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Being abandoned

Since I have started this journey I have seen stories on group pages about people being abandoned as soon as they receive their diagnosis. I won’t lie, most of them make me cry. I can not imagine getting a diagnosis for Parkinson’s to then have the person who you share your life with walk away immediately after. It doesn’t have to be Parkinson’s but any life changing situation. To have that constant in your life suddenly vanish must make the future look so much harder, scary and so bloody lonely.

I took a moment to try and put myself in that position. How would I feel? Rejected. Unloved for sure. Suddenly no longer perfect, not that I am by a long shot. Maybe defective would be a better way to put it. An embarrassment? Probably a liability. Someone who will now hold you back from living the life you saw in your future. Well news flash. That is the new reality for the person who you have left behind.

Sadly being abandoned isn’t restricted to the nearest and dearest. Family and friends can also slink off quietly, hoping you don’t notice. It’s not so much boldly saying ‘sorry didn’t I sign up for this’ it is more stealth mode, under cover of darkness, vanishing. I’m sure a lot of that is due to them not knowing what you need, how to behave or even not wanting to be on the hook for extra assistance. Possibly not wanting to be witness to your deterioration.

They don’t want you treating them differently. They haven’t grown a second head. It’s not contagious. You probably won’t be asked to move in and help out. Sure they might need a lift on occasion but that’s not such a big ask. At this point they don’t know what they are dealing with. Trust me, I promise you will all be on the same page, except their learning curve needs to be a steep one. You don’t have to do the intense course, just a brief overview would be enough.

Being abandoned but seeing things from both sides of the fence

Never once has it crossed my to do this. To make my husband feel abandoned. Neither of us signed up for this curve ball. You just have to roll with it and make the most of the new reality. That new path might be rougher and a tad steeper but it doesn’t mean the view has to be bleak and miserable. Take it slow and enjoy the things you do encounter on the way, no matter how tiny.

Please don’t get me wrong, not everyone is cut out to be a carer as I covered in a prior post. I am not condoning staying in a relationship that is detrimental to your own health. However I do think there are ways to deal with it. This maybe easier in hindsight as I can bet that the urge to run at that moment of diagnosis could be overwhelming. Yet staying and making you both miserable isn’t going to help anyone in the long run.

So if this is you. Having been abandoned. Reach out, there are places and people that want to help. The future doesn’t need to be lonely or bleak. If you are the other side of the equation and want to leave but don’t want to leave someone abandoned, talk to some one. Perhaps you are scared. For both parties it is daunting. A lot is unknown and there is no set path. Each journey is unique. Just talk to each other. Be honest as it’s a lot to deal with. You’ll find the way that is best for you. I believe in you E x

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Who is the smart one?

How would you classify smart? I’m not talking appearance. The fine threads and dapper outfits (I love that word – dapper). I am talking about intellect. Why am I asking? Well husband and I were having a conversation the other day and a comment he made got me thinking. As much as it annoyed me he had a valid point. Just don’t tell him. Because that would smart.

I was talking about how someone had said in passing that they were too old and thick to learn new things. There isn’t too many years between us and I don’t think I am too old to learn new things. Not that I am saying I am smart by any stretch but I have had to get to grips with a fair few new things recently. Don’t get me wrong, it might take me longer to pick it up but I will give it a go. If you don’t try, you don’t know.

Is the reluctance to learn lack of self belief? Tiredness from all the other balls you are usually juggling when you are older. Possibly wanting the younger staff to step up and take more responsibility. Simply feeling why should I bother. Older people can be seen as obsolete and irrelevant. I never want to feel that is how I am seen. I’m not ready to be put out to pasture.

That got us to talking about educational achievement and who would be the smartest based on exam results and qualifications. Then he uttered the following ‘yeah but who is smarter, the one who did well at school and their career and is working their butt off or the one who doesn’t work and is living off benefits.’

His comment has some merit sadly. Then I was reminded of the comment ‘work smart not hard.’ That grated. I am not adverse to hard work and keeping current with the requirements that go with my job. I love to try new things and prove that I am still able to improve and expand my knowledge but was husband right? Is there any point in pushing yourself?

From my point of view I suppose it depends on what sits right with you. What allows you to be at peace with yourself and sleep at night. For me that means working hard and striving to be better. To constantly learn. Maybe that doesn’t make me smart. Perhaps some would say it makes me stupid.

