hello. not been blogging much, mostly because I'm very stressed and worried about something I'm not allowed to blog about, at the moment. I actually feel sick...
There's good stuff too though, I recovered from my torn cruciate ligaments about twice as fast as expected and am doing physio again. I've got an awesome trailer for my scooter, and a ramp today which means one person can get it up the steps easily. This is awesome because I've been feeling very trapped.
Anchor staying put at home were here Friday re: a permanent ramp and I had an OT visit yesterday. She agreed with me that stairs crutches are the most risky part of getting around for me and stairs the riskiest part of that and something to be avoided wherever possible
Right, off out on my scooter, looks like a nice day
Showing posts with label cripplerant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cripplerant. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Monday, 19 May 2008
petty revenge, I love it!
After being so humane and understanding to me during this difficult time, I felt it was time to give Lloydstsb a little thank you
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Disability Alliance
Thought I'd blogged these guys already? Couldn't see it so here it is again. /very useful resource for the disabled, all sorts of advice and contact info
So far I've applied for warm front heating grant, the cinema thing and a few benefits. Was just looking into ramps and stair lifts but looks like applying takes ages...
So far I've applied for warm front heating grant, the cinema thing and a few benefits. Was just looking into ramps and stair lifts but looks like applying takes ages...
Monday, 14 April 2008
PROVISION OF CHAIR EQUIPMENT
PROVISION OF CHAIR EQUIPMENT
Standard chairs and chair accessories are
generally regarded as daily living equipment.
If you need to change your chair because of a
disability your local authority may provide one
on loan after an assessment by an
occupational therapist (OT) or trained
assessor. However, budget constraints make
it impossible for many authorities to provide
this sort of equipment so it is important to ask
what you may be entitled to in your area.
Standard chairs and chair accessories are
generally regarded as daily living equipment.
If you need to change your chair because of a
disability your local authority may provide one
on loan after an assessment by an
occupational therapist (OT) or trained
assessor. However, budget constraints make
it impossible for many authorities to provide
this sort of equipment so it is important to ask
what you may be entitled to in your area.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Free Cinema Tickets for the Disabled
bargain! hope uci participate... sure I've blogged this before...
The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card
The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card
Welcome to the Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card Website. This is a national card that can be used to verify that the holder is entitled to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Goodbye staples!
M god. They weren't wrong when they said the donor site would hurt... Who would have thought cutting through the muscle and shaving bone off the crest of my hip would hurt? Just in case it didn't they closed the wound with 7 staples, nice. Would silky soft stitches be better, I couldn't help but wonder...
Was a bit nervous it would hurt but the nurse has just removed those 7 and the 17 from my leg and it was fine. Gorgeous bliss to have them gone.
Was a bit nervous it would hurt but the nurse has just removed those 7 and the 17 from my leg and it was fine. Gorgeous bliss to have them gone.
Saturday, 5 April 2008
return to work of newly disabled employee
I mentioned how Veloce are dealing with me to a friend and she emailed me this
"you say they haven't tried to call you to discuss with you how you are doing and when you think you will be able to return to work - which I am sure most companies do - usually via personnel department. Everywhere I have worked have been more finger on the pulse in regards these things and handled sickness and longterm sickness with a much more professional and caring approach.
They should have emailed you and arranged a time to ring you and talk through the options with you, and your current status."
at least, I'd have thought. I gather from colleagues that enquries after my health are few and far between. I never received a card, just a legal request to allow them to approach my consultant.
"you say they haven't tried to call you to discuss with you how you are doing and when you think you will be able to return to work - which I am sure most companies do - usually via personnel department. Everywhere I have worked have been more finger on the pulse in regards these things and handled sickness and longterm sickness with a much more professional and caring approach.
They should have emailed you and arranged a time to ring you and talk through the options with you, and your current status."
at least, I'd have thought. I gather from colleagues that enquries after my health are few and far between. I never received a card, just a legal request to allow them to approach my consultant.
