My Life being Disabled 31/01/11

Yesterday lunch I had Mulligatawny soup then I went to my bedroom and did my exercises. I couldn't do some of them because I'm in a wheel/arm chair until Clarke & Parteners come to fix both my electric wheelchair and my moulded seat.
After doing my exercises I read my book. I had Chicken soup and ice cream for tea. I watched television until 22:30 and went to bed.
This morning I woke up at 08:20 and told my carer I wanted to get up. Before breakfast I had my blood/sugar level taken it was 7.7. I hadmy breakfast and went into the computer room. I topped up my mobile and found a new website about Rugby League on YouTube which I bookmarked.

My Life being Disabled 30/01/11

On Friday I had mullitawny soup for lunch and at 14:30 my carers came in to take my wheel/arm chair to swop for another one. I watched the television for the rest of the afternoon. I had baked beans for my tea but couldn't eat them all. I threw up, a couple of time, and I decided to go to bed. I began having panic attacks and the nurse came took my temperature, blood/sugar level and blood pressure. Everything was O.K. she had phoned the doctor to tell him and he said if these were O.K. it must a panic attack. I continued to watch my television and called the night nurse who took my temperature, blood/sugar level which had gone down to 8.6, blood pressure and another measurement oxygen. These were O.K. and my nurse said she will investigate. She came back at 23:40 and told me the last time I used Codine after two days I felt funny so they stopped it. This time I been using it for a week, she was going to stop it again. I watched television and feel asleep. I woke up at 07:00 watched my television until 08:15.
I got up and my carers found my bowels had opened. I had a shave and cleaned my teeth. I called for my carers who told me I could have a bath wash because my nurse said I should stay in my room. I stayed in my room and watched television until 14:20 when I was told that I must go to bed while my wheel/arm chair is being used. I got up at 19:00 watched the television and had mullitawny soup. I went to bed at 22:15 and watch some more television.
I awoke at 05:00 and watched television but straight away I had a panic attack. I continued to watch television until 08:15. I called for my carer but the nurse came to give a bladder wash. Afterwards the carers came to get me up and I cleaned my teeth and shaved.
I went to the bathroom and had a shower. I got dressed and went to the dining room. I had Weetabix and a coffee. I was still using the wheel/armchair and went to the computer room.

My Life being Disabled 28/01/11

After lunch I had to get out the wheel/armchair I had borrowed in morning because my moulded wheelchair was broken. I sat on a beanbag on my bedroom floor. I sat watching television and reading my new book. It's called 'The Snowman' by Jo Nesbo. The engineer never called so I stayed in my bedroom until 17:40 when the carers brought me another wheel/armchair to borrow. I had my soup(tomato) but I was sick. I left my soup and my coffee and retuned to my bedroom. I went to bed at 22:15 but I was feeling funny. I watched television all night and didn't go to sleep. I had two paracetomols but felt as if I was having a panic attacks
This morning at about 07:00 I had an other and asked the day nurse to tell the doctor. She phoned him and he said he will come after morning surgery which finish at 11:00.

My Life being Disabled 27/01/11

Yesterday afternoon the engineer from Clarke and Parteners came to mend my electric wheelchair. I finished reading my book Michael Caine's second autobiography 'From the Elephant to Hollywood'. I started reading 'The hackers underground handbook'. I had Chilli-con-Carne for tea. I watched television and went to bed at 22:30.
I woke up at 05:30 and watched television until 08:15 when I told my carers that I was ready for my bladder wash. The nurse and the physio came in and told me that my moulded seat was broken but they would tell Clarke and Parteners that it was urgent. They said the home have some armchairs that I can use but another resident wants it from 14:00 - 18:00.

My Life being Disabled 26/01/11

I went to Netto's yesterday afternoon and bought some Rich tea biscuits, ginger nuts biscuits, some liquid soap and some wine gums. I watched the television and read my book. After tea I watched television and went bed at 22:30.
I woke up at 04:30 and watched a film. I texted my eldest son because it was his birthday. I got up at 08:15, cleaned my teeth, shaved, showered, and got dressed.

