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Estrangement

Support and friendship for those whose lives have been affected by estrangement.

(996 Posts)
Smileless2012 Thu 26-Jun-25 10:42:51

So here we are again, another thread for friends we've already made and for those we are yet to meet.

The last few days have been difficult because for as long as some of us have been contributing to the support threads, offensive posts from these 'new' members still not only disrupt, but can hurt too.

'The truth shall set you free' popped into my head over the weekend because these 'new' members/trolls/previously banned posters are not being truthful to us here on this forum or possibly to themselves either.

In order for the truth to free us we have to be honest because honesty and truthfulness can liberate us from all kinds of emotional baggage like guilt and fear and also the impact of deception on our lives.

Guilt often prevents 'admitting' to estrangement in the first place and many live with the fear of permanent estrangement, that estrangement is inevitable or the fear of what a reconciliation my bring.

The impact that the deception from those who lie about us to others is sometimes unquantifiable as is the impact of lying to themselves.

What we share may not always be pretty, it may not always be easy to share or to read but it does help ourselves, one another and who knows how many who read but never post and that I believe is what really matters.

Babs03 Mon 04-Aug-25 11:22:41

Yoginimeisje

I learnt this morning that a good friend's husband has just passed away, quick aggressive cancer, I had no idea he was even ill, such a shock.

So sorry, sometimes it isnโ€™t that the cancer is quick but that there are no real symptoms for some time. We all check for bumps and moles but sadly sometimes there are no outward sign. ๐Ÿ˜ž

Smileless2012 Mon 04-Aug-25 08:42:09

Just seen your last post Yogin; sounds like my cousin's partner. It's frightening just how quickly some cancers can take a life flowers.

Smileless2012 Mon 04-Aug-25 08:40:10

Morning everyone.

You hear so many horror stories about people knocking on doors offering to do roofing and drives Yogin, who charge a fortune for work that didn't need doing in the first place, and sometimes they leave it in a worse condition than when they started.

You absolutely did the right thing smile.

The rain's just started hammering down here and we're hoping that we'll be spared the worse of the strong winds forecast for today.

Don't know if Mr. S. will be playing his bowls match this evening after a busy bowls festival week last week. He got through to the pairs final yesterday but they lost by just 3 points. Has a lovely shield though which he'll have for 6 months before giving to his partner for 6.

Hope none of you will be badly affected by today's storm. Stay safe x

Yoginimeisje Mon 04-Aug-25 08:31:30

I learnt this morning that a good friend's husband has just passed away, quick aggressive cancer, I had no idea he was even ill, such a shock.

Yoginimeisje Mon 04-Aug-25 08:22:19

Morning all

Allsorts He was a gypsie if he couldn't read or write. They leave school after primary. Yes, it is really upsetting. I'm sure I've been duped in the past with hedge & tree trimming when I lived in the house before this. You look back and realise the cost was too high. They are so nice and friendly when they ask to do the job, but if you cross them, woe-be-tyde! That's why I was so worried about that roofer!

Allsorts Mon 04-Aug-25 07:23:48

Yogin, glad you enjoyed the musical party, what instrument did you play ? You handled the roofer well. A few years ago a lovely guy came my door saying he had just finished pruning a neighbours tree and as he had all equipment with him if I needed anything doing it would be special rate. I had
a tree that needed pruning, it wasn't too big, he said two hours work and quoted me a figure. I agreed, he said he was starving do I did him a bacon sandwich and a cuppa, In under an hour the pruning was finished and he came for his money. I said yes when you've taken the cuttings, he said that would be double what was quoted, he turned from being nice to angry. A few doors away my friends husband heard him shouting and same round. He asked where this house was that he had worked on, couldn't remember, in the end he removed the cuttings accepted original offer, I gave him the money and asked him to sign, he couldn't read or write so signed with an X. Now I only deal with reputable people although it costs more, that incident upset me for days the way he just turned on me.
Whiff such a shame that ticket has to be wasted, it would be a nice prize in a raffle for charity.

Yoginimeisje Sun 03-Aug-25 08:46:37

Whiff when you move it takes a while to 'collect' all the good trades people, keeping their details for another time. Hope your tomatoes are lovely. I had some growing out of a big pot plant in my kitchen from throwing the cut offs from my lunch in, I was amazed when I realised the 'weed' was a tomatoes plant. They were so tasty that I brought some when I next shopped, but I had stopped eating due to my acid indig. problem. Best of luck on Friday xx

Yoginimeisje Sun 03-Aug-25 08:36:35

Thanks Smiles and you're right. I gave myself a talking to and made the decision that they would not be doing the job.

