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[Renata]

Have not seen that Andy - will check out. That actor playing Euron is brilliant!

[Andy]

Simona wrote: "That's right. I'll tell you when I'll start watching the series!:-P"

Yes I understand (I think.... :) case of Goldfish bowl syndrome)

[Andy]

Renata wrote: "Have not seen that Andy - will check out. That actor playing Euron is brilliant!"

It's a grand series, highly acclaimed & my fav series to come out of Scandinavia & a lot of the actors/actresses have gone on to do a lot of high profile work thereafter.

[Andy]

GOT Ep 3 - Has to be about one of the best up there was totally captivated start to finish, the acting/directing/cinematography/dialogue was brilliant for EVERY single scene for me. that really was a special episode

[Renata]

They're just getting better this season...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Yeah, Vikings turned into a soap opera. Big time.

It also got too carried away with turning the ritual, religion and beliefs of the Norse into full blown ridiculous fantasy.
How could they go from the epic ritualism and cultural richness of Uppsala and the Blot festival in season one, to the wishy washy fantasy rubbish of following seasons and think they were still making the same show?

[Jane]

Terri wrote: "Yeah, Vikings turned into a soap opera. Big time.

It also got too carried away with turning the ritual, religion and beliefs of the Norse into full blown ridiculous fantasy.
How could they go from..."

$$ to donuts that's what the majority of viewers wanted to see. I would have wanted something like Season 1 to continue.

[Ace]

Exactly Jane. Season 1 was so good!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

$ to doughnuts. Lol. That's a new one for me. :-D

[happy]

That was one of my Mom's favorite sayings and I find myself using it all the time.

[Andy]

As we're (mostly) of an age on here Im going to say "gallstones" & hope that someone can assist......? I seem to recollect one or two may have gone throu the same thing? :)

It only happens at night (like 04:00 :( ), the pain can be anywhere from my right side to my lower/middle back at first but always ends up in the back, its a fair distraction in terms of pain but the co-codamine seems to ease it. Ive been offered Buscopan as a muscle relaxant by my doctor? Anyone tried it? Im kinda reluctant as im on other meds & wont take jus for the sake of it. I have scans coming up at the end of the month for other things so thats timely as the current waiting time is around 17 weeks with the NHS....... PM is good if you can help, as i need my sleeeeeeep thanks

[Tamara]

Andy wrote: "As we're (mostly) of an age on here Im going to say "gallstones" & hope that someone can assist......? I seem to recollect one or two may have gone throu the same thing? :)

It only happens at nig..."

Andy, I asked my son who is a physician. His speciality his pulmonary medicine. I read him your symptoms, and he said that he would need more information before he can diagnose it with any accuracy. But based on your description, he says it doesn't sound like gall stones or kidney stones. He said it sounds like something called spinal stenosis, which is problems with nerves in the back. Treatment usually consists of physiotherapy.
It's good you're getting it checked out. Hope it all goes well.

[Andy]

Tamara wrote: "Andy wrote: "As we're (mostly) of an age on here Im going to say "gallstones" & hope that someone can assist......? I seem to recollect one or two may have gone throu the same thing? :)

It only h..."

Thanks. I'm having scans for something else but as its all in the same region all will be looked at, its the doc (GP) that suggested Gallstones even though the pain is fairly localised in the kidney region most of the time - laying down is a complete no-go

I know a bit about pulmonary, I had CTEPH which was cured about 4 years ago through a PTE op, my favourite medical people as a rule. :)

[Jane]

Andy wrote: "Tamara wrote: "Andy wrote: "As we're (mostly) of an age on here Im going to say "gallstones" & hope that someone can assist......? I seem to recollect one or two may have gone throu the same thing?..."

My husband has stenosis. He walks kind of bent over, so I think he's in pain most of the time only he just doesn't complain. The guy's a stoic. He says that physical therapy and yoga have helped him somewhat. He spends a couple of hours a day on his yoga.
I hope you find something that helps you!

[Simona]

Good luck Andy. Take care

[Alice]

Andy, I hope you find cure soon. Take care.

[happy]

Good luck Andy

I hope the MD figure it out soon and more importantly, do something about it!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Andy wrote: "As we're (mostly) of an age on here Im going to say "gallstones" & hope that someone can assist......? I seem to recollect one or two may have gone throu the same thing? :)

It only happens at nig..."

Probably not gallstones. When I had them the pain was under my right shoulder blade.

