My Life being Disabled 30/04/08

Yesterday I read 3 chapters of my library book David Blunkett's auto biography.
Today I have just seen my doctor to tell him both legs are sore. He is prescribing some cream and next week he's going to take some blood. The doctor comes to our Care home every Wednesday. This afternoon I have had my excersise session with my physiotherapist and I read 2 chapters of David Blunkett's autobiography. He descibes the same feeling when a stranger talks to your carer rather than talk to you.

My Life being Disabled 28/04/08

After lunch I went to the library, I got David Blunkett's autobiograhy. We went to Nettos to get some shaving gel and some soap. I saw my physiotherapist to have my excersises on my paralysed arm and leg. At dinner time there was an arguement between two residents.

My Life being Disabled 26/04/08

Last night when I saw my nurse she told me she hadn't sent me an email but had left a comment on my Blog. I got up this morning at 08:30 had a bladder wash but we had no nurse on our unit so a nurse from another unit did it. I asked my carers if I could go to Nettos today because I want some soap, shaving gel, shower gel and some extra strong mints. They said we could go this afternoon. After breakfast I went to the computer room. After lunch I went to my bedroom where I did my excersises. At 15:00 I went back to the computer room. I didn't go to Nettos but I'll ask tomorrow.

My Life being Disabled 25/04/08

Yesterday I got up at 10:00 had my breakfast then my lunch and read my book until I finished it. I did my excersises with my weights and had my dinner. I went in the cinema lounge to watch television until 22:30.
Today I got up at 08:30 and had my haircut, cleaned my teeth, had a shave and had a shower. After getting dressed I had my breakfast and went to the computer room. My nurse told me she had sent me an email (it's the first time she's used emails). After lunch I went to my bedroom to check my CD and to do my excersises with my weights. My physiotherapist asked me to go to her room and she stretched my paralysed arm and leg. After the was a Residents meeting were I volunteered to assist with any interviews with new staff and become a resident that will go to meetings. Other topics were having dinner later because16:30 is too early. More choices on the menu. Day trips, this years holiday.......
After dinner I went to the computer room to check my email but I didn't get one from my nurse.

My Life being Disabled 23/04/08

This morning I awoke at 07:00 because I had an interview with Barnsley Magistrates to get some work experience. The interview was at 11:00 and the taxi would collect me at 10:15. I was ready at 09:45 and the taxi came at 10:15. The person from Remploy came with me and we arrived at Barnsley Magistrates at 10:40. We had to go in through a fire exit because the main door doesn't have a ramp. Going through the building I got my paralysed foot caught when we went through a door. The person who was giving the interview read my CV and ask me a few questions. She said she has some computer work for me and the finance dept. has loads of work. I said I couldn't work on the desk because it needs to be higher. The person from Remploy said she would deal with that.

We agreed that I should attend on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 to 15:30. I asked her about the disabled toilets and she showed me them but I couldn't get out without a struggle.

In the end she said she will look at all the problems I face and decide what to do. She will let Remploy know within a month.

My Life being Disabled 21/04/08

This morning, not putting on my alarm, I didn't get up until 10:00 so I didn't go into the dining room until 11:30. When I finished my breakfast it was time for my lunch. I ordered soup and an apple but I got soup and treacle sponge and custard. After lunch I went back to my room where I excersised using my weights then read my library book. At 15:00 I went to the computer room.

My Life being Disabled 20/04/08

Yesterday I went in the computer room and after dinner I watched Rugby League on the television. It was a good match between London Harlequins and Castlford Tigers. Harlequins won and they are in the next round of the Challenge Cup.
Today, there is another match between Salford Reds and Wakefield Wildcats at 17:15 on BBC2. This morning I went to Morrisons at Cottonwood with another resident, a carer and a life skills co-ordinator. I only bought some mints. We got back in time for lunch. The carer who went told us her dad has a pub at Penistone so the life skills co-ordinator asked us if we wanted to go next Sunday for our lunch. We all said 'yes'. After lunch I went in the computer room

My Life being Disabled 18/04/08

Yesterday I continued working on my family tree. This morning I got a phone call fron Remploy saying they were coming to pick me up at 10:15 next Wednesday to go to Barnsley Margistrates. I should be back at 12:30 and they have told my nurse. I spent the rest of the day in the computer room where my physiotherapist gave me my excersises. After dinner I plan to go into the cinema lounge.

