NST October The Turtles Go Outward Bound

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for having an alarm clock, for a good day at work, for dd having a good day too, for no rain, for TED talks.

DrCarrie

Hi Guys, racked up another NSD, I was going to nip to the shop to get a few bits, but made the assessment that I didn't need to. I haven't been out the door all day thought. Long day at work in my living room. 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening everyone
O - Still on 0/15 NSDs; 
U - Had tea & cake with a friend on Saturday; had a long walk yesterday as the sun was shining here in the NW & today I've done my exercise class via Fb. 
R - been trying to go to bed before 11 & do regular exercise- both achieved so far  
Gratitudes- DD1 best friend had a good start in her new job after being made redundant in July; DD2 enjoying being back at uni; cats purring next to me 
Deni x

greent

Still on 2 NSDs. Saturday's takeaway was the chip shop £11 for 4 people instead of an Indian at around £55 - so that was pretty good! (I made myself a quick stirfry rather than eating the chips)

Need to get back on eating properly this week - put a couple of lbs back on Today's eating has been on track and did a short rowing session and 14k steps. Joined a gym (postponed until Nov due to work and half term I know I wont make enough use of it this month)

Sorted some too small bits from Ds3's wardrobe and dropped some bits to animal shelter donation box at Smkt.

Gratitudes - less rain today so managed to get some plants cleared, the pots washed and put away in the shed, having a heated airer here now that DD is not at uni, picked up an unexpected few hours at work tomorrow

mothernerd

Wide awake and worrying at 3 am but managed to find some phone numbers for the local district nurses. First was Atherton centre not Leigh (went there twice with mum at the start of the year). Tried the treatment room next but they gave me an admin phone number which was permanently engaged (tried ring back but no joy). Phoned the consultant's secretary to explain where I was up to and told her that I have been attempting to get mum's blood tests done since July. She said the specialist blood nurse would be in a better position to apply pressure so I phoned her. They could do the bloods in Salford (Eccles actually) but I explained the consultant didn't want her going to the hospital (next appointment will be by telephone, again). I went through all the steps I have taken and she agreed to phone mum's GP and find out what the hold up is.

Did lots of 'fish' cookery - tuna and butter beans with red pepper, mange tout, baby sweetcorn plus the remains of a defrosted bag of broccoli, cauli, carrots and peas all in a creamy sauce to have with pasta, cooked more fish fillets (2 mins in the microwave) and a head of broccoli to assemble into fish pie tomorrow and sauced prawns eaten with a generous salad.

Weather wasn't suitable for working outside so found something to watch in the background (Dr Finlay and Peak Practice) and did more sewing.  

Grateful for mum being in a slightly better mood (paid me for doing the tax return - that's because she used to pay the s-i-l of one of my grandma's friends). I've also added hair cutting to my list of lockdown skills - a few weeks ago she said she wasn't letting me anywhere near her hair, today she asked if I would tidy it, please. Good food (tuna pasta thing was delicious), feel good entertainment (although my favourite character died in Peak Practice), aches and pains receding - parts of me are still pretty bad but I can move around.

misstara

NSD yesterday taking me to 3/15 NSDs and managed a short walk.  Today should be a NSD too.  Currently on night shift, I quite enjoy doing night shifts but it definitely screws up my healthy eating because I just end up snacking all night.  Hoping for some nicer weather so that I can get out a long walk later.  

DrCarrie

@mothernerd sorry to hear abiout the challenges in healthcare, sounds stressful. Hope it is sorted soon. 

mothernerd

Day 6
If tomorrow feels like too much, try focusing on today

Don't blame yourself for finding life hard

mothernerd

DrCarrie said:

@mothernerd sorry to hear abiout the challenges in healthcare, sounds stressful. Hope it is sorted soon. 

I know everyone has been working hard so I've tried not to complain. The consultant neurologist suggested in May that mum could have blood tests done middle to the end of August (providing it was safe to do so) prior to her next appointment (was September but appointment sent out was October and was then put back a week and switched back to a phone appointment). The neurologist is based at a hospital which deals with COVID patients, our local infirmary doesn't but several areas have been converted back into wards (presumably to accommodate non-covid but vulnerable patients from other hospitals).  

I haven't demanded 'special treatment'. I made enquiries in July as to whether it was possible for someone (district nurse?) to come out to take both our bloods (mine should also be done every six months), check on mum's leg ulcer which I have been treating since March lockdown and perhaps give us both our flu jabs (reports on other threads suggested the flu jab would be out earlier this year and the nurse practitioner has previously said that it's always worth asking in September even if the flu clinics don't start until October).  This would avoid several risky taxi journeys (the two relatives who would offer to give us a lift have 5 children between them). Mum has no immune system and mine is compromised so if we get COVID and don't die, hospitalising us would tie up a hospital bed for 1 -3 months, which is a poor use of resources. In early August I set this in motion. At no point has anyone said it couldn't be done (although I'm now down to just asking for mum's bloods) or suggested the proper procedure for using the normal channels.

Will just plod on

mothernerd

Put up flags. Dance round the maypole. Do a Native American war dance. We have just had a visit from a very lovely young nurse who has taken lots and lots of blood (she says if I can get a blood form she will do mine if she has to come again). Think the specialist blood nurse from the neurology department did her stuff and put a rocket up the doctor. Nurse said the guidance is that if we cannot get to the infirmary other than by ambulance (mum qualifies but has never taken up the option because she doesn't like all the waiting around) then someone should come out to do bloods. I have just been coming up against petty officious people (think the doctor was bothered about it coming out of his budget).

I will be quiet the rest of the day because unspeakable fluids are coming up (hope it's this current bug on it's way out of my system) so am self-isolating in my room so I don't swap bugs with mum.

Anyway the bloods have been done so that's enough work for today.