Buscopan here is available over the counter from the pharmacy and is used for stomach/bowel cramps with gastros, not as a muscle relaxant.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Well, look, since you mentioned being of an age...with gallstones, I guess that includes me. Damnit. I didn't think I was mature enough to have gall stones, but I got a good lesson last year.
As you know, Andy, I had my gall bladder out late last year. So, I'm all up on gallstone pain as it is all still fresh.

You're getting it checked which is good. Usually as quick as an upper Ab scan or a CT. Get you answers lickety split.

The pain from gall problems. Is a vast sea. It can come from the weirdest places. And gall problems can crop up in many areas.
My pain was severe usually within an hour or two following eating, but then sometimes in the middle of the night.
My pain was not in right side, it was in the centre diaphragm, in my abdomen above belly button, in my spine really bad between shoulders, under left ribs, around left side of back, into shoulder and into neck.
They kept thinking my pain was heart and I went through lots of testing, before finally a bad attack ended with me in emergency being rushed to surgery. Lol.

It threw them because text books say gall pain is in the right under ribs. I never had that pain.
I had an infected gall bladder with two stones stuck in duct, which also caused pancreatic pain.
Its all gone now I have the gall bladder out.

What I'm getting at, is for all sorts of reasons, gall pains can show up in the non text book areas. So never write off gall bladder problems because pain is not just that sharp pain under right rib.
Pain in your lower abdomen/spine region could be radiating from stones in the duct.

After my problem I would always say, just get scans. If there is pain, get a scan. It isn't worth hoping it'll get better, because it can cause unfixable damage.

Which you are smart about. By getting a scan. :-)

P.S Panadol with Codeine was the only thing that worked on my gall pain.

[Carol]

Andy. Sorry u are having issues. I have had a whole series of health problems this year and am just now seeing light at the end of the tunnel ( I hope). Have your doc look into the possibility of Reflux as well. It can imitate GB sometimes. Good luck my friend.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Good to hear you could be at the end of your trials, Carol. Thinking of you.

[Andy]

Thanks everyone for your advice, experiences & well wishes.

A lot of what you say Terri resonates with what i'm experiencing, ive also had a prior "attack" back in February & the location was abdominal/spread. Part I of the scans starts tomorrow so hopefully we'll start to see a picture & gets some answers, good news is Ive had 2 nights sleep on the bounce :)

[Carol]

Feel better Andy. In the meanwhile stick to a simple non spicy low fat diet and stay sitting up post eating for an hour or two.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Andy wrote: "Thanks everyone for your advice, experiences & well wishes.

A lot of what you say Terri resonates with what i'm experiencing, ive also had a prior "attack" back in February & the location was abdo..."


Yay. Got to get those good sleeps in. It helps deal with life's ups and downs. Without sleep, it can all get on top of you, hey?

[Mark]

Get well soon Andy.

[Allison]

I'm sorry you haven't been feeling great, Andy. But glad you're getting checked out!! Good luck tomorrow!!

[Renata]

I hope they figure it out tomorrow Andy and you're on the mend soon!

[Linda]

I am anxious to hear from Andy about his troubles. I nearly accidentally killed myself earlier this year by self-medicating severe stomach pains which turned out to be caused by medication I was taking for a broken foot. I had major, emergency surgery for a perforated deuodinal ulcer so I have moved into the AARP groupie section of the health and age stadium of life. Let me hear from you, Andy. On aside, I have accidentally wiped out nearly everything on Goodreads. My 'Friends' section is gone. So, if you were my friend before, I did not mean to end the friendship.

[Andy]

Carol wrote: "Feel better Andy. In the meanwhile stick to a simple non spicy low fat diet and stay sitting up post eating for an hour or two."

I have a hiatus hernia from a prior diagnosis & this is defo different however...... the four nights Ive been up/bad "pastries/cake" have been involved...... so again i'm leaning towards Gallstones due to fatty foods etc.

[Jane]

Andy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Feel better Andy. In the meanwhile stick to a simple non spicy low fat diet and stay sitting up post eating for an hour or two."

I have a hiatus hernia from a prior diagnosis & this ..."

Maybe sugar? Try cutting that out. Gosh, hope doc diagnoses correctly and get well soon, Andy!

[Andy]

Stage 1 done, camera work was today & summit has been picked up wrt prior infections & the potential reason why, nothing major/bad which is a relief (i think ive had my quota already! :D ) - not related to the back pain, so hopefully ultrasounds next should pick up whats going on there in a coupla weeks.

