I didn't mean to leave it so long since my last post, how time flies when you are NOT having fun.
I have come here many times in the last few weeks only to start writing and then delete the little bit I have written because I can not see what I am writing through my tears, the tears that keep rolling down my face and clouding my eyes.
It was the day before my Birthday, my hubby had an appointment at the hospital to see when he may have his surgery for his other problem. So on 31st May we drove down to the hospital it was going to be a quick appointment no more than an hour, so I dropped my hubby off and went for a coffee and wait for his call. It was quick I just sat down with my coffee and my muffin and he rang. I told him he would have to wait till I ate, that was fine. My hubby waited in the reception area of the hospital. I was as quick as I could be and collected my hubby from the hospital. We get in the car and he tells me "well that was a waste of time, I am going to have surgery sometime they will get back to me", because he is not having chemo any more it will be sooner rather than later was the information he was given. Sometime in the next month or two we will get back to you they said. We are no wiser we still haven't heard anything from the hospital.
Plodding along for a week after the appointment and also celebrating my 55th birthday on 1st June( I had a great birthday by the way), it was 7th June when cetrelink rang and told my husband he would no longer get any payments from them he got a whole two payments why you might ask, he did, the reason he was getting money from his insurance part of super a total of $2,000 a month less tax of $420 our only income apart from what centrelink paid him apparently too much money even though they told him (us) I was there at the time, that he would get paid for three months no matter what. They also told us to rip up our health care cards we were no longer entitled to them.
You can see why I have been crying, when my husband got off the phone he was stunned to say the least. For two days we were worried and the tears kept flowing then after we ripped up our health care cards new ones came in the mail. About a week after that I got a letter from centrelink telling me they may pay me something to help us, this time I was stunned a few days later reams of paperwork arrived all the same questions and the same answers over and over again. I sent it all away and they told me I could get a payment while they were waiting for an answer to my request for a carers payment once again, they have decided to put me on new start payments at 55 years of age, and haven't had a paid job for 25 years
new start is the payment they give you while you are looking for work. Remember my hubby is still sick I don't have to look for work while they process my claim once again for a carers payment. After they said they would pay me I got a rejection letter in the mail dated fifth of July but I did not get it until the tenth of July. Reason being I had not returned signed paperwork that they had sent me on the fourth of July by the fifth of July that I only got on the sixth of July which is the date I sent it back to them, please tell me how I can time travel back in time. I called them as soon as I opened the letter and was told to come in first thing the next day ad they would see what they could do. After many tears and problems they helped me, come back on Friday and fill in some more papers and we will pay you about $380 every two weeks I am so rich, well at least I am getting something. I would be so rich if tears were money, because over the last few weeks I could have filled a bucket with them. Paperwork arrived today for an appointment that I had yesterday with centrelink but I told them I did not get paperwork so I filled some in at my appointment yesterday. Some more money will be in my bank again tomorrow.
I have to take my hubby to the hospital for his six week appointment to get his thing in his chest from his chemo flushed out this has to happen for the rest of his life every six weeks or so. I also have to go and pay some bills a bit off all of them I can not pay any in full. I hope to be able to stop crying soon or maybe I'll be swept away in a flood of tears.
I hope to write sooner next time.
Showing posts with label chemo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chemo. Show all posts
Friday, 20 July 2012
Monday, 28 May 2012
A useless trip and no new information, still waiting.
It was almost two weeks ago my husband had to go to the hospital at the Bay. It was for a doctor's appointment that they asked him to attend through the mail.
At the moment my husband is, as I have told you last time, going through chemo withdrawal. My husband has another problem which cannot be taken care of until he is a lot better than he is now, so he can have surgery for his other problem I won't tell you what, it isn't important and not a matter of life and death like the cancer was.
Going back to almost two weeks ago hubby was all excited thinking he was going to see his surgeon about working out a date for his operation. We drove down for his 9:30am appointment, no problems; it was a good trip down, even with roadworks in four places. I dropped him off and went to get a coffee and have a walk in the park, and if time, a look in some shops. I was all set for a nice couple of hours, so I thought. A walk in the park first and then a coffee and cake was my plan.
I had driven down to the carpark to go for my walk but thought I would just rest for a few moments first no problem there, I set a timer for 15minutes, it goes off time for a walk then my coffee and cake. I was getting my water to take with me, when my phone rang. It was my hubby. "Come and get me I'm finished". Oh bugger! No walk, no coffee and noooo cake! Like a dutiful wife I started the car and went to get him from the hospital, he was waiting so I didn't have to find a park in a carpark that is usually full. My hubby gets in and tells me it was all a mistake they had made the appointment for the wrong doctor, this doctor was a surgeon but the one looking after his bowel cancer, and he did not want to see him, the other surgeon who is was to see hasn't got an appointment until the end of the month so we will have to come back then. Maybe when we go back for his appointment the day before my birthday (my 55th) I will get my walk in the park and my coffee and cake, well fingers crossed.
