Oh @Lulu999 and @heatherthomas you both certainly have your challenges at the moment don’t you, sometimes I find this forum is so helpful to let me voice my fears, stresses, anxieties and practicalities by typing them out on here, i seems to just fiffuse them slightly.
Yes, in the past we had mice and the first time I saw one was when it ran in front of our fireplace, at first I did not believe what I had seen, Yes, I got through many a mouse trap.
In our previous house next door were having extensive renovations.
I had a friend round for coffee and we were in the lounge and I was talking to her and out of the corner of my eye I saw a rat run the length of the garden. I sort of felt ashamed and to this day I have never told her !!
I hate getting tradesmen in and dealing with them, I find it so stressful.
I think you are both doing brilliantly, hang in there and please keep posting and look after yourselves.
Thanks Erica for your support. As you know, I am going through so much and the one thing I really hate is vermin, besides snakes. Just not crazy about any rodents full stop. I just hope it has not brought in friends and it will go asap.
I could say “bring it on” but I would like a few days of peace.
Stay safe and well.
I’m sorry if my mouse story worried you, hopefully your mouse just likes the drier bit, and was attracted by the warmth.
If you do need to go in for an op, they are really good, I had an in and out the same day, to cut out a non malignant basal cell carcinoma, the lead up and worry is much worse than the actual thing, the doctors, surgeons and nurses are really good, and they are really well organised to keep everyone safe.
It does seem to pile on a bit sometimes, but I think it always used to, but we didn’t notice it as much.
Remember that you have already organised the vermin person, then you sorted the traps online, and you sorted out the cooker person, you are looking after your husband, and now you are sorting other stuff out - tick it off your list.
You are doing wonders, in a difficult situation, just make sure you don’t forget to look after yourself.
Take care, and I hope you can have a good sleep tonight.
Hi Heather,
Took a sleeping pill last night, so caught up a bit. Do not take them all the time though, only when things get really bad.
I hope my ENT Consultant can do something else about my sinusitus. Been given different drops/sprays from GP and Consultant over the last few years, but still the problem comes back. Even bought a humidifier and an air purifier. Seems I could have some kind of blockage, thus the conversation about an operation, but this being a last resort. Mainly right nostril is the problem, as is right ear when I get vertigo, so all could be related. Fingers crossed and fingers crossed I can get to see him and also my other appointments in March.
I know I am very good at organised things, but the results of being Superwoman is a lot of anxiety and because of my husband’s illness, depresssion, especially as his tablets have changed his personality. As previously mentioned, he is going through metapouse - tearful, moody and not like the easy going fun guy that I married. He is constantly absorbed with how much time he has left and it seems my many health problems do not count, since after all I am not dying!! This makes all my other health and non-health problems even more difficult, as I am sure you will appreciate. He will not get any support to deal with his emotions.
I have my fears too - not just about Covid, being stuck by myself in lockdown forever by myself after my husband passes, my other health problems plus deteriating sight - I am on also for cataracts sometime and also have the beginning of macular degeneration. I was told this the last time I had an eye test in 2019. This sounds like “The Perils of Pauline”, but as previously mentioned, I have a lot of problems.
So I do the best I can do. My only pleasure is that this government will fall and we might get some efficient human being running the country, rather than a group of incompent sociapaths.
My wish is, of course, having a normal life, but also getting back a sense of humour, as there is not much of it around these days in our home.
xxxxx
Hi @Lulu999 , so sorry to read all about your tribulations with the mouse on top of everything else. That sounds very exhausting to be a carer and a patient at the same time and then Covid layered on top.
It’s also disheartening to read that getting the 4th vaccine doesn’t seem any easier than the third. I’m not due mine until the end of this week and I just wondered if anyone who has had theirs has experienced getting three different types of vaccine? I had Oxford AZ for the first two and Pfizer for the third. It looks as if the local walk-in centre is offering Moderna and Pfizer. It’s not clear if its plot-luck or a clinical decision who gets what.
I read somewhere that there was a study in Oxford that showed it can be helpful to have two different types as they (might) protect you in slightly different ways. But what about three?
Hi Coastgirl,
I had two AZ jabs - my doctor visited, but my third was walking distance at a local hospital. It was Pfizer and I believe the 4th one I am due in the second week of February will also be a Pfizer. No side effects from AZ and a sore arm for one day from the Pfizer. Heard that Moderna can be a bit rough, but that possibly can vary from person to person. As long as it all does the job, that is what is important.
I think there is no rhyme or reason which vaccine you can get. I have now of couples getting vaccines from different places - a chemist and a surgery - both having different makes of jabs.
Have not heard anything about anybody getting 4 jabs with three different makes. If you are concerned, call the nurse at Blood Cancer UK who may have advice or, alternative, a Macmillan Nurse. They are usually knowledgeable and on the ball.
Take care.
PS If you cannot get a GP letter about your condition as proof for a 4th jab, try doing what I am doing - I have tons of letters from the government when first Covid came to these shores, plus all my blood results and everything else. Therefore if the hospital want proof, then can spend an hour reading all my letters! My last letter was my blood results sent by my Haematologist to my GP in October, so it is reasonably up to date.
Hi @Coastgirl I am not in your position but I think having 3 different vaccines might be an advantages as perhaps you will get the most effective aspects of each. However this is not a medical opinion, just my thoughts.
Look after yourself
Hi @Lulu999 I like the idea of taking all your paperwork that you have received in the last 2 years, if you can carry it all, and plonk it on their desk if they need eligibility proof !!!
I really feel for you when your husband does a Jekyll and Hyde on you, it is a completely thankless task and I know it really drags me down.
Words and looks really hurt me.
Depression is also so, so hard hard to deal with, you cannot make another person better.
I think being in a isolated bubble with the person makes it all the worse.
There is also nothing you can do to make another person seek help.
My husband can get completely self absorbed in himself and his problems and nothing and nobody else matters and I know the thoughts I get about what about me.
Our isolation over the last couple of years means that we have missed social interaction with family and friends, that hug, that good conversation or just having a good old laugh.
Hang in there, perhaps try and get some ‘me’ time, speak to a friend on the phone, if you can, and just have a silent laugh and joke with yourself and give yourself your own affirmations, you are doing an absolutely . brilliant job.
You always have this forum to have a rant on, we are here for you.
Look after yourself and be kind to yourself.
Hi Erica,
A couple of friends think I am doing a great job, but it is of little comfort sadly. Nothing seems to change - just seems to get worse for me. Perhaps once I can get my medical appointments, despite any lousy news it may entail in some instances, I will have thought I have accompanied my goals. As you know, I had hoped by December to have sorted out some of these appointments, but here we are nearly going into February and due to Omicron, I am still nowhere and in fact worse, since had to sort out gas/stove incident and mouse incident. Not only are we falling apart, but so is my home.
I have just leant to keep away from my husband and go online when he becomes Hyde rather than Jeckyll - my computer is my bolt-hole! On the odd occasion, when I have seen a nice neighbour in the street and not many of them are, it feels like I have won the lottery. Funny how little things like that mean so much. So all the hassles make me very anxious and my own and my husband’s illnesses makes me depressed. He at times feel needy, and I want to be left alone to my depression. It is all so draining. No doubt more s**t will be on its way next month - sadly it usually is. I only hope that this government can go and we might have some professional, organised and honest politicians in its place that will treat us vulnerables with respect. That would give me some hope. If the people in NZ have a good and honest PM that takes care of the population, why can’t we in the UK.
Stay safe and take care xxxx
Yes, this forum can be your bolthole.
January seems to be whizzing by somewhere and lets hope February will bring you and I progress and answers.
I await the way forward on my head wound that won’t heal since an op last October.
I have decided I cannot worry about the media coverage of the behaviour and decisions of our politicians currently
Stay safe xxxxx
There is a reason hospital staff wear a FFP3 face masks as opposed to a FFP2. Don’t assume the FFP2 will suffice - it won’t.
Thanks for the info Venus, how are you doing?
I know the ffp3 is better, but some people struggle with breathing in it, so the ffp2 would be for those that can’t handle the 3.
I was recently in hospital for minor surgery on a basal cell carcenoma, the hospital staff/surgeons only wore the blue 3-ply ones
Following on from the local GP surgery no longer doing vaccines because as they said “there’s no demand”, a local chemist has now decided to do vaccines. So fingers crossed I’ll get my 4th vaccine dose this coming Saturday morning.
Hi @Venus please let us know how you get on on Saturday morning.
Thank you both for your replies. I had my 4th dose/booster this afternoon! I’m so happy! As you suggested @Lulu999, I took a fist-full of papers to my local walk-in centre and everything was fine!
As it turns out, I was offered another Pfizer one so I needn’t have worried after all. What a relief!
I hope all will go well for you @Venus on Saturday and to anyone else trying/waiting to get theirs.
Great news @Coastgirl all that worry for nothing !!!
Look after yourself and let us know @Venus how you get on on Saturday.
Yes, I have ET and had my 4th jab on Saturday. I was worried I wouldn’t get invited (and had read I’d need an invitation to get the jab) so rang my GP in the week, explained when I’d had my 3rd dose for immunosuppressed and that I just needed a letter inviting me for the 4th and they emailed it same day (and I’m someone who’s had a LOT of problems with getting ET taken seriously so this was borderline amazing!). Good luck!
Hi Heather, there are FFP3 half-masks available that are much lighter than the big thick ones and would cause no breathing difficulties at all (I have both types - I wear the really thick one if I can and the lighter half-mask if my breath anxiety is too intense) - the half mask still fully covers everything and is a really good snug fit too - I had to have a breast clinic appointment in December and a friend who is also immunosuppressed drove me - I gave her one of the half-masks and she’s a total convert!
Hi @Erica
The process today was a treat. I was originally told I couldn’t get a booster on Saturday but when I asked again they said just come in with the letter. So today I was first in; I was also their first one who had a letter which was new to them. So after just the usual filling in the info for their patient I had it without a fuss. A joy just to go local. A common phrase these days - use it or lose it. So I used it. I’m a great believer in shopping local and supporting our community.