My Life being Disabled 25/01/11

At lunchtime, yesterday, I ordered Mulligawtawny soup but there wasn't any so I had tomato instead and because I have no back teeth I didn't have an apple. In the afternoon I watched the television and read my book. The nurse/carers phoned up to enquire what was happening with my electric wheelchair and they were told to contact the engineer. He didn't reply.
The senior carer phoned my dentist to get me an appointment on 21/02/11. In the evening the nurse came to review my Care plan and to speak to me about my weight and blood/sugar levels increasing. We decided to limit the number of bisciuts and the number of sweets. I now have two biscuits when I have a coffee.
I woke up at 05:30 and watched a film. I had my bladder wash, cleaned my teeth, shaved, showered and got dressed. I asked my carer if I could go to Nettos and she said this afternoon. I want some batteries, liquid soap, wine gums, ginger biscuits and rich tea biscuits. I had Weetabixfor my breakfast because All Bran is too hard.

My Life being Disabled 24/01/11

Yesterday lunchtime I had Tomato soup because there was no Mulligatawny. After lunch I went to my bedroom watched television and read my book, Michael Caine's Elephant to Hollywood. I had Minestone soup for tea. Afterwards I watched television all night.

This morning I woke up at 04:15 and watched two films about Hannibal. I had Weetabix for breakfast and went to the computer room. I ordered two books from Amazon, Steven Fry's book about QI and Jo Nesbo's book The Snowman.

My Life being Disabled 23/01/11

On Friday morning my carer came in my bedroom at 05:55 to wake me up because I was attending the Royal Hallamshire Hospital Day Care Centre for 7 teeth taking out. I had attended on Wednesday for a pre-operation appointment. I cleaned my teeth, had a shave and got dressed. I went to the dining room and had my breakfast. My transport should have come at 07:00 because my appointment was for 09:00.
My transport came at 09:00 it was the same contractor that took me on Wednesday. We arrived at the hospital at 10:05 and I was taken straight into a room where my coat and shirt was taken off. The nurse put a gown on and she said I could leave my trousers on. I moved to a bedroom where I was suppose to transfer to a bed. The hoist did not fit under the bed so I was transferred to a chair/bed then I was tranferred to a bed by the nurses using a slip sheet. After 30 minutes I was taken to the operating theatre where I found out I was the last operation for the team who started this morning at 07:00.
They took my blood pressure and took my blood/sugar level(10.4) and connected me up to a monitor which measured my ECG. The anethisis gave me a general which was an injection to my arm.

I remember waking up at 14:10 in the recovery room. The nurses were monitoring me and I was told I could go this afternoon if everything was O.K.. At 15:30 my mouth was still bleeding so the nurse said it would be better if I stayed overnight. At 16:00 I was taken to ward I1 and had some soup, ice cream and a cup of coffee. I paid £5 for my phone, television and internet connection for 24 hours. I watched the television all night and didn't go to sleep.
I had my breakfast at 08:30 which was porridge, toast and a cup of coffee but I couldn't eat the toast because it was too hard. The carers came to wash me, change my clothes and tranfer me into my wheelchair. I sat in my wheelchair and tried my internet but it failed. I phone the operator who said the support team start work at 11:00. At 11:05 my transport arrived and 12:00 I was back in Dearnevale nursing home. The hospital had gived me two letters one for my home and one for my GP. They told me to contact my dentist and gave me some mouthwash, paracetomels and some codeine.

I had some soup for dinner and watched my television all afternoon. At 16:15 I asked a carer if she would unplug my Sky+ from the mains because I'd been having problems with it since the caretakers tested my electrical eqipment. I had my soup for tea and went back to my bedroom to watch a DVD. I turn my DVD on but I couldn't get it on my television. I asked my carers to look at it and they found a loose connection. They fixed it and put my Sky back on. I watch the television until 22:30 and went to bed. I feel asleep straight away and was woken up at 06:00 by my nurse who gave me a mouthwash and cleaned my face because it was covered in blood.
I woke up at 08:15 and cleaned my teeth, had a shave, had a shower and got dressed. I had weetabix and coffee vfor breakfast.

