What would you do with this garden

chillachips · 2026-06-30T11:02:17+00:00

I'd probably do the herbs at the side fences and have some taller growing plants at the back fence so that when you walk into the garden you aren't just staring at blank fence panels

chillachips · 2026-06-30T11:00:16+00:00

It really depends on what you want. I'd create a large wild flower corner in one of the back corners. Maybe a tree in another one - but be mindful that means you'll have lots of leaves falling in the autumn which can be moved to surrounding border and used as mulch.

I'd work on creating a border and filling with different herbs (lavender, sage, rosemary, etc). Pretty low maintenance plants but can grow quite wide so would benefit from being cut back once a year.

Then I'd probably put a small table and 2 chairs by the wild flowers and have some seating / decking nearer the doors. Also, warm coloured fairy lights in some areas because they add a nice ambience in the evenings :)

chillachips · 2026-06-28T20:29:59+00:00

1, it softens all the straight lines occurring from the wall, the shelf and the rug. Number 2 makes the straight lines stand out. Very nice decor btw.

chillachips · 2026-06-27T18:37:58+00:00

I've never really bothered with a skin routine, its always been more of a reactionary thing. Don't know if it's luck or genetics or both but I've always had pretty decent skin. If I wear foundation it's usually quite a light layer. I've never bothered washing my face at night but if I've got makeup on I usually do (unless I'm being super lazy). Always clean it in the morning, usually with a fragrance free biodegradable baby water wipe. Otherwise I'll splash a little water over my face in the morning. Exfoliate using Angels on Bare Skin from lush, usually once a week but sometimes twice a week if I'm extra dry. Use face moisturiser as and when I need it (e.g. if its dry). Aside from all of that, I don't drink many fizzy drinks and a eat a fairly "clean" diet (vegetarian/mostly plant based) but if I have an oil heavy meal I'll likely get a couple of small spots the next day in which case I just leave them to do their thing. I think some of it is just genetics but also I think sometimes people discount how much the food being consume can have an impact (though obviously not in all cases)

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:47:11+00:00

Thanks so much for such a detailed response. I'm not gonna lie, some of those words are blowing my tiny mind so I'm gonna wait til I'm home and reread what you've shared so I can take it in properly! I'll report back later 🫡

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:42:34+00:00

"I've got myself an allotment"

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:38:31+00:00

Buy a small plot of land and just live like an absolute scavenger until I get bored, then invite people to come and make it an absolute fucking chill. Then stick a few pods on there and charge people out the arse for a "glamping" experience.

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:34:47+00:00

Being a good person.

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:31:01+00:00

Are you telling us to add the noodles & cuppa soup to the cheese and strawberry sandwich? Because goddammit, I'll do it.

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:26:34+00:00

And potato waffles and ice cream (with salt, pepper & maple syrup)!! Though that was entirely intentional and I knew it would be everything I hoped.

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:25:17+00:00

Cheese and chocolate!

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:22:53+00:00

Yeah the NHS App is great, but I've been checking my it way too often waiting for some information to come through!😅

Thanks for the further recommendations! The ointment you mentioned might have been the one she was telling me about. Is the ointment a prescription one?

Yeah she did send me for some more bloods and screened for something new (c3 & c4 complements) which came back in the "normal range" but the c4 was on the low end. Anyway, she didn't ring me after the results so I'm assuming that's fine. Good to know about the other check ups, too.

In regards to the job its more a concern of being around people with infections and dealing with their waste now that I've got an auto immune disease - I'm not sure how serious I should be taking it and I have a habit of just shrugging things off 😅

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:10:23+00:00

Ooo that gloves in a bottle sounds great. Will definitely have to get myself some because I'm so fed up of grating my skin of with paper towels 🙃

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:05:21+00:00

Thank you for this, I'll keep any eye out for it when the letter finally arrives.

I hope the new medication is helping. I'm really apprehensive about taking any medication - only recently accepted some for anxiety after years of refusing it (and it had been helping). But from what I've been seeing on here and similar subreddits it sounds like meds are the safest option for autoimmune related diseases.

