Susie's 2022 campaign

[ladyfelsham]

Afternoon ladies

Not too bad a night, about 6 hours in three lots, with awake time spent cleaning the house, rearranging cupboards, and other activities that involved standing up/moving about - sitting down and reading or playing my favourite merge apps aren't distracting enough for the RLS to stop long enough for me to get back to sleep. i took regular doses of magnesium, etc, plus the electrolyte drink, plus paracetemol and Stugeron, to help with sleep. I did also chat to a few people on the RLS Forum, and quite a few talked about the rubbish magnesium tablets have in them, you have to take loads to get any benefit (as I've discovered). I'd already bought a brand wich was recommended, and which turned out to be the most expensive bottle of magnesium ever - but if it works I don't care. Arrived this morning and I'll take it tonight with tea.

Also bought a thing called a Therapulse, again on recommendation fro fellow sufferers - it's a device you strap to your knee that sends little electrical signals through and is supposed to cancel out the RLS. Also good reviews on Trustpilot, so that arrives Monday.

A bit of an expensive night, then, but I am determined to beat this thing - especially as the only response from the NHS is to prescribe harmful dopamine agonist tablets which work for a while, then cause horrible rebound - everyone on the forum says, "Stay away, wish I'd never started them!".

There's no such thing as too gross.
I find that being real about the struggles you face (and joys of overcoming them) can let peeps feel like they aren't alone in them if they also face the same issues.

Thanks @GLL very kind of you to say so, and a good reminder for me that I have some body image issues to confront - will see what Ian, the emotions coach, has on his YT channel for that.

Food - on plan -
B - half a megga roll with cheese
L - stroganoff with the other half of the roll and cheese
T - chicken coconut curry and possibly cauli mash

Have a good day - it's a bit brisk out there!

 

[ladyfelsham]

Think I must be on the improve, I'm hungry again! Luckily I've got a stack of LC food in the fridge.

Been drooling over yummy LC treats at Sow and Arrow, a bakery somewhere which now does online orders - shortbreads and doughnuts yummmmminess! . I don't dare put an order in - although I am tempted by the keto crackers, they are such a faff to make.

Covid is now officially all around me - the lady two doors down has it, and the old guy opposite me...!

 

[GLL]

Its easy to put a smile on and pretend its not a huge day to day struggle when you are overweight. Peeps can think oh its easy, just diet and exercise. Yeah not so easy when its a catch 22 of weight related issues (or issues that would be lessened by loosing weight) and feeling like garbage because of that and using food as a comfort or simply cant effectively exercise which adds to the cycle (kiddo of mine is prime example). The list of side effects of weight gain are immense, not just physically but mentally.

Sharing the struggles and issues you have can let others open up about theirs and in turn make everyone involved really look within too. Heck might even be the red flag that some need to not want things to get that bad for them and motivate them to act sooner rather than later.

Lastly its a diary for you to see how far you have come and what you have achieved so when you feel like you are going nowhere fast (we all get those days/weeks/months). Often I need a kick up the arse and a reminder that I have come a long way and can keep going (or restart lol).

Caution: stay away from the covid
Sis in law had it and has huge weight related health issues and was okay as in nothing serious - was just lousy and tired.
All of her household and I tested negative despite spending many hours around her while she was infections (unknowingly).
It was my great nephew (4) who was the covid grenade in this situation and I had him snuggled in watching movies, wiping his nose etc after he initially tested negative and later positive (I do love him, I promise, but he WAS the key in our families cases).
Hurrah for vaccines and 1) having some immunity to catching it and 2) coping with it if you do get it. (still better to stay the heck away).

 

[ladyfelsham]

Yep, staying well clear! I've been in self isolation pretty much througout the last 18 months, and feel very uncomfortable around groups of people TBH. I went to a U3A meeting about 6 weeks ago, 50 older people all in one room and hardly a mask between them - and some of these people would have pre existing health conditions. Couldn't believe it and only stayed for about half an hour.

Took my new mag tablets about 2.5 hours ago and so far, so good, no jerking - but what happens overnight will be the telling.

I do really need to get to grips with hating the way I look. There's someone I'm keen on - not even sure what his situation is, it's currently a work relationship, but we do get on very well and it's quite flirty. So i did think to myself, I need to stop caring what I think people see, and if anything does happen with this person, then I'll feel natural and comfortable about it. I'm clawing life back for myself, and i want to enjoy everything it has to offer. I used to be out there with the best of 'em, in and out of relationships, but it's been about 16 years since my last relationship (with someone who turned out to be a manic depressive cross dresser - I kid you not) - and it is TIME FOR LOVE!

