Thanks Pete, my very best wishes to you, I certainly will keep going. I wonder how many other members we have here over 90. Perhaps we should form Coffin Dodgers Brigade? 🤣
Really so sorry Carole. Hats off to you for having a good time nonetheless over the so-called festive season. Where we do have power is deciding how to make the most of time. I waited well before and over Xmas (still am) for hospital test results myself, and decided whatever the outcome, we may as well have a good time rather than a worrying time! Easier said than done I know, and I do realise your situation is different. Sending love to you and Pete. 🌹❤️
You are so right Donald, last year was the pits, then again i think since 2021 they all have. I am optimistic for 2024 Donald, maybe a great year for all of us to, and all out cats. keep your poems coming Donald - I will be posting a painting very soon, maybe two abstract with 2 in each.
I can hardly believe my luck having Smudge appear at just the right time, remarkable! It is important to feel that we are part of a group to combat depression, especially when living alone. Family members are not always as sympathetic as one would hope. 🙄xx
Things work in mysterious ways. As for family, I think that people have to have the illness or similar to understand what it is like to live with. Almost everyone on this forum can relate to other members. My husband has heart disease and osteo arthritis and I can only imagine how he feels but hope I have sympathy for him at least.
Back in 2010 my wife and I thought that we were suffering from the same compliant (COPD in it's early stages) and planned our life accordingly. By the time my wife was correctly diagnosed as having lung cancer it was too late to offer any treatment and she died within a few weeks. It was as if she was here one minute and gone the next having died in her sleep having suffered no great pain at all. A tremendous shock which made me took more closely into what I needed to do to slow down the progression of my own condition. In that respect she is probably responsible for living much longer than I otherwise would have done. As you said "Things work in mysterious ways."
That was a terrible shock for both of you, so much to come to terms with before and after your loss. You have a great inner strength and it's a privilege to know you through this forum.
Hi Don, I haven’t been on here for a while , I’ve been unwell, ☹️ I’m glad to see you’re still batting and you sound very positive as you should , so Happy New year to you ,may 2024 be better for us all 🙏 I have to be honest I’ve been prompted to get back on board because I have no idea who Smudge is ? Obviously the latest addition to your family (you’re just like Dr Who , always regenerating with a new companion by your side 😂) but I’m dying to know his/ her story . Love Val x
I had missed you but that's something we have to get used to on here. I hope you are feeling better now. Smudge is a female cat who lived just across the road from me at a house which was recently sold. Shortly after my previous cat Puss died a local cat took to staring at me through the patio doors. It ran off when I approached the doors but had me thinking I wouldn't mind giving it a home if it was looking for one. It turned out that the lady across the road had two cats to re-home, mother and daughter. Having made eye contact with the cat staring at me through the patio doors, I felt that it already belonged here and if I had to accept the mother-in-law as well, then so be it. I remembered being in a similar situation many moons ago. To cut a long story short, as they say, Smudge is the mother not the daughter who ran away no doubt to stare at somebody else to find a home for herself. Remember I am a born and bred dogman, mainly cat hating Jack Russells. Beggars belief really. 😂x
Jack Russell a lively dog indeed. The wonder of life and its twist and turns. Different pets to suit our needs at that time. Just wonderful we have them all. Including sheep, cows, horses and so on.
