mixed bag

[Shoefairy]

is there any one out there with all these illnesses who can tell me if every day giddy heads are a part of it Five years ago HA now Diabetes and now AF Some years ago was told Iv a floppy heart valve but never been asked to come for check up Life is one of stopping in as I feel safer at home and I’m getting really depressed On the list waiting for a cardiologist appointment after a AF discovery and now on 12 tablets a day

[MummaSoap]

Hi Beta70

I agree with BeKind28- , such a lovely reply.

Your description of staying in for fear of all the what ifs really resonated with me. I was advised not to drive at the end of March and although I knew it was the safest decision (and had already drastically limited the distance that I would drive beforehand), it really knocked my confidence coming from a professional. I also hate relying on other people to pick me up and I have difficulty getting about, especially in the heat!

The only thing I’ve consistently kept up is going to my mum’s for dinner with her and my Nan on a Thursday. If I didn’t have that, I think I might’ve allowed myself to be consumed by my fear.

They’ve just announced at my work that they want everyone going in 1 day a week again (not for me whilst I can’t drive) and the words made me feel sick to my stomach and my palms were sweating - I know how illogical it is to behave like this about what is a very reasonable request for an employer to make but being entirely honest - I’m petrified and I’m too frightened to say anything to my manager because I’m worried they’ll think I’m a troublemaker just trying to get out of it 😔

I like your positive attitude, really inspiring - I hope I can find my courage and adopt the same!

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MummaSoap]

Have you discussed needing to go into work with occupational health and human resources?

Your employers are required to consider making reasonable adjustments to your workplace environment as you are covered under the Equality Act.

Perhaps contact Citizens Advice for further information about whether you are able to claim financial support.

[MummaSoap in reply to Milkfairy]

Hi Milkfairy

I actually work in HR and the current position of my line manager is “don’t worry about it whilst you can’t drive, we’ll look at it when you can”. So they’re reluctant to make an OH referral at present.

Which would be fine but I’ve already mentioned twice that it’s making me feel extremely anxious (and I currently don’t know how long I’m unable to drive for) and it’s not necessarily the request itself but the issues of not being able to park close to the building, if I faint somewhere between my car and the building, or even once inside the building. We are also based on 3rd floor so I worry about what if the lifts weren’t working etc etc.

All premature I know but seeing as I should have a personal risk assessment for working from home and I don’t; I don’t hold out much hope for one when I’m in the office.

I hadn’t considered citizens advice for this though, so I’ll contact them - thank you!

Best wishes

Soap 🧼

[JennyRx]

I was heading towards diabetes and my lipidologist really gave me a talking to because it adds another level of risk. I do have quite a strict diet now. No bread, rice, potato or pasta, no tropical fruit eg bananas, grapes etc. But lots and lots of veg, berries eg strawberries, raspberries , eggs , protein eg chicken, bit of pork, fish, Greek yogurt , and have taken myself away from turning diabetic. It was tough at first but I didn’t want the diabetes so that motivated me. I’m on Repatha and a breast cancer med which increases the risk of diabetes but I’m determined to do this. Because I can’t do anything about a very high genetic risk factor for HA and stroke, but I can change my diet.

There’s lots of stuff about low carb on Diabetes UK and Dr David Unwin and Michael Moseley have written extensively about reversing diabetes. And some delicious recipe books.

It means I’m only taking the 5 meds and 1 injection and not a ton more. Diabetes can be reversed. Good luck

[fishonabike]

i fully support what BeKind28- says

as a practical suggestions i will add:

can you arrange to have for a friend or family member to come with you on a few short trial outings to rebuild you confidence in going out?

please try different ways for getting back to your usual activities, but take it gradually so that you build on small successes - this is much more reassuring than trying something big or important and having it go wrong

and try asking your pharmacist if any of your medications might be giving you the dizzy head - your GP might be able to change them for somthing else and memebrs here could also suggest tips for reducing the dizzy feeling

well done for reaching out and asking and i hope you get some useful help here

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Shoefairy,

I’m really sorry that you are going through so much right now. Some days, it feels like the weight of the entire world rests atop our shoulders.

I think that you got some excellent advice from BeKind28 and Beta70 and all the others who responded. I think that BeKind28’s message really resonated with me as it can be so easy to get to a point where you become scared to death to go outside your home.

For me, when my marriage ended in 2015, I became extremely depressed. At that time, I had high blood pressure and I was pre-diabetic. I stopped going anywhere except to work. Thank God for work because that forced me to go out and to interact with others.

At the time, I drove over 70 miles one way to get to work through lonely country roads and mountains. It was during the 2016-2017 school year, that I was finally diagnosed with anxiety disorder. I had been having intrusive thoughts and panic issues while driving to the point that I would lock myself in the bathroom for several minutes each morning when I finally got to school.

Flash forward to 2022, and I was now retired. This meant that I didn’t have work to keep my mind occupied and to force me outside. I had been trying to force myself to go out to work in my yard or to sit on my porch. But my HA in March 2022 stopped that progress. This past year has been filled with many health challenges for me. I won’t name them all, but they are with me.

I am trying again to get myself out. I have been working in my front lawn this summer, and I have a couple of neighbors who consistently talk with me when they see me out. I do drive to my medical appointments, but I still panic some when I think about going out to shop or being out someplace and having a medical issue. It is too easy to get caught up in this spiral.

If you think that you might need it, please seek help for your depression and/or anxiety. My doctor was able to diagnose my anxiety disorder in 2017. Just knowing what it was helped a little bit, but some counseling helped more. I still struggle daily with it.

Mainly, don’t give up! You are facing a lot in your life, but you can work through it. As BeKind28 suggested, talk with your doctor about how you are feeling—seek help. Get placed on the cancellation list and take an earlier appointment if offered. Try to force yourself to go outside into the fresh air (minus any smoke from the Canadian forest fires if you live in the US 😊) and sunshine each day. Just feeling some warmth, hearing birds, and seeing trees and flowers may pick you up a little.

I hope that you can feel some better very soon! ❤️