Dream on to be smart

I can’t help but ask myself if the person who doesn’t work has a lack of ambition. Fears failure? Thinks they are entitled. Maybe just lazy. It is their choice and the system helps them to live that way. Please do not think that I am referring to people who are unable to work, I’m not.

At the end of the day it will make no difference to me and how I live . I will keep working hard. Perhaps I am not smart wanting to keep learning. To keep working towards the new things I want to achieve. All so I can stand there proudly and say ‘hey I did that. It was all my hard work.’ For me there is no greater feeling than that.

So never feel you are too thick to try something new. You might not ace it but at least you tried and to me that makes you smart. You could have hidden talents then who would be the smart one. You for believing in yourself, for taking that chance. If all it needs is for someone to believe in you. Well that is me. We are smart. We can do anything E x

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I did it!

No I am not admitting to some terrible crime. I am celebrating. I did it! I published a book. This girl chased her dream and I did it. Excuse me while I take a moment, pat myself on my back and feel a little proud. It’s has been a wild ride for sure but as I sit here right now it has been worth every tear, moment of self doubt and sleepless night!

Don’t get me wrong it has been a hard slog at times. A massive learning curve too but it was worth it. The actual writing of the book wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. The journey to get it published was a lot more complexed than I’d expected, not that I thought it would be plain sailing. There has been new software to get to grips with, formatting styles to learn. Not to mention more rereads of the initial manuscript than was planned.

There were moments when I nearly quit. Getting the notes and suggestions back from my editor was just as I’d expected. It felt like someone taking a red pen to my homework. It stung but it was a necessary all be it painful process. She showed me the habits that I have when writing, the improvements required to how I form my sentences but her parting comment that it was a good first book was a soothing balm to the dented ego.

As this post sees the light of day she is about to edit my second book. I’m hoping that I have learnt from her notes and the red marks will be less this time round. It has certainly changed the way I write. I hope it means that I am a better writer for her input.

The fact that I did it doesn’t mean the work is done. Now the really hard work starts. Promotion and marketing. That blow your trumpet requirement to try and recoup some of the costs to getting to this point. Trust me as dreams go this is not a cheap one to have. But it’s not all about the cost. It’s about proving I could and I did it.

I did it

This is the part that I suck at. I will admit that. Telling people hey you need to read this. I did it and you should buy it. Let’s face it pennies are tight. People haven’t got the spare cash. Getting rich from this is not likely to be in my future but that really wasn’t the reason behind me chasing the dream.

Juggling balls while riding a unicycle was inspired by this blog and is the first is my Just Me series. A series was never the plan when I started but I am going to go where the writing is leading me. You can get it from the usual online shop and hopefully I will be able to get it into a few local stores too. Or you can get it direct from my website where you can get a signed copy. It was suggested people might like that option.

Now I am going to take a little time to let it sink in. I did it. If I do nothing else in life, a book that I have written is out there for the world to see if they care to. So I will sign off and say if I can do it, so can you. It’s never too late to chase that dream. And finally to you people that have been holding my hand through this. Thank you. I did it and I couldn’t have done it with out you. I love ya E x

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Changing expressions

One of the symptoms of Parkinson’s I wasn’t expecting was the facial mask. The limiting of facial expressions. Honestly there were a lot of things I didn’t expect or consider and I swear there are some, if not many, that I am oblivious to. I will look forward to those appearing on our journey: not.

Would I say my husband is the most easy person to read? Probably not. He isn’t exactly open with his expressions or feelings around people he doesn’t know. So did I expect to notice much difference. I don’t have any prior experience with people with this condition apart from my mother-in-law. I didn’t notice this with her so would it really show?

His lip tremor has become more obvious. Now I have no idea if that is just obvious to me because it was brought to my attention by the consultant. My husband has commented how he can sense it more. Especially when he is looking at his gawjus face in the mirror. (His words not mine.) I don’t want to ask others in case they then become aware of it and stare like I did for the first day. The last thing I want to do is draw attention to it, people are not exactly subtle.

Recently I have noticed his expressions have changed when he is just sat watching telly. His resting bitch face as I refer to it in myself. It’s really hard to describe. He looks sadder if that makes sense. For a while I found myself asking if he was OK more often. Then it dawned on my that it was the start of this face masking I had read about. His expressions aren’t limited when he smiles and laughs. His face still creases, as faces do when you reach a certain age. Especially a face that has been exposed to the elements during the numerous years he worked outside.

