Blue badge face to face assessment

beanielou

subjecttocontract said:

Are you making up the forum rules ? I don't recall the forum rules disallowed judgemental comments. I view a blue badge face to face assessment as a very positive event.

One of the rules is to be nice to all money savers. 

Judgemental comments are not encouraged. 

Sncjw

Anyways, I have an update and I have had an email to say I have been given a blue badge. Tried calling the council to pay for it using text relay but theres issues with payment system. 

In a way I am happy I have one as it will make going to places a bit easier. I was rejected twice in the past for my hearing issues. I am unable to hear cars behind me and if its windy I find it really hard to hear any shouts from whoever I am with to move out the way. Plus there is always some drivers who drive far to fast in car parks and could risk saftey on top of the weather causing issues such as rain i would take my implant off as there is risk of damage so cant hear a thing without it on and if it is damaged it would mean not being able to hear anyways. 

However with my knee and cardio issues and the medication it has made things worse for me when it comes to car parks. Sometimes I dont even bother getting out the car espcially if we have been to multiple places prior as it is very tiring and painful to walk long distance depending on where there is space. So being able to get to the door of a place and if they have wheelchair i can use on my really bad days it will help massivly. 

Thank you for reading my worries and helping. 

Although mine ended up positive it is not always a postive event to have face to face assessment. 

Spoonie_Turtle

That's good news.  To be completely honest from what you described I was not confident they'd give you one (not that I thought you didn't need one, it's clear that you do, just they're so strict and many people who do need one are denied from face-to-face assessments) so that's really good to hear.  I hope they can sort the payment issues ASAP and you get to enjoy some relative freedom soon.


Btw as you mention wheelchairs, if you are in need of a basic wheelchair there are MANY secondhand ones always being sold (new they can be a couple of hundred £) which you could then set up to be comfortable for you - especially the height of the footplates, with a comfy cushion - which matters for things like days out.  And then you'd always have one for worse days too regardless of whether the shop/destination has one.  Rollators are an interesting option too if you're still reasonably ambulatory, more support than a cane and you always have a seat to sit and rest whenever needed.  There are a plethora of secondhand ones available as well.  (And of course you can decorate any aids you own if desired, to make them feel more 'you'.)

Sncjw

I havent written everything down thats going on as there is so much of it. 

I dont want to buy a wheelchair myself yet as I dont want to be fully reliant on it and also my family can be very judgy at times. 

beanielou

Fantastic news @Sncjw. Pleased for you. Anything to make life easier. 

KittenChops

Sncjw said:

Hi all 

I am freaking out here. I had a phone call (Which i used my phone text translation service to communicate due to hearing issues)  to say I have an assessment face to face for my blue badge application. I applied back in august because of my knee issues and other health issues which at the time i was being investigated for a heart attack and I have been placed on medication for and also my long standing hearing issues. 

I have applied in the past for my deafness as I cant hear cars around me and if my cochlear implant battery dies or the implant fails i cant hear any saftey call out but was rejected. Since then I have had knee issues with my meniscus tear last year but they just left it to heal normally and since then i have had flare ups of pain and limited motion that results in me needing a walking stick. I have recently had a bad time that my knee twisted so much it felt out of place but got it back to place so that i can weightbear. It has taken 3 weeks to get back to some sort of normality and during this time husband had to get me wheelchair in hospital appointments, use shop wheelchairs when i envutally manage to get to door from a far away car parking spot and i have had to get taxis to appointments on days when husband is at work and use hospital wheelchairs. Other days i remained at home because of the difficulity getting round and even then it was hard to get around the house.  I am using my stick more and more since my meniscus tear and i get pain and tightness flare ups. I find it difficult to walk to and from my workplace and i need rest breaks often people check i am ok on these breaks and i mean strangers. On the days i know i definartly cant get to the local transport i use a taxi which can be costly. I have been under physio at work and they dont think its related to my meniscus tear and my hipsital letter says that if further symptoms to investiagte for rhumatoid which i asked the gp to do but blood tests come back negative. the gp hasnt done anythign further and i feel like no one is actually trying to do anything to find out what the issue is causing all of this. 

I have since had a heart scare which meant i was addmited to hispital for a suspected heart attack and had tests. I have been placed on medication and couple of them lower my blood preasure and since then I have found i can be a bit breathless when walking a distance and need breaks too. 

I have also been diagnosed with autism and the report is very detailed which indicated i have snesory issues with noise and i know this obviously myself and when i am in a shopping area that is very busy i get stressed and oveerwhlemed and i have to leave the shopping area asap. 

I am worried that because i dont have a diagnosis and i get flare ups that i wont get the blue badge which would massibaly help me reaching rest points such as shop or wheelchair if i need it alot quicker and i would be safe because If i was parked at a distance and need rest when i am in middle of the road i could be a danger to my self and others. I am worried they will turn it down.

Hi
Glad you have your blue badge approved
With regards to possible rheumatoid arthritis (RA) & the blood tests your GP did; blood tests aren't a definitive answer to say you have or haven't got RA. I would contact your GP surgery again, especially as your hospital letter said your GP should be investigating.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/diagnosis/
https://www.arthritis-uk.org/information-and-support/understanding-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/

Spoonie_Turtle

Sncjw said:

I havent written everything down thats going on as there is so much of it. 

