Monday, 19 July 2010
My Massive Migraine
Well, I've been trying to decide what caused my 3 day long migraine and I'm still puzzled. it could have been a number of things really. i did some ridiculous activity for someone with CFS/ME when i went to watch the rugby with my best friend on the Thursday but i mean i was sat down and in the quieter family stand although the stairs where quite a trial in them self, but I'd also decided the week before to start taking all my supplements again in a mission to feel more normal (like normal people rattle when they walk!) maybe i over did it. i mean i was taking Vitamin C with Zinc, Vitamin D with Calcium, Multivitamins with Iron, L-lysine (for my cold sores) Acidophilus (a Digestive aid) and finally Aloe Vera Juice (for IBS)...yeah maybe i did over egg the cake a bit! There is also the possibility that it could have been a change it atmospheric pressure, i mean the weather went from roasting to raining and really windy? i also stopped drinking my beloved coffee and replaced it with fresh orange juice and had debated that it could be some sort of caffeine withdrawals but i really don't drink that much really. Maybe i was just over due a killer migraine....or maybe it was all the above!
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Laney's Book Review: Alexei Sayle - The Dog Catcher
The Dog Catcher
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was witty, intelligent, and totally unlike anything else I have read, and probably will ever read again, by any other author who isn't Alexei Sayle.
It is a book of short stories comprising of totally bizarre and surreal tales of insanity, pirate radio stations, and many other strange but yet quite believable scenarios. Each story leaves you wanting more, so much so that this was the first Alexei Sayle book I ever read and from it I have gone on to read almost everything he's written I liked it that much!
I have read other mixed reviews of this book and am surprised to discover that some readers haven't got passed the first short story as it is a little more....how can i put it....err.....crude(?), graphic maybe(?). i think possibly, because i have liked Alexei Sayles humour for many years, i was maybe a little more prepared for his crazy tales of what people might get up to to earn a living in a small village in Spain. Don't let this story put you off, it is still very funny and she does get her comeuppance in the end.
The Dog Catcher reads as if he was actually narrating it to you. He goes of on peculiar tangent's and as i read it, i could easily imagine Alexei voice telling me these quirky happening. i totally loved this book and would, and have, urge anyone to read this. My brother has it at the moment and is loving it as much as i did.
10 out of 10
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was witty, intelligent, and totally unlike anything else I have read, and probably will ever read again, by any other author who isn't Alexei Sayle.
It is a book of short stories comprising of totally bizarre and surreal tales of insanity, pirate radio stations, and many other strange but yet quite believable scenarios. Each story leaves you wanting more, so much so that this was the first Alexei Sayle book I ever read and from it I have gone on to read almost everything he's written I liked it that much!
I have read other mixed reviews of this book and am surprised to discover that some readers haven't got passed the first short story as it is a little more....how can i put it....err.....crude(?), graphic maybe(?). i think possibly, because i have liked Alexei Sayles humour for many years, i was maybe a little more prepared for his crazy tales of what people might get up to to earn a living in a small village in Spain. Don't let this story put you off, it is still very funny and she does get her comeuppance in the end.
The Dog Catcher reads as if he was actually narrating it to you. He goes of on peculiar tangent's and as i read it, i could easily imagine Alexei voice telling me these quirky happening. i totally loved this book and would, and have, urge anyone to read this. My brother has it at the moment and is loving it as much as i did.
10 out of 10
Laney's Book Review: Carol Goodman - The Lake Of Dead Languages
The Lake Of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
I did, kind of, enjoy reading this book even though it was pretty predictable. All the way through it, well, well over half of it, i guessed who would have been the culprit and the 'everybody living happily ever after' ending was...well...disapointing. The main Character must have been an idiot to have been completely oblivious to who was to blame for the strange occurrences and deaths that where happening. Actually, i read the second half of the book feeling quite annoyed with the main character, Jane, for being to thick to see what was happening around her. There are no unpredictable turns and nothing that leaves you thinking 'i didn't see that coming'.
It's very girlie, i couldn't imagine it holding any man's, and for that matter most women's, interest for more then the first few lines. It's set in a private girls school and Jane is a Latin teacher to a small class of troubled teenage girls and also was a student their herself 20yrs ago, at which time their were 3 deaths and many rumours about the lake in the schools grounds being haunted.
Yeah, it would be fair to say this isn't a life changing book and it's not one that i will be suggesting to friends. This was my mum's book which i dug out from the bottom of the wardrobe, when i asked my mum, before i reading it, what she thought of it she said she 'hadn't finished it' and 'didn't get into it'. So, i would say, if you have nothing else left in the house to read, maybe give it a go but don't expect too much.