He can be a grumpy git, he’ll admit it. That too is an age thing I am sure. Men reach a certain age and the grumpy old git gene kicks in. I am suddenly reminded of a saying I heard when growing up when I was caught pulling a face ‘careful the wind doesn’t change or you’ll stay that way.’ I don’t want the wind changing and him having a permanent resting bitch face or expressions of that ilk.

A picture to induce happy expressions

I guess that means I have to make sure he exercises his face muscles to keep his expressions fluid. The muscles active. So do I have carte blanche to behave like an idiot? We tease each other a lot so that helps. Sometimes he starts chuckling and I am looking at him wondering if he has lost the plot. Usually its some odd thought that has popped into his head. I swear the random thoughts are eye opening, but they do make me laugh.

Another thing he has a great habit of doing is mishearing. He has done it for years. It’s not something he makes others aware of but when we are alone it is a great source of amusement. He can reduce me to tears of laughter with the level of mishearing he has. I have given up trying to work out how he can hear something so completely different that what was actually said. It’s like the singing the wrong lyrics to a song for years. That I understand.

I guess we will have to keep trying to make each other laugh and exercise those facial muscles to help maintain those natural crazy expressions for as long as we can. It’s just extremely lucky that we are both so nutty. It goes to proves that you don’t have to be mad but it sure as hell helps. E x

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Is Nature the answer?

Why do we not turn to nature more for answers to life’s problems? I swear this is not going to be a deep, happy clappy blog. This is actually inspired by my best friends, friend who is going through a rough time, but that is not my tale to tell. She has been doing research to help with her journey and has kindly offered me and hubby some pointers. Words of wisdom from her finds to date.

Let me set the tone right now. I’m in no way saying forgo medical advice and medication to find answers in the larder that nature has to offer. However, can we not make use of that supply to assist and make the drugs work better. Reduce the side effects. A short call to my friend and the few things that were mentioned, I swear, it was like a light bulb moment. Yeah, that makes sense.

A drug you take affects a balance in your body. So you counteract that and reset the balance with specific food. You need to take your tablets with food so it makes perfect sense to eat something that enhances them. Makes it work better. My goodness it’s not rocket science. So why doesn’t medicine use nature to help patients treatments. Please don’t tell me it’s just down to being no profit in it for them. That sucks and is just so wrong. If it is the case. Shame on you drug geeks!

Me, personally, I would happily use natural remedies. Let’s face it, people swear by hot lemon for colds. Chicken soup. Spices to relieve toothache. Oils for aches. Woman have been passing on their remedies for dealing with morning sickness for years. I wanted to slap myself for not considering this sooner. It’s obvious when you think about it. People have been doing it for centuries. Nature is great that way.

the beauty of nature

The Parkinson’s medication can cause nausea, so what can nature offer us to help. Sure I’ll have to dig into my science lessons that are stuffed somewhere in the brain cells. Read the tablet gumph, then do some research. From that point on it’s trial and error. I mean ,what is there to lose? Nothing, as far as I can see. If we can get it right, surely that is a win for all parties. If I can make husband feel a little better and get the full benefit of his medication then I’ll do the study.

Now I get what will work for one may not work for another. We are all individual. This may not be something you are comfortable with. That’s fine. We all have the right to our own opinion. For me though, if doing this leg work and finding something in the larder nature has to offer that eases side effects has to be a bonus. Some have been horrid and put a limit on daily activities. Medication is supposed to help you live, not make you housebound.

We might find that something he can eat to help is something he can grow on the allotment. That would be a double win. A reason to get out and a fresh supply. Home grown tastes so much better. There’s a lot of medication that he is on, so this could be a long process. The Parkinson’s drug will be my starting point. One medication at a time. It could be a waste of time, but that’s a chance I’m prepared to take. Just in case it works.

So now I’m off research carefully. Double checking my findings. Looking for new recipes. Who knows where it’ll lead us. If nothing else, we might come across some new dishes. I’ll let you know how it goes. Hopefully you won’t smell any burning. I make no promises. Ex

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Being fobbed off!

