Lived Experience Forum

[Zoe7]

I know I have come a very long way to get back to teaching @Appleblossom  and I feel like this school and the work I am doing there is exactly what I needed to get back into it. There is very minimal planning for me so far and that gives me plenty of time to recover after each day and not have to spend hours at home doing what I used to do. I do want to get back into my own classroom eventually but for now this support role seems like a good fit for me. I do hope that my getting back into work is encouraging for others - I know what a big thing it is for me and where I have come from - so if that is inspiring to others then that also makes me happy - thank you for your kind words Apple 

[Owlunar]

Hi @Zoe7 @Appleblossom @Shaz51 @utopia @BlueBay @outlander @Sophia1 @Razzle 

I haven't been in much lately - a lot has been happening - a lot of it good - and I think it's really good to have things happening - for me anyway

I did have a bad pain flare - I have no idea what caused this - sometimes I can pin it on an event but I really hit the wall for a while because of so many different opinions given to me by 2 pain specialists and two other GPs and now I only want to hear about anything from my GP who seems to be in touch with what's happening and that it's not realistic to change medications when I have been taking them for so long and nothing has been done to correct the spinal degeneration and compression I have - 

It's really wonderful to hear some of the suggestions - I can do well without all of that - it did through me for a spin when my GP was on holidays - which he needs and enjoys 

However during last week the flare worked itself off - it's not good pushing things during a pain flare - it only drags it all out for longer and sitting in my chair with a hot pack does help but then so does walking - and I have to work out a balance

But I got my phone fixed, I got new shoes and have had my USB connection set up and I am planning to go away in a couple of weeks. I have had my eyes tested too - and my dry eyes have been seen to - treatment organised - and I am getting new glasses with stronger lenses and these will have the "blue-light" effect from the screens coating as well as all the other bells and whistles - after all - I wear my glasses all the time and everyday - I have other pairs all different that I can use for spares - but these new ones will be for everything - I get them next week

I have been busy too - with my philosophy class - this has a lot of preparation and I really enjoy - the conversation in the room does get off track and yes Apple - I spoke up about this and said that I had been looking forward to talking about phisosophy and not politics - and was prepared to go home but it was a good thing to speak up because they all got more serious about philosophy

Because of the work at home I am glad I have only taken on one course for this term - I haven't seen a curriculum for next term but there are plenty of subjects to study - 

Another good thing is that my Case Worker came here and discussed my programme with the workers that help here - and I will be getting someone to go to the Mall with on alternate Mondays - just to browse in the shops - not to do anything in particular - and have a coffee. This will be good - I do have a busy life actually - but I am okay with being on my own too

And I love Autumn - I know we are not quite there yet but the change in seasons is always something I like - 

And my old Companion Cat hasn't gone far - she was pretty much the same colour as the cushions on my couch and now and again from the corner of my eye I think she's there - and when the wind blows the screen door it sounds like her banging on it to get in - this is okay - I have recovered from her passing but as I said - it seems she hasn't gone far

All the best all my dear friends - my life seems to be pretty busy atm - but I still read - and although I need a new phone now the one I have has been fixed for now I can read the forum when I am away from home so I do keep in touch

Dec

Thanks to my dear friends

[Appleblossom]

Great to hear from you @Owlunar 

Maybe my next set of glasses will have bells & whistles too .. lol

Talking politics can be a form of complaining, whereas if it is philosophy, the love of the word and ideas needs to come through.

Philosophy at my uni was so dry and poorly taught that I dropped it and took up politics.

I really enjoyed the Politics major, but it was far more political philosophy.  I did not take many realpolitik units.  Just Indonesian Politics as I had spent a lot of time there travelling and was thrilled to be able to learn about the culture from an academic pov.

Glad to hear there has been some good times among the other ...

Cheers

[Zoe7]

Great to hear you are till loving the course and that your GP is mananging your pain as before @Owlunar  It is also good to hear that you are still planning to go away in a couple of weeks. It is a good time of year to travel - no school holidays so plenty of space to wander and appreciate where you go without the rush and bustle of many people being around. Having that support worker each fortnight will be good too - hopefully wandering around the shops will also allow you to get things done you need to on those days too.

It is lovely that you still feel the presence of Companion Cat - she does seem to be still with you in those little moments. 

It is great getting your updates when you can post and even better that you seem to be doing quite well (despite the pain). Keep up what you are doing as it seems to be working quite well for you presently 

[Shaz51]

It is soooo  great getting your updates, @Owlunar , my second mum ,  when you can post and even better that you seem to be doing quite ok 

sending you lots of hugs

[Razzle]

Hi @Owlunar   Sorry to hear you have been in pain, especially as there hasn’t been any particular reason for it.

I’m very interested in how your glasses work, regarding the blue light.  I get eye strain often, it feels like my eyes are full of crushed glass.  I’ll be interested in how they work for you.

You have been very busy lately, but it sounds like you are coping well with it all though.  