3 out of 10 (only because i did finish it!)
I did, kind of, enjoy reading this book even though it was pretty predictable. All the way through it, well, well over half of it, i guessed who would have been the culprit and the 'everybody living happily ever after' ending was...well...disapointing. The main Character must have been an idiot to have been completely oblivious to who was to blame for the strange occurrences and deaths that where happening. Actually, i read the second half of the book feeling quite annoyed with the main character, Jane, for being to thick to see what was happening around her. There are no unpredictable turns and nothing that leaves you thinking 'i didn't see that coming'.
It's very girlie, i couldn't imagine it holding any man's, and for that matter most women's, interest for more then the first few lines. It's set in a private girls school and Jane is a Latin teacher to a small class of troubled teenage girls and also was a student their herself 20yrs ago, at which time their were 3 deaths and many rumours about the lake in the schools grounds being haunted.
Yeah, it would be fair to say this isn't a life changing book and it's not one that i will be suggesting to friends. This was my mum's book which i dug out from the bottom of the wardrobe, when i asked my mum, before i reading it, what she thought of it she said she 'hadn't finished it' and 'didn't get into it'. So, i would say, if you have nothing else left in the house to read, maybe give it a go but don't expect too much.
3 out of 10 (only because i did finish it!)
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Mouth ulcer trials and tips
Right folks, this is the little bit I wrote about dealing with mouth ulcers, cold sores and gum disease issues when you have CFS/ME, hope you find it useful! I'm going to ask my hygenist on tips about other dental care and possible short cuts for when we're bed bound or unable to brush regularly when i see her next week :-
Mouth Ulcers -
Talk to your dentist or hygienist. I have been plagued by mouth ulcers for years. I seem to get small clusters of them around a certain tooth or on the roof of my mouth. Last time this happened I was so fed up that I, bizarrely i know, took a photograph of them and showed them to my hygienist. She immediately told me what they where and told me that they actually can be caused by an allergy to the foaming agent in tooth paste and advised me on which tooth pastes didn't have this ingredient in them. She didn't make me feel weird about taking the photo and, although this hasn't worked for me, I'm sure something this simple could help other people who just hadn't considered this as the problem.
As for treatments i was prescribed an oral paste called Triamcinolone by an immunologist i was seeing, it's sticky, claggy and sometimes doesn't stick to where it's supposed to but when it does its pretty good. I've also been told about an over the counter treatment called Igloo. I haven't tried this myself yet as it is quite expensive (aren't they all) but i have been told it is very good and covers the mouth ulcer with a protective layer. I will be trying this as it sounds better then my weird, claggy, slimy paste. I find Bongela useless and the anesthetic treatments only relieve the symptoms for a very short time. Also rinsing your mouth out with a soluble Aspirin or Disprin can soothe mouth ulcers and help them to heal quicker.
Cold Sores -
I have found a couple of things helpful with Cold Sores. For long term prevention I take 'l - lysine 1000mg' once a day. This hasn't stopped them all together but has definitely lessened the amount of outbreaks I have had.
It is also possible to ask your Doctor for anti-viral treatments. I was put on a long prescription of them (it was months but I'm not sure how many) and I didn't have any outbreaks at all in this time and for quite a while after.
In my personal opinion for actually treating the blister, i have found nothing better then Zovirax. I always have a tube with me. I just wish it was cheaper and in a bigger tube! This can prevent a full blown attack if treated early enough or be put onto the blister to make it disappear more rapidly. It soothes the tingling and I think I'd spend most of my time looking like the swamp thing without it!
There are other treatments which i have not tried myself yet and therefore can not really advise whether they really work or not. I have heard of a Red Light Treatment which you are supposed to use at the 'tingle' stage I believe. It is a bit more expensive though, but if it works it would probably work out cheaper in the long term then using expensive creams as once you've got it you've got it!
Gingivitis/Gum Disease -
For years I struggled with Gum Disease, nothing ever seemed to work. My hygienist has been fantastically helpful and persistent and advised me on all sorts of things. Corsodyl mouth wash is great to use short term and there is a Corsodyl clear gel toothpaste which made my teeth exceptionally clean but these are only to be used sort term. Still after using them my gums where still terrible and bleeding a lot after brushing.
The only thing that made any difference was a totally none related set of antibiotics i was prescribed by my doctor for a sinus infection i think. this cleared my gums up almost completely and i still have hardly had any bleeding when brushing for 9mths now.
