What is there to look forward to?
 

I've done it again but this time I was genuinely pacing and now I can't get up at all. Two hours in town with 3 good breaks. Just wanted to be normal. Went for coffee with my sister and her daughter (the ones that were fighting and are now back on track) but a couple of my sister's friends came and laughed at me for walking slow (don't think they meant to upset me) and one of them let go of a heavy door which slammed on my hip. I was feeling really faint all the time we were out and nearly fainted a couple of times. They didn't notice but my niece did and helped. Rang Baz and he took me home and I've been so sore since. On top of my legs and back flare pain my ribs also ache so much it hurts to breathe and I vomited from pain through the night. That's with the supposed flare tablets that I now have to take regularly just to get up on a good day.

I've been reflecting on how medically the move up north has been really bad for me. If I was still under my old GP and pain clinic there's no way they'd have left me like this. My new GP is nice and thoughtful but I've long since given up getting a medicine overhaul from him as he won't dare do it without the pain clinic backing and they're saying if I'm tolerant to one med then I'm tolerant to all and only counselling will help. I need the meds sorting because this pain clinic are forcing me into a wheelchair which I wouldn't need if I was managed better. I am so angry and tired. I hated living in Yorkshire but all I can think of is how much better I was supported down there by the medical profession.
Sorry for offloading. Just missing living.

I am truly sorry you had such a tough day. No problem about "off loading." This is a good place for it. Hope you get the issues with your meds solved soon so that you can get this under manageable control.

Oh dear, it's horrible trying to be normal isn't it? I'm crap at it myself lately.

We all try to pretend to be 'normal' when we're out, don't want to cause a scene etc - I think you're very courageous to have gone when I know you've been feeling rubbish lately. You gave it a go and tried your best, the fact that the CRPS wouldn't let you do what you wanted is not your fault.

As for your doc, it makes me so mad when there's this complete failure on a doctors part to recognise the importance of pain relief in CRPS. Without it we are in hell, and all this 'concern' about dependency, etc is pathetic when dealing with a monster like this. I'm glad your doc is nice, but all the understanding in the world can't provide pain relief. If your GP is too scared to deal with it himself, it sounds like you need to tackle your pain team and maybe even find a new one to guide your GP with your meds. Saying 'if you're tolerant to one med you're tolerant to them all' is rubbish. And the bit about only counselling helping is laughable. There must be more they and your GP can do to support you.

Moving must have been a difficult decision, but it sounds like you weren't happy in your life in Yorkshire, which wouldn't have been great to continue with while dealing with your health concerns, but I understand your frustration if your previous pain team dealt with things better. Is there any way you could contact your old pain doc and ask their guidance on dealing with the new one?

I hope you have a better day Kathy, about time you had a break from this...:rolleyes:

Bram :grouphug:

Thanks you two. The meds side of things is really getting me down. I have tried and tried with both the GP (who would be happy to prescribe me anything with the pain clinic's say so) and the pain team. The only way forward is a new pain team. I don't know if that would mean giving up on the pain management programme I've just started as that comes under my current one (although they had to refer me even though it's run by my doc, so maybe it's separate enough to keep if I changed pain team?). There is another local GP at another practice who specialises in chronic pain but because I've only been with this current one a short time I really don't want to leave and be suspected of drug seeking again which is what happened with this one. It was awful and I'm not as strong as I was then for coping with that.

I suspect I'll end up in A&E tonight. I've been trying to get a GP appointment for a month now and have to wait til Friday and this pain is too much. The hospital were great last time but it involved being admitted and I really didn't want that.

I've tried to be productive today. Waiting for a call back about a referral for a wheelchair assessment (GP was against it last time we talked about it but that was ages ago, but even so I've rang the OT to do it instead). Now need to ring about getting a bus pass but that's not massively important right now - it's just yet another bloomin' assessment that I'm not up to and the wheelchair one has to take priority.

