Old Style Ways and Poor Health part 2.

pollyanna_26

Shropshirelass said:

Polly, just happened to breeze through here, attracted by Mar/Ming's words of wisdom 
Boots have delivered my medicines here, they are one of the few nationals actually being helpful.  Perhaps they would deliver for you. I haven't been able to access a grocery delivery, as we aren't on the government list of vulnerables either. Lucky to have had a good storecupboard, though it needs refilling now.

Nice to see you breeze through Shropshirelass. Our Boots pharmacy our very helpful too. They've been diong the meds for over three decades. We've had some problems with a few meds that have been hard to get due to supply issues but they sort it as soon as they can. A year or so ago Superdoc tried ordering the meds electronically and it was nightmare. He took a large bag of meds out of one of the cupboards and it wasn't until we got them home I realised two class two and one newly classified class three were missing. They'd been signed for at the surgery but not checked. it took about a week of me, superdoc and the staff trying to track them down with umpteen phone calls and emails.

It turned out the prescriptions hadn't gone to Boots. He'd used an American owned company based on a local industrial estate which for some unknown reason was the only one the practice use. When I finally got sense out of them they insisted on delivering here.. I shall never forget seeing  the woman walking down my drive swinging a large , clear plastic bag of Morphine based meds for all to see.

Needless to say that was the only time. I collect from the pharmacy. There are a minimum of 19 meds each month so easier to check and sign off.

It works for lots of people having them delivered but it really triggered dds anxiety.

Superdoc usually prints them during her 2 weekly appts missing one  and doing them on the next. A while ago dd started taking a picture of each on her phone after a new young pharmacist lost one prescription and the surgery has to do a copy of them all to prove there was another one.. Sounds extreme but that's overwhelming anxiety.

Stay well and take care.

pollyx

ETA No idea why sometimes a post has a lot of blank space at the bottom. and not normally. I had to scroll down to post.

.

pollyanna_26

I'm so glad you came up with a solution for the RV. It must put both your minds at rest. It's good your doctor agreed . Dd and Superdoc are always tweaking things and it does make a difference. I'm just sending the love and light that Superdoc will be ok. As he has a lone practise they're having to use locums although it's mainly phone and emails now. It's about 16 years since our former GP brought him in telling dd she was safe in his hands. He's worked his socks off to give dd the best life possible and she thinks the world of him.

I've no idea what will happen with the growers who sell online. The local growers here either have market gardens or sell at the gate. There is one who specialises in Violas who sells both from his nursery and mail order. It feels as though everything is being impacted. Dd1 closed her North of England and Scotland stores last week. She'd already stopped doing store visits. Son and dd2 are key workers so on the front line. It sounds a bit 60s hippy which I was but I'm wondering if the universe is giving us a kick up the backside to leave all the stuff and get back to a simple life with kindness and decency at the heart of it..

I was amazed reading how limiting car travel has lowered the emissions and begun to clear the air in London and other places. We need to find a better way. At the moment it's the best of people and the worst of others. At least shops are now limiting purchases after the great clear all the shelves by some. One way and another we've lived through many different times Mar.

Given a choice I go back to bikes and "Born to Run" Mind you I don't think Cassie R did much for air quality. You may need to translate that not sure if you called it that North of the border.

pollyxx.

MingVase

I just found this post today! yes I remember Castrol R - fabulous memories with that one

I'm really suffering today, that smile was very welcome PollyWolly thank you - and sorry I didn't see this post for so long

maddiemay

Hi everyone, MingVase so sorry that you are struggling today,  do hope that things improve soon for you.
Polly - I see you from time to time on SS's diary, I hope that your DDs arm? has healed and that you are ticking over O.K.
I just plod on........., my hands are really painful, but I am enjoying some garden work and baking within my limits, OH is often called to be my cooker/oven helper as it is tricky moving hot pans and trays around, but as he enjoys the spoils I have yet to hear protest from him.
I took a call from one of the GPs a few weeks ago in respect of my inclusion on the at risk register, my immune condition is tagged as being one of the rare ones, most medics have not come across it, since it was not on her list she took me off the list!!!  This gave me a kick up the rear to contact my immunologist (who featured on Radio 4 one day last week) who immediately had a letter sent to GP spelling out the need to be on the list in no uncertain terms, so I was able to breathe again.
Elderly mother and everyone in her small nursing home were tested for CV19 last Friday and all were ruled negative on Saturday, due we thing to it being a small home and having taken no new clients for several weeks before lock-down.
One great bonus at present is that although my hands are giving me gyp, my ankle problems seem to be in remission. Although I am on the stay at home at all costs list, I live in a quiet area and can quite safely take walks in the countryside sometimes, today OH and dog and I walked 2.3/4 miles on a beautiful country estate on bridlepaths which happened to be tarmac estate roads, arrived at 09:10 and the birdsong was amazing, sad I could not hear the Cuckoo that OH heard even with hearing aids.
Take care all. xx