So that's my self care/self love project, forgiving myself and just quietly working my way towards better health and weight loss!

And being open to romance

 

[Cavegirl21]

This is the Mag tablets my nutritionist told me to get. They are expensive at £20 but I take 4 a day so they do last a few weeks. Also she makes me take 2 Methyl multi vitamin tablets which are £18 but again they last a few weeks.

 

[GLL]

So much of that I identify with. Baby steps for me, I'm trying to love myself enough to take care of my health. After that, who knows

*edit - I don't know the about mag tablets or your RLS which is why I don't really respond to your updates about that. I just hope it works and you get stuff managed and improved < just wanted to add xxx

 

[ChilliQueen]

I hope the things you've purchased give you some relief.

I think most of us probably have issues with our self images, it's possibly part of what leads us to be overweight in the first place albeit a very complex formula and different for everyone.

I'm definitely feeling my confidence coming back, but honestly only a small part of that is actually about losing weight!

It's definitely time for your life to move forwards I think @ladyfelsham, you enjoy your flirty friend regardless of where it ends up.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Morning Team Fab!

Thanks for your lovely messages, the effects of the massively £££ mag tablets didn't last too long sadly - a pet theory I have is that menopause stops the magnesium from absorbing properly and for as long as it should be, so I need to keep topping it up, as it were. But that's not great either as you can end up giving yourself mag toxicity - got a slight pain one of my kidneys this morning and suspect the mag is the culprit. I don't get RLS during the day and don't need to take mag until later, so will see how I get on tonight. If I have a kidney pain again tomorrow, I'll know what's caused it. However, I did get 7 hours over three periods, and wasn't wandering the house like a sad wraith for hours at a time throughout the night . Don't feel right today - a bit breathless and knackered, but that happens with A Fib, or it could be the tail end of the cold thing I've had - at least my ears have stopped ringing, hurrah!

@Mary2020 - thanks so much for the recommendation. The one I'm taking also has glycinate in it, so might get your one once I've finished the current brand.

Re the Flirty Chap (hereafter referred to as FC lol), he's a typical Luddite man with no social media presence, but a little online investigation (let's not call it stalking ) produced a surprising amount of info (which I won't share here)!. Anyhoo, as you all wisely say, just go with it and see what happens. I do actually have to ring him tomorrow, might suggest we do a Zoom call lol.

Morrisons has just been and everything's there woohoo, very impressed with them actually - although the driver isn't, he says conditions are terrible. Oh dear...

Food today -
L - frankfurters and 2 egg omelette with cheese and herbs, coffee
T - breaded chicken with cauli mash and some spinach i think

Have a wonderful day, all x

 

[ladyfelsham]

Feel quite tired all the time, such an effort to pull myself from one room to the next - but have avoided having a nap, much as i would have loved one. Really want to get back to some sort of normality - but I'm getting there, I am slowly shaking off all the effects of the Tram withdrawal, another day or so I hope, the ringing in my ears has almost gone and I don't feel like passing out every time I turn my head!

Completely forgot I'd ordered a pork belly piece with a salt and pepper rub in today's shop, so it's in the oven for tea - and smells divine!

Later - it tasted divine too - had it with some cauli mash - then fell asleep in the chair for an hour. I came to with a start, didn't know where I was or what time it was haha. Time for some reading now.

 

[ladyfelsham]

Evening all - well that was an awful night, 3 hours sleep in three lots from 6pm-10am this morning, so it's safe to say that I am now shattered.

But I feel very cheerful because i think I've got to the root cause of the problem! RLS has strong links with chronic venous insufficiency, which i have - and I'm not sure why I didn't spot the link earlier. Everyone just always assumes you're magnesium or iron deficient, and so did I! But both RLS and my leg circulation issues started up properly aout 5-6 years ago, which is too coincidental. Ive got to keep wearing the compression stockings, keep the legs elevated when I can (not very easy), and horse chestnut/vein treatments. I have some horse chestnut and Butchers' broom, both if which seem ok to take with the meds I'm on - so have started them, but I've also got a GP call booked to ask about them on Thursday.

I feel so hopeful about this - it all makes complete sense, and there is something that can be done, rather than load myself up with too much magnesium and suffer the toxic consequences. And hopefully a better night's sleep!

Meanwhile it appears I'm now living in Covid Central - tonnes of neighbours here are coming down with it, usually from family members, especially children, visiting them and no one taking precautions. I;m fine, so far so good with the Tramadol withdrawal, I've still got a slightly woozy head but the ear buzz noise has almost gone and I could eat everything in the fridge, so it's safe to say my appetite is back!

