More than twenty years ago I remember the midwife telling me my iodine levels were not good. She recommended taking tablets, but of course with breastfeeding/ pregnancies at the time I didn't want to take something which might harm the baby. I knew very little then, it was not easy to source info, and the internet was not around.
Fast forward more than twenty years, and I am at the end of the road literally. Just wanting to give up, and run away......anywhere. I was feeling lethargic, tired, no will power, extreme brain fog. Every day was like climbing a mountain I knew I could never climb. I got all the standard answers; you just need to pray more, need more patience, blah blah blah. The worst symptom I had was severe constipation; I was getting impaction, and knew I would end up in hospital if it carried on. I would be lucky if I went twice a week.
Then a few suggested I might need my thyroid checked, including my husband. I had no idea the lump under my throat that sometimes makes it hard to swallow was a goitre. After having my bloods tested it was found I was not only way under and over the levels, but I was also severely anaemic. I have been on levothyroxin since September, and am still anaemic, and still way under what I should be, but things have improved somewhat. A scan revealed nothing mischievous at this stage, but just waiting to see a specialist to check if my nodules actually need removing, as sometimes they choke me, and I feel like I am being strangled.
I still often feel cold when everyone else is hot,and I overheat easily; it seems that is something I will have to live with.
What are the signs of an underactive thyroid?
Tiredness,
depression,
anxiety,
tangled hair,
feeling cold,
brain fog,
constipation,
great difficulty losing weight,
zero will power,
muscle aches..........
It is not a question of just taking iodine supplements as my thyroid gland refuses to process it.I tested negative for coeliac, and hashimotos. Hashimotos is an autoimmune disease where the body actually attacks the thyroid gland, and coeliac disease is where you are intolerant to gluten. I have discovered that many hypothyroid people have this problem.
Yes, I will have to take levothyroxin for the rest of my life, and it will gradually be increased in dose. I hope that this year is better, but I am living in hope. I am starting to feel better, but do have bad off days.
A blog about our family, and our adventures Christian homeschooling 10, and counting, and lots of random thoughts!
Thursday 20 December 2018
Thursday 29 November 2018
Book Review
Isle of Skye in the Apple Pie Carolyn Davison
Now, if you are looking for a quirky present, or something humorous, but clean, then look no further.
I recently received a copy for an honest review, and it couldn't have come at a better time, as I was not feeling the best with being in the midst of this horrid thyroid disease.
I can say, I laughed, and I almost cried. The funniest was the eco shopping bag one, which I could unfortunately relate to........
It is a collection of rhyming poems about life in general, and being a woman. I think every woman can relate to at least one!
There are also some Christmassy ones in there. So, what are you waiting for, give it a go, and who knows maybe it will snow. Ha ha. My poor attempt at rhyme.
You can buy it here
Now, if you are looking for a quirky present, or something humorous, but clean, then look no further.
I recently received a copy for an honest review, and it couldn't have come at a better time, as I was not feeling the best with being in the midst of this horrid thyroid disease.
I can say, I laughed, and I almost cried. The funniest was the eco shopping bag one, which I could unfortunately relate to........
It is a collection of rhyming poems about life in general, and being a woman. I think every woman can relate to at least one!
There are also some Christmassy ones in there. So, what are you waiting for, give it a go, and who knows maybe it will snow. Ha ha. My poor attempt at rhyme.
You can buy it here
Friday 28 September 2018
Scone Cake!
A few weeks ago we were pressed for time in shaping scones, and cutting them, so scone cake was born!
So much easier, and take minutes.
Recipe for basic scone cake:
Ingredients:
100g butter
40g sugar
500g s.r flour
Teaspoon of baking powder
Teaspoon of cinnamon
Teaspoon of allspice
2 eggs
100g raisins
Around 250 ml of milk
Method:
Cream butter and sugar.
Stir in flour, and baking powder.
Add whipped eggs and milk.
Stir in raisins.
Mix well and put into two round cake moulds.
Bake for twenty minutes at 150.
Makes 12 slices.
Chocolate scone variation
Cream butter and sugar as above, and add flour,
but also add 30g of cocoa powder, and 50 g of broken up chocolate bar.
Add the eggs, and milk stir well.
Place into two cake moulds, and add the remaining chocolate in top.
Bake at 150 for 20 minutes or until skewer comes clean.
So much easier, and take minutes.
Recipe for basic scone cake:
Ingredients:
100g butter
40g sugar
500g s.r flour
Teaspoon of baking powder
Teaspoon of cinnamon
Teaspoon of allspice
2 eggs
100g raisins
Around 250 ml of milk
Method:
Cream butter and sugar.
Stir in flour, and baking powder.