My Life being Disabled 20/01/11

Yesterday morning I woke up 06:15 to watch my television. At 06:25 the carers came to put me in the bathroom so I could clean my teeth and have a shave. After I was taken to the bathroom where I had a shower. I got dressed and was taken to the dining room to have my breakfast. After my breakfast I waited for the transport to take me to hospital. It arrived at 08:15 and it was a contractor. He said he had another wheelchair to pick up in Barnsley.
The traffic was very busy and we arrived in Barnsley at 09:15. We picked up the other person and we went to Sheffield. We arrived at Sheffield at 10:35 and waited in the Day Care Unit waiting room where one of the staff gave me a coffee. At 11:00 I was asked to go into a office were one of the support team asked if I had any questions. I was told what was happening today, what time my operation was on Friday and what time my ambulance would pick me up. The sister came in and ask me what drugs I take but my carer forgot to bring the 'MARS' sheet. She said she would speak to my doctor. She told me to get an EGC in an other department so at 11:30 we went to the EGC department.
We waited in the waited room until it was my turn to go into a changing room where the notice told me take my coat and my shirt off but my carer went to see the receptionist. While she was away a nurse came in and said it does not matter. She said she will take my ECG which she did and my carer came in.
We went back to the Day Care Unit where we went into the office where the sister asked me some more questions and took my EGC chart. She also took some swaps from my nose, my catheter site and my groin to test for germs. She said I had finished so we went to the waiting room to wait for my transport back. We had a coffee but after she came out to tell me that she'd forgot to get somebody to take any blood of me.So she asked me to go to the blood test department. We waited in the blood test waiting room but one of the nurses came to take some blood because the sister had telephoned to tell them I was coming over.
We back to the Day Care Unit waiting room to wait for our transport home. At 14:30 our transport came and at 15:30 we arrived home. I was starving but it was nearly tea time so I went to my bedroom and had a coffee.
After tea the nurse came to see me and she thought I might be staying in hospital after my operation. I asked if I could get up at 06:00 on Friday.

This morning I woke up at 07:15 but fell asleep again until 08:15 and told my carer to tell my nurse I was ready to have my bladder wash.

My Life being Disabled 18/01/11

Yesterday afternoon I told my carer that I wanted to get up at 06:30 on Wednesday because I was going to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield with an appointment at 10:45. This is a pre-operation check up before my operation on Friday to take some wisdom teeth out.
The nurse told me that on Wednesday we will review my Care plan. Nobody came from Clarke and parteners to mend my electic wheelchair.
This morning while doing my bladder wash the nurse told me to drink more water.

My Life being Disabled 17/01/11

Yesterday afternoon I didn't do my exercises because I'm in my manual wheelchair. I read my book Michael Caine's second autobiography'The Elephant to Hollywood'. I watched some television and went for my tea. I had one of my Chicken Vindaloos and an apple for dessert.

This morning the nurse to my blood sugar level and it was 8.8.

My Life being Disabled 16/01/11

Yesterday afternoon my sister, Jean, came with her husband Jim Riley to see me. They live in Rothwell, Leeds. They have three sons David, Daniel and Michael. David works in Amsterdam, Daniel is a teacher and lives in Wetherby and Michael lives at home he works in computer support. Later on my yougest son James came with his girlfriend.
This morning after breakfast I went to the computer room.

My Life being Disabled 15/01/11

Yesterday afternoon I received a reply to my email about the coalition government changing the Disability Living Allowance and stopping the Mobility allowance for service users in care homes from Michael Dugher my MP. He said he'd wrote to Maria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People and he copied the reply. I read her reply and it confirms that my thoughts "from October 2012 any disabled person who lives in a care home will not get mobility allowance. My youngest phoned me to tell me he's coming tomorrow afternoon. I did not exercise because I need my electric wheelchair.

