Flagging Heavily

Only six more radiotherapy sessions left to complete of twenty, dad is holding up really well and amazingly is experiencing very few side affects apart from a bit of a cough and needing a blood transfusion because his hemoglobin was getting low

Me on the other hand I'm flagging heavily with driving fifty odd miles every day to the hospital and back, I've been so busy ensuring mum and dads prescriptions were filled and with getting dad to the hospital every day, I completely forgot to renew my own prescriptions

Photo Description - Boris the Black Cocker Spaniel and Eko the Golden Cocker Spaniel standing up in top of a fallen tree trunk in a field, it's slightly breezy and their ears are slightly lifted in the wind

I'm losing track of days here but about two weeks ago I forgot to change my Matrifen patch until a day late, not unusual but annoying as it means a night of restless legs that also weirdly affects arms as well so no sleep

I opened the Matrifen box only to discover the box was empty!

Boy oh boy did I curse, I immediately ordered a repeat prescription and braced myself for a few very uncomfortable days ahead, Himself then remembered I always kept a spare patch on the camper van during the summer in case I ever forgot to take one away for a weekend

So off I trotted at stupid o'clock in the morning with torch in hand like some cat burglar to see if by chance I'd accidentally left one on the camper van, but not holding out much hope as it gets cleared out for over wintering

Image Description -A square purple back ground with the words "Sometimes I convince myself I can do more than I actually can. That never turns out well. Chronic Pain Warrior" written in black

I couldn't believe it, sitting there on my tray of bits and bobs was a white square shape, I turned it over and there in the torchligh was a spare Matrifen patch, hurrah I'd be ok until it was time to collect my prescription

By the time my prescription was ready I was due another patch change, only to discover upon collection of my medications that Boots were out of stock, they won't have any patches in my dose until mid April, so it was up to me to phone all the pharmacies in the area to see if they had any patches

None, nada, not a single Matrifen patch of my dose at any pharmacies anywhere, all had the same issues at getting stock as Boots

I've lost track of exactly how long it's been now without a patch to keep my pain under control and boy oh boy am I feeling it, I'd forgotten just how bad it can get as I wait and wait for a new prescription to be issued for a different brand of patch in the same strength

My GP is brilliant don't get me wrong, as soon as she knows what's happened she'll write me a new prescription of that I'm sure

It's the politics of having to put it all in writing to explain the situation, because apparently the receptionist isn't allowed to pass a verbal message on that I need to speak to my GP as it involves needing a prescription change

Unfortunately my email doesn't go direct to my GP, somebody else has to read it first and then decide if its important, as the only option to email our GP surgery is for none emergencies and not for prescription requests, so I doubt it'll get through

With taking dad to hospital everyday it's impossible to book an emergency appointment as they're so few and far between plus really difficult to get hold of, so I can guarantee if they do offer me one it'll be at a time I'm at the hospital with dad, so if I can't make it then it's not an emergency, or I can book an online appointment for about three weeks time

The NHS is a truly wonderful thing and no way am I knocking it, the care my dad is recieving is second to none, I've never had a complaint with my own hospital admissions either, but when it comes to the GP receptionists they're a breed like no other and excel at making everything as difficult as possible

All I can do for now is book an appointment for three weeks time and hope somebody has passed my email up the chain or I can get a cancellation appointment sooner

Unless you've lived with chronic pain most people have no idea just how debilitating it can be, especially at a time when I really need to be on top form as there's very little opportunity for me to rest with taking dad into hospital every day

Edit 10th March

Yesterday my GP had arranged for me to collect my prescription at a different pharmacy. Unfortunately they could only fill part of it, it was the very last of their stock and they're unable to fill the rest of it. For now I'm ok and have enough patches for 10 days, but after that I'll be in exactly the same boat once again due to a stock shortage

Life at the moment reminds me of the quote

"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger"

I can get through this!

Dawn xxx

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This Post is linked too:- 

1) Random-Osity Little Things Thursday 

2) Comedy Plus Wordless Wednesday 

3) Brians Thankful Thursday

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