On the way home my hubby was very quiet. His joy had turned to sadness. Someone had made a mistake and as a result, had burst his bubble.
We are both hoping that he will get the news he is wanting to hear when he sees the right doctor next week. My hubby is not too well he still has a lot of the side effects from his chemo in fact his energy level is very low he gets puffed just walking up the stairs, he forgets so many things and I am getting tired of telling him the same thing over and over. They call it chemo brain. The doctors say it will get better but not for quite a while.
Centerlink say he is not ill enough for a pension but he can have a sickness allowance. They believe he can go back to work in a few months, his G P says no, not likely, not while his fingers and toes are numb and he gets puffed walking up the stairs, and then there is chemo brain to get over, I can't see any boss repeating instructions over and over several times a day.
I do not understand where they (centrelink) are coming from no way can he work but they are not with him every day seeing him struggle to get everyday things done without forgetting what it was he was doing in the first place, they just see words on pages of paper they do not care about the man and his problems. I just want to scream but instead how about I get swept away on a cloud into no problem land oh if only there were such a place, maybe I'll go there in my dreams.
At the moment my husband is, as I have told you last time, going through chemo withdrawal. My husband has another problem which cannot be taken care of until he is a lot better than he is now, so he can have surgery for his other problem I won't tell you what, it isn't important and not a matter of life and death like the cancer was.
Going back to almost two weeks ago hubby was all excited thinking he was going to see his surgeon about working out a date for his operation. We drove down for his 9:30am appointment, no problems; it was a good trip down, even with roadworks in four places. I dropped him off and went to get a coffee and have a walk in the park, and if time, a look in some shops. I was all set for a nice couple of hours, so I thought. A walk in the park first and then a coffee and cake was my plan.
I had driven down to the carpark to go for my walk but thought I would just rest for a few moments first no problem there, I set a timer for 15minutes, it goes off time for a walk then my coffee and cake. I was getting my water to take with me, when my phone rang. It was my hubby. "Come and get me I'm finished". Oh bugger! No walk, no coffee and noooo cake! Like a dutiful wife I started the car and went to get him from the hospital, he was waiting so I didn't have to find a park in a carpark that is usually full. My hubby gets in and tells me it was all a mistake they had made the appointment for the wrong doctor, this doctor was a surgeon but the one looking after his bowel cancer, and he did not want to see him, the other surgeon who is was to see hasn't got an appointment until the end of the month so we will have to come back then. Maybe when we go back for his appointment the day before my birthday (my 55th) I will get my walk in the park and my coffee and cake, well fingers crossed.
On the way home my hubby was very quiet. His joy had turned to sadness. Someone had made a mistake and as a result, had burst his bubble.
We are both hoping that he will get the news he is wanting to hear when he sees the right doctor next week. My hubby is not too well he still has a lot of the side effects from his chemo in fact his energy level is very low he gets puffed just walking up the stairs, he forgets so many things and I am getting tired of telling him the same thing over and over. They call it chemo brain. The doctors say it will get better but not for quite a while.
Centerlink say he is not ill enough for a pension but he can have a sickness allowance. They believe he can go back to work in a few months, his G P says no, not likely, not while his fingers and toes are numb and he gets puffed walking up the stairs, and then there is chemo brain to get over, I can't see any boss repeating instructions over and over several times a day.
I do not understand where they (centrelink) are coming from no way can he work but they are not with him every day seeing him struggle to get everyday things done without forgetting what it was he was doing in the first place, they just see words on pages of paper they do not care about the man and his problems. I just want to scream but instead how about I get swept away on a cloud into no problem land oh if only there were such a place, maybe I'll go there in my dreams.
Friday, 4 May 2012
All I wanted was a coffee and a piece of cake
Have you ever felt like going to bed curling up in a ball and sleeping for a week? Well that is how I feel at the moment. It is all getting too much.
Since my last post, my hubby has had two more lots of chemo; one was the Wednesday before Easter, and then two weeks later. On the Thursday after his chemo before Easter, we had to drive all the way to the hospital so my hubby could see the specialist I had to drive in all the holiday traffic to take him there, I dropped him off and as usual I went to have a coffee at McCafe.
I could not get into the car park. People were double parked, and passengers were running in and getting stuff, so I drove around looking for somewhere to have a coffee.
I needed to fill time in and this is a good way. Too many holiday makers the traffic was at a crawl.
I had my breakfast earlier, so I did not need coffee, I had one at home, but it helps pass the time.