Friday, 4 April 2008
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Weymouth Citizens Advice Bureau
Weymouth Citizens Advice Bureau
weymouthcab@fsmail.net
2 Mulberry Terrace,
Great George Street,
Weymouth,
Dorset,
DT4 8NQ
Telephone: 01305 782798
To help with their online presence...
weymouthcab@fsmail.net
2 Mulberry Terrace,
Great George Street,
Weymouth,
Dorset,
DT4 8NQ
Telephone: 01305 782798
To help with their online presence...
No way!
Remember I said how helpful citizens advice had been? It's true, the representative who visited me really knew her stuff and was incredibly helpful, and efficient. Letters were sent out within a few days.
Unfortunately I lost the bit of paper with Weymouth citizens advice email address on it, and after about 10mins!, I gave up trying to find it on google.
I phoned and, when I finally got through and asked for their email the lady put me on hold for a minute whilst she found out what it was from the manager.
When she had told me the address I mentioned that I couldn't find it on google. A rough outline of the ensuing aside follows...
nice lady: this gentleman says he can't find our email anywhere online
manager: of course not we don't have a web site
nice lady: but isn't that pointless?
manager: he wanted the email address, that's it, it works, he can't find it because it isn't published anywhere.
Something along those lines and absolutely ridiculous. It's published online now.
It would appear quality of CAB advice/employees is very much a hit and miss affair.
Unfortunately I lost the bit of paper with Weymouth citizens advice email address on it, and after about 10mins!, I gave up trying to find it on google.
I phoned and, when I finally got through and asked for their email the lady put me on hold for a minute whilst she found out what it was from the manager.
When she had told me the address I mentioned that I couldn't find it on google. A rough outline of the ensuing aside follows...
nice lady: this gentleman says he can't find our email anywhere online
manager: of course not we don't have a web site
nice lady: but isn't that pointless?
manager: he wanted the email address, that's it, it works, he can't find it because it isn't published anywhere.
Something along those lines and absolutely ridiculous. It's published online now.
It would appear quality of CAB advice/employees is very much a hit and miss affair.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
What the consulant says
MEDICAL REPORT
Mr Jones sustained multiple injuries when as a pedestrian 2 cars struck him on the 18th December 2007. His injuries comprised:
1 . An open fracture of his Ieft zygoma/cheek bone with skin and soit tissue Ioss.
2. A displaced fracture of his Ieft clavicle.
3. A displaced fracture of his Ieft scapula
4. Fractured left 1st 4th-8th ribs
5. Fractured spinous processes of T7-T9 vertebrae.
6. Left acetabulum fracture (pelvis).
7. Compression fracture T12 vertebral body.
8. Displaced fracture left ulna bone in forearm.
9. Grade 3b open fracture left tibia with marked comminution and bone Ioss.
10. Severe abrasions both ankles with skin and soft tissue Ioss down to bone.
(ii)
Mr Jones received his diagnosis on the night of the accident when he was transported to the accident and emergency department at
Hospital (18th December 2007).
(iii)
Mr Jones is currently not able to put any weight through his Ieft Ieg and Ieft arm. He is using a wheelchair to mobilise. Therefore he is unable to walk. He is at present unable to negotiate any stairs. He is able to use his right arm and Ieg normally. He is able to use his left arm for personal care and Iight activities only.
Mr Jones was discharged from hospital on 14/02/2008. He was at that stage requiring morphine for pain. This can have an effect on cognitive function.
It is apparent from the above that Mr Jones is at present significantly disabled in terms of his abllity to perform basic daily activities.
(iv)
Mr Jones will make a good recovery from the majority of his injuries. The injury that will require the most time to heal in his severe Ieft Iower Ieg injury. The injury was such that the Ieg was nearly amputated just below the knee Ievel. The leg being held on by the posterior soft tissues. There was a Iarge amount of skin and soft tissue Ioss on the front of Mr Jones Ieg together with a Iarge amount of bone Ioss. It will be a significant challenge to get Mr Jones's leg bones to heal. He is likely to require multiple further operations to his Ieft Iower leg. The next operation is planned for the 27th of March 2007 at
In my personal experience the type of tibia fracture that Mr Jones has often takes in excess of 1 year to fully join. It is also important to note that the chances of Mr Jones's leg joining/healing are between 60 and 80%. If the tibia were not to join or there were significant infective complications it is possible that Mr Jones could require an amputation. If this were required I would anticipate that Mr Jones would very quickly be fully mobile and independent with the aid of a prosthetic lower limb. This is however only theoretical as there is every chance that Mr Jones tibia will go on to join over the next 12 months.
