chrisb's journey

[cazpi]

Hope the move went OK, and the cats have settled. I'm moving the week after next, and my cats can tell something's up already. I keep telling them they'll love it, as they'll have a garden of their own after living in a flat, but at the moment they're just upset that all their favourite corners are being disrupted.

[chrisb]

i am pleased to report I am in my flat and loving it. I have already been to a BBQ and a "cheese and wine" party that the residents hold on Saturday nights which certainly beats sitting alone watching the TV.

I did not take much furniture with me as I plan to spoil myself and buy new when the house sells - have had a couple of viewings but nothing positive yet. the rest of the contents I am planning to have removed by clearance people.

I cannot believe the reaction of my cats. they have lived together for 14 years and they have never got on, in fact it has been a case of when one enters a room the other leaves. now they sleep on the bed together sit side by side, give each other kisses and at 3am today they were raring around the flat playing football with a toy mouse! I hope my neighbour downstairs could not hear them. I ca highly recommend the plug-in Feliway devices. I have had 2 going non-stop since we moved in and I know this must be the reason for their sudden love-in.

even though they do not go out they have got much more to look at here because I have got big windows and French-doors which overlook a park and the local part-time steam railway. the first time a train came along Rosie dived into the wardrobe and Ollie sat there eyes wide and his mouth gaping open (almost!!) until I said "whats that Ollie" when he dived under the bed clothes! they will get used to it but I am not so sure about the very loud buzzers and bells for the main entry door alert, my own door bell and my new phone which blares out even on the lowest setting - they make me jump out of my skin let alone them

[Dotty]

I'm delighted to hear that the move went well and that you are sounding so happy ChrisB. Good luck on selling your house, fingers crossed for a quick sale.

Animals are funny aren't they? We have two dogs, who are the sweetest but daftest animals I've ever met. They certainly keep me on my toes.

Dotty

[Dixie1]

Great news Chrisb. Really glad you and the cats have settled so well!

[Tibbs]

Having a bit of social life can make such a difference. I made a conscious effort to boost mine, and I'm convinced that it's contributed to my feeling so well.

Glad you (and the cats) are enjoying the new flat!

[jbell]

Hi Chrisb, the flat sounds lovely, so glad it all went well and you are out and about enjoying yourself. I hope your house sells quickly so you can get out shopping for new furnitire soon. Thats so strange about your cats, but they are a law unto themselves !! Very happy for you...Jan

[chrisb]

hi all, I cannot believe that my last post was in august - where does the time go, I am busier now than when I was working, I am always rushing around and am sure I will meet myself coming back one day.

I am typing this whilst on dialysis which is pretty much the only time I can sit and concentrate, which is immeasurably better than my life of sitting alone virtually housebound which I had at the beginning of this year.

everything is great flatwise and catwise I am pleased to report.

after having a few months on my various exercise classes I am much stronger and don't need my walking stick although I do still carry it in my bag just in case because it is still useful for a bit of extra support when climbing stairs. I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (excuse the spelling) which explains the pain when walking and climbing stairs. I have also been using that jell which is being advertised a lot - flexi something - which, although expensive at £17 a tube, is marvellous stuff and eliminates pretty much all of the pain.

my employers are still playing a game, they are working on the basis that if they ignore me and the fact that they employ me they can just carry on and employ someone in my place, forget about me totally and it wont cost them a penny whereas If they terminate my employment it will cost them money. they are hoping that I will eventually get fed up of the situation and hand in my notice which again (I believe) will not cost them money. I am going to take advice as to whether they can do this indefinitely, because they know that Jobcentreplus have decided that they are satisfied that I am not able to work and they are got going to reassess this until April 2016. it may be that they are perfectly within their rights to do this in which case I will have to chill out and do the same and forget that I am employed by them. any comments or advice on this would be gratefully received - for instance should they still be paying my NI contributions instead of the State as they still employ me and can I demand they pay me now the holiday pay for this year?

with regards to dialysis, things are carrying on OK apart from a recent development of plummeting BP whilst on dialysis and I have had one occasion when it carried on being low for the rest of the day, which is rather worrying.

my remaining kidney is causing a lot of problems and I am currently looking into having it removed. I had wanted to keep it as long as it is working but the side effects I am experiencing are starting to outweigh the benefits of keeping it.

well that's me uptodate once again and I am now going to dive into the backlog of posts I have not read for sometime to catch up on how everyone else is doing. I think, if I get into the habit of doing this whilst on dialysis I wont get so behind again.

best wishes to you all

chris

[hotashel]

hi all, I cannot believe that my last post was in august - where does the time go, I am busier now than when I was working, I am always rushing around and am sure I will meet myself coming back one day.

