Rising to the top of the ocean - and staying afloat!

unoriginal_uk

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Before I forget ..... hi Mort:D nice to see you're still lurking ... hope Mrs Mort is keeping you in order!;)

Ohhhh that sounds a bit difficult but I guess if the rent's cheap & it's letting you a) clear debts (now done!:j:j) and save up some money to get your own place, it'll be worth it in the long term

It's such a pain sometimes ..... anyway, pleased to say that my bloods are ok!:) The infection one is up (not surprisingly!) but not so much that they wouldn't do it!

Awwww thanks Steph - I was on extra drugs to support my (near non-existent) immune system - which finished last week.... hence I now have cold :eek: It's getting better but throat still really sore......

Treatment take around 2 hours but you've then to sit for 2 hours afterwards (in case you have a reaction to it). It's not too bad - basically you're in a chair with the drip attached ... you can get up to go to the loo, stretch your legs for a few mins etc.

One of the reasons I like my left hand free is so that I can do crosswords etc!:)

Just a quick visit - did a bit longer at work today so pretty tired (and saw every hour again last night ) - have had Maisie out so think it'll be dinner, bath, PJs and something on "the box"!

My first and most important question: How on earth do you manage to do several quotes and comments in one post? Tech savvy as I am, I cannot for the life of me work out how to do this!!

Hope you had a nice evening Glad to hear your cold is, albeit slowly, getting better Keep taking honey - I think as has been mentioned this is definitely the key!

Yes we only pay £200 a month rent which is good (though I must stress that this is literally just rent - we buy ALL our own food, bills etc etc) so we are saving every spare penny. Well I am....the boyfriend needs persuading at times as he likes to spend more frivoulously than I. Harsh words were shared this evening as I do get frustrated that it seems like me putting all the work in all the time to sort out our money, and budget and save and I don't always get much help, then I get moaned at like I am being a nag when I try to chase him on putting money into savings But hey ho...you can't have it all

Blah I must go to sleep soon....I moan about never being able to sleep then I am on here at all hours of the dark night......:o

rising_from_the_ashes

StressedSteph wrote: »

Can I ask you something:-

What pet insurance do you have for Maisie.? We have a border Terrier and would like to get her insured. But i am finding the world of pet insurance is a complicated thing.

Ohhhh lordy - it is a minefield and I know people who've been caught out.

There's basically several different types of policies:

• Basic - usually only provides cover for 12 months - so if your pet gets something long term you're sc*ewed!
• Lifetime if policy renewed - limited amount say £4k - OK but again if your pet gets something long term, you can reach the policy limit fairly quickly and then you're sc*rewed! *
• Lifetime if policy renewed - limit renews each year - this is the best! (and more expensive obviously!) as the policy limit renews to the full amount each year and should be enough to provide long term cover

* I know someone who had taken a £7k lifetime policy ... her dog needed a major operation and cost around £5k. Couple of years down the line and the other leg needs the same op - she goes to her insurer and is horrified to find the "pot" is nearly empty as it was a £7k in total policy she took and not a £7k renewable each year one:(


Please be really careful with the small print - if you do some quotes & want me to have a look, happy to help! Ohhh - there are several underwriters to avoid so can also help with that!



Basically - Pet*plan are the best ..... they are also usually the most expensive ... but their customer service is excellent and I've rarely heard of anyone having major problems with them.


John Lew*is are also good - but have recently changed underwriter so not sure of the new one. Ar*gos get good reviews, but I've found their quotes horrific (even more than PP - so not sure what's going on there!).


I've actually just moved all of mine to A*xa - good company with a good reputation - I now have a higher level of cover than I did with PP / JL and am paying around £10/month less:T


Ohhh I'd say avoid anything on a cashback deal or with x months free or x off in the first year - you can find the premiums jump huge amounts at the end of the first year when it renews and if your pet has then had something, you're stuck and can't move to a new insurer (as the condition would be excluded):(

I did a quote with Sainbobs out of curiosity as someone said they'd basically got it free with cashback etc - it was going to cost £230 in the first year (current policy is £209) but that would jump to OVER £400 at renewal:eek: - imagine if you had to stick with that (and I bet they'd go up each year!)

Sorry it's one of my pet hates - there are so many different T&Cs and tricks to try to catch people out ... bit like travel insurance!

unoriginal_uk wrote: »

My first and most important question: How on earth do you manage to do several quotes and comments in one post? Tech savvy as I am, I cannot for the life of me work out how to do this!!

It's easy when you know how!

Next to the "quote" button there's another one that looks like balloons ... use that one and tick the ones you want to quote - you can do 3 (there is a way to get more, but we'll start with 3!)

