Losing Pens

[Oola]

I think we have a pen-eating monster in this house!!!! Why can I never find a pen?!

[keepersdaughter]

Because they're in my washing machine or dryer :(. I'm not very good at checking pockets - laundry is my least favourite household task. Yesterday I washed my sons trousers - you know the kind with a hundred different pockets and zippers - well I didn't check and now there's gum all over the dryer drum. :o

[sheddie]

I have my own pen which I am very attached to and lose it times during a day, I've used it this afternoon but have searched high and low and it is not to be found anywhere. Oh I love that pen, where can it be?

[keepersdaughter]

Have you checked to see if it's perched above your ear by any chance?

[sheddie]

No I hadn't checked there but have now and it isn't there. I hate losing things!

[Oola]

You know I've done that with glasses before, been looking for them and they're perched on my head. Gah!

keepersdaughter I have managed to wash money before, thankfully it's idiot-proof and the note came out relatively unscathed. However, rogue tissues in the wash had made for some very interesting tissue pebbledashing.

More grumbling...I'm also a bit sore tonight as I had some osteopathic treatment for my back this afternoon. It's been really bad recently and she worked on it a lot today. Soft tissue manipulation was quite painful and feels very tender afterwards, but it's one of those things that you know you have to have done in order to make things better! Hopefully it'll get better soon, would be nice to have a decent night's sleep....

[sheddie]

Oola I hope you do have a good nights sleep and your back is easier.X

[keepersdaughter]

Oola, you have my sympathy. I'd always been quite fit and strong - until we moved here. Hauling bags of shopping up a very steep flight of stairs from the garage to the kitchen really hurt my back. Saw the Dr. about 5 yrs. ago when sciatic nerve pain was really bad. A chiropractor helped a bit, at least got me walking without excrutiating pain. Dr. said degenerated discs - not much you can do about it and arthritis. It's been so frustrating; from someone who'd spend hours gardening, bending, digging to someone to just sat around putting on weight. I finally decided to see a physiotherapist about three weeks ago and really wished I'd sought his help and advice in the beginning. He discovered pain left side lower back was due to sacro illiac damage - undoubtedly caused by carrying heavy bags of shopping up the stairs. He massaged my back, muscles were really stiff and tight, and exercises to strengthen core stomach and back muscles. Even after the first week I could feel a difference. Good luck with oestopath, but if it doesn't get better don't be afraid to seek other advice.

[Oola]

Well my osteopath is my cousin...lol...so she's very straight up about why things happen and what I can do about it. Unfortunately my problems seem to run in the family, also the fact that I'm slightly hypermobile and my muscles overcompensate for that.

It started when I was 14 with an accident in P.E. involving compaction of my spine...since then it's been a series of mostly muscular problems which affect what work I do (i.e. heavy lifting, can't actually sit at a computer all day, so that rules out a LOT of jobs, need to move around a lot). Frustrating but could be so much worse. I'm still just about able to do cartwheels, swim with ease, play most sports, it's just about management and listening to your body. I do envy people that don't wake up stiff in the mornings though!

[keepersdaughter]

Oola, it sounds like you have things under control as best you can. It certainly must help to have Dr's help in the family. Wow, well I've never been able to do proper cartwheels, you know just those half hearted attempts when you're trying and thinking you're doing them, but your legs are only off the ground a foot or two lol. I think you're spot on, listen to your body, but keep moving and exercising and find what suits you best. I'd like to do pilates. Need to stretch and loosen up a bit before I attempt it. Hope you have a good night's sleep and awake refreshed. Best wishes.

[dinger]

I understand how you feel with your back pain Oola . my daughter is suffering in the same way .I hope after the treatment you managed to get some well needed rest .By the way this house is the same for pens never one when you need it.

[Healing Hands]

Oola I feel for you I have back problems, but I have been to see a osteopath and she has worked wonders on my back, I have one more treatment on Friday. LOL

[Katelb]

Funny you should mention pilates keepersdaughter,I was going to say that is good for core stability and posture and other human structural positioning.I go to fitness pilates classes once a week,that is slightly less exacting than just 'pilates' and sort of combines fitness into the pilates excercises,sevral of the other members of the class have back/knee/hip problems etc.and they all excercise within their limits but keep coming back for more!!!

Hope you are feeling better this morning Oola,I know from the problems my OH has with his back how debilitating and uncomfortable it can be.Hope your cousin can work some magic for you.

[Crocus]

loosing pens? .............. always, forever and the whole time! I buy pink pens in order to keep it out of boys' hands! Only way I can be reasonably sure to HAVE a pen. I'm forever buying pens, pencils, rulers, goodness, it drives me crazy. And when do I get told about having no pen for school tomorrow? .......Sunday evening or early in the morning. Today is our headmaster's birthday and the kids are allowed to wear "civvies" (no school uniform). There's a huge party at school today and early this morning when I woke the boys: "Mom, you don't by any chance have balloons somewhere?" 6 in the morning. I ask you. Well, they had to go to school without their balloons, thankyou.
Again I've got to buy pens today. As Oola says, somewhere a monster lurks who can't live without pens being on its menu! Or something.

Hi Oola, you're having a real bad time with your back! Is there nothing that can be done to make this better for you?

[sheddie]

I have searched high and low for my pen which is an inexpensive one but was a gift years ago - still can't find it!

[Oola]

Thanks all :) Erm, Crocus I've had problems since I was 14 with my back. Only 2 or 3 times it's been so acute that I have had major mobility problems, so in over a decade that's not so bad. I just have to keep it flexible, keep swimming (when I can get my new swimsuit), as others have said here improve my core strength (around stomach/abdominal muscles) to help support my back...and just manage it so I don't make it bad.

Last night I had a dreadful night's sleep again, ashamedly I slept until midday because I was asleep at gone half past 3/4am. The worst thing about that is it really messes the day up, especially since we have a lot less daylight now arggghhh!

[sunflower]

I'm always losing my pen at work, and because I'm a staff nurse I have to always write in black as the ink is permanent. Also at home, they get 'nicked' but the rest of the family. I bought a bright pink pen the other day for home use.....it got 'nicked' bearing in mind, I live in an all male household, everyone was too embarrassed to own up!

[jazzactivist]

I think that your pens must have set up home in another universe with all the pairs of scissors in my household, Oola! Pens I seem to be able to find where I least expect them, but must buy scissors every time that I shop (in multipacks too) but they just disappear as soon as they get over the threshold of my house. I have the same problem with secateurs in the garden.

I think that osteopathy is marvellous. I recently had a problem with severe night-time headaches and after struggling to get a diagnosis for ages my neighbour, who is an osteopath, sorted out the problem in 3 sessions. It was a misaligned vertebra in my neck. Good luck with your treatment.

[Crocus]

Goodness Oola, to have such severe back pain and at your young age, cannot be nice. I honestly hope that you will get some pain relief!