I am typing this whilst on dialysis which is pretty much the only time I can sit and concentrate, which is immeasurably better than my life of sitting alone virtually housebound which I had at the beginning of this year.

everything is great flatwise and catwise I am pleased to report.

after having a few months on my various exercise classes I am much stronger and don't need my walking stick although I do still carry it in my bag just in case because it is still useful for a bit of extra support when climbing stairs. I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (excuse the spelling) which explains the pain when walking and climbing stairs. I have also been using that jell which is being advertised a lot - flexi something - which, although expensive at £17 a tube, is marvellous stuff and eliminates pretty much all of the pain.

my employers are still playing a game, they are working on the basis that if they ignore me and the fact that they employ me they can just carry on and employ someone in my place, forget about me totally and it wont cost them a penny whereas If they terminate my employment it will cost them money. they are hoping that I will eventually get fed up of the situation and hand in my notice which again (I believe) will not cost them money. I am going to take advice as to whether they can do this indefinitely, because they know that Jobcentreplus have decided that they are satisfied that I am not able to work and they are got going to reassess this until April 2016. it may be that they are perfectly within their rights to do this in which case I will have to chill out and do the same and forget that I am employed by them. any comments or advice on this would be gratefully received - for instance should they still be paying my NI contributions instead of the State as they still employ me and can I demand they pay me now the holiday pay for this year?

with regards to dialysis, things are carrying on OK apart from a recent development of plummeting BP whilst on dialysis and I have had one occasion when it carried on being low for the rest of the day, which is rather worrying.

my remaining kidney is causing a lot of problems and I am currently looking into having it removed. I had wanted to keep it as long as it is working but the side effects I am experiencing are starting to outweigh the benefits of keeping it.

well that's me uptodate once again and I am now going to dive into the backlog of posts I have not read for sometime to catch up on how everyone else is doing. I think, if I get into the habit of doing this whilst on dialysis I wont get so behind again.

best wishes to you all

chris

Hi Chris,

I am sorry to hear about your employer they are not allowed to ignore you, while they still employ you they have a duty of care to have regular contact with you and this would involve actually seeing you so if you are not well enough they should home visit you. At the very least you should receive a phone call. While you are having one of your dialysis sessions have a look at constructive dismissal, this is basically where you employer make its so difficult for you to work for them that you are forced to resign and your employer can be taken to court similar to an unfair dismissal case. ACAS will be able to give you advice why don't you give them a call 08457474747 and just explain your situation to them, they even offer medication between you and your employer. Your employer can't just ignore you and hope you go away and you don't need the extra worry. There is a little thing called employment law and no employer is above it no matter what their thoughts are - good luck and take care

[wagolynn]

Hi chrisb,
Have you cleared the Gel with your renal team, can you not get it from your GP?

Pleased to see the flat move has worked out OK.

Citizens advice (CAB) will help on the employment position, there are a few angles to look at.

Low BP is a sign of too much fluid off too fast.

Good luck.

[chrisb]

hi hotashell

thanks for your post.

I think you means ACAS will provide mediation although a bit of medication in the form of arsenic would be very welcome

I don't think I mentioned that my employers are solicitors who should know better but they are relying on the belief that I do not know better or will not find out,

wagolynn - hi it had not occurred to mean to try and get gell that you

unfortunately my local CAB is open is Tuesday morning when I am on dialysis but I have contacted ACAS a couple of times and I will ring them again about the NI and holiday pay.

[hotashel]

hi hotashell

thanks for your post.

I think you means ACAS will provide mediation although a bit of medication in the form of arsenic would be very welcome

I don't think I mentioned that my employers are solicitors who should know better but they are relying on the belief that I do not know better or will not find out,

wagolynn - hi it had not occurred to mean to try and get gell that you

unfortunately my local CAB is open is Tuesday morning when I am on dialysis but I have contacted ACAS a couple of times and I will ring them again about the NI and holiday pay.

Hi Chris,

Doh lol its the BP meds I swear I am not usually that blonde (no offence to people who have the same hair colour as me) and I have just started my PD training and it takes a lot of thought and concentration ti set up the machine!!. Solicitors are the worst ones for not actually following the law and you are right what you say, they are hoping you don't know what to do so you do nothing.
Good Luck with it all

[chrisb]

Another 6 months have flown by without me posting

Update medical wise is that I have a date for my second kidney removal (7th July) can't wait it feels like an alien inside me now and all my hard work getting my strength back with exercises yoga etc has been wasted. I just plod about like someone waiting to drop a pair of overdue twins

I am going away to Torquay for a few days tomorrow which will be my first time away since starting dialysis. Amazed at the amount of work that had to be done by my unit to enable me to go away.

I went to battle with my employers with the help of a specialist employment solicitor but they messed him about so much that he backed off and decided he was unable to help me. I have now given up the fight and have handed in my resignation as I just cannot be assed with them - life is too short and I have more important things to think about. Although as of the time of posting they have not responded to me - hope they are not just going to ignore it but I am not going to worry about that until I return from holiday

[jbell]

It.s good to hear from you chrisb, July will come around quickly the way time passes. I am thinking about a trip away but it seems to be a lot of hassle. Enjoy your holiday, hope the sun shines for you ! jbell

[Dixie1]

Hi Chris

Good to hear from you and good luck with the op on 7 July!

[chrisb]

Well its day 4 after my second kidney removal and things are going ok I suppose but I really want to get out of hospital and back home but I know it's too soon.

The weirdest thing is feeling that I want to wee when I can't. I quess after 58 years of weeing it will take a while for my brain to catch on to the idea that I no longer have anything to wee out!

The most pain I am getting is in my shoulders but I keep getting told that this common but it don't help you sleep.

Best news is that as soon as I am healed from this i will be back down to see the transplant team with a view to going back on t the list.

hope everyone doing ok.

bye for now

chrisb