Been on hold to Argos about a refund for 50 minutes - yawn! Ahh just got through, problem sorted, refund on its way . Buying myself a Ninja grill and air fryer, my air fryer has gone kaput!

Food today -
B - LC roll with butter and marmite
L - Bratwurst and 2 fried eggs
T - pork belly and mash
S - pork scratchings

Have a good evening x

 

[ladyfelsham]

Later - change of plan for tea, instead I had turkey steaks fried in coconut oil, with smashed avocado and melted cheese on top, and spralised courgetti - can't remember when I last enjoyed a meal so much, it was gorgeous! .

Want to watch the new Anne Cleeves TV show The Long Call at 9pm but think it will have to be by catch up - time for the Land of Nod (hopefully)!

 

[ChilliQueen]

hope you get a better sleep tonight! It's good to explore all the possibilities for your RLS, possibly you have been coming at it from the wrong angle but only a bit of experimenting can really find out.

Glad you're having so much fun with your menus

 

[GLL]

Hope you got a better nights sleep Also great news on the tramadol progress <3

Let us know how the doctors goes. Hope your GP is supportive in your efforts to get to the bottom of things x

I was thinking about air fryers. Not sure I can stretch to one this side of xmas tho I assume the grill is george foreman type thing?
Worth the money or would a cheaper one do the job?

 

[ladyfelsham]

Afternoon flowers

I don't know where the day has gone! Been working on case studies for some of the day, plus fitted in a few long calls to chums, and a truly delicious 90 minute snooze.

Food has been of the fridge raiding or simple assembly variety today -

B - LC roll toasted with butter and Marmite, and tea - lush!
L - leftover chicken coconut curry from last week
T - leftovers again - courgetti and chopped Bratwurst with a little cream, rose harissa paste and cheese, all zapped in the microwave and ready in 5 minutes - and it's lovely!

Need to do a bit more work - have a fab evening x

 

[ChilliQueen]

sounds like a great day to me

 

[ladyfelsham]

And I've just had a lovely long shower using Dr Salts scrub. makes your skin so soft!

Also made my first ever chaffles earlier! Not sure what to do to crisp them up, they are definitely on the floppy side

 

[ChilliQueen]

you can cook them a bit longer, or even pop them in toaster or under the grill.

 

[ladyfelsham]

[Warning - big moan coming up!]

Morning all - nothing terribly good about it for me sadly, I haven't managed to get a single minute's sleep last night, with the worst RLS of my life - 10 hours and still going.

All the usual things I would take to ease it didn't work at all, and I eventually gave in at 3am and took some Tramadol which helped with the pain, by then it was spasming up and down from bum to ankle and making me feel quite desperate! Just wish I knew what it was that caused it to be so bad - it's one of the annoying things about RLS, it's so unpredictable, you never know when it will strike, for how long and how bad it will be.

At least I've got some things coming that should help, the Therapulse gadget arrives Friday hopefully - and ooh i sent back the expensive mag tablets, weirdly they gave me a terrible pain in my kidney - and I know they were to blame, when I stopped them the pain went away.

Anyway, now for the more happy news, I've lost another 3lbs, so that's a total of 20lbs in five weeks on low carb - my forever lifestyle!

Off to make a coffee now, I need to try and stay awake for the postie for a redelivery from yesterday which i slept through - it's like the blooming Twilight Zone here!

 

[Cavegirl21]

Sorry to read your not sleeping well and your RLS is bad.

How much coffee do you drink?
Do you have enough Magnesium and Potassium in your diet?
Has it got worse since Low Carb?

 

[ladyfelsham]

Hiya Mary, and thanks for your interest x

- Coffee - one, sometimes 2 cups, in the morning only - I never drink caffeine after midday
- I eat lots of leafy greens and have loads of mag and pot supplements which i take every day, along with an iron tablet, i also drink an electrolyte drink which usually helps
- Re is low carb causing it - no, it's not that, it would have happened earlier if low carb was the cause - i actually think it has to do with coming off the Tramadol. I spoke to my fav nurse at my surgery and she thinks the tramadol was masking the severity of the RLS - so I've finally been referred to see an RLS specialist, there's a really good one in Newcastle. Not sure how long an appointment will take to get but it's a good first step.

In the meantime, my client rang when i was asleep, i answered the phone and....I have absolutely no recollection of the conversation! That's sleep deprivation for you LOL.

I've just made loaded cauli cheese, with chorizo this time instead of bacon, and it smells divine x