Don’t get fobbed off. A phrase I have used, possibly more times that I should have and recently it was said to us. I had to smile. Sure we all like to think we can stand our ground, ask to be listened to but do we actually get heard. I actually fear that we don’t. It’s more like we are patted on the head like a small child with the hopes we will shut up and go away.

Since we were giving the initial Parkinson’s diagnosis in January 2024, looking back, we have been fobbed off quite a lot. This is hasn’t gone unnoticed but it has been quietly accepted as ‘just the way it is.’ Well maybe not quietly, there have been some expletives used. It is just not right, in fact it’s positively disgraceful. The passing of the buck has got to epic proportions. So when we feel we are being fobbed off what can we do about it?

This started for us way before this diagnosis. It’s prevalent when you are under more than one department and the conditions can be linked. The back surgeon tells you its your hip, the hip specialist tells you it’s your back causing the problem. Then you get a new issue and the two of them rub their hands together and put the onus on the rheumatology consultant. It’s being fobbed off as a tag team event.

Now we throw Parkinson’s into the mix and well tag it’s all linked to that. Sadly I expected that and well the consultants didn’t disappoint. It felt like it was, we’ll he has Parkinson’s so it is to be expected. There is the ‘get out of jail free’ card. We can discharge you from our clinic and make our numbers look better. Majorly fobbed off!

I'll just sit here and wait to be fobbed off again

When we were going through the symptoms with the new Parkinson’s consultant and we mentioned everything being linked to this she smiled, nodded and stayed silent. I got the feeling she has heard that more times that she would like. It must be so frustrating from her position. She then put husband through a load of mobility tests. Boy did she get a work out, moving him about. Sitting back down she typed away then sat back, looked at us and smiled.

You have a tremor based Parkinson’s, this is good news. At this time it is not affecting your walking as you have no shuffling, freezing or stooping. The symptoms you have described are not down to Parkinson’s. Its more likely arthritis based so do not get fobbed off when they tell you they are not. When is your next appointment? No idea. We haven’t heard anything for nearly a year. I would swear there was an internal eye roll.

Hearing her tell us not to get fobbed off pretty much had me grinning. It was refreshing to hear someone being so assertive. We have got so used to ‘well it could be,’ or ‘it’s more likely to be.’ We left there feeling a tad more positive and with a prescription for the increase in medication. The letter regarding the appointment was with us later that night. She is nothing if not efficient.

So where do we go now? Back to waiting for appointments from the other clinical departments. I am not going to hold my breath for anything in the near future. Then back to to this clinic in six months. Hopefully the medication will have started to have an effect. It’s all a waiting game. Something my husband is not good at. I’ll just have to find him chores to keep him occupied. Ex

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Winter Blues

I’ve never really felt like I have suffered from the seasonal effects of the weather, especially the winter blues but this year is different. But is it the weathers fault? A lot of people I have spoken to have all commented about how it seems to be darker for longer in the mornings. I have sure noticed that. Dark mornings never really bothered me but this winter I am certainly wishing them gone. The groan as the alarm sounds, you peer out with one eye open and swear that it can’t be time to get up as it’s still night out.

The rain without a doubt isn’t helping and boy we seem to have had a lot of heavy downpours and constant dull skies. The damp doesn’t help with hubbies arthritis. Nor does it make him want to get over the allotment. The levels of rain have already ruined the newly planted onion sets. The first casualty of the year. Not great for the motivation. Nor is the prospect of muddy footwear and wet clothes when you get caught in that sharp shower!

I seem to remember crisp but bright sunny winter days when I was younger. You would happily wrap up and get outside. Now they seem to be dull, grey and wet more often than not. Is my memory wrong? Have I donned my rose tinted glasses? Is grey going to be our new norm? I sure hope not. It seems to affect so many other parts of your life or perhaps that’s just me.

The chores on the way home from work seem twice as boring. The need to pop out at the weekend such an effort because all you want to do is stay inside with a nice warm drink and a slushy film or a good book. Are we all finding daily life so much more of a burden? The good buried deeper under the higher costs we are all facing. People are grumpier: more short tempered. I can’t say I blame them. Good cheer seems to still be on its winter holiday.

There is a glimmer of hope with the nights drawing out not that you notice that when you are huddled under an umbrella trying to keep dry waiting for the bus that you suspect has been cancelled. Perhaps the driver decided to stay home under the duvet. I know I wish I had. Once that damp and cold gets in you, curling under the duvet seems to be the only place to get warm again.

