Monday 18 October 2021

Am I the Only One ...

 

Image from Google Images - BBC Good Food - Porridge Bowl

Am I the only one who looks at a bowl of 'porridge' like this and thinks 'for God's sake just give me a bowl of porridge ... please'.

Google Images - Stock photo

Just nice warming, plain porridge made with water in my case but occasionally with a splash of almond milk to finish.  Some days I do take the more healthy road and add a sliced banana or a dollop of apple sauce but I make sure that gets eaten up in the first few spoonfuls so that I can finish on a nice plain porridge taste.

A Health Update

I thought I'd do a quick one-off health update as lots of you have been very kindly enquiring about my health, and I have now finally got the results of the x-rays I had a month ago.  They had not been forwarded to my doctors office but after managing to get a telephone appointment and speaking to him last Thursday he sent for them immediately and then I had a face to face consultation for over half an hour the next day - yes actually in the surgery with a doctor!!


Basically my initial problem was with L5 (circled in green) and started with stress tissue damage and inflammation causing damage to the vertebrae.  This then led to my muscles reacting and protecting that area which in turn caused a fracture higher up in my back T12 (red circle).  This has now collapsed and is triangular shaped instead of being square.

I am really lucky that the radiologist at the hospital noticed the now very pronounced curve to my back and made a point on one of the three x-rays taken, of x-raying higher up than he had been instructed to.  This cleverly captured both the fracture that was higher up as well as the damage in the lumber area that he had been asked to x-ray.  If he hadn't done that I would now be waiting for an x-ray on the thoracic area of my spine.  It's nice when people work together to save the NHS time and money.

I am also very lucky in that the particular doctor that I have been talking to and finally saw on Friday also works at a specialist spinal clinic, as seemingly GPs these days cannot request MRI scans but in his position at the clinic he can.  I am now waiting to hear firstly about a DEXA scan and then afterwards if necessary an MRI.  This is to see if I have osteoporosis, which is quite likely as my Mum has it and possibly my gran also had it.  So more waiting but this time with more painkillers and at least knowing that the doctor finally knows most of the extent of my problem.

While I wait I am doing everything I can to help myself including a healthy diet, mild exercise, lots of rest, losing weight and learning to meditate.  The latter will help with my high blood pressure as all the tablets up to now that the doctor has tried me on have given me serious side effects that meant I had to stop them.  All this off my own bat but now with the doctors full agreement.  There now I've turned into a moaning about my health type of blogger - BUM!!

Anyway enough about all that .... what is your opinion on porridge?

😀😄😉


Sue xx




43 comments:

  1. Oh Sue, a fracture - blimey! No wonder you've been in so much pain, and thank goodness for a radiologist who used their initiative, and a GP who knows what he's doing. I hope you can now get the treatment you need. As for porridge.....I'm not keen on plain porridge unless it has a big swirl of cream added in the bowl! I do like porridge with some fairly simple additions though - raisins, cooked apple or just a blob of jam :-))

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  2. Porridge - plain and simple. Like yours made with water, maybe a little milk added plus some days a spoonful of currants. No salt no added sugar. Anything else goes on the side….side plate that is!

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  3. Ouch, I know the feeling, I too have osteoporosis, I also love, love, plain porridge take care keep safe

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  4. Ouch I too have osteoporosis, and also love, love, love plain porridge take care and stay safe

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  5. Not that keen on porridge I have to say, so the top picture appeals to me - lots of fruit to disguise the blandness of the porridge! My eldest daughter went into a porridge restaurant in Copenhagan and said their selection of porridges was great and the one she had just amazing. It had almonds, apple and creme de leche.

    So sorry to hear about your spinal problem - no wonder you were in such pain. What a sensible radiologist too and weren't you lucky seeing the right Doctor as well. I hope that your new painkillers help and don't have bad side-effects. My husband is to have an MRI scan but there's a 5 month wait and so it won't be happening until the New Year, so thank heavens you didn't have to wait that long.

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  6. No wonder you have been in pain. I’m glad you have an astute GP. I hope you can receive some treatment soon. Now to porridge.....I’m with you. I did have some left over stewed rhubarb on mine the other day, but usually it is just plain and simple porridge that sticks to your ribs and sets you up for the day.

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  7. I like plain porridge and sort of fancy porridge.
    My dad makes lovely porridge and pours it onto a plate with milk around it and sprinkled with sugar yummy!
    I have plain porridge made with almond milk and I like that too. I have had porridge with honey and banana on top that's nice aswell.
    Sometimes I do overnight oats with extra bits in, fruit etc.
    I've not yet made a porridge that looks like your first photo from the BBC good food website lol.