My Life being Disabled 15/04/08

This morning I got an Email from my sister which told me the birthdays, wedding days and deaths dates for my dad, mum, grandads and grandmams. I entered these on my family tree which is a program on Genes Reunited.

This aftenoon I went to Cottonwood at Asda I changed the money in my money box. There was £7.80 then we went to Morrisons where I bought a new wet shavor called Gillette Fushion. It is powered by a battery very useful if you've only got one working arm. On the way home the life skills co-ordinator asked me if I wanted to go to Bridlington for the day and said "YES PLEASE".

Later on Remploy phoned to tell me Barnsley Magistrates want to see me next Wednesday but they will speak to my nurse first. At tea my nurse came and told me I was going to Barnsley Magistrates next Wednesday providing I didn't want to go to Bridlington. I said I'll prefer to work for Barnsley Magistrates

My Life being Disabled 14/04/08

I didn't do much over the weekend. Most of the time I read my book. My sister came on Saturday and when I told her I was creating a family tree she said she has some certificates(birth, marriage and death) that will be useful. I Emailed her to ask her for these dates. I went to the physiotherapist this afternoon and did my excersises on my arm and my leg.

My Life being Disabled 11/04/08

Yesterday I slept in until 10:00 and I went to the library after lunch. I got Boy George's autobiography. I stayed in my room until dinner time. After dinner I watched television and went to bed at 22:00. My bladder washes had arrived so I had one.
This morning I had a very bad headache so I took 2 paracetamols at 08:00. I stayed in bed and 2 more at 12:00 After lunch I decided to get up. After having a shower I went to the computer room. I looked at the tidal charts for Bridlington for tomorrow because my nurse asked me. I looked to see if Grimethorpe Warriors Rugby League were playing at home tomorrow but they don't have a match. When I checked my Email I found I had a £5 gift voucher from GFK for answering a survey. After dinner I plan to go back to the computer room until 19:30 then go to my room where I will put on my splint. I'll watch television until I'm tired.

My Life being Disabled 09/04/08

I called for my carers at 08:15 to ask if they had recieved my prescription for my bladder wash They asked my nurse who said they hadn't. I used my new electric shaver before I went in the shower. After breakfast I went in the computer room to finish the CD's I'd promised for my youngest son. After lunch I phoned him and he said he would come over tonight. In my bedroom I read my instructions for my new shaver and posted the guaratee. I did my excersises only on my arm because my leg hurt when I excersised it. I started to go to the computer room but my physiotherapist asked me to go into her room to stretch my paralysed arm and leg.

My Life being Disabled 08/04/08

This morning I called carers to tell them I was ready for my bladder wash but they told me we've run out so the nurse has my doctor for another presciption. This should ready tommorrow then the nurse has to fax it to 'BOOTS' who bring the medicine to my Care home. After my breakfast I and two other residents went to Cortonwood shopping. I went Argos where I bought an electric shaver. At Asda I bought a water bottle then we went to McDonalds for lunch. After lunch we went to Morrisons.
When we got home stayed in my bedroom to excercise with my weights. The senior physiotherapist examined my paralysed leg and we decided to let my physiotherapist begin excercising it again. At dinner I had a jacket potatoe and baked beans plus ice-cream. After dinner I watched television until 00:05. I enjoy watching Shameless but it is the last one in the present series next week.