If Mr Jones's upper limb fractures heal without further intervention, as l anticipate he should be mobile with crutches over the next 4-6 weeks. Mr Jones will require crutches until his left lower leg heals/joins i.e. about 1 year if all progresses well.
It is therefore possible that once Mr Jones recovers from his next surgery he could return to work in a limited capacity. He is likely to require 3-4 weeks after his next surgery for postoperative wounds and postoperative pain to settle to an acceptable level. At that stage would anticipate Mr Jones to be able to perform a substantial proportion of his work. He would require some form of transport to work, as he would be unable to drive himself at that stage. If the stairs are of dimensions suitable to accept a person using crutches he should be able to negotiate the stairs.
The principle difficulty I can see is the ''standing for long periods'' aspect of Mr Jones's job. This would be difficult with Mr Jones only being mobile with crutches. It should however be possible for Mr Jones to stand for short-intermediate periods of time. Ideally with the ability to elevate his leg to reduce swelling periodically.
Once Mr Jones leg has healed he should be able to perform all aspects of his job.
(vi)
It is the severe left lower leg injury that is going to determine when Mr Jones is able to return to work an at what time he is able to resume normal duties. The other injuries should not have a significant impact on Mr Jones's working capacity. They are therefore unlikely to directly cause him to have further episodes of related illness in the future.
(vii)
In my opinion Mr Jones will be able to render regular valuable service in the near future. Mr Jones is likely to need further surgery to enable his left lower leg to heal. The first of these 27th March 2007. The exact number of further surgeries is not possible to predict. There is a chance that following the next planned surgery the leg
joins and no further surgery is required. If further surgeries are required they are likely to require Mr Jones to be in hospital for a few days with a short period of convalescence at home before returning to work.
(viii)
l am not an expert on the Disability Discrimination act of 1995 l have however studied the act and in my opinion Mr Jones would be classed as disabled for 'the purposes of the aforementioned act. Mr Jones's injuries will have a ''substantial adverse effect on normal day to day activities'' for example mobility. The effects of this are likely to last in excess of 1 year from the date of injury.
(ix)
Once Mr Jones has recovered from his next operation and provided that his 2 upper limb /arm fractures have joined, Mr Jones should be able to return to work in a reduced capacity.
Specific areas/recommendations that would assist Mr Jones are:
1 . A staged return to work.
2. Working from home where possible.
3. Assistance with transportation.
l hope this report is to your satisfaction and adequately answers you questions.
I believe the above to factually true and any opinions expressed are correct
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
All the Care you need
All the Care you need: "Whether it’s a tickly cough or a muscular strain, Care will have an answer. No other branded range of medicines offers such a wide range of tried and trusted remedies to help you care for your family’s everyday ailments."
myhealth
myhealth
Apart from the pain relief problem and traditional wait my experience of Southampton was very good. I went down to surgery at 11am Friday and came round in recovery at 1500ish. The op had gone very well apparently. My leg and particularly my hip were very sore... amazing to have a leg though.
Apart from the pain relief problem and traditional wait my experience of Southampton was very good. I went down to surgery at 11am Friday and came round in recovery at 1500ish. The op had gone very well apparently. My leg and particularly my hip were very sore... amazing to have a leg though.
Rant
I can't believe it. Them. First thing is that my time in Southampton hospital went as well and quickly as possible. Second, the massive rant I wrote about my time and thoughts there yesterday avo and evening on my phone got deleted, by me. Easily done with a text but cocking annoying.
If you think you've been spared though, I'm afraid not. I'm going to rant again.