My hubby's appointment was at 10:30am and not 7:30am which is his usual chemo time.
I found a place to get a coffee, but no parking close by, there was a park three blocks away but I believed I did not have time to walk there enjoy a coffee and walk back to the car, so I decided not to have a coffee and instead went back to the hospital.
I thought my hubby would only be an hour or so.
I got back to the hospital and drove around the entire car park. No place to park maybe outside the grounds, not close by anyhow, people were parked all over the place, even on the roundabout outside the hospital, and on every bit of the footpath on both sides of the street! I wound up parking in a side street a block away.
I thought my hubby would be ready and waiting by now it was almost noon. I got to the hospital, no he wasn't waiting. "Good," I thought, puzzle time and a cool drink of water and air-conditioning. There I was waiting and waiting over an hour, I started to get worried then my hubby came and sat beside me. He had just seen the doctor ten minutes ago. Ten minutes ago, for a 10:30 appointment. All that way for a ten min appointment to tell him next time will be his last chemo, they are not going to give him twelve but eight lots of chemo, because his blood tests show the cancer almost gone and the side effects are getting too bad and may not go away, so stopping early is the best thing for him.
He shares this with me and I think "why did we have to come all this way? Why didn't they just call?" We then walk back to the car a block away and come home.
Even though it was Good Friday my hubby still had to get his chemo bottle off on the Friday as usual. Thankfully it was at our local hospital. Because of side effects the worst being unable to eat drink or touch anything cold for up to seven days after chemo, we had a very simple Easter, but the Easter Bunny did come, yum (we all need a treat sometimes).
We are still battling Centerlink to get financial help. We have got our health care cards now and use them a lot. There was a mix up with my hubby's sick pay from his work and now we are in limbo we were told there were more days to go but they miscalculated and cut us off without notice. When you are expecting money and it doesn't come it is a bit of a shock. I don't mind telling you I cried a lot.
At the moment my hubby is trying to get money from the insurance side of his super. There is all sorts of paperwork and red tape he is working hard on this I wish him lots of luck. Money is tight and the bills do not stop coming.
My hubby had his last chemo treatment it was the usual routine 7:30 appointment so up at 5:30 am drive down to the Bay fill in five hours with no spending money so I filled in time walking around with my daughter and our cameras and then ate food in the park, and then had our usual nap in the car, then back to the hospital to pick up my hubby after his last chemo treatment, then the bottle off on Friday. For the last time on the Friday, I sit in the car and wait for him. I do my puzzles. He isn't long too long, less than an hour. The thing in his chest has to stay there there and get flushed out every six weeks or so. It won't be six weeks this time because that date is my 55th Birthday, so it will be seven weeks this time.
My hubby now has to go through withdrawal eight lots of chemo has to leave his body, he is not well, in fact he is worse. I just want to hide in my bed all curled up in a ball. I still have to wash his clothes twice until the chemo is out of his body.
The money problems are still with us centerlink won't pay us until we are completely broke, never mind that we have thousands of dollars of debt to pay off. A heap more paperwork came in today's mail, from centerlink. Most of the questions we have already answered there are a couple of new ones. Please can we just get money to pay our bills and put food on our table without jumping through hoops?
Since my last post, my hubby has had two more lots of chemo; one was the Wednesday before Easter, and then two weeks later. On the Thursday after his chemo before Easter, we had to drive all the way to the hospital so my hubby could see the specialist I had to drive in all the holiday traffic to take him there, I dropped him off and as usual I went to have a coffee at McCafe.
I could not get into the car park. People were double parked, and passengers were running in and getting stuff, so I drove around looking for somewhere to have a coffee.
I needed to fill time in and this is a good way. Too many holiday makers the traffic was at a crawl.
I had my breakfast earlier, so I did not need coffee, I had one at home, but it helps pass the time.
My hubby's appointment was at 10:30am and not 7:30am which is his usual chemo time.
I found a place to get a coffee, but no parking close by, there was a park three blocks away but I believed I did not have time to walk there enjoy a coffee and walk back to the car, so I decided not to have a coffee and instead went back to the hospital.
I thought my hubby would only be an hour or so.
I got back to the hospital and drove around the entire car park. No place to park maybe outside the grounds, not close by anyhow, people were parked all over the place, even on the roundabout outside the hospital, and on every bit of the footpath on both sides of the street! I wound up parking in a side street a block away.
I thought my hubby would be ready and waiting by now it was almost noon. I got to the hospital, no he wasn't waiting. "Good," I thought, puzzle time and a cool drink of water and air-conditioning. There I was waiting and waiting over an hour, I started to get worried then my hubby came and sat beside me. He had just seen the doctor ten minutes ago. Ten minutes ago, for a 10:30 appointment. All that way for a ten min appointment to tell him next time will be his last chemo, they are not going to give him twelve but eight lots of chemo, because his blood tests show the cancer almost gone and the side effects are getting too bad and may not go away, so stopping early is the best thing for him.
