The Diary Of Onebrokelady Aged 60 And A Half

Willowtree222

Sorry to hear about your cat. They are so much part of our family. 

Enjoy your day with your friend x

dawnybabes

Is that your three? If not I’d be tempted to break something.  Hope the steroids help - my cat was on them last year before we lost her and they made a huge difference, she was running around like a starving kitten 

jwil

Sorry about the cat   Well done on running for the bus with a cat carrier though!

Glad you are feeling a bit more positive.

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge said:

I'm very sorry to hear about the cat. I hope the steroids help.

I am similar with strong perfumes apart from it's my upper lip that smarts a bit. Not painful but not something I'd want to live with. I'm currently using a scented fabric conditioner at half strength because it smells so strong!

And look at you, running for a bus and carrying something as you do so! 

Thank you . There’s definitely something in the house irritating me because since I got home today my tongue has been tingling, I’m thinking it’s the washing that’s drying so that wash liquid needs to go asap

Onebrokelady

Willowtree222 said:

Sorry to hear about your cat. They are so much part of our family. 

Enjoy your day with your friend x

Thank you they certainly are part of the family and we have owned him since he was 11 weeks old. I will miss him when he’s gone but he’s had a good life 🙂

Onebrokelady

dawnybabes said:

Is that your three? If not I’d be tempted to break something.  Hope the steroids help - my cat was on them last year before we lost her and they made a huge difference, she was running around like a starving kitten 

I broke a glass last week does that count 😀. The cat has been eating loads any way so he’ll be even worse with steroids 😀

Onebrokelady

jwil said:

Sorry about the cat   Well done on running for the bus with a cat carrier though!

Glad you are feeling a bit more positive.

I know I was like Usain Bolt 😀not sure the cat was that impressed though 😀

Onebrokelady

I did not want to get up and got to work this morning, I love my bed 😀 work was actually quite nice today ,it was just the right amount of busy if you know what I mean.
 I spoke to my boss and she doesn’t know how I go about trying to retire through ill health and has advised me to contact HR. I told her I don’t want to rush into a decision but that I am very worried about the risk of infection and she said I’m just as much at risk in outpatients as I am on the ward which is not actually true but never mind. I told her I would prefer not to work on the ward if at all possible and I’ve asked her to refer me to occy health for advice which she agreed to do. She also asked if I thought I was well enough to be at work so I said I didn’t know because I don’t. I told her I was struggling and she said well if you don’t feel like you are well enough then you need to make that decision yourself and I do know that but it’s hard. I feel ok at home when I’m pottering around so feel like I should be ok at work but then when I’m at work I’m finding it hard so maybe I shouldn’t be there. I’m just sick of pushing myself at the expense of my health. Im going to wait a bit and see if my appointment comes through so I’ve got a bit more clarity but I’m not going to ouch myself if it’s gong to mean I’m making myself worse.

I went on the NHS app last night and discovered that you can look up if you’ve been referred and there was a referral put through on the 6th of January but there is an average wait of 19 weeks to see the respiratory team so I’m looking at around late April /May time before I hear anything so I’m just going to have to wait and see. 

daisy_1571

Its very different pottering around at home when you can do what you fancy or do nothing, stand up, sit down, lie down, get involved in a task you want to, or need, to for your own life, have a cuppa, look out the window, potter into the garden. 

Compared to being at work - any work - you have to be on your feet or sit at a particular desk, you have no control over who you have to interact with whether colleagues or the public, you have little control over what you do for your prescribed work hours plus you have to travel there and back.

I suspect (and I might be completely wrong of course) are you feeling a bit guilty that you don't feel crushingly ill when you are at home therefore don't 'deserve' to IHR ?  There might also be a little bit of guilt at leaving colleagues to carry on, leaving them temporarily shorter staffed?

Get the facts, find out how much retirement income you will have, see what you think but retirement from your full time job can open up so much more - better health, time to pursue your own interests, you can still work if you want to but part time or in a different field, you can volunteer in all sorts of ways, clubs and meetings with friends can form your new routine and keep you out and about 

Just a thought 

Daisy xxx

foxgloves

Hi OBL,
Well, re that long wait for referral, I am hoping you might get a cancellation, particularly as the appointment date draws nearer. That's what happened to me when I was having to go through various referrals/scans the year before last. There was suddenly a decision taken that a temporary additional clinic was required so my appt was brought forward, then I had another phone call to say could I come in that week because some people above me on the list had cancelled. It does vary I know. I think that when you are at home doing everyday stuff, you probably feel it's a lot easier because you can go at your own pace & you know, even simple things like being able to sit down for 15 mins with a drink & snack when you want to, rather than when work timetables dictate can make a difference. There's the travelling in too, as well as the working day itself, which makes the day longer, doesn't it? It can't do any harm to arrange a meeting with HR & Occupational Health. It will be useful to know what the procedure & threshold is for taking medical retirement. I agree with Daisy above that it would also be useful to have a look at the financial side, so you know what you would be living on.....although I know that's a bit 'chicken & egg' without knowing what you would get if you were retired on medical grounds. It sounds as though (as you have a wait for your referral) it's worth taking a 2-pronged approach - finding out absolutely as much info as possible about the retirement/HR/financial side of things & also taking good care of yourself so as to keep as well as possible - healthy nutritious meals, fresh air, etc, & avoiding lergies as far as is possible in your current line of work. I know you don't need me to suggest these things because you are very sensible, but I think that's how I would probably go about it if I were in your situation. Knowledge is power in all things & it is always easier to make decisions when in full possession of the facts.
F x