Now I am going to load myself up on valium and buprenorphine and try and distract myself with a film. It's so hard today because I need to move to reposition and it hurts too much to do it but noone else is in so I have to get on with it. I just don't want to faint again!! :eek::p

Kathy, I hope you feel better!
You know your limits, and you must try to live within them, rather than, trying to be 'normal'. What in the world is that, anyway?
So, carry on and don't be ashamed that you're slow! It is, what it is! Always, keep an eye out for a new PM team! You never know.

I wish you all the best!

Anyways, there is EVERYTHING, to look forward to! What else can we do? We've changed, life has change, and we must, MUST keep looking forward!
We don't wanna look back, that's in our mirrors. We MUST look forward, and make the best of what God has given us, and, that's a LOT!
You will lose friends, of course, that comes with life.
But, you will also gain more understanding friends! Also, comes with life!
And, you'll probably keep a childhood, or teenage friend!
I hope you do!


Pete


asb

Hang in there!
 

Hey Kathy,

So sorry that you're struggling right now. It is a B**** to want to be out and about, try and give it a go, only to be laughed at for walking slow… hum, even if in jest, my God, where’s the humanity, or compassion? And I’m sorry, but how thoughtless to let the door fall back on you. People can be so rude and inconsiderate. They just simply have no idea Kathy how difficult the simplest of things can be for us at times. I applaud you for trying though.

I’m with Bram on the doc and meds. Makes me mad too. It’s just wrong on every level! The docs are so worried about covering their *** that they are failing to treat those who REALLY do need pain relief. I mean hellooo… Pain is in the damn name that they’ve given this condition! So yeah, you’re seeking drugs… for PAIN relief! Any drug or combination thereof that will take care of that will do. Geeze!!! And then there’s “only counseling will help” ONLY counseling? Well hell if that’s all it took I’m sure we’d all run out tomorrow and sign up! Counseling may help with some aspects but it’s just asinine to think that, that is the end all be all of what is needed now or in the future to help you with this disease.

I guess I’m the one ranting now. I tried to do some much needed cleaning around my house today, and it’s frustrating at best what little I accomplish before I feel DOA. Would love to be able to afford hired help for all the things I struggle to do, but that’s just not possible right now. I had a birthday party for my 11 y/o on Sunday evening and I spent the next day and a half in bed recovering. It’s wild how much I just slept and slept. Woke up sweating and feeling like wow, that was crazy amounts of sleep, and I’m behind on EVERYTHING. I am a little aggravated today (can you tell? :rolleyes:). I start to feel like I’m drowning in to do’s and I’m silently screaming..” I’m going under.. does anyone notice?” So when I read your post it didn’t take much for me to begin to rant at how ridiculous all this is at times.

Hang in there Kathy. Get some rest. Perhaps tomorrow will be better hon, or at least that is what I am hoping for too. :wink:

I'm frustrated today myself :rolleyes:

Went to my daughter's athletics evening yesterday with the rest of the family, she so wanted me to watch her and it was a nice sunny evening for a change. There was a little distance to walk between where my husband could drop me off and the field, but I took it slow and got there ok, but I could tell the others weren't used to me being there and slowing them down, and I felt a real muppet trailing along. The evening was two hours, and by the end it was a lot cooler and I was aching all over. I started off sitting on a grass slope which was ok, then a friend of ours came over and lent me a camping chair bless him. I stood to watch each of her races but sat sensibly for the rest, and then at the end we had to walk back to where the car was parked, which was quite a bit further than before. My husband couldn't bring it up as all the other cars were going the other way, so I walked there, nice and slow. I was really pleased with myself as its the furthest I've walked for a long time...

But last night I was in so much pain with my leg from toe to hip, and it took me ages to sleep. This morning I feel about a hundred and I'm moving at a glacial pace....from one evening in the sunshine! Grr. It's not like I tried to stand all the time, walked for miles or tried to walk fast, or anything else daft. I hate this 'new normal', I want to be me again and dash around being the busy, energetic and efficient one!! I know I can't be, I know it's not my fault, but O...M...G... I wish wishes were real and fairies existed and magic wands worked and I had one under my bed. I'd be waving it now!!!

