help?

Hi Louie, sorry to hear you haven't been offered any help with your mum. You could try speaking to your GP to ask about the district nurses coming in or even having a Macmillan nurse appointed.

If this doesn't get you anywhere you could contact Social Services and ask what help is available.  I hope you manage to get something as I know how tiring it can be caring for a sick relative, especially when you have disabilities yourself.

Best wishes, Christine xx

hi louie... i am not really sure but most hospitals give you booklets on what /when /where you can get help.... and if all else fails. c.a.b. will either help or point you in the right direction, i think you can ask admin on here too

good luck

liz xxxx

Hi Lynda.  As you know mum and I were offered lots of help, some that we accepted some that at the moment we feel we don't need.  Here's a list of what we've got and what we were offered.  We've got a wheelchair (mums own, nice and light and easy for me to lift into the car- asked for voucher scheme rather than nhs-got £302 approx to buy one.)  A stairlift and a shower stool.  Mum also has a district nurse who was coming once a week but now pops in every couple of weeks but we can contact them any time day or night if we need them.  She also has her clinical nurse specialist introduced to us on the day of diagnosis and who is the person who has arranged everything else for us or advised me/put me in touch with the right people.  We were also offered a care package if we wanted/needed it (at a cost but obviously attendance allowance would be used to cover this) we decided we don't need that at the moment.  We also have a blue badge but as you don't have a car that won't apply to you.  There will also be a carers support network in your area.  I was given the number again by Christine, mums CNS.  They sent me a load of info but at the moment I have not needed any support from them.  I did do a lot of asking and phoning in the first few weeks after diagnosis to set all this up but I assume it should be available to you too.  Does your mum have a CNS?  Christine has been brilliant and is always our first port of call.  I am so sorry you are having to struggle on on your own.  I haven't needed to use much of the help on offer at the moment but it helps to know that it's there, a phone call away, when we need it.  Let me know how you get on.  Love to you and Jessie.  Caroline XX

Just wondering why you had to take her for blood tests as surely they can be done at home.  Mum had all her bloods done at home the day before each chemo.  Her district nurse did it.

Caroline XX