I dont want to buy a wheelchair myself yet as I dont want to be fully reliant on it and also my family can be very judgy at times. 

I'm sorry to hear that about your family.  I wonder why they have strong feelings about a chair on wheels*.  Ultimately you're the one that has to live in your body and deal with the consequences of using or not using certain aids, not them.
*Rhetorical, I can almost certainly guess the answer

You certainly wouldn't have to use a wheelchair all the time if you got one.  Just like reading glasses are for when people need them, or we have different types of shoes for different situations, or different clothing for different types of weather.  A wheelchair or rollator in principle is no different in that sense from a walking stick - for different needs in different situations, aids for when you need them.  (Many people find mobility aids / more supportive aids preventative as well, if you use it when you benefit but without leaving it until you *absolutely have no choice* then it can mean less pain and exhaustion and leaving enough energy free to do and enjoy more things.)

Sncjw

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sncjw said:

I havent written everything down thats going on as there is so much of it. 

I dont want to buy a wheelchair myself yet as I dont want to be fully reliant on it and also my family can be very judgy at times. 

I'm sorry to hear that about your family.  I wonder why they have strong feelings about a chair on wheels*.  Ultimately you're the one that has to live in your body and deal with the consequences of using or not using certain aids, not them.
*Rhetorical, I can almost certainly guess the answer

You certainly wouldn't have to use a wheelchair all the time if you got one.  Just like reading glasses are for when people need them, or we have different types of shoes for different situations, or different clothing for different types of weather.  A wheelchair or rollator in principle is no different in that sense from a walking stick - for different needs in different situations, aids for when you need them.  (Many people find mobility aids / more supportive aids preventative as well, if you use it when you benefit but without leaving it until you *absolutely have no choice* then it can mean less pain and exhaustion and leaving enough energy free to do and enjoy more things.)

I don't feel erotically ready for that. There's been alot going on in the last 3 months with mt health. However I will be borrowing a wheelchair when I go to amsterdam from the hotel I am staying ib. I've been to amsterdam before but we want o make the most of the trip and not have to stop and start all the time. I will move around when I am capable of but if lon distance or knee plays up I will use it. 

Spoonie_Turtle

Sncjw said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sncjw said:

I havent written everything down thats going on as there is so much of it. 

I dont want to buy a wheelchair myself yet as I dont want to be fully reliant on it and also my family can be very judgy at times. 

I'm sorry to hear that about your family.  I wonder why they have strong feelings about a chair on wheels*.  Ultimately you're the one that has to live in your body and deal with the consequences of using or not using certain aids, not them.
*Rhetorical, I can almost certainly guess the answer

You certainly wouldn't have to use a wheelchair all the time if you got one.  Just like reading glasses are for when people need them, or we have different types of shoes for different situations, or different clothing for different types of weather.  A wheelchair or rollator in principle is no different in that sense from a walking stick - for different needs in different situations, aids for when you need them.  (Many people find mobility aids / more supportive aids preventative as well, if you use it when you benefit but without leaving it until you *absolutely have no choice* then it can mean less pain and exhaustion and leaving enough energy free to do and enjoy more things.)

I don't feel erotically ready for that. There's been alot going on in the last 3 months with mt health. However I will be borrowing a wheelchair when I go to amsterdam from the hotel I am staying ib. I've been to amsterdam before but we want o make the most of the trip and not have to stop and start all the time. I will move around when I am capable of but if lon distance or knee plays up I will use it. 

Well that's good, I hope it helps and you're able to thoroughly enjoy your trip

Sncjw

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sncjw said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Sncjw said:

I havent written everything down thats going on as there is so much of it. 

I dont want to buy a wheelchair myself yet as I dont want to be fully reliant on it and also my family can be very judgy at times. 

I'm sorry to hear that about your family.  I wonder why they have strong feelings about a chair on wheels*.  Ultimately you're the one that has to live in your body and deal with the consequences of using or not using certain aids, not them.
*Rhetorical, I can almost certainly guess the answer

You certainly wouldn't have to use a wheelchair all the time if you got one.  Just like reading glasses are for when people need them, or we have different types of shoes for different situations, or different clothing for different types of weather.  A wheelchair or rollator in principle is no different in that sense from a walking stick - for different needs in different situations, aids for when you need them.  (Many people find mobility aids / more supportive aids preventative as well, if you use it when you benefit but without leaving it until you *absolutely have no choice* then it can mean less pain and exhaustion and leaving enough energy free to do and enjoy more things.)

I don't feel erotically ready for that. There's been alot going on in the last 3 months with mt health. However I will be borrowing a wheelchair when I go to amsterdam from the hotel I am staying ib. I've been to amsterdam before but we want o make the most of the trip and not have to stop and start all the time. I will move around when I am capable of but if lon distance or knee plays up I will use it. 

Well that's good, I hope it helps and you're able to thoroughly enjoy your trip

I did not mean to say erotically stupid phone haha. I meant emotionally