Apart from the pain relief problem and traditional wait my experience of Southampton was very good. I went down to surgery at 11am Friday and came round in recovery at 1500ish. The op had gone very well apparently. My leg and particularly my hip were very sore... amazing to have a leg though.
Was taken from recovery to a different ward to the one I'd spent the night in, where I spent a couple of hours. Due to bed shortages it was currently a mixed ward, which they shouldn't really have. Everyone was sound, met Deborah who was in for suspected appendicitis and had had it out. Unfortunatley it was fine and they're still investigating, fingers crossed they can sort her soon... (Deb sorted the charger for me, borrowing it from another inmate, as mine seems to not work in hospitals)
After a few hours I was moved up the corridor a couple of bays to my third and final bed location. My fellow inmates included a young guy who had broken his leg in Novemeber but kept getting infection complications. The guy with the burst disks who'd been waiting nearly two weeks for a scan and/or to loose the use of his legs, he looked like he was a sergeant major but was very kind and helpful to his ward mates. And a couple of older chaps, one of whom didn't seem to eat or sleep, was in very good spirits and didn't seem to need crutches.
It seems most of them were waiting for secondary infections to clear but, astonishingly, I wasn't really there long enough to find out any more. After the op and no extra pain relief the first night I didn't really wake or move the first day. Manged to get to the bathroom the second morning. then rested. Steve and Lib visited Sunday. Had my wounds checked, mobilised and had brace fitted Monday am and then was back at Greenhill by three!
The driver was fast and good and Dave the tech was good company. We drove down the esplanade, which is always nice. I guess you could possibly get away with just driving on down to the road in an ambliance..?
I've ranted solidly for a range of reasons since getting back I'm afraid. I think Swa's glad to get to prison.
But yeah, all in all a brilliantly short stint in hospital and I've got some good new ideas. I told everyone involved about the blog and the fact I was blogging my experiences live from my mobile, which may have altered things a bit and, thinking back I guess I was often probing, interviewing and absorbing, though a lot more can be done. Oooer.
The nhs is amazing and has a lot of amazing staff. My recent opportunity, since the Adjustment, to live with the nhs for 2 months, after being amazingly well put back together and looked after by them, and then have regular contact with the nhs, it's users and affilliates, has opened my eyes a lot. I've spoken to lots of different people on both sides of the thin red line and what patients and front line staff alike feel is impatience, anger, frustration and despair. All because of the massive system all the good people are plugged into and ground down by. Why?
The staff I meet and deal with are generally really sound, caring and effective people. It's the system, budgets, regianisation, league tables, no/bad PR and the rest that bring out the bad bits of the nhs. I'm sure if all the people involved made an effort to honsestly and frankly disuss it all it could be sorted into something truly amazing and can't believe this isn't happening yet.
Just talked to the marketing PA at spirigel, who have the national contract for hand sterilisation. Very helpful if slightly bewildered by me and a dodgy line(phone) but got a contact for the people who market them. (or built website?) I really want a web address on their bottles... Not this one, at a guess
Spoke to someone at network design and marketing who was very helpful and gave me a lot of his time. He has a story about an experience with the nhs I hope he's going to share and is going to put me in touch of someone in PR, hopefully...
In the very best case scenario I thought I could be home (Greenhill, for now) by Monday lunch time but I was expecting to be there possibly to the end of the week, despite their desparation for beds...
The nurses were very overworked but all were fine, I didn't experience any snappiness, though other patients said there were good and bad eggs, just like anywhere I guess. One day was awful, the day I asked to see a doctor about pain relief, a nurse asked repeatedly on my behalf over 7 hours for the doctor to see me. They never came. Apparently this same doctor spent the whole of the day shift making excuses and not turning up where they were needed. There are many tasks nurse are not allowed to do, if the doctor won't come and do them it's the nurses who get the blame and patients who suffer and/or can't be discharged.