We shouldn’t be wishing the days away but I for one will be sure happy to see the bright green shoots on the trees, the tips of the bulbs breaking through the sodden soil. That is, as long as they haven’t rotted or been washed away. Even to feel a little heat from the winter sun wouldn’t go amiss. Some brightness to put a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

Husband is looking forward to the sun being out. This winter he has been housebound more than I have ever known him to be. The aches intensified by the weather. The warmth I hope will see him out to the allotment. Replacing the onions to start with. Tackling the weeds that I have no doubt turn it into a bit of a jungle. Preparing the beds ready for this years crops. One thing I can promise without fail that when the summer hits and the temperatures get a little too warm for him he will utter those annoying words that will make me tut ‘roll on winter!’ E x

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Smell of an issue

So it seems loosing your sense of smell is a possible symptom of Parkinson’s. That hadn’t caused a blip on my radar of potential issues. It’s not a major issue, is it? Having no sense of smell. In some circumstances not being able to smell is a blessing. We have all been in that situation when an aroma is so strong it makes your eyes water or worse makes you sick. Then it follows you for hours tormenting you.

I will say I don’t think my husband has ever had great sniffing abilities. My nose is more sensitive. Sometimes it annoys me, as an aroma can get caught in my nostrils and not even serving it an eviction notice can get it to vacate. Camel poop on a trip to Egypt being one instant and even now the memory makes my nose twitch. It has proved invaluable too. I once smelt, what I can only describe as electrical burning. Tracked it back to a toaster, just as it started sparking with fire. Phew!

Wives with husbands of a certain age will tell you that they develop selective hearing. It seems mine has developed a selective sense of smell. How is that possible I ask? I’m sure there is a science geek out there who can explain it. I understand that noises have different pitches so do scents have the equivalent? Is that how some register while others don’t?

Some situations I swear it feels like it’s just to annoy me. I can open the fridge and find an errant item in the salad draw that has seen better days, throw it out but the smell lingers. Yet husband is happily oblivious. It’s more frustrating when I can open the fridge and something smells like it’s on the turn but I can’t find it. No point asking husband. Sods law it is a scent that won’t register with him.

Some nights I can be snuggled, trying to sleep then a whiff of the packaging from the fish we had for dinner hits my nose. Husband can’t smell a thing. Concentrate on counting sheep I tell myself. The sheep that morph into fish. Nothing else to do but get out of bed and grab the can of air freshener. ‘What the hell?’ Oh it seems husband can smell that no problem. I may have sniggered when he moaned it was stopping him getting back to sleep.

Smell the orse

Anyone who has lived in flat will tell you that smells from neighbouring properties can be an issue. We can smell the smoke from downstairs strongly in our bathroom. That is something husband can still sniff out. The fact he can still detect smoke is a relief I can tell you. Sometimes we can come home and an errant scent hits my nose and it will drive me mad until I have checked our place out to make sure it’s actually a neighbours issue and not ours.

My husband still loves to cook and can still smell burning. Great. However I’d prefer it if he woke before dinner is cremated when I am running late getting home. I have to remind him to check things in the oven once the smell reaches me. He hasn’t mastered the timer on the new cooker. Even if he did it isn’t very loud so I doubt he would hear it. That selective hearing at play again.

I guess this is just one of the symptoms we will have to live with and hope that my sense of smell doesn’t take a vacation. At least I can get his attention with the air freshener for the time being. I think it smells nice. Oh well its the little things. E x

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My early morning commute.

I’ve had to smile a few times recently when people have commented on my early starts during the working week. My alarm goes off at 4.45am. I bet some of you groaned. I suppose I have always been an early bird when it comes to work. I had a paper round growing up so I was out early for that. When I worked at the shop I was stopping off at my Nan’s to have a cuppa and check in with her before opening up. My alarm in those days was simply my dad stopping outside my bedroom door on his way out to work. A postman leaving to sort and deliver the mail.

Now don’t get me wrong I love a lie in. I could not do early starts everyday but when it is to go to work I prefer it. Why? Well I love the peace of being in the office before everyone else so I can have a cuppa without interruptions. Then I can get myself set up for the day without people distracting me. I think the best thing is the world you see at that time of day. The hour or two before the hustle and bustle of the rush hour, when the world is waking up.

