Wednesday 31 August 2011
Sunday 28 August 2011
Stimulating the Nerves and the Brains
My TENS machine is an absolute saviour at the moment, and has been reallocated to cramp-relief from ankle-pain-relief. With my hysterectomy only 2 weeks off, so I am no longer taking any of my endo/PCO meds, there are bearable days and really really painful days. Today was the latter. I threw Ponstan and some pain meds at it and didn't make a dint. So I tried the TENS.
Relief! This little machine is absolutely fantastic!! And to think that my Great Uncle was on the team that developed it!! Thanks Eric!!!
Whilst I was stimulating nerves to erradicate cramps, hubby & the girls were stimulating their minds. The girls decided they wanted to learn how to play chess, and so this afternoon hubby sat down and they had their first chess lesson.
It was beautiful to watch, and hilarious at times as when hubby would ask Leah what she wanted to do (i.e. what move she wanted to make) and she would often respond "I want to kill something! What can I kill?" LOL!
Relief! This little machine is absolutely fantastic!! And to think that my Great Uncle was on the team that developed it!! Thanks Eric!!!
Whilst I was stimulating nerves to erradicate cramps, hubby & the girls were stimulating their minds. The girls decided they wanted to learn how to play chess, and so this afternoon hubby sat down and they had their first chess lesson.
It was beautiful to watch, and hilarious at times as when hubby would ask Leah what she wanted to do (i.e. what move she wanted to make) and she would often respond "I want to kill something! What can I kill?" LOL!
Saturday 27 August 2011
I'm grateful for... small amusements
We were up at Castlemaine again today putting in one of the ramps on the Epsideck and trimming the over-hang. We were so terribly unthoughtful, however, when we put the off-cuts in a pile on the exact spot where Epsi loves to sit and watch the world go by.
She kind of made this subtly obvious...
Pop over to Maxabella Loves to see what others are grateful for today!
She kind of made this subtly obvious...
Pop over to Maxabella Loves to see what others are grateful for today!
Friday 26 August 2011
"Educational" Whitegoods
I really didn't like most of the fridge magnets that covered my fridge and dishwasher - only a couple were ones I actually chose - so I decide to chuck them all and make all that magnetic space useful. So now, we have a "Learning Fridge" that overflows onto the dishwasher...
They are fantastic! There are a combination of letters, pictures and little sentences in the form of "a is for" etc.
It is brilliant for Leah to practice her letters & sounds and spelling short words, and also brilliant for Abigail's spelling. Of course, the very first thing they did was "sign" the fridge with our names!
We did have one casualty in the magnet-exchange process... Dorothy was more than a little stubborn about leaving and has left bits of herself behind... lol!
They are fantastic! There are a combination of letters, pictures and little sentences in the form of "a is for" etc.
It is brilliant for Leah to practice her letters & sounds and spelling short words, and also brilliant for Abigail's spelling. Of course, the very first thing they did was "sign" the fridge with our names!
We did have one casualty in the magnet-exchange process... Dorothy was more than a little stubborn about leaving and has left bits of herself behind... lol!
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Sunday 14 August 2011
"Epsideck"
There was a useless little, tiny deck area outside mum & dad's side door at their new place in Castlemaine.
They wanted a nice big, useful deck. Hubby, being from a handy DIY family (unlike mine who are likely to phone someone to come and help change a lightbulb...) happily said he'd build them a deck. He designed it all and once all was agreed upon, the building (by me & hubby) commenced.
The foundations were built, including holes being dug and concreted ourselves, until it was all there - 5 beams and 6 joists all up, and 15 stumps - 3 of which are concrete. After 3 weekends of hard work (absolutely exhausting would be a better description!) the deck was ready for the actual deking - a gorgous 135mm wide Blackbutt board. I just love it! Beautiful wood! We put most of it in place today.
We put down 27 boards today - 35 three metre lengths in total for the deck area. Another 27 three metre lengths will be used for two ramps and a set of stairs. All up, 724 screws (or thereabouts) will hold the Blackbutt to the joists. Just a few, just a bit of time... When we are marking the screw sites on each board (12 per board) then drilling with a drill-press, then drilling through with an ordinary drill, then screwing the board down. It's taking us about 15mins to do a single board. It is a labour of love!
It is looking fantastic already! Eight more boards and the main section will be done. Then cut back the overhang to the intended length, add a ramp up to mum's studio (her "Garret"), a ramp down towards the back of the house, and a set of stairs towards the side gate. Then oiling of some to-be-decided oiling, a balustrade and we're done! It is going to be brilliant!
Why are we calling it "Epsideck"? Well, it was going to be "The RJ Heitbaum Wharf" but hubby and I thought "The RJ Heitbaum Memorial Wharf" sounded better... But due to protests from mum that we weren't dead yet, no decision was made. Then, once we opened the deck to the general public (ie. those other than hubby & I) mum's dog, Epsi, came running out and just loved it! So, the name "Epsideck" just stuck!