Oh well. I did it anyway. Whoop. Go me. Ouch.

Hold your head up high everyone, we know the fight we have going on every minute of every day, we know how much effort all this takes. Well done to us all for trying to do anything at all :) I keep telling myself that.

Bram :grouphug:

Oh Bram! :grouphug: Hey, what do they say, no pain no......pain lol. I think you did ace, even though I'm totally sympathetic with how crap you felt after. It's totally naff that. It's the down time that bothers me the most. I am still laid up now! I've been tootling around the house but I feel totally and systemically sh*te.

God knows what is to blame, but yesterday afternoon that all over ache (with the horrid crick in the neck and aching muscles everywhere) got added to with the worst migraine of my life. I've had the worst stomach cramps too, those slow waves where you can feel it tightening and it hurts. I was sick in my sleep too, more of a minor reflux than anything but I seriously thought I would end up in hospital last night. I am sat in bed now with sunglasses on as it hasn't gone away yet, although it's a lot better than last night.

The title of this thread wasn't really a "My life is over, woe is me" thing, it was more a query, which I failed to word in the post. What do I do next? I have talked with Baz this morning and we both think I should see a rheumatologist as we feel there's something bigger going on behind the CRPS and back/IBS/migraine/memory problems that's getting overlooked by the CRPS and "lower back pain" diagnosis. My pain doc won't even look at a list of my symptoms as he says diagnosis isn't important in pain. Well it is if you're frightened to death lol.

My big sister has been seeing a rheumatologist for her aches and pains and she has been diagnosed initially with palindromic rheumatism and now is under investigation for hypermobility and an underlying connective tissue/autoimmune disorder. Three close relatives (mum, dad, twin sister) have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (not weight related) in the last year, something I definitely don't have but another autoimmune issue. My other sister has Raynaud's. I tested positive for smooth muscle antibodies, which from what I've read links mainly to autoimmune hepatitis, which I don't have, but links say it relates to other issues too, they just don't say what they are lol.

Putting the autoimmune side of things aside, I think some sort of ANS problems are a big possibility too. The problem is so many of these issues overlap with others. One doc said I would have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia as well as CRPS if I'd had more widespread issues, well I do, they just haven't taken them into account as everyone, me included, has been more focused on controlling the pain. I am scared to death of this fainting and these days where I just feel so bloomin' unwell all over, not just sore. My dad had a stroke at 40 and nearly died so I am getting myself worried about stuff - high cholesterol and blood pressure run on both parents' sides despite them being very fit, healthy eaters and active - not smokers, etc. I am big, a smoker and because of the pain I'm not as active as I want to be. My blood pressure had been generally low for years until recently when it has gone up to the higher end of normal. I have slightly raised cholesterol. I find it really hard to lose weight because even though I eat well I don't get enough exercise. I gave up smoking for four years and plan to again but keep putting it off out of weakness!

Maybe I just need a toe up the backside. Boot camp perhaps lol!

The plan is to see the GP this Friday, see if he will consider putting me back on my migraine meds (propranolol) and possibly amitriptylene for sleep/pain. I know it didn't work wonders for pain last time but it did work for sleep. The benefit of the propranolol works twofold as it would prevent my migraines again, and it would lower my blood pressure a bit as it's a beta blocker. I also want to get a referral to the wheelchair service (seeing as OT haven't rung back) and a rheumatologist, perhaps the same one as my big sister sees. Does that sound like a plan? If he won't touch the pain meds he has to surely sort the rest at least?

Thanks Kathy :) I'm sorry you're having so much trouble with your stomach and GI area, that's miserable all on its own without the rest of it. Hope you feel better later.

All over ache......yep.
Crick in neck......yep.
Aching muscles everywhere.....yep.

I'd also like to add:

Burning pain in front of knee with every step.
Left shoulder pain as if I whitewashed a big wall yesterday.
Hip pain, presumably from the walking yesterday.
Feeling of hopeless inadequacy.
Attack of misery and 'why me's.
Generally down.

