h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi I'm back

Only for this posting a.t.m. - lets give a quick precis before I fall over.

Think the interview went really OK. I needed need to spit bullets because the woman was a professional and- rarest of gems, inteligent.

She could also see I wasn't putting it on - which was such a relief! The problems lies with lack of communication between the hospital, the GPs and also the GPs are at fault for not actually
A) spotting that I was in chronic pain and becoming exhausted
and
b) Not drawing to my attention the medical aid I was entitled to - as of course, are every single one of their patients, (depending on their circs, naturally)

I appear to be getting 4 and a half hours home help/shopping aid (tho thanks to your idea re internet shopping, I can use the hour's "shopping" time to squander on house work.) So I have 2 hours "domestic" help and one and a half hour's "personal hygene" care - which means (BLISS!) I have somebody to give my back a scrub in the bath

I am also having an Occuptaional Therapist round to see what can be provided in the way of "useful" stuff, like a stick to grab things with, and a stool to perch on in the kitchen instead of leaning badly whilst I try and prep. the veggies

A Physio is coming around tomorrow, so I can ask her to put me in the right direction of Pain Relief (I need to ask the right questions, but I know what to ASK for now, and thats a help)

The lads will be getting the option of a "support" club for teenagers, which basically means a free Maacy D's once in a while and an afternoon out with other kids who have to keep an eye on their mums, to let off steam, should they want it.

Doris the Sweet pushed for a loan from The Social Fund for me to have a week's sort of holiday (I was getting a bit tired by this time, and wasn't taking stuff in, so I may have got the wrong end of the stick of this - but it sounds pretty good, so I live in hope)

Its been arranged that they'll check with the PTB if I am receiving all the benefits I am actually entitled to, and give me a bit of moral support whilst I clamber thru all the forms and paper work

(Something I am - currently - too tired and mithered to think clearly to do, so this sounds like a Good Thing)

Tomorrow, I have several new phone calls to make, but my main "job" this week is to ensure that my GP starts and continues to monitor adequate pain relief, for me. The PTB (offical ones, as well as the voluntary Liason Service) will be monitoring the GP and also the Hospital, to ensure I don't get lost in the system

(tho how anyone could POSSIBLY lose someone as nice as me beggers belief.... but there you are!)

Not back for a mornings work, eh?


I think this may be the start of a decent and full recovery Jack.

I'm ever so tired, but I also feel not only Hopeful, but "safely" hopeful for once. I don't expect miricles, and I don't expect everything DONE for me - but I have finally achieved the tools I need (and apparently have always been entitled to) to actually get well again


I've probably made myself sound incrediably weak and pathetic!


All I really want to say is god alone help all the poor devils who are in the same situation as me and haven't managed to find out who to ask and HOW to ask, etc etc. The "system really IS an incrediable labarynth to even begin to "work"

I think I said "We have the Technology" - I was joking then.

NOW I really think I Do have the technology.

And like Ian Dury once said "I've got a brain - and I'm not araid to use it!"

Bargain size entry, eh?

Has it made any sense?!

PS I really should have re read that before I posted. Feel free to ask about the bits that HAVEN'T made sense - I can see some of it isn't very grammatical.

What I wanted to say in *this* posting was
"Forgot to offer a -sorry"

Good nooz allround then, apart from getting somebody to back rub you in the bath. I was applying for that job! Yuo think of any help I can give, you say. Any problems that crop up, tell me- UI've had some good suggestions so far !

Keep Smiling, lover

I'm only getting my back scrubbed during the week (and that's only for a month, or so, until review!)

There's a vacancy at weekends

The pay's lousy, but the company's a good one

Do it for the work experience ! (where are you again ?)

Serious about helping, though X

I'm still here - I noticed your "eyes" were off when you're still on site, too, couple of days ago Its probably just a glitch and something technical we don't need to worry about

I know you're serious about the help. I'm perfectly serious about accepting, too.x

Where in the world are you, is what i meant should have made that clearer !

Told you that already - whizzle back thru this thread a bit. Or I may take a deep breath and use my mobile.

I'm an awful lurker

(and I retain information. Once read, never forgotten!)(I may forget where I've written stuff down, or where the hell I filed it, but thats another story!)

I'll wait on yr permission before I phone tho. As I haven't been invited, I certainly am n't going to knuckle in

Your decision


M'off now - I need another rest. All joking aside, Its been a very long, complicated, tiring day. But oh boy, I reckon it's been very very helpful and useful.

Night night.

Fire at Will

In the words of the old Music Hall response, "Poor Old Will"

(Its a bit like that other unfortunate chap, Bill Stickers - why is everyone proscuting just HIM?)


Have acheived several small miricles today - a GP VISIT... and the lucky co incidence that he and the visiting Physiotherapist MIGHT actually meet each other - their visiting times could overlap.

In the meantime, I am clear enough in the brain (thru sheer determination) to have written useful resumes.


Catch Ya later for a further Update!

Good Morning, Evadne 1
good to see you well, and with light coming closer- told you it wasn't a train !

I'm actually coming to believe that, at long last! But by 'eck it's been a damned long tunnel - 3 years of being mucked about by the Health Service sort of long tunnel.

Anyway - thats in the past and inanother country, and I have every intention of ensuring I receive the appropriate medical treatment and get back on line.


Thanks so much for putting up with me whinging. I really tried not to, but on the other hand - as well as having 5 fingers- perhaps even *I* could allow meself that I was entitled to a bit of a whinge! (possibly not. I have tried so hard never to complain or ask for help unless things became beyond me)


GP's appt went well (she was more uptight and hysterical than me - you think I'm joking? I'm not!) and the physio's exercises will get me downstairs to be ableto open the front door to her by this time next week if it (metophorically)kills me!

How's the dragon slaying business?

A rockin' and a rollin'. amazing what threatening the local hospital director with the incriminating photgraphs will acheive.... Ah ! happy days.. said I was an evil git !

I think what REALLY clinched it was when I looked the GP in the eye and said "I know what your job entails; I too am a professional"

I'd have used the incriminating photoes if I'd had to - especially as I know a couple of little details about this particular one that I oughtn't to (TOLD you I was nosey!)

I prefer to fight fair, but I will take the gloves off if I need to.
I think they realise that now! And I'm not stopping after all effort!


But its ruddy anal having to record every phone call, encounter and problem... if nothing else, its terribly depressing reading.... AND writing!

Ah well.

? I think you deserve it!

Jack?

Your champagne's getting warm

And even worse... it's going flat!

You ok?

Lurches onsite, looks sadly at flat champagne, and sighs


Picks up champagne bottle, drains it anyway (no point in wasting anything!) and gets on with working out the fourth fiendish line in the Limerick Thread.

One of my Heroes is Missing

Jack's Back

Jack's back... is what?

In need of a massage?

Is broard and strong?


Hiya Mister... Good to see you!

How ya doing?

That's a good place to start, tart !

a Hero ? moi ? you flatten me, Ma'am