A couple of more weekend's work, and all should be done! Unless it rains as it so often has... But then I guess deciding to build an outdoor structure during winter is rather silly...
 |
| Original "deck" just after some initial demolition |
The foundations were built, including holes being dug and concreted ourselves, until it was all there - 5 beams and 6 joists all up, and 15 stumps - 3 of which are concrete. After 3 weekends of hard work (absolutely exhausting would be a better description!) the deck was ready for the actual deking - a gorgous 135mm wide Blackbutt board. I just love it! Beautiful wood! We put most of it in place today.
 |
| Dad on "Epsideck" |
 |
| Hubby & Dad on "Epsideck" |
Why are we calling it "Epsideck"? Well, it was going to be "The RJ Heitbaum Wharf" but hubby and I thought "The RJ Heitbaum Memorial Wharf" sounded better... But due to protests from mum that we weren't dead yet, no decision was made. Then, once we opened the deck to the general public (ie. those other than hubby & I) mum's dog, Epsi, came running out and just loved it! So, the name "Epsideck" just stuck!
 |
| Epsi |
Friday 12 August 2011
Of Sydney and Ankle Oddities
What a week! Tuesday saw me head up to Sydney for the day to fix parts of a poor neglected network before it completely crumbled. The work I needed to do went smoothly and without a hitch... it was just a bummer that it was in Sydney!
Now it's not a Melbourne-Sydney thing - I really do not like Sydney. I quite passionately dislike the place... and to top it all off this client has sites in Surry Hills and Castle Hill, so I have to drive in Sydney as well. Yuk! Not a pleasant experience - especially without a GPS!
There are a couple of things Sydney does have going for it, however. You can happily go about 20kms above the speed limit without anyone really caring; and when you need to change lanes or merge into traffic, drivers politely make room for you (that never happens in Melbourne!) On the flip side, your flights always seem to circle the airport for ages waiting to land; the roads are way too narrow; there are way too many one-way streets; and you can't turn right anywhere. Oh, and it is nice to return to Melbourne and have all the taxis yellow once again ;-)
And now for something completely different...
One thing that has bothered me for my entire life has been my right ankle. Pain. It stopped me doing activity of an impact nature back in school, and it's trying it's best to stop me training at the gym right now. The problem? Initially, Tarsal Coalition. I have 2 coalitions in each foot/ankle, and had surgery on one of the coalitions in my right ankle when I was 11 years old. They took out a 1cm cube of bone! Anyway, the surgeon did a very good job of the surgery (apparently) but a piss-poor job of post-op care, leaving me with a pinched nerve and osteoarthritis (not sure if I can blame the surgeon for the OA, but I can damn well try!)
Over the years I have had numerous cortisone injections (OUCH!!!!), pretty much all the nerve blocks you care to mention, physios, osteos, natropaths, accupuncture, myotherapy, and the list goes on... Nothing has helped much or for long. I have been doing some research on my own over the past few days instead of wasting my time on quacks (with my experinces relating to my ankle and endometriosis et al I really have little time for the medical profession!)
The results: textbook case of tarsal coalition combined with oseteoarthritis.
Armed with this knowledge, I can devise a plan of attack... which I have done & am editing as needed as I go along. Main things I have learnt and have put into practice that have really helped - at least one 20min session on my new TENS machine per day; a proper ASO ankle brace (not support) that I can wear all day; apply heat before an exercise session; apply ice after an exercise session. This 4 simple things have made the world of difference so far - and it is very early days!
Now it's not a Melbourne-Sydney thing - I really do not like Sydney. I quite passionately dislike the place... and to top it all off this client has sites in Surry Hills and Castle Hill, so I have to drive in Sydney as well. Yuk! Not a pleasant experience - especially without a GPS!
There are a couple of things Sydney does have going for it, however. You can happily go about 20kms above the speed limit without anyone really caring; and when you need to change lanes or merge into traffic, drivers politely make room for you (that never happens in Melbourne!) On the flip side, your flights always seem to circle the airport for ages waiting to land; the roads are way too narrow; there are way too many one-way streets; and you can't turn right anywhere. Oh, and it is nice to return to Melbourne and have all the taxis yellow once again ;-)
And now for something completely different...
One thing that has bothered me for my entire life has been my right ankle. Pain. It stopped me doing activity of an impact nature back in school, and it's trying it's best to stop me training at the gym right now. The problem? Initially, Tarsal Coalition. I have 2 coalitions in each foot/ankle, and had surgery on one of the coalitions in my right ankle when I was 11 years old. They took out a 1cm cube of bone! Anyway, the surgeon did a very good job of the surgery (apparently) but a piss-poor job of post-op care, leaving me with a pinched nerve and osteoarthritis (not sure if I can blame the surgeon for the OA, but I can damn well try!)
Over the years I have had numerous cortisone injections (OUCH!!!!), pretty much all the nerve blocks you care to mention, physios, osteos, natropaths, accupuncture, myotherapy, and the list goes on... Nothing has helped much or for long. I have been doing some research on my own over the past few days instead of wasting my time on quacks (with my experinces relating to my ankle and endometriosis et al I really have little time for the medical profession!)