Add whipped eggs and milk.
Stir in raisins.
Mix well and put into two round cake moulds.
Bake for twenty minutes at 150.
Makes 12 slices.
Chocolate scone variation
Cream butter and sugar as above, and add flour,
but also add 30g of cocoa powder, and 50 g of broken up chocolate bar.
Add the eggs, and milk stir well.
Place into two cake moulds, and add the remaining chocolate in top.
Bake at 150 for 20 minutes or until skewer comes clean.
Friday 7 September 2018
How Long?
I can't believe how long it is since I last posted, but tbh life.has.been.crazy!
Finally, finally in August I passed my driving test-third time. I was just about to give up, as it is so nerve wracking sitting in the waiting room. However, my nerves dissipated, and I actually ended up enjoying the end part of the test.
More exams in May; a couple of disappointments and some excellent grades in Physics, and Chemistry. My reflection? I think it is crazy that the C boundary for English and Maths is so much higher than GCSE 60% for a C, but the GCSE'S require 40% in some cases. I don't think exams measure accurately a child's capabilities, for example if a child is more hands on, or not great at the exam part. There is little give, as it is 100% exam, and no coursework.
Back to learning now, and really concentrating on the basics.
Home education is not for the faint hearted. Having children isn't for the faint hearted! Just at the weekend I managed to lose our ten year old on the beach for a whole 20 minutes. Can I say my heart stopped for that time? Just when I was thinking dramas were related to my adult children!
Eldest son managed to wreck his car in a smash this week, but thankfully unscathed. That is just one drama; there is always something happening. No joke that my life IS a living soap opera. Who on earth needs to watch more drama??
So, three in work, one in college, and six left to be home educated. Seeing the end of the tunnel, but grasping to reach it! The men in white coats are tempting me, but hey still here, still sort of sane.....ish.
Finally, finally in August I passed my driving test-third time. I was just about to give up, as it is so nerve wracking sitting in the waiting room. However, my nerves dissipated, and I actually ended up enjoying the end part of the test.
More exams in May; a couple of disappointments and some excellent grades in Physics, and Chemistry. My reflection? I think it is crazy that the C boundary for English and Maths is so much higher than GCSE 60% for a C, but the GCSE'S require 40% in some cases. I don't think exams measure accurately a child's capabilities, for example if a child is more hands on, or not great at the exam part. There is little give, as it is 100% exam, and no coursework.
Back to learning now, and really concentrating on the basics.
Home education is not for the faint hearted. Having children isn't for the faint hearted! Just at the weekend I managed to lose our ten year old on the beach for a whole 20 minutes. Can I say my heart stopped for that time? Just when I was thinking dramas were related to my adult children!
Eldest son managed to wreck his car in a smash this week, but thankfully unscathed. That is just one drama; there is always something happening. No joke that my life IS a living soap opera. Who on earth needs to watch more drama??
So, three in work, one in college, and six left to be home educated. Seeing the end of the tunnel, but grasping to reach it! The men in white coats are tempting me, but hey still here, still sort of sane.....ish.
Monday 26 March 2018
My Driving Journey
For anyone who knows me, I don't drive, or at least I didn't until last October. See, when something happens and you realise how helpless you are (husband hospitalised last year) it forces you to bite the bullet, and face your biggest fear. My biggest fear being the idea of driving. I had never really wanted to, and didn't feel at all able to do it.
Of course, last October I got into a car, and started learning. Yes, there have been challenges, but.....surprise surprise, even though I am out of my comfort zone, I am enjoying it; plus I have the added bonus of learning with my kids! Ha ha, we are often swapping notes on driving experiences, and best sites to visit for theory. (Which I passed in February)
I have definitely had scares, just this last weekend: people not giving way at a roundabout, and just zooming through, someone weaving over into my lane in the town centre (heading straight for me), a horse lorry suddenly deciding it was a great thing to park vertically across the road on a bend on a 60m.p.h road, a bloke with a van deciding the main road was a great place for his kids to be while he was blocking half the road.
Last week I took my first test.....but, failed. I had two minors, and one serious fault for positioning in wrong part to turn right in a one way system. I had realised that it was one way, but the end of the road came quickly, plus it was in the country, and there was nothing other than the dotted lines, which I had of course failed to notice!
The biggest challenge was night driving, but now getting used to that, and if anything driving in cities is easier in the dark in my opinion. Next biggest has been parking, as there are new moves in the new test, including pulling up on the right, and reversing two car lengths. Sounds easy, but it isn't if the road isn't straight.