MingVase

That's good to hear about yr mum's care home, will be a worry off you MM. I find communications between consultants and GPs very patchy at times, I got my letter from NHS Borders not the GP. I'm doing mainly ok under House Arrest up here, but have had to buy a power chair as I'm just too knackered to walk much now. I like the sound of your baking..

pollyanna_26

Don't know if you saw my email Mar, your post here and email reminded me  I got a couple of phone calls just as we were emailing.

Knew I should be doing something but couldn't remember what! No need to say sorry. I didn't know anyone had posted here. I switched off Notifications quite soon after the new rollout. It was when posts were being sent from pretty well every thread I'd ever subscribed to were flooding in. I've a feeling they fixed that so may try it again.

From your last email it sounds as though your GP has done as Superdoc did for both dd and I and diagnosed Fibro before referring to the Consultant who confimed it.

Is there any plan re seeing a Consultant at the moment? There are a number of meds that are very effective . After a couple of tries dd was put on the one that helps the most by the consultant. Diffferent ones suit different people . I was the one who refused meds when dd was really struggling. because I needed to be alert and not getting used to strong meds.

It was a big mistake by the time things settled a bit it was too late. DDs med is not approved by NICE in England for the over 60s as it's too expensive.

I think rules are different in Scotland and anyone over 60 could have that and other meds even if they weren't already on it before reaching 60 which is the case here.

A few hospitals here are considering doing more appointments not sure if that's a good idea or not. I can understand Cancer and other treatments are needed and was pleased to see Liverpool are soon to open a state of the art cancer centre to back up the one over the Mersey. I had friends who had to do the long journey to Liverpool and through the tunnel to Clatterbridge. Setting out at the crack of dawn for Chemo and the long trip home was necessary but wiped them out every time.

I'm glad you now have wheels, that must make real diffence. Shame they don't make a CassieR version. When I had the weird bank experience back in March I was sitting on a bench for a quick rest when I realise the shops were starting to lock the doors and put the shutters up. Suddenly there wasn't anyone around. I was about to stand up when I heard an almighty roar behind..I was in the smaller shopping area behind the high st. Two huge Ducati's one behind the other roared past me  Totally wrong but oh did I laugh. It cheered me up no end and I thought dd and Mar would love this.

What things are you struggling with Mar? I know you're pretty savvy but is there anything in particular. My brain seems a lot foggier but I think I'm losing concentration a lot more than usual. I've not been shopping weekly as normal but plan quick strategic shops every couple of weeks . Dd and I agreed we'd avoid letting the situation get to us and we'd try to guard our mental health.

That's ok apart from the constant information followed by an amendment to the PMs daily statement correcting the things he got wrong. I got used to adapting to things and until two weeks ago wasn't caught up in queues etc. Kept noticing what was happening around me. Wasn't totally comfortable being out but since this loosening I'm aware I need to minimise those shopping trips even more.

Dds prescriptions are being sent electronically to the pharmacy. I finally managed to get the Pharmacy to set up notifications again for when the Meds were ready. Anxiety wise dd still can't trust the meds delivery service. Superdoc, the practise manager and others are phoning here to keep up to date..

Dd was due her regular full bloods on the 13th March but the day before is when the phone call came that the appt would be over the phone.

Since then the surgery had a period of adjusting while keeping in contact. When they phoned to check if she needed ant of the fire fighting meds on top of the repeats I mentioned her blood tests , blood pressure and asthma checks.

They sent a nurse to her last Monday although she is technically out of area at the moment. Poor nurse tried and tried but couldn't get the blood out. Dds had to have blood taken from her feet and other places in the past. It seems missing a couple of months has put her veins back in stubborn mode. Nurse is going back with a little butterfly needle to see if she can get enough out of her hand.

Have you manged to get out in the garden much?

I'm going to make a brew and then read the post from Maddie.

pollyxx

.

pollyanna_26

I'm so glad you're plodding on. I think that's become a mantra thanks to dear beanie.

Your mums care home did exactly the right thing and it must be a great relief to know she's in safe hands.

Not every care home has stopped taking in new residents at such an early stage.

I'm sorry your hands aren't so good at the moment. I've been plastering on various gels and creams. The mixed weather , sometimes cold, humid damp or too hot really kicks things off.However you have a positive with your ankle problems in remission. Hope that lasts. Dd get the Psorias rash on her ankle which was has damaged tendons and we always know she's heading for a big flare and more pain.