How amazing is that , smudge coming into your life just when you needed her 😃. I’ve felt really bad as if I’ve abandoned everyone which I wouldn’t have done but I can’t put into words how awful the past months have been ! After Geoff died in April I was fine for two or three months and then started to feel really poorly , eventually I called Dr who prescribed vitamin D tablets but hinted that it was depression. I told her I was definitely not depressed but coping quite well apart from feeling very poorly and there was no way I wanted anti depressants. About six weeks later I was getting worse and struggling for breath so rang dr again - she sent anti depressants!! I knew 100% I wasn’t depressed , didn’t take them and gave up on Drs but by Christmas I was housebound , struggling to walk the length of my own house ! Called dr again and luckily got one of the older ones who went into panic mode . Cutting long story short despite failings by Drs and rapid diagnosis clinic who I was referred to immediately and being told I needed full body scan and camera down throat the haematology team got involved and I’m going into hospital as a day patient tomorrow to start iron infusions. I’ve cancelled other tests I’ve had enough stress to last me a life time and the Drs have only made it worse , there were times when I wondered if I was imagining it all and doubted my own sanity but the good news is I’m not and never was depressed ! Somehow with the help of family I managed to always stay positive and I can’t wait now to start this treatment and look forward to a better year ahead . I will be back 👍 love Valx
Thank you so much , I really have missed you and everyone and shoving my nose in 😂 I knew I would stay on the forum ,albeit not as often but I’ve made good friends and love the chats why would I leave 🤷🏻♀️ unfortunately I’ve just been absolutely exhausted from morning until night - it’s certainly given me more empathy with the people on here 🥲 xxx
I hope the exhaustion will go away eventually. I inevitably fall asleep on the sofa if I do anything exhausting- like cooking, or indeed eating. It's very time consuming.😄😄🙃
Strewth, you have been having a rough time Val. Something similar happened to me just recently but nothing like as bad. Doctors seem too keen to get patients on to antidepressants. I have refused them together with folic acid and having a camera pushed up my bum. I even talked about “letting nature take it’s course” probably an unwise thing to do in the current circumstances. 🤔
But now you seem to be heading in the right direction and I look forward to your fully functional return. You have been much missed. Don & Tubby Smudge xx
Happy new year Don 2023 was a horrendous year for me. Ive only been out a few times since February. I was admitted to hospital September but haven't left the house since. Still struggling. Praying I will get my mobility back soon and some sort of life. Wishing you a healthy 2024.sending hugs xxSheila xx💕💕
Oh Sheila I've been wondering about you and how you are managing. I've noticed a number of us have been acting completely out of character recently, including myself. I think in my case what I took to be a simple old fashioned cold turn out to be much more serious than first thought. I too have been more or less housebound, only going out escorted by my kind car owning niece. Even my smart gadgets became smarter than me! The likelihood is that some previously unknown bug has been been going around. So you are not alone in how you feel and the question is what to do about it?
In my case I have decided at take a step back to when my mind was in a different place. Reading diaries, looking at photos, remembering other dark times when I fought back (I know you had your own method of doing that), concentrate on regaining the confidence you once had and still have if you can find it. I can feel it helping me already and I'm sure it will you. A lot of mobility ability resides in the mind. I did consider making this a PM but it may just help someone else and that's what the forum is all about. It's easy enough to bin.😉 Happy New Year. 😍 With love Don and Smudge xx
Thanks Don. I seem to have gone to a dark place and lost my Positivity. My anxiety attacks are really bad. Nit going out for months my confidence has gone I'm praying 2024 will sort me out . You have helped thank you my friend. Take care and lots of love to you and Smudge xx.Sheila 🙏💕
2024 can’t sort you out Sheila it’s just a playing field. Cast your mind back to your previous achievements and take the advice which I remember you gave to others. Take small steps reviewing that great wardrobe of yours and post some pics of yourself getting ready to go out. The group awaits, it will cheer us all up. ❤️
I have decided to try and increase my mobility this morning. I'm on oxygen 24/7 I have asked my Respiratory nurse if I can increase it to walk around. I have been in bed for months and find my legs are very weak through muscle wastage. I will try and get downstairs today even if I slide down on my bottom lol.
You have made me realise I have to get my mobility back myself and start being Positive again.
Thanks Don and God bless you, as you are the one that always has great advice and the intelligent one on this forum.
I will get there, and when I next get dressed up I'll post a photo. I have Been in PJ'S since September.
Take care Don sending Welsh cwtches to you and Smudge xx💕
Think you’ll be around for a while yet! Muttie would have loved that one 😂 I do miss reading your poems to her. Hope you and puss have had a nice Christmas together. Happy new year
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A long wait but finally got there I think
Aspergillosis and Hyperinflated lungs. 
Lung transplant clinic appointment 
Re: cough cough cough
