Hello everyone and apologies for my absence

[chloe40]

I've had a pretty distressing few weeks and I must thank Caza and kenster1 for holding the fort 💜

If nothing else, these past few weeks have reinforced my empathy of the distress and heartache all of my friends here have been through and are still going through.

One thing I hadn't experienced before is the lack of care and support that I so needed. Apparently, there are several depts that offer this, but none did.

The expense of travelling to and from hospitals several miles each way really took its toll and that's just one of the stresses.

I imagine many here have been through the same experience, it doesn't help at all when you're at your most vulnerable and struggling.

I'd love to hear experience if it's not to painful for you.

Chloe x

[Turnipgirl]

A few weeks back I had a bad experience with the Into Work service at the city council and I felt depressed and like a lost cause after the fiasco of a face to face appointment with them and full of despair feeling I was beyond help!

I had been trying to get an appointment with them since August last year and finally got one a few weeks back and it was a fiasco but it was a lesson not to go near that service again!

Thankfully the warm space was open that afternoon and I talked things through with them and they were very kind saying how its upsetting when you go for help and it doesn't happen and reassured me no I'm not beyond help or a lost cause and I told one of my friends what had happened and how that appointment had made me feel miserable and desperate and they said how you don't ask for help for a laugh and how its hurtful when you have made the effort to ask and you feel worse than you did before and how some people get driven to despair and take their own lives feeling they are a lost cause and no I wasn't being silly to have been upset by that but silly thinking it was silly but like I say it was a lesson not to use that service again and I put in an official complaint over how I was treated and I am waiting to hear back!

I also made an official complaint when the restart advisor tried to bully me making threats if I didn't do things and not taking no for an answer and I reckon she had done it to other clients as well who had complained and she ended up getting sacked and good riddance as well!

Thing is these places are there to help not bully and make things worse!

Today was a nice productive day and I have signed on with some courses with the job centre as I feel there's nothing to lose by trying and then went to jobclub down at restart and applied for some jobs and I have also got lots of interviews lined up for the next few weeks so we will see how things pan out.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Turnipgirl]

You’re been trying so hard Turnipgirl

No one is a lost cause, you deserve better and one day you’ll receive it, in the meantime keep plodding on doing your best as you always do x

[Turnipgirl in reply to chloe40]

As long as I know in my heart I'm doing my very best then that's all that matters!

A couple of weeks ago I nearly had heart failure when I received a phone call off the surgery after I had some blood tests done, frightened they were going to tell me I had terminal cancer and there was nothing they could do for me but thankfully no it wasn't all it was was that a blood test had come back saying I was anaemic which is easily sorted with iron tablets which I have been taking for a couple of weeks and feel loads better on them as well!

You don't realise how run down you're getting do you as it sneaks up over time!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Turnipgirl]

I can understand how frightening that was, thankfully all is well x

[Turnipgirl in reply to chloe40]

I'm doing really really well now I am on the relevant treatment!

[Sandradsn]

Hi Chloe we missed you,hope all is well with you now.I have endless hospital appointments with my husband at the moment,every week we have some clinic or test.We always stop off somewhere for tea and cake and treat ourselves!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Sandradsn]

Hi Sandradsn

Thank you, I’ve missed being here x

Yes, it’s relentless but necessary.

I like the idea of treats, it all transport problems, chemo, and transfusions right now but plodding on x

[Sandradsn in reply to chloe40]

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time Chloe 😘💐

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Sandradsn]

And you too Sandradsn

Don’t forget to take care of yourself too xx

[Turnipgirl in reply to Sandradsn]

That's a great idea treating yourselves to tea and cake as those appointments aren't very nice for anyone!

A couple of weeks back I was absolutely terrified when I received a phone call after a blood test at the surgery but all it was was that I was anaemic and that's easily treated with iron tablets which aren't very nice to take but I am doing well with them and feel loads better in myself!

[Sandradsn in reply to Turnipgirl]

My husband had a blood test ,we'd gone away for a few days.The dr's surgery were urgently trying to contact him.We rang them back and they said he needed to see GP asap..then booked him in for 3weeks time!he 🙄🤪

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Sandradsn]

Oh really! There’s no let up is there x

[Caza in reply to Sandradsn]

Crazy isn’t it

[Turnipgirl in reply to Sandradsn]

Back in February after I had my initial check up when I was sent for that blood test they told me the earliest one was a 3 week wait!

Back in 2021 the wait for one was 6 weeks!

[Nathalie99]

I am very sorry, Chloe.

I have 500 km (one way) so 1000 km there and back to the hospital and the expense of travelling plus the accommodation costs are huge. It's the distance and the effort.

I am sorry that none of the organisations did support you when they should, when most vulnerable and struggling.

I agree it helps with empathy. I just wish it was less extreme...

[Turnipgirl in reply to Nathalie99]

I find it extremely infuriating myself when those who are paid to help us don't and make things worse!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Nathalie99]

Thank you Nathalie

The constant struggle really got me down and the expense is huge as you well know. I just wished organisations would do more to help, there are so many people going through exactly the same distress and needing support.

Let’s hope one day very soon that help is available to all.

Take care x

[Downinil]

Welcome back, Chloe40!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Downinil]

Thank you Downinil

Missed being here with you all x

Hoping you are doing okay x

[kenster1 Volunteer]

Hi Chloe glad you are back but sorry you had a tough time. Yes it's a financial strain on most people if you can't drive evwn at that the hospitals aren't always just around the corner. By bus I need 3 to get to our hospital by taxi it's over 20 pound one way but most of us do it or our loved ones would be alone and nothing worse than being stuck in hospital without visitors.

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to kenster1]

Absolutely right Kenny, but it shouldn’t be this way x

[Turnipgirl in reply to kenster1]

Up here they do a circular bus from east to West which stops at the University Hospital throughout the day for outpatients or visiting times which is helpful and is £5 for a day to go ticket which isn't cheap if you are going to the afternoon visiting every day and petrol isn't cheap either and parking at that place is a nightmare as well!

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Turnipgirl]

Well, it’s good there is some form of transport. Maybe there are concessions ?x

[Turnipgirl in reply to chloe40]

They do a weekly and monthly ticket for a set price which works out cheaper if you are going there every day but the east to West 101 bus only runs Monday to Friday but you can get a bus to the city centre and then get the 9 up to the hospital from the old infirmary building on a weekend.

When I first moved up here the bus from here to the hospital was the 65 and I can remember going on the 65 at quiet times up to swimming to build up my confidence with crowded buses and then when I was happy doing that I moved onto harder ones.

Then they replaced the 65 with the 101 and 102 east to West buses.

Nowadays when I go on those crowded buses I was once terrified of it feels so easy like I have done it all my life!

[Skyp]

Hi chloe glad you back x

[chloe40 Administrator in reply to Skyp]

Hi Skyp

Thank you very much, so lovely to hear from you x