    Glad you are getting answers over your health finally and it's great you are trying to help yourself too. Take care x

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    1. My Dad used to have his porridge that way. A moat of cold milk around the edge and crunchy sugar on top 😀

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    2. It's funny coz that's how I grew up with porridge, poured onto a plate with a moat of milk and sugar sprinkled on so when I suddenly realised people had it in a bowl and it looked more like sludge I was like 'that's not porridge' haha but I've got used to it now lol

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  8. I do hope your health problems will improve.
    Porridge? One look at it would send me straight to bacon and eggs😂

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  9. Oh my goodness, no wonder your back is still causing problems after all this time - it sounds very nasty. Hope you can get more information and help very soon. Take care and you're welcome to porridge any way you like but just don't offer it to me!

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  10. Equal measures of oats, water and milk. Sometimes a pinch of salt or a pinch of sugar. That's it. I do hope you find relief soon for your back issues 👍❤️🙂

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  11. My opinion on the porridge is... folks should make it how they like it. Some like it the way it's depicted in the first picture and some, like you, prefer it the way it's depicted in the second picture. As my youngest daughter would say... "Just do you!". :-) As for me, both those bowls depicted look like huge helpings of carbohydrates and nothing else. *haha* So I'll skip it altogether, thank you very much. Good luck with your back, kiddo. Back issues are NO fun, for sure. Take care~ Andrea xoxoxo

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  12. Gosh, no wonder you have been in so much pain ! I do hope they can do something to help you besides the pain killers. As for the porridge, I do like a little fruit sometimes with mine but that looks a bit too much, all it needs is some fairy lights to finish it off :)

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  13. Glad your doctors have finally figured out what is happening in your spine! Oh, that hurts and it affects everything you do! Hope they can find the solution soon to give you relief and let you get back to life again! Sending healing thoughts your way!!
    I have never eaten porridge! Here we have oatmeal - is that similar? I like it with a bit of cinnamon-sugar sprinkled on!
    Take care!!

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  14. At last some answers. A friend of mine had a similar thing and they tried a nerve block. Worked for a while. Another took to wearing a proper corset, with bones in to protect her back. Worked a treat but to be honest, not sure I could wear one! With you on simple porridge although I can’t eat it anymore.

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    1. I have a couple of support garments and a back support that help a bit sometimes, other times they compress me too much and cause more pain, so it depends on the day or how I've slept the night before.

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  15. Oh my gosh. A back fracture????!!! No wonder you have been struggling. I like my oatmeal with a diced apple, a smidge of vanilla and cinnamon and brown sugar.

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  16. It's not moaning; just explaining to us why you have been in so much pain! As Dc explains above, my osteopath finally gave me a corset to wear if I wanted to do anything even slightly strenuous (like sitting through dinner!), and strict instructions not to use it all the time. It works a treat for me and is not uncomfortable (compared to the back pain!) Might be worth asking if one would work for you? Meditating helped my pain, too; good luck with that, well worth persevering with. Know what you mean about the 'porridge' above. looks like fruit salad to me; and an expensive one, at that!

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  17. Spinal fractures are extremely painful. You should have your doctor see or look into kyphoplasty which is done with fractures but must be done within 6 months. When I had mine(fracture that is T 10), it was almost 18 months later that I looked into it so too much time had passed. Also, just to be on the safe medical side, have you had any blood work done? That might show something as well. Time was what finally healed my T 10 along with some other things.

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    1. Yes, I've had full blood works done and for someone in so much pain I'm sickeningly healthy, slightly low in sodium but that's all.

      I was reading about kyphoplasty the other day, but seemingly that can't be considered until after the first scan and as I've had such bad reactions to most medical procedures, reading the potential side effects and risks it's a bit worrying. Something to think about if it's considered suitable though for sure.

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  18. Oh my goodness, Sue, thank heavens you finally saw sensible professionals. No wonder your pain was debilitating. Fingers crossed that a solution can be found.
    Re the porridge... Plain for me too but made with skimmed milk. I can't stand fruit on mine.

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  19. I like my porridge - or here it is oatmeal - with a little butter and brown sugar on it and that is all! I do like bananas on my cold cereal only.