He shares this with me and I think "why did we have to come all this way? Why didn't they just call?" We then walk back to the car a block away and come home.
Even though it was Good Friday my hubby still had to get his chemo bottle off on the Friday as usual. Thankfully it was at our local hospital. Because of side effects the worst being unable to eat drink or touch anything cold for up to seven days after chemo, we had a very simple Easter, but the Easter Bunny did come, yum (we all need a treat sometimes).
We are still battling Centerlink to get financial help. We have got our health care cards now and use them a lot. There was a mix up with my hubby's sick pay from his work and now we are in limbo we were told there were more days to go but they miscalculated and cut us off without notice. When you are expecting money and it doesn't come it is a bit of a shock. I don't mind telling you I cried a lot.
At the moment my hubby is trying to get money from the insurance side of his super. There is all sorts of paperwork and red tape he is working hard on this I wish him lots of luck. Money is tight and the bills do not stop coming.
My hubby had his last chemo treatment it was the usual routine 7:30 appointment so up at 5:30 am drive down to the Bay fill in five hours with no spending money so I filled in time walking around with my daughter and our cameras and then ate food in the park, and then had our usual nap in the car, then back to the hospital to pick up my hubby after his last chemo treatment, then the bottle off on Friday. For the last time on the Friday, I sit in the car and wait for him. I do my puzzles. He isn't long too long, less than an hour. The thing in his chest has to stay there there and get flushed out every six weeks or so. It won't be six weeks this time because that date is my 55th Birthday, so it will be seven weeks this time.
My hubby now has to go through withdrawal eight lots of chemo has to leave his body, he is not well, in fact he is worse. I just want to hide in my bed all curled up in a ball. I still have to wash his clothes twice until the chemo is out of his body.
The money problems are still with us centerlink won't pay us until we are completely broke, never mind that we have thousands of dollars of debt to pay off. A heap more paperwork came in today's mail, from centerlink. Most of the questions we have already answered there are a couple of new ones. Please can we just get money to pay our bills and put food on our table without jumping through hoops?
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
It all comes in the mail, the bills the letters and more.
Three days in a row, I got mail. Rejected, declined, and rejected again. I felt like a piece of furniture no body wants, only this time it was the government not wanting to help me. Carers allowance rejected, emergency help to cover our electrical bill request declined, carers payment rejected.
Each time I opened my mail with hope, and then tears ran down my face.
My Mum would always say the word 'no' won't kill you, but my God, it can hurt, especially when you are hoping for a yes.
So no payments means no bills paid on time no food except the very basics and what we grow, we are using up everything in the cupboard and it is getting space. s I used to have spares of everything. Not anymore. I only replace things that are really needed.
I am starting to dread going to the letter box to check for mail. I also get the bank statements telling me how much I don't have in the bank, and yes more bills keep coming. Everyone gets bills, but somehow they seem to be more. I just get one paid off and then the same bill for the next month arrives and it starts over.
I was told I would have no problems getting the help for the electric payment, so I was relieved something I didn't have to worry about, but it was disallowed. We did not qualify. My hubby did not get his disability pension, and not being able to make ends meet or pay all our bills on time without payment plans apparently isn't having a hard time. As I said earlier carers payment and carers allowance rejected. It gets harder every day to be positive that everything will be ok.
A glimmer of hope I rang Centrelink today to find out about our health care cards and while I was on the phone, the lovely lady I was talking to told me she couldn't understand why I was rejected for carers payments, when she checked the computer she found out I had the right number of points but the doctor's report let us down. The information he put on the forms did not take into consideration that my husband is getting worse with every treatment. When the doctor filled out the forms my husband had just started his chemo treatment. It was suggested that we lodge medical forms again filled out by another doctor, one at the hospital was suggested they see him all the time and understand more of what he is going through.
Husband's energy level is getting lower and he no longer goes for his nightly walk, after every treatment he gets, another side effect pops its head out, so to speak. When we send in the new doctors report this time I should qualify for the payment a bit of good news so fingers crossed.
Our health care cards are coming this week and that will help us a lot we will save money on doctors accounts and medications. Apparently our paperwork should have been marked priority, so on an oversight by the person who gave us the papers, we were put in the queue with all the other people and not given the priority our case deserved. While I was on the phone our file was pulled and processed straight away. Yippee!
So now I should like going to the letter box.
When you are waiting on good mail to come it makes life a little better, I still leak from the eyes a lot ever day but I am trying not to get too swept away.