[Andy]

Jane wrote: "Andy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Feel better Andy. In the meanwhile stick to a simple non spicy low fat diet and stay sitting up post eating for an hour or two."

I have a hiatus hernia from a prior diag..."

never been much of a sugar fiend tbh, mostly about the savouries for me...... i'm mostly feeling sound, its jus the middle of the night waking up in pain nonsense thats a niggle. We'll get their :) thanks for the book recom btw, looks good.

[Jane]

Andy wrote: "Jane wrote: "Andy wrote: "Carol wrote: "Feel better Andy. In the meanwhile stick to a simple non spicy low fat diet and stay sitting up post eating for an hour or two."

I have a hiatus hernia from..."

I've put that book on my favorites and I thought it would be up your alley! The novel's got everything in it except love interest which would have been way out of place!

[Tamara]

I have a random thought--more like a random question or series of questions.

I've been on goodreads for a little over a year. I've joined a few groups that share my reading interests. But of the groups I've joined, only a few are consistently active--this group being one of them.
Some of the groups list over 1,000 members, but no one posts anything, so they appear to be dead.

Why does that happen? Is it because members lose interest? Or is it that moderators stop moderating? A combination of both? Or is it in the nature of goodreads that some groups start off strong but then fade away into the sunset?

I ask because it's so disappointing. I join a group thinking I'm going to get a lot of recommendations for the types of books I like to read. And, then . . . nothing.

[Renata]

I'm glad they're figuring some things out for you, and that what they've found so far isn't too serious. That's a relief I'm sure.

Hate to think of you in pain during the night Andy for weeks until Sonogram. I hope the meds they've given you help some in the interim.

Various body parts of mine have broken down in strange and mysterious ways over the last few years. Worst part is not knowing what's going on or how/when/if conditions are easily mended :) Hang in there - thinking of you!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Tamara wrote: "I have a random thought--more like a random question or series of questions.

I've been on goodreads for a little over a year. I've joined a few groups that share my reading interests. But of the g..."

To be honest? I think people start out enthusiastic then lose momentum in most groups. If a group is about a certain author then often the momentum returns briefly when a new book is released.

On here, a fair few of the members have become friends. Messaging back and forth, and in some cases, swapping contact details and become friends away from the site.

A fair few of us view this group as a place to catch up with online friends.

[Allison]

I was going to relax into a Netflix coma before bed, Andy, but remembered you might pop in and let us know what was going on. I'm glad you had that done, have a good idea of what it is and are still receiving care in future. I am however extremely disappointed to read another reminder that sweets are bad for us :D


(As I eat a giant cookie)....

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Keep on updating us, Andy. I'm thinking of you.

Linda, I think your friends list is okay. I see 66 people on it.

Tamara, groups are not what they seem. Generally, people are introverted on GR. I know we have a lot of lurkers. People who observe, but rarely comment, and then we have lurkers who comment every now and then.
We used to be a lot more active, but that's because I worked my arse off to make that happen. Then I got bullied by that author and backed off of GR....I am not as active as I once was. Then various matters had me not online much for a year and as a result, the group got less active.
If a group doesn't have a very active moderator/s it will die. It takes a lot of volunteer work to keep a group active and most Mods aren't prepared to make the sacrifice. Can't blame them really, but they shouldn't be a mod if they don't want to do any work

[Tamara]

Margaret wrote: To be honest? I think people start out enthusiastic then lose momentum in most groups. If a group is about a certain author then often the momentum returns briefly when a new book is released.

Terri wrote: Tamara, groups are not what they seem. Generally, people are introverted on GR. I..."

Thanks, Margaret and Terri.

I'm still learning about goodreads. I just think it's a bit disappointing for a group that seems to have potential to become inactive. But, as you said, Terri, it takes a lot of work for the moderator to keep it active.

I'm glad this is an active group because it's nice to belong to a community that shares similar reading interests.

[Linda]

This group has the whole package--good mods, good subject, good 'something other than hf' subject. chance to write reviews that other people seem to appreciate, and more. Most important, it was decided that we should let the mods know if we had to take a break. That was good advice.
Thanks for finding my friends, Terri. Andy, thinking about you and praying for good news!

[Gretchen]

Just my two cents, but I think there has been a decline in activity on Goodreads since the last big update to the format of the site. A lot of people were not happy with the changes made. Some groups continue to have members who remain active because of relationships formed. However, I think there were quite a few people who had just had enough with the changes that they just use Goodreads as a way to catalog books and watch reviews.

