Feel Good Friday

[MAS_Nurse]

Hello everyone and welcome to Feel Good Friday. How has your week been? We would like to hear how you all are. Either way, if this has been positive or not so positive, we would like for you to share it with us. I have decided to treat myself to some new art equipment and buy some pastel crayons. I have never used these before, I have always used the chalks. I am not particularly good at drawing, but I do find it relaxing and love to blend in the colours. I have found this quote which I think is very positive----

"I hope you learn to love yourself for who you are and what you look like and how you were born to be because you are perfect in your own way."

Tyler Oakley

Please share your news with us. We are listening. Best wishes to you all and have a good week.

MAS Nurse and Moderator

[Hidden]

Hi MAS_Nurse,

I hope you enjoy using your new art supplies. I'm a great fan of arts and crafts and am always buying far too many supplies. I hope you have fun with your new pastel crayons. It's a great medium to work with.

I'm having a challenging time at the moment as my husband's just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Luckily I'm an old hand with it as my previous husband also had it, but even so, I'm having to get my head around it all over again. (And, if I'm entirely honest, feeling a tiny bit resentful and saying 'oh not me again, I've had my turn). But I'll be fine. It might have been me, and then I'd have had to deal with it anyway. And on a brighter note, we'll probably end up with a much better diet because of it.

Hope everyone else has had a reasonable week, and very best wishes for the weekend.

[MAS_Nurse in reply to Hidden]

Hi Callendersgal, thank you for your reply. Sorry to hear your husband has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I think it takes time to adjust, doesn't it? You are very experienced with this and will be fine. As you say, it is a healthy diet and the condition can be well managed. There is always help and support available from your GP. Practice Nurse and Diabetes UK diabetes.org.uk

I hope you have a good weekend.

Thank you and best wishes.

[klr31]

I'm struggling seeing my elderly father who has dementia, is unwell and in pain today. I've just returned from a few days away visiting my husband's elderly parents who live independently still (just!). I thought I would find dad as okay as he can be as a friend visited him on Wednesday but today he wasn't - he was in bed. He has been in a nursing home for over two years now and, of course, is deteriorating but it is so hard to watch and I wonder how long he will last. Of course, the next time I see dad he may be 'better' and not remember today but I will.

Karen

[MAS_Nurse in reply to klr31]

Hi Kir31 and thank you for your reply. Sorry to hear your father is unwell and in pain and, as you mentioned, when you see him again, he may seem "better" and communication may be easier. Does he respond when you show him photographs of the family? It is so difficult when our loved ones are unwell. Please continue to post on the forum when you need support. I hope you and your family have a nice weekend.

Thank you and best wishes.

[klr31 in reply to MAS_Nurse]

Thank you. I show him photos but have to be careful what I show him as he can get upset.

[Hidden in reply to klr31]

Hi Karen, so sorry to hear you’ve experienced this sudden deterioration in your dad. It’s quite sobering isn’t it? It does give you pause for thought of what the future might hold

I remember this happening with my own dear mum and then having to leave her to go back overseas wondering if I’d make it back to ever see her again.

In the event I didn’t, so all I can recommend is not to dwell on the ‘wheres’ and ‘whens’ but try to just stay in the moment and cherish dad still being here with you, for as long as he is.

But I do also hope you’ll see an improvement in him on your next visit.

With my very best wishes to you both.

[klr31 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.

[Beezle47]

I didn't get my reply in yesterday as I was too busy enjoying myself. My husband and I care for one another. He has acute, chronic pain and I have adult onset mitochondrial disease. We are lucky enough to be in Almunecar, Spain where the town and seafront are very well set up for disabled scooters with ramps everywhere. This has allowed us to move around in a way we cannot at home in Wales.

It is warm and sunny and we are here for a month! Although both our health conditions have meant we cannot do lots of the things we would have liked to do, we can still enjoy ourselves in our limited way .. eating, coffee stops, people watching, enjoying blue skies and warmth and palm trees and occasionally browsing around the town where there are lots of arts and crafts. My favourite thing.

Well done on buying your pastels! I hope to book into to a half day mixed-media course with an English artist next week. I'm so excited.

I have been very down sometimes with this condition. My life turned upside down 12 years ago when it hit and, since it is degenerative, I am worse than when I started. However, after a couple of very difficult years (cowboy builder wrecked our home and hubby became increasingly poorly) I am learning to enjoy what I CAN do, however little, rather than dwell on all the 'life' I've lost. I'm quite an optimist by nature but, as many of you will know first or second hand, going from an active life to sitting on the sofa most of the day is extremely hard to accept. I should have embraced this philosophy more fully long ago and I just hope I can keep up this thinking pattern and make the most of what little time we are both feeling reasonably OK. Happy thinking. Happy life to you all.

[sassy59]

Hi MAS_Nurse, we’ve not had a bad week but Petes constantly choking, bringing up mucous and in pain with his back. Seeing the GP tomorrow but not sure what he can do.

We just get through each day with support from family and look forward to Spring/Summer.

Have a good week everyone. Xxxxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

Hi sassy59, I hope Pete's GP can help him at least a little and give him some relief.

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much xxx