The Diary Of Onebrokelady Aged 60 And A Half

Onebrokelady

daisy_1571 said:

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

Yes you are right pottering around at home is different to going to work and the travel there and back wears me out 😟.  

I don’t feel guilty about leaving at all though 😀they have lots of new full time staff and I’m off sick so often it probably wouldn’t make that much difference if I’m there or not. I have the attitude now that I’ve done my bit, I’ve worked for nearly 33 years in this job and 25ish of those have been with a chronic illness so to my mind I don’t owe them anything. My main problem with leaving is money, I’m worried I won’t be able to afford it. I get my NHS pension and that should be topped up with benefits if I stop working but I can’t guarantee that. It’s like jumping off a cliff into the unknown not knowing if I will actually get any more money. I do have shale of my retirement lump sum left so could use that to top up my monthly pension for a couple of years if which would give me leeway to find another little part time job. I haven’t been unemployed for 33 years so it’s quite a scarey leap to take but it’s one I think I’m going to have to do  

Onebrokelady

foxgloves said:

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

I hope so 🤞🤞they did say that’s an average wait and if it’s more urgent you will be seen sooner so I suppose a longer wait might be more encouraging 😀

My plan of action now is to contact HR and occy health to see where I stand with work and I’ve decided that if I don’t feel up to it I will just have to get my GP to sign me off sick again. I can investigate everything even if I’m off sick so that won’t matter. I’m going to get an appointment with my GP to see what they think but that might take a while. In the mean time I am going to concentrate on looking after myself and boosting my health. The neat weeks shifts I’ve got are in clinics so not too risky and I’m going to see how I cope over that week then decide if I should be there.

Onebrokelady

Today was a right off 😟 I didn’t wake up until 10am and I was still so tired that I fed the cat and went back to bed, I just couldn’t keep my eyes open I was so exhausted. I slept until 5pm which is ridiculous 😳 I got up and had something to eat and I’m going back to bed shortly. I do have four days off so I’m not back at work until Wednesday then I have Thursday off and working Friday,hopefully I won’t spend next Saturday asleep. I’m just so tired 😟

Im hoping tomorrow will be better and I will be able to get some bits done. I do need to wash my towels so can do that tomorrow. I went on Amazon and ordered a 5litre bottle of Ecover washing liquid because it doesn’t smell of anything so will be better for my chest, the M&S one I picked up is lethal so I can’t use it. The Ecover came today and I’ve got a smaller bottle 1 litre bottle to pour it into because the 5litre is too heavy to pour straight into the machine 😀 it should last me a few months. I bought it on the subscription offer so I don’t have to remember to order it again and I thought if I dont like it I can just cancel it. This also means I don’t have to carry heavy wash liquid home with my shopping. I do have a shopping trolley but it still take up room and is still heavy. It was £21 for 5 litres so more expensive than than the one I normally use but I suspect it will last a lot longer 

Cherryfudge

I don't know whether you've tried a brand called Smol? I use them and find the unscented laundry capsules don't smell of anything. They deliver and come in a shallow box (careful packaging saves resources and makes it able to go through the letterbox). I think you can send off for a trial pack to enable you to decide, but I find it really useful that I don't have to carry it or use much storage space. You can also adjust the timing of your order.

milann

I hope you get an appointment quickly with occupational health. I found them very helpful and it was they who suggested an early retirement through ill health for me. Did you know you get an enhanced rate with the work pension if this is granted. I can’t remember the percentage but they take into account how much would have been earned if you’d finished at your full retirement age. I had a local government pension so I’m presuming NHS are similar. I phoned and enquired how much my work pension would be but made sure I mentioned the possibility of early retirement through ill health. 

I finished 4 years earlier than my state pension age and got the work pension straight away. 

dawnybabes

Was just coming on to say this - medical retirement sometimes has benefits attached.

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge said:

I don't know whether you've tried a brand called Smol? I use them and find the unscented laundry capsules don't smell of anything. They deliver and come in a shallow box (careful packaging saves resources and makes it able to go through the letterbox). I think you can send off for a trial pack to enable you to decide, but I find it really useful that I don't have to carry it or use much storage space. You can also adjust the timing of your order.

I haven’t tried Smol because I don’t like capsules and I thought they were too expensive. 

Onebrokelady

milann said:

I hope you get an appointment quickly with occupational health. I found them very helpful and it was they who suggested an early retirement through ill health for me. Did you know you get an enhanced rate with the work pension if this is granted. I can’t remember the percentage but they take into account how much would have been earned if you’d finished at your full retirement age. I had a local government pension so I’m presuming NHS are similar. I phoned and enquired how much my work pension would be but made sure I mentioned the possibility of early retirement through ill health. 

I finished 4 years earlier than my state pension age and got the work pension straight away. 

I’ve been given an appointment for the 19th of February but my boss says I can’t go because we are too tight for staff 

Onebrokelady

dawnybabes said:

Was just coming on to say this - medical retirement sometimes has benefits attached.

I’ve taken my main pension already and just have a smaller one that I’m still paying into which I can claim when I’m 65 I think 

dawnybabes

Onebrokelady said:

milann said:

I hope you get an appointment quickly with occupational health. I found them very helpful and it was they who suggested an early retirement through ill health for me. Did you know you get an enhanced rate with the work pension if this is granted. I can’t remember the percentage but they take into account how much would have been earned if you’d finished at your full retirement age. I had a local government pension so I’m presuming NHS are similar. I phoned and enquired how much my work pension would be but made sure I mentioned the possibility of early retirement through ill health. 

I finished 4 years earlier than my state pension age and got the work pension straight away. 

I’ve been given an appointment for the 19th of February but my boss says I can’t go because we are too tight for staff 

I’d speak to HR about this ….