Yoginimeisje Sun 03-Aug-25 08:30:25

Morning all

Beautiful sunny morning smile

Thanks Babs I'm pleased with the roofer that's coming to do the job on Tuesday, expensive but very good reviews on his work. Only problem; I forgot it's my DD birthday, we have already arranged to go out for lunch, but the roofer said he should be finished around 1pm, so that should be OK.

Had a lovely evening yesterday at my friends birthday party. She always gets everyone to bring their musical instruements, beautiful flutist! Those without were given an instruement, I had a go at a didgeridoo grin, great fun.

Whiff Sat 02-Aug-25 10:54:47

First off my apologies for my post it was all me me me. I wanted explain why I have been missing . And as usual it turned into a ramble . As usual I can never explain anything simply my mind jumps all over the place. I know it's normal for people with HPX so I just accept it's me . I know friends her understand but any new people would think I am self centred. And that's not me.

The post I wrote yesterday and lost I will write now .

Smiles I know you and Mr S will be a tower of strength for your cousin . Can't remember if you said the funeral had been held or not . Unfortunately once the funeral is held people disappear as if grief is catching but I know you and Mr S will be there to give comfort and support when it's needed.

Sparkly hope you get help soon to stop your legs feeling as they do . It's as if your body belongs to someone else and you just want to go back to how you were .

Dotcom thank you ,but inspiration no just stubborn and have a temper . But haven't lost my temper at anyone since my husband died just at myself. Luckily I moved here nearly 6 years ago and it changed my life only bad thing is the estrangement with my son and family his choice . But made my peace with that couple of years ago . Been 5 years since I last saw or spoke to him . All the good things in my life now far outwards what he has done . I can honestly say I am happier now living here than before. I have a life I love and doing all the things my husband wanted for me. Plus having both my diagnosis of what I was born with has opened up my world . And I mean that literally as my HPX group is worldwide.

Bridie you have your fair share of problems you have overcome. And come out stronger and help others.

Allsorts no matter what life throws at you ,you battle through and you know what I wish you would do only to well. I hope you go to a concert soon and you can get assistance just tell them when you book your ticket. I am on the access system at the Phil which means I get help getting to my seat and getting out of the hall. Plus when I pay for my ticket I get another free for a companion. Only person I asked who would like the concert I am going to in November can't come . So told them to sell the ticket or give it to someone else. Not everyone has the same taste as me in music .

Babs thank you . Hope Mr B is slowly improving. And you can meet up with Yogin soon.

Yogin I hope your granddaughters arm is healing . Hopefully your ex and brother in law have left you alone . I know you are worried about your estranged daughter but you have done all you can . Glad you have your son and daughter to support you and cuddles with Joey of course.
Sorry you missed out on the dance but hope you had a lovely lunch at Lakeside with your sister.

Yogin brilliant handling of those scammers. Glad you got a roofer who knows his stuff and his work will be guaranteed. When I first moved here already knew there was a problem with my garage roof . I used the roofers my daughter had. Once they took the stones off the roof they took pictures to show me the problem. And gave me a price to fix it. But asked them how much for a new roof only ยฃ50 dearer so had a new roof. They have been back a couple of times last time was 2 years ago when some of the roof felt overlapping the edge of the roof came loose. While up there notice a bit of overlap had also come loose so fixed it.

Good tradesmen are worth their weight in gold. I am lucky with the people I use and I feel safe with them . Plus they don't charge call out fees and don't charge the earth.

These last few months has made me realise I need to get a cleaner just to pop in every 3 weeks to do the bits I can't reach . I will pick a cleaning firm that way I will always have someone come when they say they will. My life runs on routine and planning ahead . I can do emergencies if my family need me . Have always been a planner since my teens and it's gotten worse as I have gotten older . Hence the Doncaster train station episode set my HPX into overdrive.

Hopefully my neurologist will agree to what I want on Friday . Just to put my mind and rest and if they find something or nothing I can cope with that .

Right end of ramble hope I haven't missed anyone out. Sorry if I have . Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine going to see if I have any toms ready to pick.

๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ˜Š

Smileless2012 Sat 02-Aug-25 10:45:08

How stressful for you Yogin, they probably thought you were easy pickings being there on your own. Well done for saying no and standing your ground.

