2016: Health, Wealth and CCJ Demolition

stressed.mum

Emzilla wrote: »

Sorry I haven't posted for a week - but:

I GOT PIP!!!!!! Enhanced rates on both components, and they won't review it until 2025.

:dance::dance::dance:_party__party__party_:j:j:j

Yep, I'm slightly excited and VERY relieved!!

Emz xx

So pleased for you Emz, one less thing for you to worry about, does that mean you can keep your car??
Xxx

beanielou

stressed.mum wrote: »

So pleased for you Emz, one less thing for you to worry about, does that mean you can keep your car??
Xxx

That's a yes :j :j

Emzilla

Thank you for the congrats messages regarding my PIP :A.

I've not posted on here for a bit as I've been having a tough time of it health wise. About a week ago, I started coughing up blood, which isn't unusual, but it was happening regularly and my chest was really hurting.

Come Sunday afternoon, I was even struggling to breathe when I was just sitting still. The hospital said it sounded like I'd had numerous bleeds in my lungs in different places, and this had probably caused them to become inflamed, hence why I was struggling to breathe.

The doctor came to my house Monday morning and confirmed that it wasn't an infection, but my lungs did sound like they had blood in them still. The only thing that can be done in that case is to try and get the blood up and out of the lungs. Lots of nebulisers and physio (even though at this point it felt like my lungs were in a vice!!).

They offered to admit me into hospital, but said if I would be more comfortable at home, I could stay here seeing as I didn't have a chest infection as such. They then took about 30 minutes to convince me to go on oxygen to help my lungs get some rest so that the inflammation could go down.

I have never been on oxygen before, and really didn't want to. I'm afraid of getting reliant on it and when that happens, I might as well just put my name on the transplant list. However, I let them persuade me this time. It did help a lot, but I will be asking them to take it away again once I'm back to my usual self.

My lungs are still painful, but not to the extent they were. My breathing is also still laboured if I'm trying to do anything too adventurous (like walking up the stairs!!), but fine when I'm resting.

I had Monday off work, but managed to go in on Wednesday and Thursday (only 3 and 4 hour shifts). In hindsight, I shouldn't have gone in. I really don't know why I did. It's very hard for me as I feel like a healthy person trapped in a body that's falling apart. My mind always says 'your fine, go into work, it's only a few hours', and then I feel guilty if I don't at least try to go in. It also feels like I'm letting the illness win if I don't go to work. That probably all sounds nuts to anyone else reading this.

Anyway, I had a meeting at work yesterday with regards to the next few days. I'm due to do three 6 hour shifts in a row (Sat-Mon) followed by a 4 hour shift on Tuesday. I've said I'm not up to doing that much at the moment, so they're going to look into what I can do today and get back to me. I'm hoping they'll let me take Sunday off, but we'll see.

In the long term, I have been thinking that I need to cut back a bit. I'm considering dropping my hours to around 12 a week. This will mean losing about £160 a month. I'll have a chat with my actual boss when she's back from leave.

I'm also going to look into whether I can get any other benefits and maybe (just maybe) able to stop work altogether. I don't think I'll be eligible, as OH earns a good wage, but I can try and find out.

Emz xx

(that was a longer post than I planned!)

beanielou

As you know & don't need me to tell you your health must come first.
So if you need to drop hours at work so be it.
Take care of you.
Not going to work is not giving in or failing, it is looking after you.
Doubt you will get any other benefits.
Please please think again about going bankrupt.

stressed.mum

Emz
I'm so sorry you are having a bad time at the moment. Please do everything you need to to take care of yourself, your health is so much more important than money.
I agree with Beanie, please think about going bankrupt, you have tried so hard to clear these debts, but your health must come first xxxx

constantworrier

Hope you feel better soon Emz xxx

summerday

Hi Emz,

I remember you from years back on here, and you're still the amazing, hardworking person you were back then.

So sorry to hear that you've been feeling extra poorly lately. It must be frustrating, because you're clearly so motivated and have a strong work ethic, but as you say, your health must come first so please listen to your body and take it easy.

No harm in considering all the options open to you as well, e.g. bankruptcy.xx

Emzilla

Thanks for the good wishes everyone :A

I am feeling much better than I was. As good as I've felt in a long time TBH. My doctor seems to think that I might have had something lurking in my lungs for a while and this was causing me to feel rubbish. The oxygen seems to have helped a lot, so I've still got some that I'm using every now and then. Still don't want to become reliant on it, but will use it for the foreseeable future.

I've been going to work still. They switched my Sunday to this Friday, so I didn't have to do 4 days in a row. Going forward, they're going to see if I can switch my days around so I'm not doing any more than 2 days in a row.

I've got tomorrow off, so my sister and I are taking the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. OH and I have been seeing movies too. We saw Deadpool last night (funny, but a bit too bloody for my liking) and How to be Single on Sunday night (not bad, but I've seen better).

Going to start thinking about earning some money again now that I've got a bit more energy (don't worry, I promise I'll go easy).

Bed for now though - night night.

Emz xx

in_need_of_direction

Glad to hear you're feeling better. Don't overdo things now.

Emzilla

Morning

Going to try and be positive on this thread from now on. My health is still going well at the moment, but I'm a bit tired of dwelling on it here (IYSWIM).

So I'm going to list all the positive steps I've taken over the previous day here. Focus on the good

Yesterday, I:

• Sent off some DVDs and books to a website for £7.05 (mostly freebies and comp wins)
• Claimed a £1 Amazon voucher from Superpoints (every little helps!!)
• Completed a 50p survey on Prolific
• Did a couple of very short articles on Textbroker (5.53 euros payable on there at the moment)
• Got 50 points on Lucky Phone (Just 190 points away from claiming £10)

We're off to the cinema tonight to see The Finest Hours.

Emz xx