Each time I opened my mail with hope, and then tears ran down my face.
My Mum would always say the word 'no' won't kill you, but my God, it can hurt, especially when you are hoping for a yes.
So no payments means no bills paid on time no food except the very basics and what we grow, we are using up everything in the cupboard and it is getting space. s I used to have spares of everything. Not anymore. I only replace things that are really needed.
I am starting to dread going to the letter box to check for mail. I also get the bank statements telling me how much I don't have in the bank, and yes more bills keep coming. Everyone gets bills, but somehow they seem to be more. I just get one paid off and then the same bill for the next month arrives and it starts over.
I was told I would have no problems getting the help for the electric payment, so I was relieved something I didn't have to worry about, but it was disallowed. We did not qualify. My hubby did not get his disability pension, and not being able to make ends meet or pay all our bills on time without payment plans apparently isn't having a hard time. As I said earlier carers payment and carers allowance rejected. It gets harder every day to be positive that everything will be ok.
A glimmer of hope I rang Centrelink today to find out about our health care cards and while I was on the phone, the lovely lady I was talking to told me she couldn't understand why I was rejected for carers payments, when she checked the computer she found out I had the right number of points but the doctor's report let us down. The information he put on the forms did not take into consideration that my husband is getting worse with every treatment. When the doctor filled out the forms my husband had just started his chemo treatment. It was suggested that we lodge medical forms again filled out by another doctor, one at the hospital was suggested they see him all the time and understand more of what he is going through.
Husband's energy level is getting lower and he no longer goes for his nightly walk, after every treatment he gets, another side effect pops its head out, so to speak. When we send in the new doctors report this time I should qualify for the payment a bit of good news so fingers crossed.
Our health care cards are coming this week and that will help us a lot we will save money on doctors accounts and medications. Apparently our paperwork should have been marked priority, so on an oversight by the person who gave us the papers, we were put in the queue with all the other people and not given the priority our case deserved. While I was on the phone our file was pulled and processed straight away. Yippee!
So now I should like going to the letter box.
When you are waiting on good mail to come it makes life a little better, I still leak from the eyes a lot ever day but I am trying not to get too swept away.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Good news, bad news and more
In my last blog post I was after a pre-loved washing machine; the good news I found one, a bit smaller than I wanted but a good one at the right price, so yippee! I got one!
So I am washing at home in my comfy clothes.
The bad news is after weeks of jumping through hoops and answering questions on reams of paper, Centrelink has rejected my husband's claim for a disability pension. He is not sick enough. He did not total twenty points or more. How much under they did not say.
My aplication for a carer's payment is under review and could be for up to another six weeks and then I might not get it.
We have put in more paperwork to see if we can get a Health Care Card for people with a low income, to help with medical expences, and to get discounts on other things. This would be very helpful to us. My husbands sick pay runs out soon we are on aprox one third of the wage he was on when working full time.
When we have no income of any type and have used every cent to our name then and only then will centrelink help my husband with a sickness allowance but me all they say is "why don't you work?"
I am getting sick of hearing this. The answer I give at the moment is my husband is ill I am looking after him, I am his carer even if you don't agree.
I have my own health problems which are helped with medication, this is in their records.
Each and every time we have contact with them different people ask the same questions, its like banging your head up against a wall. Come to think of it, that may be less painful at this time.
I can not sleep unless it is broken sleep; I am so stressed about paying bills, all the same bills, on one third of the money.
At least we have a roof over our head, even though it leaks and we can't afford to fix it at the moment. I am watching my husband get sicker and sicker with each chemo treatment he is getting more side effects with each treatmentat the moment he is a grumpy man trying to pick fights and when I don't react he gets upset with me. Oh the joy, what to do.
I am trying to get through one day at a time, that is all I can do, or I'll find myself being swept away with emotion.
Every day I find myself leaking tears for all sorts of reasons, I buy my tissues in bulk packs now, they work out cheaper that way. Until next time I'll try not to get swept too far away.
So I am washing at home in my comfy clothes.
The bad news is after weeks of jumping through hoops and answering questions on reams of paper, Centrelink has rejected my husband's claim for a disability pension. He is not sick enough. He did not total twenty points or more. How much under they did not say.
My aplication for a carer's payment is under review and could be for up to another six weeks and then I might not get it.
We have put in more paperwork to see if we can get a Health Care Card for people with a low income, to help with medical expences, and to get discounts on other things. This would be very helpful to us. My husbands sick pay runs out soon we are on aprox one third of the wage he was on when working full time.
When we have no income of any type and have used every cent to our name then and only then will centrelink help my husband with a sickness allowance but me all they say is "why don't you work?"