My Life being Disabled 07/04/08

I woke up at 07:30 and called for my carers at 08:30. I got hoisted into my shower chair and went into my bathroom to clean my teeth, shave and get a shower. I got hoisted back onto my bed and got dressed. I got hoisted into my wheelchair and went to the dining room. I had my breakfast then I went to the computer room. At 12:30 I went for lunch where I had soup and an apple. After lunch I went to my bedroom to do my excercises with my weights. My physiotherapist came to stretch my muscles in my paralysed arm. She is seeing her manager tommorrow and she is going to ask her if she can start excercising my paralysed leg again. She stopped when I went to hospital because my leg was very swollen. After the physiotherapist left I went back to the computer room. I went for dinner at 16:30 then I came back into the computer room. Tonight I plan to go to my room at 19:30, put on my splint, take off my shoes and go to the cinema lounge to watch the television.

My Life being Disabled 06/04/08

I woke up at 07:00 and called my carers at 08:15 because the day shift starts at 08:00. I cleaned my teeth, shaved and showered. I got dresssed and went to the dining room for my breakfast. I had weetabix and cranberry juice. One of my carers asked me if I wanted to go out, I said yes. Two carers took me through the park, past the Co-op, alongside the Shute Rugby pitch and back to my home. It took us about half an hour and it was very quiet. A lot of people have gone to London to watch Barnsley playing Cardiff in the FA Cup semi-final. When I got home I went to the computer room to download for my youngest son. At lunchtime I had Curry soup and an apple.
I went back to the computer room where my son came at 15:00. I gave him the CD's and gave him 2 DVD's. He went home at 15:30 and I went to my bedroom to excersise using my weights until 16:30.
After dinner I went back to the computer room and tonight I plan to watch the television in our cinema room from 19:30. I want to watch Gavin and Stacey and Hughie Green

My Life being Disabled 05/04/08

I woke up at 08:30 and asked my carers to tell my nurse I was ready for my bladder wash. After that I cleaned my teeth, had a shave and a shower. My carers put me back on to my bed and I got dressed. I went to the dining room and had bran-flakes and cranberry juice. I normally have a movicoil but my nurse told me I've run out and my prescription should be ready on Monday. She asked me what I wanted to do as she has other medicines she can give me but I said if I become constipated I'll tell her. After breakfast I took my laptop into the computer room. To bring up to date my blog.
At lunch I had soup followed by an apple then I went to my bedroom to excercise with my weights for an hour. I went to the computer room again and at 16:30 we had dinner which was pizza and I had ice-cream. I went back to the computer room one of my sons phoned me to ask if I could download any recent R & B CD's and after I intend to take my computer back to my room, put my splint on my paralysed arm and take my shoes off. To watch TV in our Cinema lounge

My Life being Disabled 04/04/08

I didn't wake up until 09:15 and after getting a shower I went to the dining room for my breakfast at 11:00. After breakfast I stayed in the dining room and read the Argos catalogue to look for a new rechargeable shaver. I saw one that I like and asked the life skills co-ordinator if he would take me to Argos sometime.
While I was in the dining room my nurse told me Wheelchair Services had phoned to tell me they would bring my moulded seat, my manual wheelchair and my powerchair to me when the footrests arrive. Also they will do a stability test on site.
I had fried fish and mushy peas followed by an apple I went to my room where I used my weights and watched 2 movies on my laptop. We have dinner at 16:30 and I watched television after in our cinema lounge all night. If I stay here I'm considering getting either cable TV or SKY TV so I can watch Sky Sports to watch Rugby Leage because before my stroke I use to be a season ticket holder at Odsal watching Bradford Bulls.

My Life being Disabled 03/04/08

I woke up at 08:30 and asked for my bladder wash. I cleaned my teeth and had a shave then I had a shower. I had an appointment at Barnsley Hospital for 13:40 to have another scan to check that I did not have a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). I had a scan last week when my leg was twice it's normal size but it was O.K. but the scan stops at my knee. I had to have another scan if the thrombosis was below my knee and was moving upwards. The ambulance came at 12:40 but the hospital had booked it for me to travel on a stretcher. I asked the ambulance driver if I could go in my wheelchair but he said there was space but another person is using it. I had to be transferred from my wheelchair onto the stretcher. We went to pick the other person up but she said she didn't want to go. We got to the hospital at 13:20 and I went straight in for my scan. After 5 minutes they said I didn't have a DVT so I could go home. The ambulance men said they were going on another job but they will be back. I was put in a corridor to wait for them. After about a hour somebody rang the ambulance control to find out where they were ? They were told the ambulance men were busy but they were coming soon. At 15:10 they came and I get home at 16:00. I was put on my bed and my carers transferred me to my wheelchair.