Also I'm wearing a t-shirt, a woollen jumper, and a thick long wool cardigan and a scarf. Indoors. My elder daughter just went out wearing jeans and a strappy t-shirt, and texted me five minutes later to say she was roasting in the sun as it was so hot!!!!!

What the hell is this thing doing to our bodies on a really basic level? It's like every system we have is malfunctioning in one way or another. Bizarre. No wonder the docs are scratching their heads and avoiding us! I think there is a temptation for them to put every ailment under the 'Unknown But Probably To Do With The CRPS' heading, and not investigate properly. It does worry me. I have bad stuff in my family history too, including auto-immune stuff and diabetes, yet my parents are doing ok and managing to stay active. I feel like I've been struck down early for some crime!

Just keep going Kathy. It's all we can do :winky: I think we are all amazing, in a way no one but those suffering the same thing can understand. If the general populace had a handle on this, we would be pride of place on 'CRPS Day' in our local towns...

Bram :grouphug:

Oh Bram would there be cake on CRPS day? I want to organise one now lol. I might not even be joking there. Baking for pain, nom nom. Of course that conjures images of spacecakes and I didn't mean that lol.

Migraine came back with a vengeance this aft. Had to nap as I couldn't read the laptop or phone even with sunglasses on. Even a pillow hurts my head and neck. I haven't added the day to day symptoms to the list cos this feels different, just not the usual. Can identify with most of that list but my knees are cold and numb (as opposed to red raw thighs lol). We are odd but you're right that people with this are pretty amazing. Can you imagine how much more the docs would do for someone who presented with all these problems in an acute form rather than chronic? They'd get their own episode of House I bet lol!

Of course there would be cake! :p

I've often wondered why there has never been a medical drama using CRPS for an episode.... I love watching House, and it is just the sort of thing I can imagine them all discussing. They are missing a trick - there are so many weird and wonderful symptoms he could be enjoying :rolleyes:

Sorry your migraine is still so bad, hopefully some cooler evening conditions might ease things a bit. They are horrible to have. My leg has been awful today, I have shooting pains and sensitivity from above my knee to my ankle, as well as the full leg aches as usual and the foot crap. Ouch ouch ouch.

Ah well, you have to laugh. I'll give the cats a bit more catnip....:winky:

Bram.

Lol it's worth it just to have the entertainment of watching them roll around stoned. Of course after your post we may all be competing with the cats for it. Can you imagine approaching a dealer and asking him..."Yo dude, got any.......catnip?" :p

As for House, can you imagine if they did a special episode on CRPS and simultaneously ran the bystory of House changing from Vicodin to catnip? Haha! Ow my head. Hope you're feeling better tonight Bram :grouphug:

I think you are all amazing. I have only had this horrible thing for about six months, so far it is limited to my right arm (maybe my neck) and I know that so many of you are in so much more pain than I am. Yet, I am feeling a bit of the 'woe is me' too.

I am really struggling to keep up at work. I have had so much time off and I continue to need time off for physio and appointments with both doctors. I really need to get to the dentist but I just don't feel like I can take even more time off work. When I do have appointments, I stay late to make up the time but I know they don't really understand. And the longer days mean more pain.

And now, too really cap things off, my husband has been in hospital since Sunday night. That means I'm having to do everything for me and my dog (she is a princess, btw). The poor wee thing hasn't had a walk all week though because I really just can't do it.

I keep trying to pretend that I'm not in pain but I am. It hurts. It hurts a great deal. I am exhausted from pushing through the pain all day. And then I keep waking up through the night because of the pain. I am just so tired. I desperately don't want to lose the independence of being able to work but I am struggling.

I am sorry. I know I shouldn't complain. You have all been through so much more than I. Like I said, you are all amazing.