I am getting sick of hearing this. The answer I give at the moment is my husband is ill I am looking after him, I am his carer even if you don't agree.
I have my own health problems which are helped with medication, this is in their records.
Each and every time we have contact with them different people ask the same questions, its like banging your head up against a wall. Come to think of it, that may be less painful at this time.
I can not sleep unless it is broken sleep; I am so stressed about paying bills, all the same bills, on one third of the money.
At least we have a roof over our head, even though it leaks and we can't afford to fix it at the moment. I am watching my husband get sicker and sicker with each chemo treatment he is getting more side effects with each treatmentat the moment he is a grumpy man trying to pick fights and when I don't react he gets upset with me. Oh the joy, what to do.
I am trying to get through one day at a time, that is all I can do, or I'll find myself being swept away with emotion.
Every day I find myself leaking tears for all sorts of reasons, I buy my tissues in bulk packs now, they work out cheaper that way. Until next time I'll try not to get swept too far away.
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Washing Everywhere!
Most weekends I do the washing I have to wash my husbands clothing and linen separately from all the other washing. This weekend was no different I had two loads of linen and one load of clothing not my husbands things they get washed separately and twice because of his chemo, altogether five loads and two of them twice all was going well. I had a load of linen washing away I was singing along with some of my favourite songs and doing some of my puzzles. Swosh, swosh the machine was doing its thing then silence, it was supposed to be emptying not sitting there doing nothing so over to the machine I went turn the dial hit the machine and yell at it "work you stupid thing I have lots of washing to do" kick the machine turn the dial to a different empty cycle still nothing kick it once more just in case no good. Thinking, thinking well I have washing in the machine so I will hand ring and empty by bailing then rinse by washing with clean water hand ring and hang dripping more than usual on the line.
My husband tries to help by pulling everything apart and trying to find the problem he found the problem: it won't empty or spin.
I told him that before he started.
Tomorrow I will go to the laundromat and wash all but my husbands things. I ran out of time to cook the nice meal I had planned and I was too upset to go then. A very unhappy me goes upstairs defeated by a washing machine. Today, the day after I got beaten by an old second hand washing machine that had worked well until it stopped, not worth fixing for the price we paid, sitting at the table while having breakfast I just started leaking tears just ran down my face all my weekend plans were stuffed by a machine instead of doing the things I had planned. I had to go out to do the washing, I had to get dressed to do the washing, so I gathered the washing,detergent, fabric softener, and a plastic bag of coins, not knowing what I needed to do the washing. I decided to leave the linen at home in case it was too expensive. There were 2 loads of clothes to do at only $2.20 a load not bad I will be going back tomorrow with the rest of the washing.
I am now on a hunt for a new pre-loved machine at a low price I can afford. I like top loaders with a large capacity the one that died was a 7.5 kilogram machine, and I liked it very much I hope when I find my new machine I will like it just as much but until I get it I will be taking the washing on outings to the Laundromat and bringing it home with me to hang out to dry.
Help universe! I need a washing machine of my own one I can afford that suits my needs so I can stay home with my music and puzzle books and my comfy house dresses! I don't like getting dressed to do the washing in public. I don't know about you but I like to be comfortable when I do the washing.
My husband tries to help by pulling everything apart and trying to find the problem he found the problem: it won't empty or spin.
I told him that before he started.
Tomorrow I will go to the laundromat and wash all but my husbands things. I ran out of time to cook the nice meal I had planned and I was too upset to go then. A very unhappy me goes upstairs defeated by a washing machine. Today, the day after I got beaten by an old second hand washing machine that had worked well until it stopped, not worth fixing for the price we paid, sitting at the table while having breakfast I just started leaking tears just ran down my face all my weekend plans were stuffed by a machine instead of doing the things I had planned. I had to go out to do the washing, I had to get dressed to do the washing, so I gathered the washing,detergent, fabric softener, and a plastic bag of coins, not knowing what I needed to do the washing. I decided to leave the linen at home in case it was too expensive. There were 2 loads of clothes to do at only $2.20 a load not bad I will be going back tomorrow with the rest of the washing.
I am now on a hunt for a new pre-loved machine at a low price I can afford. I like top loaders with a large capacity the one that died was a 7.5 kilogram machine, and I liked it very much I hope when I find my new machine I will like it just as much but until I get it I will be taking the washing on outings to the Laundromat and bringing it home with me to hang out to dry.
Help universe! I need a washing machine of my own one I can afford that suits my needs so I can stay home with my music and puzzle books and my comfy house dresses! I don't like getting dressed to do the washing in public. I don't know about you but I like to be comfortable when I do the washing.