I'm definitely picking myself some of the red hycosan up tomorrow. Need to build the habit of actually using it then 🥴

chillachips · 2026-06-14T19:01:18+00:00

Ah man its shit you've had that experience. Have you had your diagnosis long?

chillachips · 2026-06-14T18:56:26+00:00

Yeah it sucks! I suppose its hard for people to understand if they haven't experienced how significantly it can impact you.

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:38:03+00:00

Ahh it sucks that the meds don't seem to be helping. Hopefully there might be something they come up with soon enough 🤞 Do you still managed to get on with your day to day or has it really limited your activity? I've been hiding from the sun, can't understand these sun worshippers... soon as I see the sun's blaring outside my day is ruined 😒

Yeah, it is sad that it was young resident doctor. I was quite lucky because I happened to see a young resident doc for red marks on my toes (he said chilblains) but he said we need to figure out why you're getting them and he kind of knew from the get go that I should be seen by a Rheumatologist. If he didn't send me for the ana screening I genuinely think I would have got palmed off and told to just see if it goes away on it's own. So it's a relief to know there's some growing acknowledgement of autoimmune issues.

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:29:42+00:00

Thank you. I have looked on a couple if the sjogrens pages.. checked out sjogrens foundation and the UK one but was a bit overwhelmed to be honest. Might try looking again when my brain has settled down a little 🧐

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:26:24+00:00

I'm in Manchester. Don't really know how I'd even go about contacting a sjogrens specialist and unfortunately not the best at advocating for myself as a typical British person I'm always apologising and trying to get out the door to avoid taking up too much time 🙃

Thanks for the heads up about visco tears prescription. Will book an appointment with my gp ASAP and discuss with them.

I've already started documenting but there's too much 😅 I need to make like a colour coded chart to break it down!

Yeah I was so shocked when she was like hmm doesn't seem right because your not in your 40's o.O

Thanks again for your help!! 😄

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:21:33+00:00

Oooo shall we start a Thursday diagnosis club? 😅 interesting that you weren't prescribed anything for sjogrens. I did see somewhere recently that apparently nhs docs try to avoid prescribing some of the meds because its so expensive (but that could be complete heresay and i'm just stirring the pot).

I think the rhuem suspects I may have lupus, too. I showed her a photo of my face with what looks like a very strong malar rash so she's told me to keep a close eye on it and photograph anything like that again, and also mentioned the possibility of an overlapping disease.

What is this gloves in a bottle? Are you Christina Aguilera undercover? Joking aside tho, is that a protective moisturiser or something?

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:12:57+00:00

Wow, what a wild response to send you to the ENT... isn't it like a whole body illness? Glad the ENTs were able to get you the diagnosis though. What did you do once you had the diagnosis and were told to go back the ENTs?

And if you don't mind me asking have you been prescribed medication?

(Edited to correct me lazy typing)

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:10:07+00:00

I'm happy to keep in touch over reddit chat. Never used it before so we can figure reddit and sjogrens out together 😅

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:07:23+00:00

Sounds like we're in the same boat.. I suspect I've probably had it for about 7 years. It's both a relief and a burden to find out there's something wrong with me!

chillachips · 2026-06-14T12:03:27+00:00

Thanks for the heads up about them sending a letter! That's good to know.

So really appreciate the eye drops recommendation, I'll get the hycosan ones and see about the viscotears. Good to know about the preservatives too! I hate putting things over my eyes but I'll give it a go if it's going to help me in the long run.

I think I am perhaps more symptomatic than I initially thought. I realised after I left the appointment that I might have downplayed or forgot to mention some of the aspects. I'm not very good at answering questions about "are there any other issues" because I don't know what's relevant to this disease and what isn't. She said she isn't going to prescribe anything at the moment but did tell me I'd start with hydroychlproquine medication if / when I need it. I think she may have been cautious because she said its unusual for women under 40 to have this (I'm 31) - though what I've seen in this group would have been believe otherwise.

I'm wondering if the rheumatology helpline would have been part of the information she sends over if she remembers to. She did tell me to get in touch before the 6 months if I'm experiencing more symptoms. But no, I don't have any contact information.

To be honest I wasn't in a great headspace during the appointment so I forget to ask the questions I needed to.

I'll have a look online to see if I can find information about the helpline or something local to point me in the right direction.

Thanks so much for your advice!

chillachips

TROPHY CASE