Babs03 Sat 02-Aug-25 10:02:33

Oh Yogi thatโ€™s a worry will look out for them near us, thankfully we have a lovely young roofer living two doors up from us who has done a job for us before. Wish I knew you needed someone could give you his number.
Sorry, havenโ€™t managed to get out for a coffee with you and Joey, Mr B has more hospital appointments than there are days in the week, strangely enough the docs strike gave us respite but then he got a bug from the GCs and we were worried it would go to his chest and give him pneumonia again. Thankfully he is now over it.
Love to all โค๏ธโค๏ธ

Yoginimeisje Sat 02-Aug-25 09:53:36

Had a very stressful time, didn't sleep a wink last night. Had a knock on the door yesterday about 1.30pm, some guys were doing some roofing work 2 doors down. They had actually knocked for upstairs; saying something about gutters, I think. Ended up coming into my back garden to give a quote on a new flat roof for my extension & for a new garden gate, both quotes were twice the amount I thought they should be. But before I knew it, they were bringing all their gear round into the back garden saying they would do it tomorrow.

I said 'your price is high and I want to get a second quote', but they were just sort of dismissing what I was saying & left. I messaged them saying I don't want them to go ahead till I have a second quote; unread, so I phoned and he said he'd just bought all the materials. I'd messaged within 30mins of them leaving & phoned after a couple of hours. I recon they saw the message on their smart watch & knew.

Tossing and turning all night long, imagining the worsted of scenarios. Up just after 5am and thought to put all their gear out the back gate but couldn't lift any of it. I had another roofer coming round to give me a quote at 8.30, he was great and said he recons they were/are gypsies and I thought the same. He really knew his stuff, so I booked him to come Tuesday to do the work, still quite expensive but he clearly knew what he was doing. He put all their stuff outside the garden gate with no problems.

I messaged and then phoned the first roofers to tell them I had booked another roofer and to collect their gear. I was surprised that they didn't kick up a fuss. I can hear them still working 2 doors down on their roof, wonder if they could hear me talking to the other roofer shock

Yoginimeisje Sat 02-Aug-25 09:25:16

Morning all

Nice day, at the moment anyway.

Very sorry to read all you've been through Whiff you are very brave and very thoughtful to your DD, not letting her know till after her birthday. I wish you health & happiness as I know you have said there is no cure. flowers Good to read you had a lovely time with your brother & family, so spirits lifted.

Babs03 Sat 02-Aug-25 08:32:58

Yes I echo what the others have said. You have been a rock to me Whiff over the past few months, wishing you well with your upcoming appointment ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพ

Allsorts Fri 01-Aug-25 18:40:31

Nice to see you back Whiff, you have had a lot to cope with this year. You have also done such a lot too. Hopefully you will get some answers soon.

Smileless2012 Fri 01-Aug-25 17:26:11

Afternoon everyone.

Hope all goes well on the 8th Whiff; keep us posted flowers

Bridie22 Fri 01-Aug-25 15:34:12

Good to hear from you Whiff, amazing lady, take good care of yourself.

SparklyGrandma Fri 01-Aug-25 13:42:46

Sorry Babs and Babylon for mixing you up.

Smileless thank you for the flowers..

Whiff sending you some kindness and a virtual hug - (((hug)))

Dotcom Fri 01-Aug-25 12:49:42

Oh Whiff what an awful time youโ€™ve had and yet remain so resilient.

You made me laugh with your last message but sorry you deleted your post.

You are an inspiration.
๐Ÿ˜˜

Babs03 Fri 01-Aug-25 12:25:47

Oh Whiff am so sorry you have been in the wars. Would push for an MRI on your head, is more detail, I think it sounds like a TIA rather than migraine. You have noticed differences that are not down to your HPX, my guess is that it is down to a small stroke, but of course am no expert, am hoping that those who are can help you on the 8th.
The worst thing is the unknown, and I just wish more medical experts realised that the sleepless nights and worry caused by not knowing what is going on are counter productive to a persons health.
Much love โค๏ธ

Whiff Fri 01-Aug-25 11:21:16

Bugger lost my post . Will be back ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿคฆ

Whiff Fri 01-Aug-25 11:00:34

Well can't remember what I have told you about my health. So will get that out of the way. As I already said spent a week in hospital 6th January. Turned out it wasn't a heart attack even though the cardiac enzyme test showed T level of 170. CT scan didn't show TIA. On A&E trolley ward we couldn't have been better looked after if we had been on a normal ward buzzers by every trolley. So all this about being in trolleys which I have been on before in main A&E and bad treatment as far as I am concerned doesn't apply to the hospitals up here. But I did collapse apparently I was fighting with my daughter and nurse trying to sit me down when I wanted to lie down. No idea who put me on the trolley only thing I remember is the cardiologist shouting at me to open my eyes which I did a crack. My daughter said they them ran to the acute cardiac ward. Only really remember being undressed and electrodes attached to me . My speech came back later on. Was in Afib until the Thursday. Then transfer to heart and lung hospital on the Friday. Saturday had angiography. Found out local anaesthetic and sedation doesn't work on me but didn't tell them . I am used to constant pain so decided it was quicker to put up with it than stop and start again. Luckily no heart muscle damage slight furring in right artery didn't need a stent and the hole in the side of my heart was the same size and shape it was in 2021.
Because I had to have Heparin injections while at the first hospital. Something went wrong with one as my tummy hurts everytime I moved. Day of discharge had ultrasound the needle caused inflammation in my subterranean fat layer and would take time to heal. Me being me though of journey to the centre of the earth by Jules Verne. ๐Ÿ˜.

Once home noticed differences in me things that my body didn't do before was happening now.
Over months increase in things different including my eye sight .

Saw Cardiologist who put me on low dose statin to prevent further furring . And found out when I thought I keep falling asleep was me passing out due to my blood pressure dropping it was all recorded on the machine plus the Afib for 4 days .

He sent referral to stroke neurologist and gave me a CT spray for my breathlessness but only use it if I can't control my breathing myself.

Stroke neurologist said it was migraine. But I know it wasn't. But my HPX confuses things.

Ask my neurologist if I could increase my Clonazepam to 3 a day which he approved.
All my new symptoms started before I took the statin and extra Clonazepam so I know it's nothing to do with them.
GP put my on extra BP tablet gave me a kidney infection. Had cellulitis in my toe has antibiotics but couldn't take them with my statin . Was on them 5 days . Had to call 111 BP very low heart beat 108. Speech effected. Nurse sent for ambulance while talking to me . Arrived within 30 mins . I had unlocked the door and packed a bag incase. Good job they had extra wires for ECG as I needed then to get a reading. Paramedics here 2 hours. This was on my daughter's birthday end of June . But I didn't tell her until day after.
After talking to the doctor who had to read all my notes poor man they are like a novel . Decided provided I was safe here and promised to call if I felt ill then I could stay here . As I am a complex case. My daughter said yes mom you are a case. ๐Ÿ˜‚

My eyesight was worse after coming out of hospital but wasn't due for eye test until November. But couldn't wait . So had them tested Tuesday and need stronger lens for both types of glasses.
Seeing my neurologist on 8th.
Anyway that's what's been happening since January.

But while I can't do something's now and my walking ,balance is worse and my limbs stiffen without being startled now ,can lose my speech for no reason. I kept plodding on .

Saying all that went to Llandudno in May. Go to sit fit and move it or lose it classes . Exercise at home do 500 rotations on my static pedals. Last month went to see my brother and sister in law,my adopted dad her dad and Aggie of course who didn't wee on my hand this time but still weed. Had a wonderful time. Journey there had problems which set my HPX into overdrive but the trans pennies railway where fair and got me to Lincoln via taxi. Journey took hour but my brother was waiting and had fabulous time with them . Been going to monthly craft group and chat and cuppa group. Been to my first classical concert at the Phil it was brilliant. My hi fidelity ear plugs with highest setting work. Booked to go see Sir Stephen Hough and orchestra playing Rachmaninov in November. Off to Harrogate next month. Will post this and read what I have missed .

Babs03 Fri 01-Aug-25 07:33:42

Great to hear from you Whiff and good Lord above you have been putting stuff together with an Allan key!!
Hope you have at some point managed to rest up and recover.
Take care friend ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿพโค๏ธ

Whiff Fri 01-Aug-25 07:19:36

Well spent the last 2 hours writing a ramble but deleted it as you have all got enough on your plates without what's happened to me so will write a different one after breakfast. Picture is my latest aid got this week from Amazon. Because my suite is 35 years old little clearance under it. The one the occupational therapist brought was tubular and wouldn't fit . But this one the base plate is flat. And easy for me to put together with an allan key even with my weaken arms . Goes a lot higher and came with cup holder which I didn't need. Made life easier.

Any way with write a better ramble later.