Thank you

[Winnie73]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to post and say thank you. This community is excellent. Lots of helpful, warm people.

So, just thanks to all of you and to the British Liver Trust. You've all helped me stay sane. ☺️👍 Xx

[19581979]

Hi Winnie

I agree with you about the support on the site. I was really scared about my liver. More so than my spinal cord injury. Sounds stupid but true. People on here have really helped me.

How are you at the moment?

Take care

Gx

[19581979 in reply to 19581979]

Forgot to add only difference is about keeping me sane. I'm not sure I've ever been that when I think about it.

Gx

[Winnie73 in reply to 19581979]

Haha! I know what you mean G. I'm still on the wagon and doing ok but having some odd symptoms. (Pain in the liver region and yellow stool) Went back to my GP on Friday and she has ordered an urgent ultrasound and a comprehensive set of bloods which I hope to get results for on Mon or Tues. I've also got an appt with a gastro on Thursday so a big week next week for me. 😊 How are you doing now? x

[19581979]

Hope it is just a false alarm. But much better getting it checked out. How long have you been off? My biggest sin is sugar. I'm still struggling. Cutting back but.........

Gx

[Winnie73 in reply to 19581979]

I stopped drinking in mid August and other than two nights out during October half term I've had nowt. I'm hoping it's just my body resetting itself. But the doc was concerned cause I've also lost a bit of weight. I'm now eating completely unprocessed food, drinking lemon water and very minimal sugar and fat so I reckon that's why I'm losing weight. Food is also coming through pretty rapidly and sometimes undigested so I'm thinking maybe there's a malabsorption issue? Especially given I'm deficient in vit b12 and vit d. Don't like the twingy upper right quadrant tho. Really scary. At least I'm getting checked out now. x

[Winnie73]

By unprocessed food I just mean everything is home made. No more pizza and chips!

[19581979]

The loss of weight could be everything settling in for the complete diet change. I read somewhere that it might be better to eat small meals every couple of hours to make it easier for the body to process.

Like you said at least they are looking into it now.

I still need to lose more weight but as I can only do limited exercise weight loss is difficult. I have lost some but I feel like I've hit a plateau. What is worse my skin started drying and itching so I had to up my fluids. I feel like I'm drinking like a fish. Tea and herbal tea or water. It's like it was years ago for me when I first started sinus problems.

I tell you one thing spinal cord injury and liver disease have a lot in common. Bowels and bladder are common topics. Spinal cord injury affects internal organs. Bowels and bladder seen as standard, but I am beginning to wonder what else can be messed up.

Still I am better than most. I was told I would never walk again. I can't do much and I look a bit like a drunken duck, never seen one but you know what I mean, it was still more than expected. Better than school reports they always said could do better if she tried.

By the way I have seen drunken Maggie's and blackbirds after they ate some fallen Apple's I hadn't picked up. Fortunately they were ok and cats didn't get them. They also didn't have too much to eat.

Gx

[Winnie73]

My school reports always said I talk too much in class. Also could try harder. Hey ho. Keep trying with your weight. Sometimes it sticks for a while then you might see it drop again. My hubby is the same. I'm drinking a tonne of water too. It's got to be doing some good I suppose. Keep on keeping on. x

[19581979 in reply to Winnie73]

I learnt to be quiet in class, sit near the front but not in the front. Try have someone tall in front of me. Then make it look like I was listening. If the teacher was interesting I listened, if not I pretended to listen. I could have tried harder but when I did they didn't help much and it was only when I messed about I got moved up to the top set. Didn't teach me much as a pupil about hard work in class pays. I was 50 when I finally got my degree. Clearly a bit slow on the uptake. No one who knows me now would believe I was basically a wallflower as a child.

Being a late doer for myself is probably why I ignored some early signs. Offering cholesterol tablets didn't mean a thing as I couldn't get on with them. So after a few different ones I gave up. I think if I had been sent for a scan earlier I would have understood more. It was only then I woke up.

Funny thing I had a custard slice on Sunday as a treat. Used to be a favourite. It tasted too sweet. Maybe I'm slowly getting rid of my sweet tooth. Only taken 59 years.

I'm going to aim for steady weight until after Christmas now as we are going away just before for a few days. Then start the cut down again after Christmas. Being good in a hotel is going to be a nightmare. Where we are going the food is fantastic.

Take care. And thank you for our chat.

[Winnie73 in reply to 19581979]

Oh you can't be dieting at Christmas. Enjoy your break away. Well impressed at you getting a degree at 50 by the way! Thought I was going well doing my cache level 2 at 42. Thank you for the chat too. 😊 Xx

[19581979]

I've enjoyed the chat. One thing I love about this site. We are all dealing with difficult stuff but we can still recognise the importance of a bit of fun as well. We deserve a bit of fun.

By the way the degree was done with a purpose. The only reason I did it was I wanted to have a broader understanding of the work I'm involved in and love. Learning about the skills and training of those I help people to talk to, to try to ensure that those I support have their rights upheld made it worth it. It was actually a really enjoyable course. Sorry I am a bit of a rebel at heart. I also wanted to prove to me I could do it. I got a 2:1. I bet if they found out a few of my teachers who are no longer with us would have said either: told you she could have done better if she tried or took her long enough.

Have a lovely evening.

Gx

[Winnie73]

You too G. 😊 x