Teetering on the brink

EatingBeans

Thanks. Honestly, I doubt very much if I will even be able to fill the form in myself at the moment. I just can’t put into words what I want to say as my mind goes blank every time I think about it. I am really hoping the CAB can help. They are next open on Friday so my plan is to go and ask.

I have at least been to the GP today. He’s given me some antidepressants that are also used for nerve pain so hopefully that will help. He’s also given me a fit note from 1st June until the 1st August so I am going to use it to hopefully claim ESA backdated to when my job ended. 🤞 I think that is the right thing to do but I am going to check that with the CAN too. I literally don’t trust my brain atm.

The GP appointment was rather ‘fun’ though as it was just that bit too windy for me to be outside and even wrapping up my face didn’t stop it setting off the Trigeminal Neuralgia. I actually walked in in tears which is a first. 🤦‍♀️ The zaps were so strong it stopped me even speaking several times during the appointment and even once we had done I literally had to sit on the chair outside the room just to compose myself. Never before has the less than half a mile walk home felt so far. 😞 But, back in the safety of the home now. Heat pack and painkillers later and I am feeling much better. See, that is why I need the van! If I had been parked right next to the surgery I could have just stepped inside, shut the door and got the relief I get at home but without walking back through the cold to get there. 🤞

ellenvan

Well done for getting to the appointment.

Is the plan to get the van back on the road when your payout hits your bank account?

The weather forecast is set to get warmer from the weekend, so hopefully that will help you.

liselle

Age U.K. used to help with form-filling, don’t know if they still do.

As others have said, always use your worse days scenario.

stymied

I assume you’ve seen this page already https://www.tna.org.uk/news/trigeminal-neuralgia-pip/

flamingo22

At our library, you are able to book an appointment with a specialist who will you help with your PIP claim, may be worth enquiring if your does too?

Cherryfudge

I'm sorry your trip out was so horrendous.

Don't try to answer the PIP form straight off. If you look back on your diary or if someone says something that expresses your situation or if something pops into your mind, make a note of it. Build the picture bit by bit, and absolutely use your worst case scenarios.

EatingBeans

Thanks all. It certainly has been a day!

I am very much looking forward to the weather warming up again. I have worked out that I am pretty safe going out if it is both over 18 degrees and the wind is less than 10mph. Anything colder or windier than that is a bit risk. Sadly the UK has more days that are the wrong side of that line than it does on the right side but hey ho, that’s just another obsticle to work around.

Whilst the van is technically still on the road as a car, the retreat space is currently a work in progress. My original plans hit a rather big snag that in the end meant gutting it back to bare metal and starting from scratch which is why it us currently out of commission. I have 90% of everything I need for it, I just need good weather and energy to put it all together. It is very difficult to make much progress parked outside the house so when I can I have been driving the 30miles to my brothers house so I can park it around the back by his garage (out of sight of everyone), and he and I have been rebuilding it on his days off. I’ve nearly completed all of the insulation and next step is to put down a new wooden floor so we can start properly building it out. Getting the wood for the floor has been a nightmare but B&Q should 🤞be delivering it to his house on Sunday (I’ve heard that before!). Fingers crossed the weather is good and we can get that laid which will put us back to where we started before having to rip it all out. 🤦‍♀️ In theory I shouldn’t NEED to spend anything to get the rest of the van built to the point where I can use it but one thing I will buy once I get the payout is a power station to go inside. That way I can power my fridge, heater, phone, lights etc all without having the van running. They are not cheap but I believe it will make all the difference in terms of how much it will help me. Everything else I either already have or I have the materials to make, e.g. I am cutting up an old dog bed to make seat cushions/a place to lay down and rest. 🤣 My current target is to have it up and running as a sanctuary before the end of the month.

EatingBeans

Good news today. All the mad Vinted selling paid off and deliveries/payments have all gone smoothly (touch 🪵!) The bank account no longer looks like it will immediately run out of cash. 🎉

ellenvan

Well done, worth all the effort.

Should hopefully provide motivation for another bout of listing soon .

I know you will also be very busy making plans for distribution of your payout.

Hope you are feeling better today also.

Afdaff

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82031337#Comment_82031337

That’s wonderful. Many congratulations on all your hard work.