:grouphug:

O...M....G.... Kathy, you HAVE to pitch that idea to every US medical drama out there!!!!!! It would be priceless!!! I was chatting to my mum and sister about the catnip this evening, and we all ate a leaf :D it tasted quite nice actually... Haven't tried anything more adventurous yet lol.
...

Hi Kim - Sorry you're having such a rough time, and hope your husband's doing ok. You must be so worried for him, and stress really adds to the pain doesn't it. Oh dear. Just when you least need it, life really knows how to kick you a curve ball :rolleyes:

This isn't a competition :winky:, and CRPS varies so much from person to person that someone who's only had it for a month could be in a worse state than someone else who's had it mildly for ten years... If you feel bad you feel bad. Your pain is just as valid as anyone else's!

The work thing is a horrible dilemma. I had to give my job up as it was quite physical, and my knee just couldn't do it anymore. I was lucky to be able to set up self-employed doing something that I can control the hours more - on the negative side, I don't earn anywhere near as much, and there's no sick pay... I admire anyone holding down a job while dealing with CRPS :)

Try not to feel so bad about everything - you're doing the best you can. Have a good play with your wee dog throwing a ball or something. That's pretty good exercise for her, and you don't have to walk about much! She'll love it and you can stop feeling guilty about at least that bit!

Bram :grouphug:

Thanks Bram. :)

I'm just feeling a wee bit overwhelmed at the moment. I'm sure I'll feel much better once my husband is home.

My dog is a beagle so when I got home from work and the hospital I threw some very small biscuits for her in the garden. She loved it. It is her favourite game. :D She's rather old, so she got a fair amount of exercise running and sniffing around for biscuits. Her vision isn't good enough anymore for her to watch where it lands when I throw it. Not that she was ever very good at that. She is a joy to watch. And there's no therapy as good as fur therapy.


And ladies...I love the idea of a house crps/catnip episode!

I am so sorry that you are experiencing this pain.
 

You have truly had a rough time of things. It is very sad to hear this story, and all the stories that have the same or very similar experiences. Each and every one of us seems to have come up against this sort of abuse, and in the vulnerable states that we are in, are unable to pop right back and lead with a perfect game plan or reply - it is hard enough, as you say, to even 'try' normal! Is there any way that your old pain team and doctor can forward all the relevant information to the new one, and could not the 'backing' of the old plan reassure your present doctor? One would think that if it was good enough to cover the other guys *****, it should cover his too. Perhaps it is possible for you to have the other team write an introduction and outline the protocol that is in place and working (as well as can be expected) and send this to your new doc? I hate, absolutely, that every time we seem to come forward a bit with our ideas and attitudes around and about pain and medication, some big news splash seems to snatch all the hard won ground straight out from under, and, again, all the doc's except a small and very dedicated handful hang in there and truly make life worth living for another day. Rest, redirect your energies the best way you can to help yourself, and take heart that there are some wonderful people here on your side and hoping that you feel some relief soon. hasmag.

I'd so like to help but I'm sure I can't. Find your triggers and avoid them. Get your sleep and stay as busy as you can even if it's just reading a book. Exercise and eat right. Try to stay connected. Try to be find new things to occupy your time.

Best of luck.

Hey guys, I honestly dunno what I'd do without you. You all keep me marginally sane (oh who am I kidding?) and laughing! You're a great support, you know that? All of you.

Kim - I don't know how you do it, without belittling this bloomin' awful thing we all have, you sound like you have real Wonder Woman strength in there and haven't given up on giving life your all. Your dog sounds lovely too. Our dog is like a little torpedo, she's a staffie, but also likes fetching/running games when I'm not up to the walks. I hope your husband is better soon :grouphug:

Hasmag - it kindof works differently over here, our records get centralised and relevant stuff is passed on to new doctors at the referral stage by the GP or what's on the computer system (if the doctors are in the same area). My pain docs had all the records from my previous pain doc, and just have royally cocked up my care by their own work. I'm not so sure it's what they've done so far (other than the meds side of things), it's about how he's not listened. He doesn't have a clue where I'm at - as far as he knows I have a bit of backache that's all in my head, he doesn't ever want to hear the real symptoms. There's a formal complaint in anyway, they won't find in my favour as all docs cover their backs but I won't be a doormat any more either.