    Thank goodness you finally got the results of the x-rays! It's no wonder you have been in so much pain with the vertebrae damage and a fracture. I'm glad you got some meds for pain. It does help when you and the doctor get on the same page with your pain! I had a Dexa Scan a couple of weeks ago. I get one every three or four years due to some health problems. My Mother had severe osteoporosis but my scans are not too bad yet. What gets me is that I have lost 2 1/2 inches in height in the past ten years. I'm now under five feet tall and my husband says I'm a munchkin. Have you checked your height recently? You may be shorter due to that vertebrae damage. Please be careful and feel better!

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    1. Yes I checked a month ago, that's why the other Dr sent me for an x-ray. I'm 5'4” ... I was 5'6” previously ☹️. No wonder I can't reach anything, it's surprising the difference it has made

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  20. I do like a small amount of fruit with my porridge, made with water.
    The back pain sounds awful. Good job that you are getting some treatment for it.

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  21. Ouch! Thank goodness for the tech with sense though. I like porridge with a swirl of golden syrup. I soak the oats overnight in milk to cut the cooking time down...

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  22. I’ve got osteoporosis .. diagnosed a few years ago after a leg break. Was 52 at the time. The only thing found in my bloods was a low vitamin d and breaks have all been trauma breaks. Dexa scan is not enclosed . I do balance exercises but you need to be careful what exercise you do.

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  23. Love porridge, have it almost every day for made with water and some salt. Served with ground seeds and blueberries, with yoghurt for afters

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  24. I like porridge, oatmeal where I am from, with milk, sugar, and occasionally raisins. Best of luck with the back issues!

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  25. My husband is Scottish and his uncle used to make porridge for the week, pour it into a tray and when set cut a slab each day and add hot milk. I don't eat porridge.
    Glad you have a diagnosis at last it is always good to know what you are dealing with. Take care x

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  26. The grandchildren were here for breakfast and asked what the loved best (I expected 'pancakes' to be the answer!) and they said porridge. So, porridge, made with half milk and half water to increase the goodness for them, and each gets a little dish with a teaspoon of brown sugar for them to sprinkle.

    I'm sorry to hear how bad your back injury is - you must have been in huge pain. My DIL had spinal fusion surgery before lockdown last year and a year later, after careful rehabilitation she's now in virtually no pain, and can do any exercise she likes. The timing of the surgery meant Matt coped with children (2+nearly5), a largely bedridden wife, cooking, cleaning, and entertaining the kids... all the while trying to work from home in an incredibly busy job - not great fun!
    I hope the options become clear and there's a way forward towards painfree living.

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  27. Thank goodness you've finally got some answers to your back pain (gentle hug) It's not moaning at all. We get to a certain age where we need to be more careful with our bodies and our health.

    I'm Scottish and like my porridge traditionally made with just water (no salt though.) I do sometimes add fruit just to get in 1 of my 5 a day!

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  28. I like m porridge plain with a bit of brown sugar. That is how my Scots grandpa would always serve it.

    At least you have some answers to your back pain and a plan moving forward.

    God bless.

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  29. It must be a relief Sue to finally know what has caused your back problems. I'm sure it was a shock to hear about the fracture. Looks like I'm the only one (so far) who doesn't like porridge. I've tried various ones over the years but still not a fan. I remember as a kid having to eat Scotts Porage Oats:( Take good care xx

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  30. Very sorry to read about the X-ray results but good that you are now being seen to. I confess when you first told us about your injury I wondered if you had broken your coccyx. Thinking of you and hope something can soon be done to help your poor bones 🥲😟

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    1. Haha, no I've always been able to sit down pain free 😃. It was higher up and then higher up again.

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  31. Other than my best wishes I can't add more than others about your back. I hope you get some relief soon.
    Porridge is eaten by me as an evening meal about once a week, made in the microwave with water and skimmed milk but finished off with a half shot of Bailey's.

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  32. Pleased you have some answers to your ongoing back pain. Lets hope it can be resolved over time. I love porridge but it doesn't fill me up and I get too hungry after which is madness considering its a slow release carbohydrate. I have it as a dessert now with fruit and yoghurt so I can still incorporate the good qualities of oats.

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  33. Hopefully you will get some relief for your back soon.

    I make my porridge with water and then add a bit of milk when I put it in the bowl. I used to add brown sugar but I don't care for it any more.

    Helen

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  34. I am glad you are finally getting some answers and very sorry for what you have been going through. As for porridge I eat it rarely but include cinnamon and apple or banana or berries and usually make it with water. I do hope you start to feel better.

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  35. I love fancy porridge and plain porridge. Today is apple pie porridge, made with grated apple, some apple p[ie spice mix and some caramel syrup. Lovely.

    I'm glad you are closer to getting things sorted out - ongoing pain is no fun. xx

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