There are so many things you can fail on; signalling too early, or too late, going too slow/fast, hesitation, positioning, steering, bumping the curb, causing someone else to slow down, or stop, incorrect observations. It isn't just a case of following the road! In fact, it is exhausting, and I don't know about anyone else, but it makes me starving! Also, the independent driving on the new test is twice as long, so twice as long to make an error! You can fail because of someone elses' mistake if your response is not appropriate, or reaction not quick enough. I wonder how many who passed years ago would pass now? Definitely not everyone judging the state of some people's driving.
Anyway, hopefully next time I will pass? I don't know, but it is scary!
Of course, last October I got into a car, and started learning. Yes, there have been challenges, but.....surprise surprise, even though I am out of my comfort zone, I am enjoying it; plus I have the added bonus of learning with my kids! Ha ha, we are often swapping notes on driving experiences, and best sites to visit for theory. (Which I passed in February)
I have definitely had scares, just this last weekend: people not giving way at a roundabout, and just zooming through, someone weaving over into my lane in the town centre (heading straight for me), a horse lorry suddenly deciding it was a great thing to park vertically across the road on a bend on a 60m.p.h road, a bloke with a van deciding the main road was a great place for his kids to be while he was blocking half the road.
Last week I took my first test.....but, failed. I had two minors, and one serious fault for positioning in wrong part to turn right in a one way system. I had realised that it was one way, but the end of the road came quickly, plus it was in the country, and there was nothing other than the dotted lines, which I had of course failed to notice!
The biggest challenge was night driving, but now getting used to that, and if anything driving in cities is easier in the dark in my opinion. Next biggest has been parking, as there are new moves in the new test, including pulling up on the right, and reversing two car lengths. Sounds easy, but it isn't if the road isn't straight.
There are so many things you can fail on; signalling too early, or too late, going too slow/fast, hesitation, positioning, steering, bumping the curb, causing someone else to slow down, or stop, incorrect observations. It isn't just a case of following the road! In fact, it is exhausting, and I don't know about anyone else, but it makes me starving! Also, the independent driving on the new test is twice as long, so twice as long to make an error! You can fail because of someone elses' mistake if your response is not appropriate, or reaction not quick enough. I wonder how many who passed years ago would pass now? Definitely not everyone judging the state of some people's driving.
Anyway, hopefully next time I will pass? I don't know, but it is scary!
Saturday 17 March 2018
Weekly Food Shop Savings Without Compromise
I used to often buy brands such as Mcvities, Kenco, Nestle, and Andrex, but of late have been disgusted by the shrinking of the pack sizes. Shreddies is only 440 grams (that is 60grams lost) Digestives are 100grams smaller, Andrex have less tissues, and so on. I decided that I would check out the supermarket brands and see which were the best. Of course I already buy some supermarket brands, but was reluctant to change on stuff like butter, biscuits, shreddies, and coffee. I have since changed my mind, and will run through all our favourites, having tried them all!
Butter
Now, I was really annoyed when Anchor, and the other main brands hit past the £3 level. I had previously bought for £2 on offer, but couldn't find any! So, I tried all the supermarket spreadable butter brands, and Asda was the worst, but Tesco was the best, and more real butter content than the leading brand.
Cereals
Asda own brands have top marks. They have a huge range, and they are super cheap. For example, you can get multigrain loops for 89p a box. There are loads to choose from- malted wheats, wheatbisks, cornflakes, fruit, and fibre etc. They have the best range of any supermarket.
Biscuits
Again, Asda wins, their chocolate biscuits are excellent, and 44 pence for 300 g a fraction of the price of Mcvities.
Coffee
Asda's range wins again. Their own brand columbian coffee is superb, though we didn't like the Italian one, as it was too bitter. £1.99 for 100g.
Also, their 200g coffee is only £2.39 60p cheaper than the other brands.
Be interested to hear your favourites.
Butter
Now, I was really annoyed when Anchor, and the other main brands hit past the £3 level. I had previously bought for £2 on offer, but couldn't find any! So, I tried all the supermarket spreadable butter brands, and Asda was the worst, but Tesco was the best, and more real butter content than the leading brand.
Cereals
Asda own brands have top marks. They have a huge range, and they are super cheap. For example, you can get multigrain loops for 89p a box. There are loads to choose from- malted wheats, wheatbisks, cornflakes, fruit, and fibre etc. They have the best range of any supermarket.
Biscuits
Again, Asda wins, their chocolate biscuits are excellent, and 44 pence for 300 g a fraction of the price of Mcvities.
Coffee
Asda's range wins again. Their own brand columbian coffee is superb, though we didn't like the Italian one, as it was too bitter. £1.99 for 100g.
Also, their 200g coffee is only £2.39 60p cheaper than the other brands.
Be interested to hear your favourites.
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