My Life being Disabled 02/04/08

My plans for last night did not work because I had to get a shower last night. This morning there were several respite residents who had to get up at 05:30 that the night staff were too busy to shower me. I got up at 07:00 got dressed and went for my breakfast. The ambulance came for me at 09:00 and took me the Mobility and Specialised Rehabilitation Unit at Sheffield Northern Hospital. My appointment was for 10:20 and we got there at 09:40. I tried my moulded seat, my manual chair and my new indoor chair but the footrests on my manual chair and my power chair were not right. The person in charge told me she had booked my appointment for an hour but it had been change to 30 minutes so they would not be able to give me stability test. She said my new footrests would take about 3 weeks to come but she will try to make an appontment as soon as possible. She also said she will try her engineers and asked them if they can do a stabilty test and fit my footrests on my new wheelchairs. When we went to the office she told me my next appointment would in May or June but she will speak to her engineers first. The ambulance came for us at 12:30 and we got home at 13:30. I was dissappointed that I hadn't got my indoor powerchair and it might take until June. I was more dissappointed that I had not got my independence through having a indoor powerchair which would allow me to move around my home without assistance from the staff.

My Life being Disabled 01/04/08

I got up at 08:30 had a bladder wash which takes 20 minutes. I had a shave and cleaned my teeth. I had a shower then got dressed. I have to be hoisted back on my bed to get dressed.
I was hoisted into my manual wheelchair and went to our dining room for breakfast. I had branflakes because I am constipated and cranberry juice because it is good for my waterworks. I went back to my bedroom where I made a DVD from a movie I got from Limewire called 'AWAKE'. I didn't understand the ending but is quite a good movie.I make DVD's because I prefer to watch movies in our cinema lounge rather than on my laptop. While I was making the movie I used my weights to keep fit. They are 2 ankle weights ( which I use on my normal ankle and a hand weight (4kgs). At lunch I had soup because I'm on a diet. So far I've lost 9kgs in 6 months from 95kgs to 86kgs.
I went to our computer room after lunch.

Later one of the carers asked me if I wanted to go to the lake. I said yes and I wanted a first class stamp and an envelope. We went(2 carers and two residents in wheelchairs) to the Post Office but it was closed and it started to sleet and became very windy. The high street at Grimethorpe is on a hill so we decided to go home. Going back to our Care home the pavement very worn and it is very difficult to push wheelchairs.

This is the latest correspondance:

I refer to your recent e mail sent to Jeff Ennis MP concerning the above.

Can I first apologise that you did not receive a detailed response to your e mail sent to the Highways and Engineering Service on the 29th October 2007.

I can now inform you that this location has been inspected and some sections of footway have been identified for repair. These repairs will be carried out as soon as resources allow.


If you require any further information then please contact me on the e mail address below.


thanks

Stephen John Gibbons
Group Engineer, Highways & Engineering
Environment Directorate, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Tel: 01226 772017

At dinner we had Chilli-con-carne , I didn't have any potatoes and ice cream. Then I went to the Computer room again. I plan to go to my bedroom at 19:00 where I put on my splint which I wear on my paralysed arm to straighten my arm and fingers overnight. To the cinema room to test my DVD and to watch 'Shameless' on channel 4 at 22:00 and E4 at 23:00.

In the morning I have to get up early because I've got an appointment with Wheelchair Services at 10:00 to get an indoor powerchair, wheelchair and a moulded seat. So I must be ready for 08:00 for the ambulance.