I don't know why this doctor allegedly did this, or how they get away with it but it resulted in a lot of angry patients and frustrated nurses. Patients obviously don't understand the intricate, arcane workings of the nhs, and are often not at their sharpest and do tend to blame the nurses. The nurses patiently explain but it's a nightmare for all concerned, no wonder tempers get frayed... In this case the night shift doctor had to spend all night catching up with what hadn't been done in the day, plus what needed doing that night. A lot of the time it's things like this that delay people going home, pissing them off and wasting precious beds.
They could help their PR a bit though... Unless you've been in hospital as lot or work or know someone who works for the NHS, you're not going to know, believe, or want to believe how things work.
A classic example. My final resting place bed wise was a bay from which I could see and hear all went on at the nursing station. I often overheard converations, sometimes about me, this is what helped get me home so quick in the end.
Anyway, at the moment I don't sleep brilliantly due to the pain and don't sleep well in hospital anyway. I woke up yesterday morning in pain and asked for oromorph. I was told there was only three of them on and the nurse qualified to dish out medicine wouldn't have time. Sorry but no, I could try again later. I could see four nurses due to start the next shift joking and laughing at the nurses station. They weren't on yet and couldn't do anything until things had been formally handed over, apparently.
Whatever,
I'm in pain and have just been told there is no one available to help, of course it's going to look bad. That's bad PR.
So I'm ranting about it. And I'm often talking to patients, nurses, ambulance drivers, doctors etc and they all have something to say and often agree. I think as many people as possible should all blog their experiences, views and ideas in one place myhealth-sw which is agressivley marketed and always in the media, so views really make a difference.
If you can't or don't want to start your own blog please ad your news and views as comments to the relevent blogs post, or email it to me to post, or visit us on facebook or whatever. Please always try and get the myhealth+region.blogspot.url and link to and from www.blogverse.com.
That's surely enough for now. There's more to say but my brains melting.
If you think you've been spared though, I'm afraid not. I'm going to rant again.
Apart from the pain relief problem and traditional wait my experience of Southampton was very good. I went down to surgery at 11am Friday and came round in recovery at 1500ish. The op had gone very well apparently. My leg and particularly my hip were very sore... amazing to have a leg though.
Was taken from recovery to a different ward to the one I'd spent the night in, where I spent a couple of hours. Due to bed shortages it was currently a mixed ward, which they shouldn't really have. Everyone was sound, met Deborah who was in for suspected appendicitis and had had it out. Unfortunatley it was fine and they're still investigating, fingers crossed they can sort her soon... (Deb sorted the charger for me, borrowing it from another inmate, as mine seems to not work in hospitals)
After a few hours I was moved up the corridor a couple of bays to my third and final bed location. My fellow inmates included a young guy who had broken his leg in Novemeber but kept getting infection complications. The guy with the burst disks who'd been waiting nearly two weeks for a scan and/or to loose the use of his legs, he looked like he was a sergeant major but was very kind and helpful to his ward mates. And a couple of older chaps, one of whom didn't seem to eat or sleep, was in very good spirits and didn't seem to need crutches.
It seems most of them were waiting for secondary infections to clear but, astonishingly, I wasn't really there long enough to find out any more. After the op and no extra pain relief the first night I didn't really wake or move the first day. Manged to get to the bathroom the second morning. then rested. Steve and Lib visited Sunday. Had my wounds checked, mobilised and had brace fitted Monday am and then was back at Greenhill by three!
The driver was fast and good and Dave the tech was good company. We drove down the esplanade, which is always nice. I guess you could possibly get away with just driving on down to the road in an ambliance..?
I've ranted solidly for a range of reasons since getting back I'm afraid. I think Swa's glad to get to prison.
But yeah, all in all a brilliantly short stint in hospital and I've got some good new ideas. I told everyone involved about the blog and the fact I was blogging my experiences live from my mobile, which may have altered things a bit and, thinking back I guess I was often probing, interviewing and absorbing, though a lot more can be done. Oooer.
The nhs is amazing and has a lot of amazing staff. My recent opportunity, since the Adjustment, to live with the nhs for 2 months, after being amazingly well put back together and looked after by them, and then have regular contact with the nhs, it's users and affilliates, has opened my eyes a lot. I've spoken to lots of different people on both sides of the thin red line and what patients and front line staff alike feel is impatience, anger, frustration and despair. All because of the massive system all the good people are plugged into and ground down by. Why?