I hope you enjoy your time away, and please check in and let us know how you going ❤️❤️

[Owlunar]

Hi @Razzle 

Things have been easier for me since the pain-flare eased off in the middle of last week - I felt pretty miserable for some time before that - it lasted for a couple of weeks and there is a reason for the pain - I just don't know what caused the flare-up

I have a lot of disc-disease and cord pressure in my lumbar spine - it was bad 25 years ago and my last MRI proved it to be worse which makes me wonder why doctors who have just come into the picture want my treatment to be different - I just don't get it - when I injured my back there was no operation that could be done - now I have had it all too long to have anything done and I really don't want it - I just want to live for the day and not worry about things long term - it is a real puzzle to me why anyone would expect things to improve when nothing has been done to improve them - from the beginning after many tests and lots of different efforts it was decided to leave things be and allow me to have the medication but alas - ah - nuf sed about that

But you are right - it is not at all pleasant but flares happen

My glasses - yes - I will let you know how the blue-screen lenses work - my eyes feel like that too - I hadn't thought of the crushed analogy but that's what they feel like at times and I use drops and antihistamines - for a long time I blamed my cat's fur but she has gone now so I guess it's the blue light from the screens - mostly computer screens but how often I have the TV on at the same time as I am using the computer - I guess I ask for it but I also feel sure I will go on doing it

These glasses also have transitional lenses which are tinted blue now, with multi-focal lenses and of course -  with all of that they are insured - and as they are stronger I am pretty sure I will be wearing them nearly all the time - I will let you know how they go

And yes - I am pretty busy atm - and now the pain has backed off to a reasonable level I am coping with it well so far - because I am not flying this trip it is easier to organise that going interstate - one can just get on or off a train - no fuss with security and the luggage drop - just be at the station on time - but I have a few things to do before that

I have stayed at the motel before - it's a pretty little place and comfortable - it has as microwave as well - and I am looking forward to it - I will certainly let people know how I am going - my new computer is much smaller and will be easier to travel with

All the best Raz

Dec

[Owlunar]

Hi @Razzle @Shaz51 @Zoe7 @Appleblossom @BlueBay @utopia @outlander @Sophia1 

I have had a rather different week - my pain has been less - having the reassurance of my GP has been more helpful than all of the suggestions of the other doctors who interferred in my pain management - I was rather distressed at times but as time does pass and things settle I will see how things go when I go away in a short time

And I will be taking my computer with me - I have sorted out my USB connection - they didn't tell me at the time I have to pay extra for this but I have now and therefore as long as the batteries last I can use my computers if the power goes off or at motels where there is no internet

I got my new glasses yesterday and they are F A N T A S T I C - with all the bells and whistles

Cute - eh!!I got them yesterday and I had been pestered by a persistent headache most of the week - probably because I have a novel that is really long and one of those I can't put done - I have read it before but I had forgotten most of it - it's The Thorn Birds which is rather a tragic family story but I had to read this book - and with one eye more long-sighted than the other I guess this didn't help but the blue light lenses have made an incredible difference as well and I haven't had them for 24 hours yet but I am not as tired looking at the screen as I used to get - with the dry eyes

These glasses cost a lot - but worth it - I wear them every day of my life and all day - even went to sleep last night - still reading this novel - 

@Shaz51  - I read your mother has had a hip replacement and was out of bed walking very quickly - but doesn't accept help from anyone but yourself - and you have so much on your plate already with your own health issues which are complicated and also Mr Shaz with so much anxiety - in case I don't get around to posting on your thread I do hope you are able to get your mother to accept help so she can stay at home - I know she is a bit older than I am but not that much - and I understand that she wants to stay in her own home - but that will get harder for everyone unless she gets some help from government funded agencies - I totally understand all of that

Thanks for your thoughts everyone - I have been reading the forum but plagued for days with a headache I didn't feel totally useless - just tired and reading a lot - and actually missed my philsophy class because of the heat and the headache

And I love this time of year - I really love - but the heat is harder to take for me now

Sigh - just put me inside out of the sun motherDec

[Zoe7]

So great you have your new glasses @Owlunar and you are seeing a difference already. I also need to get my eyes checked as I am sure I need glasses - to read small pint at least. 

Have you decided where to go for your next holiday yet? Tassie is certainly beautiful at this time of year 

[Owlunar]

Hi @Zoe7 

It's really worth getting glasses for the blue screen light - already I have noticed the difference - and with the TV as well - I had no idea how draining it was looking at screens so I recommend you get them for yourself as soon as you can afford it - I know your finances are tight but even in such a short time have noticed the difference

Of course having the long-sightedness corrected as well has no doubt made a difference - but with corrective lenses I still have 20-20 vision and things could be worse - my sister inherited macula degeneration from our father

I have been wearing glasses since I was still at school but for the life of me I can't remember when I started needing them or finally got them - I was more impressed with my improved outlook on the world and the blackboard at school and really irritated that I could only use them for school work and reading. My vision changed when I was pregnant and it was a relief to me to be able to wear them all the time

And yes - it is really great to be able to read small print again - amazing how quickly we can lose that as we get older - 

I have decided to go to the other destination for my holiday and it's a small place so I will be posting when I am there but for security's sake I have been asked not to say where that is but I am sure you can guess - it's the other place - not Hobart -

And I am yearning to go back to the Top End in the winter - I love the tropics in winter - just where I go remains to be seen

I am a bit out of tough with the forum because of the headache I had for a few days - but I think you are doing okay at school right now - this is great to know and such an inspiration - you have worked so hard to overcome so much - it's so awe-inspiring to read your battle - bit by bit with so much determination

I do wish you the best with that

Dec