This morning my sister text me to say she was coming this afternoon as well.
I emailed Michael Dugher to tell him that I would like him to use email when mailing me.

My Life being Disabled 14/01/11

Yesterday morning after I had a shower,when I got dressed, the carers noticed I was very sore round my groin. They ask the nurse to look at it and she decided to tell the doctor. He was coming later that morning. I decided to stay in my room. I read my book which is an auto-biography by Michael Caine. I watched television but in the afternoon I asked the nurse had the doctor been and she said he had. His advice was to use Cavaloin cream which I already use on my hole in my bladder where my catheter goes. I got my HC1 form which I completed and posted back but at 14:00 I was told that there was a female singer called Grace who was performing in the conference room. I went to the conference room and watched the entertainment. She performed for one hour, she was a good singer and she had a good range of songs. Later on one of the carers told me that Clarke & parteners is coming out to look at my electric wheelchair tomorrow.

This morning when the carers where putting me into my electric wheelchair they noticed it was very loose. They told the nurse and she decided it was not safe and I will have to use my manuel wheelchair.

My Life being Disabled 12/01/11

Yesterday afternoon I tried to put my new leg weights on but they were wrist weights so I told the Skills and she said she was going to Argos on Friday and she'll take them back. I completed my exercises and phoned the NHS helpline to get a new HC1 (Health Costs) because my HC2 runs out on the 07/02/11.At tea I had asked for Mulliagatawny soup but the kitchen didn't have any so I had Tomato instead.
This morning I texted my youngest son to wish him happy birthday because it's his 21st today. After breakfast I went to the computer room where I had trouble login on.

My Life being Disabled 11/01/11

Yesterday morning after my shower I put on my thermal underwear because we were going to Leeds shopping. Before my breakfast the nurse took my blood/sugar level which was 7.4. We set off at 10:30 and we were worried because it was raining. When we got near to the turnoff for Leeds City centre I told the driver to turn off into South Leeds. We decided to go to the White Rose shopping centre instead. We got there at 11:45 and I noticed it was busy.
We spent two hours going round the shops I bought some more thermal underwear from Millets and two DVDs from HMV. We went to Marks and Spencers to the gents department but it was too clutered and I couldn't turn my wheelchair round so we left. We went into Sainsbury's and I bought some liquorice, wine gums and midget gems. Before we went to our mini-bus I called in Argos to buy some leg weights but they were out of stock. They checked to see if their Barnsley store had any and they had.

We went to Wetherby Whaler in Wakefield where I got Haddock, Chips, mushy peas, breaded and tea for £8.80. We went to Argos in Barnsley and I got my leg weights and we got home at 16:00. I watched television and went to bed at 10:30. I must have been tired because I woke up at 08:15 this morning.
I had my bladder wash, cleaned my teeth, had a shave, got a shower and got dressed. I went to the dining room had bran flakes and a coffee. I went to the computer room.

My Life being Disabled 09/01/11

Yesterday morning I emailed everyone on my address book that had anything to do with the government to tell them my thoughts about cutting/stopping the Disabled Living Allowance/Mobility component. In the afternoon I did my exercises but my leg weights have broken so I intend to buy some in Leeds tomorrow. I finished reading the third and last of the books by Stieg Larrson who died of a heart attack in 2004. He planned to write 10 books but died after the third.
This morning I reserved some leg weights from Argos on The Headrow in Leeds for tomorrow.

My Life being Disabled 08/01/11

Yesterday afternoon I forgot to phone the NHS helpline to get a HC1 form. After my exercises I read my book which the third one in the Millenium series by Stieg Larrson which I've nearly finished.
This morning I had a bladder wash, a shower and got dressed. I heard on the news that the government are trying to reduce benefits to disabled people by changing the Disabled Living Allowance and removing the mobility allowance for people who live residential homes.
After breakfast I went the computer room and read some of this bulletin and discovered it will apply to me.

















































































Yesterday afternoon I forgot to phone the NHS helpline to get a HC1 form because mine runs out in February. After I finished my exercises I started to read my book which I've nearly finished.
This morning I had a bladder wash, go a shower and got dressed. I heard on the news that the government are trying to reduce benefits to disabled peolpe by changing Disabled Living Allowance and stopping Mobility Allowance for people who live in residential homes. After breakfast I went in the computer.