Friday, 10 February 2012
The Journey So Far (OR: Why I'm Swept Away)
It all started around about August. My husband said he was unwell. But he had to go to work; no time for a doctor's appointment. My husband works away from home three weeks at a time. When he came back, it was just in time for our 35th Wedding Anniversary- he was home for our anniversary for once! It was nice.
A few days later he got a doctor's appointment. This started off a whole range of tests. As a result, my husband was referred to a specialist.
The specialist said he would need a colonoscopy. If done through the public system, there was a two year waiting list, but the private hospital had a special (woohoo!) we had to find $590 as soon as possible (oh. Help!). So I decided not to keep the money that I had put aside for council rates, and instead used that, along with a bit of juggling around to get it done as soon as possible. I still haven't paid those rates, and the next lot is just about due!
My husband had his colonoscopy on October 23rd. The doctor found a problem, and that same day, while he was still "starving" (husband language for "fasting") he had to have urgent scans. The result was he was told he had a growth on his bowel and it could be cancerous. More tests! And the result was cancer.
A series of quick doctor's appointments occurred, to get him into the public system; we have no health insurance, due to reasons beyond our control.
While waiting for surgery my husband could not work because he works away from home, in the catering side of the oil rigs in the desert.
He went into hospital to have surgery on the 9th of November. They cut the piece out, and joined his bowel successfully.
We thought that would be the end of it.
We were told that would be the end of it.
We were told six to eight weeks and he could go back to work.
He was in hospital for four days after the surgery, and was sent home with staples still in, and a kit for his GP to remove them; the kit included instructions. At this stage, his bowels still weren't working, but he was sent home all the same.
It was at the appointment with the GP that chemo was mentioned for the very first time. His GP simply said, "When does your chemo start?" shocked and horrified, my husband said, "What chemo?" the GP then said, "Your surgeon will refer you to an oncologist." The doctor was surprised it hadn't been mentioned before this time.
At the follow up appointment, my husband mentioned chemo to his surgeon. The surgeon said yes, it usually happens that way. The surgeon seemed to think it was implied, but nobody at all had mentioned it to us before the surgery, or at the hospital. Not happy!
Husband sees the oncologist before Christmas, and was told he'd be contacted with a starting date. He is told he will need chemo every two weeks for six to eight months. See the problem? Husband works away from home for three weeks at a time! He gets contacted just before Christmas for an oncology appointment, and told he will have to have a surgical procedure to have a contraption (I can't remember the word) put inside his chest for the chemo, and this will happen on the 3rd of January, with chemo to start on the 11th of January.
Husband is on sick leave from work, which equals only about one third of our usual income, but all our bills are the same. God help us! Where is the money coming from to pay the bills? My answer was, "Let's see if Centrelink can help!"
On the 4th of January, I applied to Centrelink. A few days later reams of paper arrived full of questions that Centrelink wanted answers for. Quite literally hundreds of questions.
I burst into tears.
There were questions I had to answer, my husband had to answer, his doctor had to answer. And they wanted all of this within two weeks, around the same time my husband was starting his chemo, not in our home town, but a slow 30km trip each way. This happens every two weeks, in a car without airconditioning, because we cannot afford to get it fixed at this time. So we drive with the windows down. Reminds me of my childhood. Not so nice when it's raining, though- we get a little bit wet...
Knowing I couldn't meet Centrelink's deadline, I rang and asked for an extension. They did give me one. But to get help with the paper work from the doctor, we needed two appointments, each costing $65 up front. Centrelink have all our paperwork, but now want an interview with my husband, to see if we really qualify for sickness and/or disability payments. That appointment is next week.
On the first day my husband had chemo, after sitting over four hours at the hospital, he came out with a cotton bag around his neck with a bottle of chemo in it, attached to his chest via a tube. This was to remain on him for another 48 hours, which we then went to our local hospital to get removed.
We were not told this was going to happen.
I was in shock and started to cry.
I them find out that if something happens to the bottle and it breaks or spills, noone
On husband's second visit, he was given a pile of reading material containing all the things we needed to know before he started chemo. Two weeks too late, the chemo journey had begun.
He has just had his third lot of chemo, and it's not his fault, but he is turning into a grumpy old man!
Husband is getting new symptoms each time he has chemo, and has to take his temperature daily to make sure he is OK, the first sign of any illness- a cough, sore throat, whatever- we are up at the local hospital. Due to the fact he is on chemo, he has a "Get Out Of Waiting Room Free" card, as his immune system is weakened.
I have done so much sitting around in doctor's waiting rooms and hospital waiting rooms, that if it wasn't for the puzzle books I carry with me, I would surely go insane! Find-a-word is my friend.
I have my good days and my bad days, and some days I wish I could be swept away in a bubble, on the gentle breeze, but I know I can't be; we just have to deal with what we have been dealt.
