting so hard to get my weight down to where it hadn’t been for over a year I am now back to what was my previous minimum for that year.  Sigh!

Yes, it served me right.  I know that, but all the same it is kinda sick-making.  Tomorrow night A & I are off out to a Titanic evening – all dressed up in posh frocks – and I’m now dreading the consequences.  My next cruise (end of May) is causing equal disturbance.  I really need to pay attention to the “I’m full” messages instead of eating up because everyone else is.  It’s hard to change 40 + years of habit.  I mean, how many of you can remember your parent(s) making you clear your plate?!

(And yes, I know it’s all my own fault.  I’m just venting some frustration).

Shock and awe

That is what I have given my family, near and far, this evening.  Why?  I ate strawberries!!!!!

OK, you’re thinking, so what?!  Well, it’s the first time ever for me.  I have never been a big fan of the fruit and veggies, hence the weight issues these days.  However, I am slowly learning to eat the odd portion.  Heck, I even like some of them and have even been known to crave them.

Unfortunately hubby and the kids are less than impressed as it means they will now get less in their portions.  I can see that our local grower/market gardener is going to make a profit this year.