My Life being Disabled 07/01/11

Yesterday afternoon the life skills came to see me to tell me if I wanted to cook my Vindaloo this afternoon it will have to be after 17:30. I said that will be O.K. After I had completed my exercises I read my book. At 17:35 she came for me to go to the therapy kitchen. Where I cooked my Vindaloo. I made 4 portions, I ate one and put three in the freezer. After my tea it was nearly 20:00 so I watched television in my room.

This morning I didn't wake up until 08:45 got showered, got dressed and went to the dining room to have my bran flakes. It was snowing heavily this morning. After breakfast I went to the computer room where I read my email, found where Argos is in Leeds and what number to call because my HC1 want renewing.

My Life being Disabled 06/01/11

This morning I woke up at 07:46 and I called a carer at 08:17 to put my heater on and to tell the nurse that I was ready for my bladder wash. The new bladder wash is much quicker and I was ready to get up 08:27. After my shower I went to the dining room and told the carer that I wanted some bran flakes.
I went to the computer room and looked on the internet for disabled toilets in Leeds city centre and to find where Argos is in Leeds.

My Life being dIsabled 05/01/11

This morning to change my diet I was going to for bran flakes but the carer had already got me weetabix. I told her that in future I want bran flakes. My aim is reduce my weight to 80 kgs. After breakfast I decided to go to my bedroom to do my exercises because this afternoon I'm cooking Vindaloo. When I got in my bedroom a carer told me that the life skills liaison had gone home because he was feeling ill. I could cook my Vindaloo tomorrow. I told my carer if anybody was going to Cortonwood retail park could they get me some ankle weight from Argos

My Life being Disabled 04/01/11

Last night my nurse came to see me she wanted to inform me that my blood sugar levels are increasing and my weight is increasing as well. She told me if I don't change my diet I will probably be dependant on insulin. She said that when she is working days she have another talk with me.
This morning I woke up at 04:00 when my carers came to empty my night bagso I decided to watch a film but I feel asleep again. I woke up at 08:15 when my alarm went off and I asked the carer to switch on my heating and to tell the nurse that I was ready for my bladder wash. When I went to the dining room a skills person told me I couldn't go shopping because there wasn't any carers available this morning. She said she'll go and pay for the ingrediants for my Chicken Vindaloo.
When logged my computer on to the web and checked my email I realised that I forgot to tell I had ordered some leg weights from Argos. I asked a carer to check whether she had left and she had.

My Life being Disabled 03/01/11

This morning I awoke at 04:30 and decided to watch a horror film. Before I got up I stupidly decided to have a wine gum. I cleaned my teeth, shaved and showered. I got dressed went to the dining and asked my nurse to take my blood sugar levels. It was 9.8 which was higher than normal. After my breakfast I went into the computer room and ordered some ankle weights from Argos. I looked up the recipe for Chicken Vindaloo which I'm going to buy the ingrediants tomorrow and cook it on Wednesday.

My Life being Disabled 02/01/11

Last night the nurse came to change my catheter at 22:00 but I told her it was too late. This morning after my shower a nurse came to change my catheter and told me to drink plenty of water. One of the skills group told me I could cook fish, chips and mushy peas for tea. She told me they were having a quiz first and I said I'll be attending.

My Life being Disabled 01/01/11

At yesterdays lunch we had Sirloin steak, chips, peas and onion rings as a treat. Afterwards I did my exercises and read my book. At tea we had pork pie and mushy peas. I continued reading my book until 19:00 then I watched television until 00:10 this morning when I went to bed. This morning I had my bladder wash and I asked the nurse if my catheter is due for changing. She told me it is but because she isn't trained she'll arrange it for somebody on nights to do it.