Walking back to Happiness

Cannon, how weird to have a taxi driver GP. 

Don’t let that man cut down the trees, good for you fighting fir them!

Higs xxxx

Well, it was lymphoedema clinic yesterday - they asked if I'd put on weight because all my measurements were bigger (hmph!) so I've got a good incentive to crack on with the exercise! What with that and the discussion of my options being wear the sleeve and glove (which means I seriously have to consider the future of my job) or risk much worse swelling, I got a coffee, put my hood up and walked 30 minutes to work, to think about it and remind myself that it's just work, and I did get to stay alive! I stopped on the way to photograph one of my favourite views - it always, always lifts my spirits!

Hope all the spring-ness is inspiring everyone to get out walking or whatever over the long weekend!

R

Hi Violetsniff 

I have a school friend ( 60 +), who for many,  many  years was a nurse.

She told me the stress and cutbacks made her hate her job in the end. 

She went on to become a district nurse but found it exhausting and now works in a factory outlet shop and feels much better. She loves the spend her free time going for long walks with her Border Collie. 

Taxi drivers are a bit like counsellors so he has probably heard most things under the sun :-) xx

Judith  xx

ronstar Love this picture :-) 

Is your Lymphoedema Clinic at The Royal Marsden? I went there and found them great. If you want a second opinion your GP could refer if you made a case. I did this in 2014. 

Judith xx

Hi Ronstar, 

Wonderful photo! 

Hugs xxx

Hi Cannon,

 I suspect NHS staff are leaving a sinking ship to be honest, they have acknowledged that there are now too many closed beds as well as too few staff - at last! 

I used to work in the NHS before retiring, have seen staffing levels go steadily down and down, slowly but steadily, to an extent where this becomes the new 'normal' and is on the verge of being unsafe. 

It's really sad and I despair for the future. Before I had my kids (now 40 and 42) the mantra was to employ half of all school leavers to keep the NHS fully staffed. Did it happen? No, of course not! 

But it's the only one we have, we need to look after it and use it wisely (which I do, but see it mis-used and abused so much) 

Hugs xxx

Hi  

Thanks

No - my clinic is at Guy's. I'm quite comfortable there - they have a shiny new (well, nearly 2 years old) cancer centre which is very patient-friendly. The lymphoedema team is only 2 people strong but they have been great - the truth is, there isn't a good solution for work - I teach hairdressing and beauty therapy courses so wearing a glove is a bit of a hindrance. They have recommended some places to check out different compression sleeve options or I wear a vinyl glove on top every day, or I take my chances. I've agreed to give it another 3 months and see if I can find a solution. They were quite shocked at the state of the sleeve and glove after just 6 weeks :) 

R

Hi Moomy, I too worked in the NHS pre retirement, and am very distressed and upset to see the state of it now. I was exposed to the effects of understaffing in my various admissions last year and I was truly shocked at the extent of the problem. 

I was very well looked after by the team despite this, and am fortunate to have a very good outcome. 

I just do not know how they keep going. I thought it was bad enough when I was working , but so much worse now. What can we do, feel helpless. The NHS is still wonderful, but we are going to lose it.

Big hugs, and good luck with your surgery xxxx

I am also an NHS worker. It was a hard decision to make as I love my job, but I'm now going for medical retirement, and it has to be said that it is a bit of a relief in a way. I say that not only because I'll be able to do what I want when I can for whatever time I have left, but also because of the increasing pressure on my service to try and provide a gold standard service to an ever increasing population of patients with no extra funding (and often cuts in funding), in a team where people end up leaving and it is becoming difficult to get locum or permanent staff to cover. Before I went off sick, I was paid for 37.5 hours per week but was working 11.5 hours days every day and taking work home at the weekends just to cover the patient contact, associated paperwork/reports and team management stuff

My team are a bunch of hugely dedicated, hardworking and strong ladies who want the best for all their patients but are often not able to provide what is needed, and this causes a huge amount of stress, not only to them but to the patients and their carers. 

It's a shame, and SOOOO different than when I started 32 years ago! 

RANT OVER... 

Hi Lovely ladies,

yes I agree the NHS is so different to when I joined,too,33 years ago.In the old days you would stand up when the Nursing Officer cane in,stand up for handover...the patients were more than appreciative there was strict discipline for the right things.

bit of a hobby horse for me really.However,I just want to add ....I watched my 33 year old nephew look after his little boy who had a recent high temperature recently.(yes,he is a lot better now,thankyou)...and I was SO proud of him.He sat with him,missing 2 work days,took his temperature regularly,gave him his medicine from a prescribed chart on the fridge,made sure he regularly ate and drank fluids....I was blown away.There was me thinking all young people are hopeless ....He has dyslexia and didnt do well at school,and drives for a living.I was so proud of him I told him if he ever wants to give up driving he should become a Care Assistant!!I said he was much better than some I worked with,one of whom sat at the computer all day long without fear ....but thats another story....

oh cant remember where I was going with this...and am sorry have side tracked from walking for happiness...

But seeing that GP gave me such a weird feeling.Waht a waste!!I it was a bit like going into your GP and finding a taxi driver sitting there!! Anyway I have made similar choices in my career doing my SRN training successfully,then opting to be a Care Assistant again after years of private Nursing.Stress and the NHS.....hmmmm....could write a book.

on to happier things....the daffs are looking tremndous and alsmost defiant of the horrid snows.my little tiny patch of garden is boasting pink,and purple hyacinths,soooooo preeeeeeeeeety....and my twin is paying a visit from other lands and he will take me out for walks,sure as eggs is eggs...it was him who galvanised me into the gym....probably saved my sanity and life as I was being Quite the coach potato....(yes hes always been the sporty one...I was always the doormaouse)

sorry about story of my life ...got nobody to talk to really....Bless you for listening,love you all xxxx