The staff I meet and deal with are generally really sound, caring and effective people. It's the system, budgets, regianisation, league tables, no/bad PR and the rest that bring out the bad bits of the nhs. I'm sure if all the people involved made an effort to honsestly and frankly disuss it all it could be sorted into something truly amazing and can't believe this isn't happening yet.
Just talked to the marketing PA at spirigel, who have the national contract for hand sterilisation. Very helpful if slightly bewildered by me and a dodgy line(phone) but got a contact for the people who market them. (or built website?) I really want a web address on their bottles... Not this one, at a guess
Spoke to someone at network design and marketing who was very helpful and gave me a lot of his time. He has a story about an experience with the nhs I hope he's going to share and is going to put me in touch of someone in PR, hopefully...
In the very best case scenario I thought I could be home (Greenhill, for now) by Monday lunch time but I was expecting to be there possibly to the end of the week, despite their desparation for beds...
The nurses were very overworked but all were fine, I didn't experience any snappiness, though other patients said there were good and bad eggs, just like anywhere I guess. One day was awful, the day I asked to see a doctor about pain relief, a nurse asked repeatedly on my behalf over 7 hours for the doctor to see me. They never came. Apparently this same doctor spent the whole of the day shift making excuses and not turning up where they were needed. There are many tasks nurse are not allowed to do, if the doctor won't come and do them it's the nurses who get the blame and patients who suffer and/or can't be discharged.
I don't know why this doctor allegedly did this, or how they get away with it but it resulted in a lot of angry patients and frustrated nurses. Patients obviously don't understand the intricate, arcane workings of the nhs, and are often not at their sharpest and do tend to blame the nurses. The nurses patiently explain but it's a nightmare for all concerned, no wonder tempers get frayed... In this case the night shift doctor had to spend all night catching up with what hadn't been done in the day, plus what needed doing that night. A lot of the time it's things like this that delay people going home, pissing them off and wasting precious beds.
They could help their PR a bit though... Unless you've been in hospital as lot or work or know someone who works for the NHS, you're not going to know, believe, or want to believe how things work.
A classic example. My final resting place bed wise was a bay from which I could see and hear all went on at the nursing station. I often overheard converations, sometimes about me, this is what helped get me home so quick in the end.
Anyway, at the moment I don't sleep brilliantly due to the pain and don't sleep well in hospital anyway. I woke up yesterday morning in pain and asked for oromorph. I was told there was only three of them on and the nurse qualified to dish out medicine wouldn't have time. Sorry but no, I could try again later. I could see four nurses due to start the next shift joking and laughing at the nurses station. They weren't on yet and couldn't do anything until things had been formally handed over, apparently.
Whatever,
I'm in pain and have just been told there is no one available to help, of course it's going to look bad. That's bad PR.
So I'm ranting about it. And I'm often talking to patients, nurses, ambulance drivers, doctors etc and they all have something to say and often agree. I think as many people as possible should all blog their experiences, views and ideas in one place myhealth-sw which is agressivley marketed and always in the media, so views really make a difference.
If you can't or don't want to start your own blog please ad your news and views as comments to the relevent blogs post, or email it to me to post, or visit us on facebook or whatever. Please always try and get the myhealth+region.blogspot.url and link to and from www.blogverse.com.
That's surely enough for now. There's more to say but my brains melting.
Monday, 31 March 2008
grafty
monday
So things should start happening. Hurrah. Have a fancy looking brace waiting to be fitted. Hopefully the consultant will come by soon, look at my gashes, which don't feel infected, and say i can go home. Then i just have to hope pharmacy(4 hours to process an order) and transport don't delay me.. Of course they will, so may forgoe pain killers, haven't been given many anyway. And blag a lift home.. They really don't help the bed issue. A guy on the ward came in after hurting his back in a bad fall and needed a scan. Apparently he was here for 12 days whilst they waited for the scanner to be fixed.. Madness.
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