StressedSteph

Hi Rising.

Thank you soooo much for your help on the Pet insurance.

I knew there were alot of pitfalls, but crickey.:eek:.

I have a good knowledge base to start from on my hunt now. Thank you so much.

The reason why I have started looking is, I could have sworn our Border had a slight fit earlier in the week. she went all funny, like someone had smacked her and then on the kitchen tiles, she just slid to the floor, legs in all weird angles and did'nt seem to have any control. It was probably all over within 30 seconds. Kids were hysterical and begging me to take her to the hospital .

I picked her up and took her to the sofa and by the time I had done that, she had snapped out of it. She was very fussy and needy for a while, I expect it scared her.

She is only young, just under 5 years old. I have to admit that hubby and I are not the most sentimental over-the-top pet owners, but the childrens reaction suddenly made me realise that if something happenned to the dog, we would HAVE to do our best to get her cured etc if only for the childrens sake .

Hubby thinks we should just start putting a small amount aside each month, But I am worried about the short-term. We have no emergency savings, let alone DOG savings :rotfl:.

Will have a look into them, it would be nice to have her covered, even if its until we can afford to start saving a "Just in case" fund for her.

Thanks loads xxx

rising_from_the_ashes

No probs Steph mmm that does sound like some kind of fit type thing so it would be best to get something in place if you've no emergency fund ..... BUT whatever you do, if you decide to go down the insurance route - get the cover in place & make sure the exclusion period has expired (usually 7 to 14 days for illnesses) BEFORE you take her to the vet

Unfortunately once there is a mere mention of something in the animal's history it's enough for the insurance companies to class it as a pre-existing condition and not pay out ...:(

Hope she's OK.....

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry folks but absolutely fizzing .....

Went for my infusion this morning (remember I had spoken to the clinic & advised them re my cold & they'd looked at my bloods & said it was OK to go ahead ..... and I'd explained the issues re work & getting there & being told it wasn't going to go ahead ....)


So ... guess what happened :mad:

My temp was slightly up (0.2 of a degree ) & was told my bloods were up (explained I'd spoken to nurse the other day) but was told I had to see the Registrar before they could go ahead ..... queue long wait ......

Eventually Dr arrived .. had consult & was told it couldn't go ahead ... had loads of tests & sent for x-rays


Headed over to Clinic ....... saw my consultant (the big man himself:) - it's rare that you actually see him and not one of the registrars so was really pleased about that) - had a good chat through of things ..... he asked why I'd not had the infusion ... looked at my bloods & said they were fine ..... said it was due to the temp ... he said it was a "baby temp" (which I totally agree) and that there was no reason it couldn't have been done! :eek:

O....M....G..... so ...... basically wasted a morning (and one of the few precious days off that work will let me have) ..... AND I've got to go back on Tuesday to have it done then

Asked if there could be some sort of note put on my records in case temp is still the same on Tues - stating that he's cleared it to go ahead.....


Phoned boss & said I'd be in tomorrow as it hadn't been done .... which was OK but then told him I had to come back Tuesday & have it then (and will then be off Weds) ..... silence I can understand him not being happy - but neither am I and it's not my bloomin' fault!

beanielou

You are much calmer than I would be.
It's the lack of communication that makes me so mad on your behalf.
Do that not unterstand how difficult it is to hold down a job in this climate & your work are about unhelpful as they can be anyway.
Bah is all.

taxi73

Unbelievable..no wonder you're ranting.I can totally understand them not giving it if your bloods were bad or your temp high bit a 0.2 rise is nothing.
Am so sorry that you had it cancelled

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks both (I know ... 0.2 deg ridiculous!) ..... I am absolutely shattered! (and can't believe I've got to go to work tomorrow)

I spend a few days before going building myself up to it (it's not awful but not that nice either if that makes any sort of sense!) ...... and then to go through everything this morning, not have it done, find out it could've been done *sigh* and then have to psyche myself up for it again next week .... (this is the 2nd time out of 3 that this has happened!)

I know they've got to be careful as it's a really toxic drug but there surely has to be a better way of being able to find out before you actually go - maybe not so bad if you're 10 mins away but .....

Feeling a bit down ..... had it drummed home by my consultant (again!) that I've been really ill (think it's finally starting to sink in ) and am still really not that well...... he says if I have one (single, only - sorry slightly freaked atm) day where I'm worse than I am now, I've to phone him & basically go back into hospital

rising_from_the_ashes

Going to see if I can unwind a bit with a soak in the bath ....

sistafromanothermista

Good idea Rising, take care of yourself :kisses3: