I'm so poo at updating this aren't I?
Hopefully updating will be slightly easier now as I just got a wireless keyboard and mouse so when I ache I can move it about and still carry on typing.
A few things to update on, I'll try to be brief so this post isn't massive.
I was denied ESA on the grounds that I was too rich and hadn't contributed enough NI.
That estimation included Working Tax Credit which has now ended as SSP has finished so I have to re-apply again but WTC are being slow with my award notice and I have no idea how much I will be getting from Child Tax Credits and as ESA is means tested I can't apply until I know. I've made to calls to WTC to be told it's in the post and has been since the 5th of March. I rang them again tonight and got really snotty. I don't like doing that because as a rule tax credits have always been good and reliable but with no SSP and no ESA and no WTC I'm starting to panic and I NEED this award notice so my housing benefit can be updated and I can apply for council tax benefit.
My DLA form when off on time but I've yet to hear anything, but I didn't send it until Feb 22nd so no surprises there, I'm not expecting to hear from them for another couple of months or more.
My Rheumatolagist appointment finally happened today after I had to keep cancelling because I've been so unwell (also why I haven't been blogging as much as I'd like to).
He's writing to Dr Sam to put me on Amitriptilyne on a low does to help with sleep and fatigue. He said it works very well with the fluoxetine I'm already taking and if I can get a good (ha!) nights sleep that will in turn help my fatigue, mood and energy levels. He said they can be used as an anti-depressant which I knew about as my mum has been on them for years but in my case they will be used purely for my fatigue and pain, he stressed they aren't sleeping tablets.
The appointment itself was an ordeal, the Rheumatology department was all the way at the back of the hospital and I had to keep stopping to rest and I was in agony and utterly exhausted.
As per usual when I start explaining my symptoms the tears came flowing and I got myself in a right state out of frustration, shame and I was absolutely drained from the walk to the department, it's the furthest I've walked for months.
He's also recommending a course of physiotherapy and the hospital will be writing to me with an appointment in due course. I'm really worried about physiotherapy, I'm worried it's going to make me worse but time will tell on that.
Another worry has appeared on my ever expanding plate. My daughter has been diagnosed with a heart murmur. We don't know why yet, anaemia was a possible cause as she has had it before but her bloods came back normal so she has an appointment with the paediatric cardiologist next week. Charlotte is having episodes of palpitations where her heart suddenly starts beating really fast and hard which makes her go all light headed and dizzy so it's a big concern. She was 'urgently' referred to the hospital, I'm not sure 3 weeks is urgent, but it was the earliest they had, next week can't come soon enough, she and I are both worried about it.
Health wise I'm not so good. Even with Nathan with me I'm staying in because of the sheer effort to get dressed and get out. My pain managment is still not great. I was given codeine to try instead of the tramadol and told I could take the tramadol with it if needed which I've had to do quite a lot and boy oh boy it makes me quite trippy and spaced out.
In other life stuff, on a personal level things are fantastic, I honestly think I would be a gibbering wreck without Nathan, he has been absolutely AMAZING. I crashed only 2 months after meeting him and most blokes would have ran a mile but he is so supportive and comforting and my rock. We're planning on moving in together this year!
Showing posts with label fluoxetine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fluoxetine. Show all posts
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Been a while..
Some of you may have noticed I've not been updating or about on Facebook and Twiter.
Health took a big dive so the desktop has had a wide berth over the past week or so, I'm writing this from my laptop rather than my desktop where I am firmly plumped on the sofa.
I'm now having chronic neck and back pain and my reactions have slowed down. Tramadol still isn't helping either so I'm currently trying to rummage up the energy to go and see Dr Sam again to try some different pain relief.
In better news I had a visit on Monday from the Welfare Advice lady, Jeanine. She was very nice and helpful and flew through my form for me. I got a letter from her this morning as a confirmation and she has written
So, I've been warned, as I already knew that this is going to be a tough road and I'm fully expecting to have to appeal at tribunal to get what I feel I am entitled to, but the fact that Jeanine thinks I should qualify is a comforting thought atleast.
Jeanine has also recommended I get Dr Sam to fill in part of my DLA form so I called the surgery today and asked if a charge would be applicable and they said it depends on how much he has to fill in (the more the better as far as I'm concerned!) so I'm going to put a covering letter in with the forms as it's really important he explains HOW my ME/CFS affects me, not just the fact I've got it.
The benefits and work website have a downloadable check sheet where you can fill in how each thing affects you like walking, washing, bathing etc so I'll fill one of those in and pop in it with the form. I've already given him one when I last saw him and he gave me the fluoxetine and the tramadol but some things have worsened so I'll do a more up-to-date one.
Speaking of the Fluoxetine, things are going well with that. I have noticed a difference when I wake up in the morning, I'm far from 'wooo hooo, another day!' but I'm most definitely not 'Oh shit, here we go again' like I was before I started taking them. It's hard to describe really. I'm more...accepting? at the moment. Which is a good thing, but it did bring me crashing down again when I was with Jeanine as all I had to think about was what I couldn't do, which is a lot, when I was filling in the forms with her and the tears flowed quite freely, but Jeanine was armed with tissues and words of encouragment so I feel ok again now but it was really upsetting and emotonally and physically drained me for a few days afterwards and it took me those few days to recover but I'm still not quite up to speed.
Jeanine also offered to help me with all my ESA stuff too when it gets to the point when they decide if I go in the work related group (ha!) or the support group. She has strictly told me NOT to fill in any forms without speaking to her first so I shall gladly follow orders.
Work are being a pain in the arse and not sending me payslips so I've had to ring them ah-gain to ask for them. It's like I can feel her rolling her eyes as soon as I say my name but if they'd send them in the first place I wouldn't have to call, would I? I can't claim ESA without them so I'll hound them as much as possible whether they like it or not, I got paid 3 weeks ago from work, I should have had my wageslip.
And this is enough for my hands to handle, they are aching so I shall end this gigantic post here and try and update daily again to save my hands.
Oh, one more thing. I couldn't make my rheumatologist appointment due to ill health so it's been rescheduled to the 17th of Feb.
Health took a big dive so the desktop has had a wide berth over the past week or so, I'm writing this from my laptop rather than my desktop where I am firmly plumped on the sofa.
I'm now having chronic neck and back pain and my reactions have slowed down. Tramadol still isn't helping either so I'm currently trying to rummage up the energy to go and see Dr Sam again to try some different pain relief.
In better news I had a visit on Monday from the Welfare Advice lady, Jeanine. She was very nice and helpful and flew through my form for me. I got a letter from her this morning as a confirmation and she has written
Given the information you have put on the form I feel you may qualify for high rate mobilty, although they are getting very tough on awarding this level and low or middle rate care. Again, they have tightened up a lot lately on this component. Once you hear about the decision we can talk further if needed about appeals etc.
So, I've been warned, as I already knew that this is going to be a tough road and I'm fully expecting to have to appeal at tribunal to get what I feel I am entitled to, but the fact that Jeanine thinks I should qualify is a comforting thought atleast.
Jeanine has also recommended I get Dr Sam to fill in part of my DLA form so I called the surgery today and asked if a charge would be applicable and they said it depends on how much he has to fill in (the more the better as far as I'm concerned!) so I'm going to put a covering letter in with the forms as it's really important he explains HOW my ME/CFS affects me, not just the fact I've got it.
The benefits and work website have a downloadable check sheet where you can fill in how each thing affects you like walking, washing, bathing etc so I'll fill one of those in and pop in it with the form. I've already given him one when I last saw him and he gave me the fluoxetine and the tramadol but some things have worsened so I'll do a more up-to-date one.
Speaking of the Fluoxetine, things are going well with that. I have noticed a difference when I wake up in the morning, I'm far from 'wooo hooo, another day!' but I'm most definitely not 'Oh shit, here we go again' like I was before I started taking them. It's hard to describe really. I'm more...accepting? at the moment. Which is a good thing, but it did bring me crashing down again when I was with Jeanine as all I had to think about was what I couldn't do, which is a lot, when I was filling in the forms with her and the tears flowed quite freely, but Jeanine was armed with tissues and words of encouragment so I feel ok again now but it was really upsetting and emotonally and physically drained me for a few days afterwards and it took me those few days to recover but I'm still not quite up to speed.
Jeanine also offered to help me with all my ESA stuff too when it gets to the point when they decide if I go in the work related group (ha!) or the support group. She has strictly told me NOT to fill in any forms without speaking to her first so I shall gladly follow orders.
Work are being a pain in the arse and not sending me payslips so I've had to ring them ah-gain to ask for them. It's like I can feel her rolling her eyes as soon as I say my name but if they'd send them in the first place I wouldn't have to call, would I? I can't claim ESA without them so I'll hound them as much as possible whether they like it or not, I got paid 3 weeks ago from work, I should have had my wageslip.
And this is enough for my hands to handle, they are aching so I shall end this gigantic post here and try and update daily again to save my hands.
Oh, one more thing. I couldn't make my rheumatologist appointment due to ill health so it's been rescheduled to the 17th of Feb.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Not so helpful!
Council chap came round this morning and took all the ID he needed.
I finally managed to get through to the Welfare Advice line and spoke to a lady who was er, rather abrubt. In the 10 minute phonecall I don't think I managed to complete a full sentence without her trying to finish it off for me.
She's calling me either tomorrow or Friday to arrange a home visit, but she said in a roundabout way she doesn't think I'll be entitled to a penny as claiming DLA for CFS is nigh on impossible, which was encouraging *sigh*
Other than that a pretty non eventful day. The daily dead leg is getting on my nerves, I shall mention it to the Rheumatologist at my appointment tomorrow.
Oh and some thick twat thought s/he could get into my Gmail account earlier too. So stupid infact they thought by pressing the reset password button they'd automatically get it. They are obviously lacking in the grey matter if they thought it was as simple as that and they could have a good old nosey at my account. Honestly, are some people really that clueless?
Oh, quickly before I go, I googled and found out the problem with my left eye, it does have a name better than 'rugby eye' it is actually called Astigmatism, so there you go.
I also came to the conclusion my sleep fail the other night was most likely down to me forgetting to take my Fluoxetine in the morning and taking it just before bed. Not proven but it does seem logical.
I remember when I was on Seroxat they worked for me better when I took them before bed than taking them in the morning so the time of day does make a difference, although saying that I'm not about to go and test my theory because I don't fancy another night like that night!
I finally managed to get through to the Welfare Advice line and spoke to a lady who was er, rather abrubt. In the 10 minute phonecall I don't think I managed to complete a full sentence without her trying to finish it off for me.
She's calling me either tomorrow or Friday to arrange a home visit, but she said in a roundabout way she doesn't think I'll be entitled to a penny as claiming DLA for CFS is nigh on impossible, which was encouraging *sigh*
Other than that a pretty non eventful day. The daily dead leg is getting on my nerves, I shall mention it to the Rheumatologist at my appointment tomorrow.
Oh and some thick twat thought s/he could get into my Gmail account earlier too. So stupid infact they thought by pressing the reset password button they'd automatically get it. They are obviously lacking in the grey matter if they thought it was as simple as that and they could have a good old nosey at my account. Honestly, are some people really that clueless?
Oh, quickly before I go, I googled and found out the problem with my left eye, it does have a name better than 'rugby eye' it is actually called Astigmatism, so there you go.
I also came to the conclusion my sleep fail the other night was most likely down to me forgetting to take my Fluoxetine in the morning and taking it just before bed. Not proven but it does seem logical.
I remember when I was on Seroxat they worked for me better when I took them before bed than taking them in the morning so the time of day does make a difference, although saying that I'm not about to go and test my theory because I don't fancy another night like that night!
Saturday, 16 January 2010
I can see!
Didn't know I couldn't before, but NOW I can indeed see!
Yup, glasses were needed, £103 later I'm now sporting a rather snazzy (if I do say so myself) pair of glasses.
I can't remember the big long name she said but basically my left eye should be shaped like the side of a football but I'm more like a rugby ball. Comforting to know, that.
After the hoo-ha of getting my glasses (NO thanks AT ALL to the bastards of Kettering Specsavers and ALL thanks to Kettering Vision Express, that's a whoooole other story!) we had a hoo-ha at the cinema when Nathan's eldest Beth got ill and puked up in the theatre and outside in the main halls three times, lovely!
I'm utterly exhausted now and will spend the next 2-3 days paying for it no doubt. Nathan's mum invited us over for dinner tomorrow but I've declined, if I don't have complete rest tomorrow to recover from today then I'll be in serious trouble.
I just hope the whole cause of my headaches was my 'rugby eye' and not CFS so the headaches will go completely, time shall tell.
On another side note, day 3 of Fluoxetine and so far no side effects, but very early days yet.
Yup, glasses were needed, £103 later I'm now sporting a rather snazzy (if I do say so myself) pair of glasses.
I can't remember the big long name she said but basically my left eye should be shaped like the side of a football but I'm more like a rugby ball. Comforting to know, that.
After the hoo-ha of getting my glasses (NO thanks AT ALL to the bastards of Kettering Specsavers and ALL thanks to Kettering Vision Express, that's a whoooole other story!) we had a hoo-ha at the cinema when Nathan's eldest Beth got ill and puked up in the theatre and outside in the main halls three times, lovely!
I'm utterly exhausted now and will spend the next 2-3 days paying for it no doubt. Nathan's mum invited us over for dinner tomorrow but I've declined, if I don't have complete rest tomorrow to recover from today then I'll be in serious trouble.
I just hope the whole cause of my headaches was my 'rugby eye' and not CFS so the headaches will go completely, time shall tell.
On another side note, day 3 of Fluoxetine and so far no side effects, but very early days yet.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Day 1 in the Supersonic Chronic House [/Newcastle accent]
Ahh, the first post. The obligatory "I don't really know what to put, but I'm just testing" post.
Luckily for me, I do actually have something important to blog about today!
I went to see Dr Sam yesterday with Nathan. Part of me didn't want to go, because I knew what I was going for - Anti-depressants. I have a long history with AD's, I've been on them previously 4 or 5 times. There is a part of me that really doesn't want to get back on that road again but a bigger part of me that knows I need to. I've gone this far, a year ago I survived the destruction of my 8 year relationship after his infidelity without taking them but I know when I need the extra help and it's now.
To make things slightly more complicated he's given me a different AD than my 'usual'. My usual was 20 or 30mg of Seroxat/Paroxitine. This time I've been given 20mg of Fluoxetine, or as I understand it to be more commonly referred to as Prozac.
So here I am staring at the box, having the do I, don't I conversation in my head. If these were Seroxat I'd have popped one already and got on with it but the fear of a new tablet is stopping me.
Spent a bit of time Googling and looking on the fabulous LJ community that is TLL but well, everyone has different reactions don't they? What happens to them might not necessarily happen to me.
So, in the mean time while I find the balls I'm supposed to use to get them down me they shall sit on my desk and taunt me, even with an empty packet of Walkers Crisps on top of them.
Luckily for me, I do actually have something important to blog about today!
I went to see Dr Sam yesterday with Nathan. Part of me didn't want to go, because I knew what I was going for - Anti-depressants. I have a long history with AD's, I've been on them previously 4 or 5 times. There is a part of me that really doesn't want to get back on that road again but a bigger part of me that knows I need to. I've gone this far, a year ago I survived the destruction of my 8 year relationship after his infidelity without taking them but I know when I need the extra help and it's now.
To make things slightly more complicated he's given me a different AD than my 'usual'. My usual was 20 or 30mg of Seroxat/Paroxitine. This time I've been given 20mg of Fluoxetine, or as I understand it to be more commonly referred to as Prozac.
So here I am staring at the box, having the do I, don't I conversation in my head. If these were Seroxat I'd have popped one already and got on with it but the fear of a new tablet is stopping me.
Spent a bit of time Googling and looking on the fabulous LJ community that is TLL but well, everyone has different reactions don't they? What happens to them might not necessarily happen to me.
So, in the mean time while I find the balls I'm supposed to use to get them down me they shall sit on my desk and taunt me, even with an empty packet of Walkers Crisps on top of them.
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