How are you today?

[Badger]

I'm waiting for the results of a Personal Independence Payment review. It's the first time I've had a review, hopefully at the least I'll be left alone. Otherwise I've added details on the chronic pains that have appeared in the few years since winning my tribunal.

 

[Auriel]

Hope it works out in your favour badger

 

[Badger]

Nerve sensations following injuries can be strange and frustrating. Since injuring my hamstrings if I sit on a chair that puts more pressure on them use an exercise bike, they flare up painfully along with restless legs. The right gets some numbness, mostly in the foot which feels cold / wet. Today is the second time this week it's happened although I've avoided hard chairs. Perhaps I slept awkwardly or sat up higher in bed and stretched the legs more. Paced around a bit today to try and loosen up, but the bugger has my foot quite numb

 

[SBee]

@Badger badger
best of luck with the PIP review. I ts quite unsettling atm with all the rumours and potential changes that may ( or may not ) be going on with the old Government doing their review and Labour not yet revealing their own stance on PIP. Adds to anxiety. I submitted my application a couple of months ago but anticipate an assessment and maybe an appeal.
let us know how it goes for you.

Would heat packs help with the leg pains, to relax things a bit?

 

[Badger]

A friend of mine mentioned with his PIP review he received a phone call rather than a home visit. Frustratingly the person he spoke to was a secretary reading from a script and not a professional. I'm bracing myself for what may follow with this labour government.

Hopefully your application process won't be too stressful but I can appreciate anticipating a possible appeal.

I might try a TENS unit on my leg, the sensation was quite strong last night.

 

[SBee]

Did the TENS help @Badger? My husband used one very successfully for a long term back pain. I tried it once ... For about 3 seconds, because my body hated the sensation even on the lowest settings

I'm definitely suspicious of what the Labour government may decide in due course re PIP. If they are willing to throw pensioners under the wheels by withdrawing winter fuel allowance for so many millions whats next? Unless due to that back lash they may prefer to hold fire on major benefit changes to win back some favour?

i did send in reams of supporting evidence from drs and consultants and parts of my own medical records so time will tell how it goes. I did see th e DWP are altering the way they carry out assessments maybe phone is the preferred method now?

 

[Badger]

I didn't get around to using the TENS, fortunately my leg is not so bad today. The small TENS I have doesn't seem too bad on a low setting but it can depend where it's used.

Hopefully your application will be okay with all the supporting evidence. I had hoped my medical records would include letters from physios to the surgery, but it was just a summary.

 

[Auriel]

Can someone help me get rid of my cold/flu/whatever Please? It'll be 3 weeks Monday (they sent me to hospital last Sunday, The Dr there gave me antibiotics) My dr's gave me some more (but I still got flu symptoms, I'm fed up of it now) I've never had a sore throat like that in my life! (The only thing that I've had that reminds me of it was pleurisy) Thanks

 

[Badger]

I've found in the past a hot drink of natural honey and lemon juice helps a sore throat. It also helps with coughs which can be painful for us.

 

[Auriel]

I've found in the past a hot drink of natural honey and lemon juice helps a sore throat. It also helps with coughs which can be painful for us.

With that help my flu symptoms too?

 

[Badger]

It can help soothe some of the symptoms such as sore throat and congestion. From what I've read some believe vitamin C can help recovery. Honey is good for throat infections. Apparently broth and chicken soup can help too. Hoping so, I'm dreading the flu this year. Sorry to hear that you have been unwell for the last few weeks.

 

[sunkacola]

Pure vitamin C can help. I get it in pure ascorbic acid crystalline form and mix it in water or juice. You can use quite a bit, when you are sick, because your body can absorb it and use it to fight off the infection. But if you are not used to it, best to start off with a small amount because for some people the acid in it causes diarrhea or upset stomach if you overdo it. 1/2 tsp in a glass of juice 2 - 3 times a day is a good starting place.

I love miso and ginger together, and find the combination very healing. I can buy a miso/ginger broth here, which is great. But if you can't get that where you live, try a cup of hot miso broth with some ginger grated into it.

And pure honey is good for a sore throat too. It definitely works best if you can buy honey from local hives, not commercially produced honey. The closer to your home the hives are the more likely it will work for you medicinally. Don't bother if the only honey you can get is commercial, from hives who-knows-where. It might soothe your throat for a moment but won't really be healing, and the extra glucose isn't really worth it if it's not actually going to help. (Or so it seems to me.....your results may vary).

You can also gargle with warm salt water. My mother always swore by that for sore throat. I always hated it so much I never do it, but you could give it a try.

 

[johnsalmon]

back in the day of Linus Pauling his advise was to take over a 1000 units of Vit C a day - not because we needed that much of Vit C but because to actually work out how much you needed you would need regular blood panel test - his advise was based on taking that much the body would use what it needed and the rest would be dispelled from the body in the urine. it is said he never had a cold or flue in his life. Those that do not know who he was - he was a professor of organic chemistry among other many things
two of his many quotes is
“Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you. Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live a happy life and how to work for a better world.”
“If a doctor isn't 'up' on something, he's 'down' on it.”'
he was a guest lecturer in organic chemistry in some of my lectures at university

 

[SBee]

Hey @Auriel , sorry you feeling so poorly. Sending lots of healing thoughts your way. My immune system is suppressed due to meds, so have had every preventative immunisation you can think of this year. One thing I always do over winter is take Berrocca? ( well, actually Aldi version about 1\4 of the price ) helps to support the immune system.
Wishing you well

 

[Auriel]

Thanks @Badger , Thanks @sunkacola , Thanks @johnsalmon, Thanks @SBee I don't know what berrocca is (is it a nice alcoholic drink?) and i wouldn't know where to get chrystaline absorbic acid (we have a health shop but im not sure if stock it, id have to check) i bought orange juice, ginger shot drink and lemon juice for water (i hope that'll be enough (I'm gonna try)