[Ace]

Linda, you appear to have 2 accounts here... are they both yours? You may be logged on to one each from a different PC or phone/device?

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
("https://www. goodreads. com/user/show/5239887-linda")


https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
("https://www. goodreads. com/user/show/30575212-linda-laher")

[Ace]

Tamara wrote: "I have a random thought--more like a random question or series of questions.

I've been on goodreads for a little over a year. I've joined a few groups that share my reading interests. But of the g..."

Gretchen wrote: "Just my two cents, but I think there has been a decline in activity on Goodreads since the last big update to the format of the site. A lot of people were not happy with the changes made. Some grou..."

Exactly this Gretchen.

Also, there are groups that I am in where only the moderators are active. This is great if there are a lot of moderators but not if there are only one or two. I've joined heaps of groups in the last 4 years but generally leave again, with the exception of this group which just is the right amount of subject, thread topics and friendliness that I like, and my Aussie group which is extremely active, but less so since the GR changes Gretchen mentioned. ( I'm currently joining a few groups to check them out. I do this occasionally as groups seem to have highs and lows, I've found a great one which is very active (at the moment haha) with topics and challenges, pm me if you want further details).

As per Margaret's comment, I have many friendships here, but not all communication is happening on the group forums, some on GR mail, comments on book reviews, some on personal mail, some on Facebook, Litsy and LinkedIn. Its a wonderful community for finding people who are like minded and pretty much obsessed with books like we are :)

Over the last couple of months this group has increased in participation which is great. Terri and Margaret (and not so long ago Gretchen) thanks for all you guys do to make this group fabulous.

[Bobby]

This group has defied the odds in staying active and alive and I'm going to give credit where due. I don't remember where and how but Terri invited me many years ago and has been the glue (with occasional understandable absences) holding things together and always aware of all happenings. Most of the original group are gone but have been replaced by people like Jane, Margaret, Gretchen, Ace, Happy etc. You're in good company here Tamara! I apologize for not posting more often but I'm always lurking. Beware!!

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Welcome back from the woodwork, Bobby. Nice to see you again. :)

[Margaret, Sherlockian Sheila]

Ace wrote: "Tamara wrote: "I have a random thought--more like a random question or series of questions.

I've been on goodreads for a little over a year. I've joined a few groups that share my reading interest..."

True. There are some members who are more active on our Facebook page than on here, but that's fine. It's whatever suits the individual. :)

[Ace]

I forgot to also shout out to Dawn who is active again and used to moderate here. Sorry Dawn.

[Tamara]

Bobby wrote: "You're in good company here Tamara!...

Believe me, Bobby, I know.

As somewhat of a newcomer to this group, I want to throw in my two cents worth and thank Terri and Margaret for establishing and sustaining a wonderfully supportive environment. But I also think a lot of the credit has to go to those of you who post regularly because you are so encouraging and helpful toward each other. I enjoy reading your posts even though I don't participate regularly. It's refreshing to see there's none of the back-stabbing nastiness I've seen in other places.

I'm happy to be in this group. And I thank you for being so welcoming.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Thanks everyone for thanking us! :-D
And thank, Bobby. I see you, mate...well not literally, but I know you lurk because just when you think its safe to go back in the water..there's Bobby!!

I am glad majority of member participation is friendly. Who the heck wants to log into a group to see people sniping at each other or fighting? No thankyou.

Gretchen brought up a very valid point that I hadn't thought of. I 100% agree. The new format has killed certain aspects of GR.
I rarely scroll down the updates home page anymore as it is too image rich. Whereas post format change it was the first thing I did. Scrolled down on my profile to check out what everybody was up to.
It was much more copacetic the way it used to be. Now all I see is the top four or so updates and have aversion to go looking down further.

[Gretchen]

Terri wrote: "Thanks everyone for thanking us! :-D
And thank, Bobby. I see you, mate...well not literally, but I know you lurk because just when you think its safe to go back in the water..there's Bobby!!

I am ..."

The format change didn't turn me off as much as the way GR handled it. It was clear people were upset with the changes. People voiced their dislike on threads, through polls, and the beta testing. GR basically said forget you guys and did whatever they wanted. I could have learned to adapt to the change. I won't learn to handle people who are jerks. I've been doing a lot on BookLikes and with trying to get a personal blog rolling.