For the long term use, Corsodyl do a 'daily' mouth wash and tooth paste which are very good. i also really loved a mouthwash by Colgate called Peroxyl with Hydrogen Peroxide. There are 2 different ones of these, one boxed, one not, the one i used was the one that's not boxed. This was fantastic but my Hygienist said to use this only when my gums are worse as to not build a immunity to it. This works by penetrating below the gum line, i would suggest this to anyone. It seemed mild to use and, i feel, really helped.
For years i used to use Lysterine and after trying Corsodyl Daily and Colgate Peroxyl, I bought a little travel sized Lysterine to go on holiday with. This made me realise how strong and unpleasant it actually is in comparison. I didn't help my gum disease issues and just seems too harsh. I would now never go back to using this.
well, they're not the most flattering things to talk about but if it helps someone then I'm happy with that!
Mouth Ulcers -
Talk to your dentist or hygienist. I have been plagued by mouth ulcers for years. I seem to get small clusters of them around a certain tooth or on the roof of my mouth. Last time this happened I was so fed up that I, bizarrely i know, took a photograph of them and showed them to my hygienist. She immediately told me what they where and told me that they actually can be caused by an allergy to the foaming agent in tooth paste and advised me on which tooth pastes didn't have this ingredient in them. She didn't make me feel weird about taking the photo and, although this hasn't worked for me, I'm sure something this simple could help other people who just hadn't considered this as the problem.
As for treatments i was prescribed an oral paste called Triamcinolone by an immunologist i was seeing, it's sticky, claggy and sometimes doesn't stick to where it's supposed to but when it does its pretty good. I've also been told about an over the counter treatment called Igloo. I haven't tried this myself yet as it is quite expensive (aren't they all) but i have been told it is very good and covers the mouth ulcer with a protective layer. I will be trying this as it sounds better then my weird, claggy, slimy paste. I find Bongela useless and the anesthetic treatments only relieve the symptoms for a very short time. Also rinsing your mouth out with a soluble Aspirin or Disprin can soothe mouth ulcers and help them to heal quicker.
Cold Sores -
I have found a couple of things helpful with Cold Sores. For long term prevention I take 'l - lysine 1000mg' once a day. This hasn't stopped them all together but has definitely lessened the amount of outbreaks I have had.
It is also possible to ask your Doctor for anti-viral treatments. I was put on a long prescription of them (it was months but I'm not sure how many) and I didn't have any outbreaks at all in this time and for quite a while after.
In my personal opinion for actually treating the blister, i have found nothing better then Zovirax. I always have a tube with me. I just wish it was cheaper and in a bigger tube! This can prevent a full blown attack if treated early enough or be put onto the blister to make it disappear more rapidly. It soothes the tingling and I think I'd spend most of my time looking like the swamp thing without it!
There are other treatments which i have not tried myself yet and therefore can not really advise whether they really work or not. I have heard of a Red Light Treatment which you are supposed to use at the 'tingle' stage I believe. It is a bit more expensive though, but if it works it would probably work out cheaper in the long term then using expensive creams as once you've got it you've got it!
Gingivitis/Gum Disease -
For years I struggled with Gum Disease, nothing ever seemed to work. My hygienist has been fantastically helpful and persistent and advised me on all sorts of things. Corsodyl mouth wash is great to use short term and there is a Corsodyl clear gel toothpaste which made my teeth exceptionally clean but these are only to be used sort term. Still after using them my gums where still terrible and bleeding a lot after brushing.
The only thing that made any difference was a totally none related set of antibiotics i was prescribed by my doctor for a sinus infection i think. this cleared my gums up almost completely and i still have hardly had any bleeding when brushing for 9mths now.
For the long term use, Corsodyl do a 'daily' mouth wash and tooth paste which are very good. i also really loved a mouthwash by Colgate called Peroxyl with Hydrogen Peroxide. There are 2 different ones of these, one boxed, one not, the one i used was the one that's not boxed. This was fantastic but my Hygienist said to use this only when my gums are worse as to not build a immunity to it. This works by penetrating below the gum line, i would suggest this to anyone. It seemed mild to use and, i feel, really helped.
For years i used to use Lysterine and after trying Corsodyl Daily and Colgate Peroxyl, I bought a little travel sized Lysterine to go on holiday with. This made me realise how strong and unpleasant it actually is in comparison. I didn't help my gum disease issues and just seems too harsh. I would now never go back to using this.
well, they're not the most flattering things to talk about but if it helps someone then I'm happy with that!
My first blog!
Well, I feel I should write something! I can't promise that I'm going to be the most prolific of blogger's and there maybe a fair bit of ranting and moaning but I'm hoping that i can write a bit about many different topics from living with CFS/ME and my thoughts about it to creativeness and the things i love! So I guess I'll have to see what I feel like writing when the urge takes me! :o)
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