The results: textbook case of tarsal coalition combined with oseteoarthritis.
Armed with this knowledge, I can devise a plan of attack... which I have done & am editing as needed as I go along. Main things I have learnt and have put into practice that have really helped - at least one 20min session on my new TENS machine per day; a proper ASO ankle brace (not support) that I can wear all day; apply heat before an exercise session; apply ice after an exercise session. This 4 simple things have made the world of difference so far - and it is very early days!
Sunday 7 August 2011
Some people are incredibly rude!
Hubby took my car for a drive to Bunnings today - no problems there. While it was parked in the carpark, however, some idiot backed into it and over the bonnet. Must have had a jacked-up ute or something...
Anyway, nice big dents in my bumper and bonnet accompanied by deep scratches in the paintwork were the result and the idiot didn't even leave a note under the wipers saying "Sorry - here's my number."
That is just plain rude.
Unfortunately Bunnings don't have any video surveillance of their carpark so no luck there... I just have to put in an insurance claim and deal with the stupid brokers that we keep saying we'll move our insurance away from.
All in all a relaxing day ruined by an anonymous bogan (it was in Melton after all...) leaving me in a bad mood.
*sigh*
Anyway, nice big dents in my bumper and bonnet accompanied by deep scratches in the paintwork were the result and the idiot didn't even leave a note under the wipers saying "Sorry - here's my number."
That is just plain rude.
Unfortunately Bunnings don't have any video surveillance of their carpark so no luck there... I just have to put in an insurance claim and deal with the stupid brokers that we keep saying we'll move our insurance away from.
All in all a relaxing day ruined by an anonymous bogan (it was in Melton after all...) leaving me in a bad mood.
*sigh*
Thursday 4 August 2011
Paperwork Arrived!
It's here! It's real! It's really going to happen!!! I am actually going to have a "...Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, removal of tubes and right ovary, treatment of endometriosis, Cystoscopy..." on 12 September 2011 at Epworth Hospital! I have asked so many times over the last 20 or so years for the doctors to just "cut it all out" and now my gynaecologist is going to do exactly that - cut it all out (except my left ovary). My nemesis - my right ovary - is going!!! The major source of my pain and sufferring, as far as we can determine, is being killed!!!
Hyster Countdown: 38 days!
Hyster Countdown: 38 days!
Monday 1 August 2011
The start of a new week... and month...
It's Monday again - but you guys already knew that... And it is the 1st of August! Already! But you guys already knew that too... Where has the year gone?! It is all moving a little fast for me - the girls are definitely growing up too fast for my liking but there isn't too much I can do about that. Just enjoy every moment I have with them now and savour the memories.
Six weeks to go. "To what?" I hear you ask. I have suffered from endometriosis and polcystic ovaries ever since I was about 15 years old and it has never let up. There is only one pain that I have experienced that was more painful than endo & PCO and that was when I literally smashed my wrist. Anyway, a hysterectomy has long been on my wishlist. In 6 weeks today, my wish will come true. I will finally be getting a hysterectomy.
Some of my friends are seriously considering having another baby. I'm looking down the barrel at the "end of my child-bearing years" forever, end of story, no more discussion, all over. Am I bothered? No. Not even a little bit. I'm perfectly content with my two beautiful girls - who were both difficult to conceive and infertility treatment isn't something I'd want to go through again! I'm actually looking forward to it. I will, finally (with a bit of luck) be pain free for the rest of my adult life. No guarantees on that as endo can be a bit of a bugger and hang around, and I'll still have one ovary that could play up, but odds are pretty good it will be "pain, pain, go away!"
The only thing I'm not looking forward to is not doing anything for 6weeks or so... I'm not even allowed to drive for the first 6 weeks post-op! I guess I get some serious bearmaking time :-)
Six weeks to go. "To what?" I hear you ask. I have suffered from endometriosis and polcystic ovaries ever since I was about 15 years old and it has never let up. There is only one pain that I have experienced that was more painful than endo & PCO and that was when I literally smashed my wrist. Anyway, a hysterectomy has long been on my wishlist. In 6 weeks today, my wish will come true. I will finally be getting a hysterectomy.
Some of my friends are seriously considering having another baby. I'm looking down the barrel at the "end of my child-bearing years" forever, end of story, no more discussion, all over. Am I bothered? No. Not even a little bit. I'm perfectly content with my two beautiful girls - who were both difficult to conceive and infertility treatment isn't something I'd want to go through again! I'm actually looking forward to it. I will, finally (with a bit of luck) be pain free for the rest of my adult life. No guarantees on that as endo can be a bit of a bugger and hang around, and I'll still have one ovary that could play up, but odds are pretty good it will be "pain, pain, go away!"
The only thing I'm not looking forward to is not doing anything for 6weeks or so... I'm not even allowed to drive for the first 6 weeks post-op! I guess I get some serious bearmaking time :-)
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