Well, I ended up at the out of hours GP last night after ringing 111 for advice (non-emergency helpline that has replaced our out of hours GP service's number). They had to put me in a dark corridor to wait as the waiting room lights were so bright I couldn't stand it even with my sunglasses on and my jacket wrapped round my head lol. I looked a total divvy. So anyway, I had my blood pressure checked, 150/90, high for me but apparently not scary high. He said it was a bit of a "super migraine" and gave me an injection of metoclopramide for the nausea. He would've given me a shot of codeine and diclofenac but I can't have either, typical of me lol. He said it would only sort the nausea but it might help me get through the night til my GP was open. They don't have a full range of medications available there, especially not at 1.30am! Anyway they slung me in a taxi home and I went straight to sleep, and woke up ok. Bit tender but the migraine itself has gone. I was told I'd have to go on prophylactics of some sort given how bad it was. I've been on propranolol in the past for them so I don't mind for the sake of not having a rerun!!! My arm is delightfully bruised from the injection, I'm tough normally but bloomin' heck it's achey and tight!

Thanks for all the help and support guys :grouphug::grouphug:

Kathy, I'm sorry you had a rough night but I'm so glad the migraine has gone. I used to take pizotifen for migraines. It didn't keep the migraines away entirely but it did reduce the frequency. It also reduced the severity when I did get them. Having said that, I've never had such a bad one (okay, I had a TIA from a migraine but that didn't really feel bad, I was just out of it).

I haven't taken pizotifen for a few years so they may have something even better now. It is a serotonin antagonist so when I first started taking it, I was really wiped out. I basically slept the whole weekend but I adjusted fairly quickly.

I hope your arm is feeling better soon.

Hi Kim

Thanks ever so much, I will ask the GP about it today. I'm finally getting to see him lol, it's been a nightmare trying to get a face to face appointment.

Slightly off topic but I have done a bit of animal rescue/fostering over the years and a situation came about very quickly yesterday that has had an effect on things. My daughter was asked by a friend to take in a badly injured kitten that had been sat on by its owner and probably had at least two broken legs from the description. We traipsed across to the owner's house last night to see if they would let us help. They denied having the kitten (and we saw no evidence of it being there, so sadly presume it has passed away) but they asked us to take a mum and another kitten in instead (who were stinking filthy). Mum has just had an emergency spay as she had got pregnant immediately after finishing nursing the kittens. It hadn't been our plan but we have got both out. One healthy kitten is already in a permanent home with my sister and mum is recovering here. Sadly we can't keep her permanently but the little bitey nervous ball of tortie fluff has turned out to be a darling sweet little attention seeker who has spent the night asleep on my pillow next to me purring and gently pawing my face when she wants a stroke. Having her chill out with me has been just gorgeous. I wish we didn't have to home her out but we do have someone interested. She can be my therapy cat in the meantime while she gets back up to health. Baz nicknamed her Pea (cos shes diddy, get it?), my daughter nicknamed her Brie as she stank (the house was minging) but she has been getting called Toots with me because of her ginger toes and how she uses them to get attention.

Sorry to the non-animal folks, didn't mean to wander off there but I am just relieved they're both out of there. We have one of Connie's friends watching out for signs of the broken kitten just in case they were hiding it so we haven't given up there either xxx

Aww bless, that's a fab thing to do - I'm an animal person too and it's so upsetting when animals are kept in terrible conditions. At least they let you take the mum and kitten, although you do hope that the broken kitten died quickly after such terrible injuries. You have given the two you rescued another chance, and that must feel great :) Is there no way you could keep Pea? Sounds like you two have a bond, and she would be great company and distraction for you with everything going on....

Good luck with your GP, hope you have a productive and helpful visit!

Bram.