One lesson I have learnt from this is ask questions even if you think they are silly!
A few days later he got a doctor's appointment. This started off a whole range of tests. As a result, my husband was referred to a specialist.
The specialist said he would need a colonoscopy. If done through the public system, there was a two year waiting list, but the private hospital had a special (woohoo!) we had to find $590 as soon as possible (oh. Help!). So I decided not to keep the money that I had put aside for council rates, and instead used that, along with a bit of juggling around to get it done as soon as possible. I still haven't paid those rates, and the next lot is just about due!
My husband had his colonoscopy on October 23rd. The doctor found a problem, and that same day, while he was still "starving" (husband language for "fasting") he had to have urgent scans. The result was he was told he had a growth on his bowel and it could be cancerous. More tests! And the result was cancer.
A series of quick doctor's appointments occurred, to get him into the public system; we have no health insurance, due to reasons beyond our control.
While waiting for surgery my husband could not work because he works away from home, in the catering side of the oil rigs in the desert.
He went into hospital to have surgery on the 9th of November. They cut the piece out, and joined his bowel successfully.
We thought that would be the end of it.
We were told that would be the end of it.
We were told six to eight weeks and he could go back to work.
He was in hospital for four days after the surgery, and was sent home with staples still in, and a kit for his GP to remove them; the kit included instructions. At this stage, his bowels still weren't working, but he was sent home all the same.
It was at the appointment with the GP that chemo was mentioned for the very first time. His GP simply said, "When does your chemo start?" shocked and horrified, my husband said, "What chemo?" the GP then said, "Your surgeon will refer you to an oncologist." The doctor was surprised it hadn't been mentioned before this time.
At the follow up appointment, my husband mentioned chemo to his surgeon. The surgeon said yes, it usually happens that way. The surgeon seemed to think it was implied, but nobody at all had mentioned it to us before the surgery, or at the hospital. Not happy!
Husband sees the oncologist before Christmas, and was told he'd be contacted with a starting date. He is told he will need chemo every two weeks for six to eight months. See the problem? Husband works away from home for three weeks at a time! He gets contacted just before Christmas for an oncology appointment, and told he will have to have a surgical procedure to have a contraption (I can't remember the word) put inside his chest for the chemo, and this will happen on the 3rd of January, with chemo to start on the 11th of January.
Husband is on sick leave from work, which equals only about one third of our usual income, but all our bills are the same. God help us! Where is the money coming from to pay the bills? My answer was, "Let's see if Centrelink can help!"
On the 4th of January, I applied to Centrelink. A few days later reams of paper arrived full of questions that Centrelink wanted answers for. Quite literally hundreds of questions.
I burst into tears.
There were questions I had to answer, my husband had to answer, his doctor had to answer. And they wanted all of this within two weeks, around the same time my husband was starting his chemo, not in our home town, but a slow 30km trip each way. This happens every two weeks, in a car without airconditioning, because we cannot afford to get it fixed at this time. So we drive with the windows down. Reminds me of my childhood. Not so nice when it's raining, though- we get a little bit wet...
Knowing I couldn't meet Centrelink's deadline, I rang and asked for an extension. They did give me one. But to get help with the paper work from the doctor, we needed two appointments, each costing $65 up front. Centrelink have all our paperwork, but now want an interview with my husband, to see if we really qualify for sickness and/or disability payments. That appointment is next week.
On the first day my husband had chemo, after sitting over four hours at the hospital, he came out with a cotton bag around his neck with a bottle of chemo in it, attached to his chest via a tube. This was to remain on him for another 48 hours, which we then went to our local hospital to get removed.
We were not told this was going to happen.
I was in shock and started to cry.
I them find out that if something happens to the bottle and it breaks or spills, noone
On husband's second visit, he was given a pile of reading material containing all the things we needed to know before he started chemo. Two weeks too late, the chemo journey had begun.
He has just had his third lot of chemo, and it's not his fault, but he is turning into a grumpy old man!
Husband is getting new symptoms each time he has chemo, and has to take his temperature daily to make sure he is OK, the first sign of any illness- a cough, sore throat, whatever- we are up at the local hospital. Due to the fact he is on chemo, he has a "Get Out Of Waiting Room Free" card, as his immune system is weakened.
I have done so much sitting around in doctor's waiting rooms and hospital waiting rooms, that if it wasn't for the puzzle books I carry with me, I would surely go insane! Find-a-word is my friend.
I have my good days and my bad days, and some days I wish I could be swept away in a bubble, on the gentle breeze, but I know I can't be; we just have to deal with what we have been dealt.
One lesson I have learnt from this is ask questions even if you think they are silly!
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