The woman I see most mornings out for a walk. Maybe that is the only time she gets to herself. The man walking his dog who waves as he passes on the other side of the road. The guy from the supermarket who gets the same bus as me who is out on his feet from his night shift. Other people on the bus who are heading towards the train station to miss the packed later trains. Tradesmen on their way to the building sites that open before office hours. It’s quiet. People still not quite awake or just contemplating the day ahead.

The guy that smells like germolene, the woman who’s perfume makes my eyes itch or the lady that constantly looks like she has lost something who is forever searching in her hand bag. People I probably wouldn’t notice once it gets busier. At certain times of the year I get to enjoy the most beautiful sunrises. The fox that is out looking for its breakfast. The birds with their early chorus. And of course the joy of less traffic!

Early rising gets you to see lovely views

Once off the bus on my walk to the office its the postmen on their way to the sorting office with their coffee from the local cafe. Most smile, nod and say morning. The council workers litter picking and emptying the bins that wave and call out a cheery ‘morning darling.’ Eateries setting up the tables and chairs on the pavement outside, ready for the early customers. Market traders unloading their vans and setting up their stalls. There is bustle, not that of rush hour, but of a different kind.

Outside the pub the dray delivering the barrels that sound loud in the early morning hush. On the other side of the road the van delivering fresh fruit and veg to the market shop for their impressive daily display of goodies. Inside the cafe the owner waves if he sees me, he calls out if he is outside ‘how are you? Not seen you in a while.’ He is right I’ve not treated myself to lunch in there for quite a while.

The early world is not as still as you might think. I love it. It feels special in a way as not many people get to see it. Most probably won’t contemplate those early people out setting up the world but to me they are like little worker ants. Without them I wonder how the day would unfold. E x

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Open to Interpretation

Interpretation on the whole makes me smile. I love how people can use it to justify how they do things. Their way is correct and anything else is wrong. It might not be but that is how they see it. That’s why life is interesting. You and I can read the same thing and take it to mean different things. It opens the door to debate. I think it’s a good thing; a great way to learn.

Yet interpretation can be so extremely frustrating. When I was at school it was something a couple of my teachers drilled into me. One teacher said that my answer might not be correct according to the set answers but if you explain your interpretation of the question to back up how you got to your answer it can’t be marked as incorrect. That lesson has proved useful more than once.

Recently we had our first meeting with our specialist Parkinson’s consultant. This, it turned out, was a new clinic that was being set up so there were a few teething problems. Both the consultant and nurse were lovely. Both explaining that things may take a little longer while the system is getting up on it’s feet. Not a problem. Hiccups are to be expected with these things.

We go through all the back ground information and set the groundwork for his record. Then we start talking about medication. I will hold my hand up and say I expected to have the same conversation with the consultant as I’d had with the Parkinson’s nurse earlier in the week but I was pleasantly surprised.

She asked husband how he was getting on with the tablets. Had he experienced the nausea he had been warned about? Thankfully not but he mentioned the rigid times he had been given in the letter from our first appointment with the nurse and how it wasn’t fitting in with everyday life. The consultant listened to his concerns then smiled. That is a very exact interpretation of the use of the medication but there is wiggle room.

The path of life is open to interpretation

I am pretty sure we both let out a sigh of relief. You fit the medication into your life, you don’t change your life to fit the medication. The days you are starting earlier, if you feel you need an additional tablet at the end of the day, have one. You don’t have to eat exactly thirty minutes after taking your tablet just as long as it is after half an hour. If it’s an hour or more it’s not a problem.

The local nurse had given us her interpretation of the guidelines for getting the best from the medication. It was rigid and set in stone. The last discussion I had with her made me feel like it was this way or nothing. If you can’t change to fit the medication into your life there is no point you taking it. Wow I’m sure the employers of everyone who works while on this medication are going to be really accommodating to this regime… not!

The consultants interpretation was much more relaxed. This is the ideal set up but life isn’t ideal so we do the best we can to get the best from the tablets without tying your hands. You don’t need to get up as early at the weekends. As a rule of thumb you need to allow about four to five hours between each tablet. Thank you this we can work with. The nurse’s interpretation would have either seen me missing dinner four nights a week or looking for alternative employment. I think the diet would have won.

I suppose it goes to show that sometimes a second opinion or view point is beneficial. Life isn’t set in stone and interpretation should always allow for a little wiggle room. Ex