Glad your Immunologist is helpful. DDs sheilding letter eventually quite a while after Superdoc phoned to say forget Isolating don't count the days already done. Today is day 1 minimum 12 weeks could be more.

Although that happened the surgery staff had to trawl through all patients records to identify those in the extremely vulnerable categoty. Once that was done they sent out the letter.

I wish I had a cooker/oven helper. Some days I'm not too bad others utterly hopeless. I've never been fond of my Combi/ Microwave it's much different to others I had over the years . Heating from the top rather than the sides as the others did means it often overcooks or burns things when in grill or oven mode. All attempts to try different times , temps etc don't always work the next time. I've got a double oven cooker but have burnt myself so many times I tend to use the micro/ combi.

Your walks sound blissful. Mother nature is a  great help when it comes to mental health and relaxing.

Although you didn't hear the Cuckoo you had your husband alongside you to pick up anyrhing you didn't and tell you about it.

Those walks remind me of hb2 who made us smile when she sang in the woods.

Dds arm is healing well. I've seen her twice since dropping her at her BFs. There's a big lawn at the front of the house surrounded by tall trees. I was dropping the meds off halfway up the drive but she was sitting at the far side of the lawn . I sat about 10 feet away from here. Little black and whitr cat came along and plonked herself down a long way away opposite us and it created an extreme distancing triangle. She was looking at me expecting treats but they'd already been picked up by gloved and masked bf to take away with meds and sanitise.

It was a warm sunny day with a nice breeze and we spent a couple of hours chatting and laughing and enjoying little cats extreme social distancing.

We did the same again with the next meds drop. This time little cat made a beeline for me , I'd put some treats in my bag for meeting her so she forgot the triangle and sat down near me. It was pretty warm so I took my cardie off and she lay down on it as she normally does , Big ginger boy turned uo and he was so confused it was heartbreaking .We've always called him the bear with very little brain , lovely nature but the attenton span of a gnat. I put some treats further away but he went and lay under the trees away from us. . I could feel his cogs working but not seeing me the previous time he'd forgotten who I was.

Dd emailed me later "I think the penny has dropped , he;s outside looking everywhere and wont come in"

Dd did a very good job re the scald . I saw it with my own eyes healing very well. Seems all the How my body works partworks years ago. Her interest ithe science of conditions and medications and chin wags with Superdoc and myself ,plus her trusty tool box of things for an emergency when your immune supressed stood her in good stead.

Not something I'd recommend and I was horrified when she sent me a message a few days afterwards although we'd been in touch over the days between.

It kept her away from the hospital so I'm thankful her DIY method worked but she has been warned!

Stay away from hot, sharp things etc. No amateur dentistry, resetting of bones or minor surgery.

My hair should be pure white by now but isn't.

I've rambled on maddie as per usual.

Best wishes to you and yours. Seems we're promised a heatwave this week. I'll be hiding in the coolest place indoors but if you can get out and enjoy it do.

pollyx

.

Tink_04

Hi everyone, It’s so good to see this thread active still!

Polly I hope you and DD are well now?

I am in the shielding category so holding up, it’s boring at time’s and manic at others so it’s quite surreal. We have been trying to home school and DH is still working from home which is good.

The PIP seems to have just stalled with the current circumstances. I sent the forms back but have heard nothing and the arrangement has not changed so hoping it has just been filed to continue on as it has been until it’s next review (fingers crossed).

I need to get into batch cooking and get a better grip on shopping as it’s so much more expensive online and the kids are eating constantly!

We have tried to grow some bits in the garden but I’m not very green fingered to be honest, will keep trying tho. 

The kids are struggling at times and so are we but trying to take each day as it comes, I hope everyone is staying safe and well and managing to get through this time.

Tink

MingVase

Not seen a consultant, not fussy either if my endo heifer is typical. I havent ever been given any meds at all for ME and I think fibro is lumped under that heading too is it not? Nobody mentioned anything anyway so I asked for codeine and got it.
Struggling with.. well pain. I'm one of the very lucky ones who never had pain with ME, at all. Now every single bloody joint aches like hell. Add that to the rotator cuff injury LOL let's just say that I drop a lot!! But the pain does drag me down and make me miserable sometimes. I went to bed at 7.30 last night just to get comfy.
We're still in lockdown here thank god, I'm not in a hurry to mingle. Sainsbugs once a week delivery and amazon filling in the holes. We think we'll just wear face masks for the rest of this year, won't do any harm.
Garden yes, gotta swing and a lounger, just need the sun now!
Feel so bad for yr daughter, she doesn't have it easy does she xxx

MingVase

Lavender or honey fixes scalds and burns xx