AWAKE.........

In other news, my disability scooter went wrong before I'd even had a chance to use it, so it had to go back and I'm awaiting delivery of a new one! Good start, but at least I wasn't going out on it this weekend... 

Tomorrow I have the second chest drain fitted - hopefully it'll be less painful than the first one and that the extra drainage will get rid of some of the breathlessness and the indigestion and hiccups (why did autocorrect try to change hiccups to bicycle - random or what? ) that are apparently caused by irritation of the diaphragm due to pressure of fluid. 

AND - I got PIP!!!! I applied by phone when the BCN had filled in the DS1500 form that says prognosis is less than 6 months- 15 minute call with a lovely lady who asked me 2 questions about mobility. They don't ask about the personal care bit if the form has been completed - you automatically get the enhanced rate. I also got the enhanced rate for mobility as I have to have someone on every journey - can't drive and can't do public transport alone due to limited energy and walking ability and need to take oxygen cylinder with me.

It works out as £150 per week, and I've been awarded it for 3 years (they're optimistic obviously!!!!) That will pay for the scooter pretty quickly, which is good! I feel slightly guilty getting it so quickly and easily when other people seem to have to jump through hoops for months if not longer, but the lady filled in the form her end from my answers, so it must be right! I don't think I'd have got it if I'd applied earlier and done the form myself though - I'd have probably gone for best case rather than worst case scenarios! 

glad you got your pip quickly.  Hope your next scooter works so it should.  As you have higher rate mobility if anyone is using their car mainly for transporting you then they can apply for free road tax.  You can also apply for bus pass she a companion one though I appreciate public transport maybe tricky for you xx

Hi Cathy () pleased to hear you have finally started claiming PIP! 

Sending LP over to sit with you while you have your new chest drain put in! The big question is will you now have a Hot & Cold tap???  Just a thought!! Sorry bad humour! But I know you’ll appreciate it!

Hopefully LP will behave and things go well with less pain than last time! Will be thinking of you Hun!

Oh and I have seen a picture of your new mobility scooter........

I knew it was yours as soon as I saw it!! Look out pedestrians that’s all I can say  sending Lots of Love your way! Take Care Hun! Sal xxxxxx

Yep, that's my scooter - just need to find some sort of air horn to fit on it to warn pedestrians before I mow them down!!! 

As for the chest drain - I've gone for 'Cathy two-taps' as my new spirit name, but my other half has just christened me Daisy instead! I'm still looking for a use for all the excess fluid my body seems to be producing now - maybe I could convert the scooter to run on chest fluid... 

Hope you got some sleep after you posted and that you weren't up with something horrid... 

Just had my crumpets and Marmite as not allowed to have anything to eat after 8 - what am I going to do between now and teatime???? I'm only having a local anaesthetic, but I suppose they have to prepare in case it needs to be converted into sedation... 

Happy day everyone - go careful out there! 

Morning, all (won’t say ‘good’ morning, as it’s still blowy and nasty out there!) 

thinking of everyone who has treatment/investigations/scans/results/in hotel NHS/chest drains/ whatever, and hoping all goes well.

hugs for all fruit loops plus deputy fruit loops (Ben, aka ) xxx

Wishing everyone a good day 

Margaret x

Its stopped raining and we've had a great day with cousins in Sydney. Rain was forecast but never happened,  hope tomorrow is dry. 

, hope the extra drain is a big help and is non painful. Well done getting pip. 

I hope you get your replacement scooter very soon. What a bummer that the first one did not work!

Big hugs xxx

Chest drain cancelled at last minute as they had to an emergency procedure, so now being done tomorrow morning.

I'm not worried by it though - I might be grateful for an emergency procedure one day, so happy for someone else to have one! 

No brekkie at all tomorrow though - might be a night for a sneaky middle of the night bikkie when I'm awake!!! 

Hope everyone is doing okay today!