Hi Bram

Oh I wosh we could keep Pea but we have two special needs cats already. She is gorgeous though.

Went to the GP today, blood pressure is 148/95 and he says that's not high enough to make me faint or give me migraines. I asked him if it could be ANS side of CRPS and he thinks that's most likely. Mind you I don't think anything's that easy to pinpoint when it comes to migraines without an obvious trigger. He said if I continue to faint he will see if I need an ECG but has had a listen and things sound fine. He mentioned vasovagal syncope. He has given me sumatriptan for stopping a migraine before it gets properly going. He has also promised to sort out OT to get me a wheelchair assessment. He suggested we get a home BP monitoring machine so we went to the chemist and bought one that seems accurate to his reading. I think that's everything!

How are you doing today guys? xxxx

Thank goodness it's not because she farts !

I'm from across the pond and colloquialisms don't always translate well, but we use 'tooted' as a euphemism for 'passed gas'.

Enjoy the pet therapy as long as you have her !

Hi Kathy

Those poor kitties! It was so good of you to save them, especially since you know you can't keep them. I'm sure you knew from the start that it was going to be tough to give them away because it is impossible not to fall in love with them. I think it is wonderful that you were willing to put yourself through that even though you have so much else to deal with.

While you have them with you, make the most of the therapeutic effects of little Tootsie-Pea's cuddles. I think that having a warm furry little creature to cuddle and love is really good for us. For me, nothing cures stress like cuddling with my little puppy princess. (She's old but she will always be my puppy.) How could I stay stressed with this warm furry little puppy curled up next to me snoring?

:You-Rock:

Oh I totally agree, pets are the best therapy as long as they're the right pets in the right home. We have two cats already but they're quite independent (despite both being special needs indoor cats). Pea is the first one to have bonded with me even more than I have with them. We are going to see how well they can be introduced (she has stitches in at the mo so is separate) and then Baz has asked if I'd like to keep her. Well she is only half a cat size wise lol. We'll see, I'm not sure yet as obviously a big decision and I should use my head not my heart. But she's so lovely. Small and very placid and creeps up onto my pillow for cuddles through the night. Just all depends on how she gets on with the other two really. If I was her I'd never want another bloke near me again lol.

Yay!! Fingers crossed they all get on....:winky:

Bram.

The catnip discussion was hilarious ... now cake! Your discussions are emotional, relative and funny. Thanks all.

Well I shouldn't probably post these as I might be jinxing things but I have to show you her regardless. Sorry for the poor quality of pics, they were taken on my phone. I'm currently camera-less otherwise lol!

Not sure what to properly name her yet (Pea is a bit close to our dog's nickname Peepops) but we'll see as she settles in and if she gets on with the others. At the moment there's a lot of trumpeting from both sides lol. However, she has been like a little hot water bottle for me, I was up most of the night in pain and she knew to lie next to me or have a gentle cuddle without leaping all over like the boys do lol.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hpus7758fy...2009.14.04.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vkaxs34k0y...2012.25.20.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/coxwfu8ve7...2012.26.53.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/s/brfal64j6f...2009.05.21.jpg

And here is her daughter, Pixie, who is living with my twin sister.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wgn7xwvvcq...2017.41.15.jpg

Back on topic, I had a good day yesterday and today am sore again but going to try and crack on with some housework. Meds seem to make things worse rather than better at the moment, because of how tender my head has been. Trying to give up smoking over the next few days too so that should be interesting - seems to be really hard to do when I'm sore!

OMG!!!!! Awwwwww!!!! They are soooooo cute :p

Bless. She looks lovely and has obviously already made herself comfortable, cats are very good at sensing when they've fallen on their feet :winky:

Her daughter is very pretty too. I do like cats, they are fantastic creatures to have around - very good for the soul...

Bram :grouphug:

They are both so adorable! I agree with Bram, she looks like she has made herself comfortable.

It sounds like you have a wonderful connection with her so I really hope they all get along and you can keep her. Fingers crossed (even the bad ones since I figure that must be extra lucky)!