After getting repeat prescriptions the last couple of times, I had to go and see the doctor this time in order to get more meds; I still have about 2 weeks' supply left, but I'm going to spend time with my family as of tomorrow, so I needed to go.
Anyway, it turns out that I was supposed to have a psychiatrist's appointment a week orso ago, but I don't think I ever got a letter about it, so obviously I didn't go. Apparently I've been referred to the "Continuing Needs Team", which means I should get a nurse or social worker visiting me. I won't be able to do anything about that until I get back home though, of course, and I hope nothing's arranged in my absence.
The appointment was otherwise unremarkable; I felt a bit awkward when questioned about my social life and having to reveal that it's more than somewhat lacking, but that was the only bad point. I got given a different kind of preventer medication for my asthma, but I forget which kind, and I also got some antihistamines to help with my hayfever.
For a change, the chemist had all the medication in stock. I didn't get anything else while I was there; I was tempted by an ioniser, but I have nowhere really to put it, and I was looking at some weight loss stuff too but decided against that as well.
All in all it was fairly unremarkable, but I like to record the visits here regardless. Hopefully I'll have some good news about a nurse or social worker in the near future.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
day after
So, while I'll probably detail it over on LJ, my birthday (yesterday) went pretty well, and there was nice weather and everything to boot.
Today, however, it's rained heavily, I've felt in a fairly low mood for a lot of the day, and to top it off I managed to lose my free travel pass; I'm pretty sure I must have dropped it in the supermarket, but by the time I realised I was on the other side of town finishing some food, and about to get a tram. Because I had heavy bags and was tired, along with my back causing me pain, I didn't feel like trekking all the way back over there on the off-chance someone had found it.
I just got off the phone with the transport authority and they say I need to go to the travel centre in town and take down proof of my date of birth (like my passport), proof of my address (such as a bill) and a passport photo, and they'll arrange for a replacement to be sent out. Means I'll probably need to get more photos done, as I think I used up all the ones I got last time, and that was a fair while ago anyway.
It's a real annoyance as it means until I get the replacement I have to pay for travel, and it's not exactly cheap -- about £2.50 to get in and out of town, and more than that if I want to go to Meadowhall or something. It's such a small thing though, and even if someone found it in the supermarket (if that was where I dropped it at all) I don't know if they'd hand it in. Blah.
Today, however, it's rained heavily, I've felt in a fairly low mood for a lot of the day, and to top it off I managed to lose my free travel pass; I'm pretty sure I must have dropped it in the supermarket, but by the time I realised I was on the other side of town finishing some food, and about to get a tram. Because I had heavy bags and was tired, along with my back causing me pain, I didn't feel like trekking all the way back over there on the off-chance someone had found it.
I just got off the phone with the transport authority and they say I need to go to the travel centre in town and take down proof of my date of birth (like my passport), proof of my address (such as a bill) and a passport photo, and they'll arrange for a replacement to be sent out. Means I'll probably need to get more photos done, as I think I used up all the ones I got last time, and that was a fair while ago anyway.
It's a real annoyance as it means until I get the replacement I have to pay for travel, and it's not exactly cheap -- about £2.50 to get in and out of town, and more than that if I want to go to Meadowhall or something. It's such a small thing though, and even if someone found it in the supermarket (if that was where I dropped it at all) I don't know if they'd hand it in. Blah.
Friday, 23 May 2008
under review
I dropped off a form for a repeat prescription at my doctor's on Wednesday -- the doc I usually see isn't back in the surgery until next Tuesday, and my meds were due to run out today -- and went to pick it up earlier on. When I went to get the prescription, I was told that I needed to have my medication reviewed, and an asthma checkup -- the former, it was implied, would be necessary before I could get another prescription, and the latter was something I'd had a letter about anyway.
Now, this isn't too big a deal as I now have (barring one thing that I'll need to pick up from the chemist next week) two months' supply of meds, and so all I need do is go and see my doctor sometime before they run out, and the same with the asthma check. I don't think either is hugely necessary, but then I'm not the expert.
In my apartment complex, we have to have all gas appliances (in my case only the boiler) checked for safety once a year. On my way out to get the prescription, I saw a note they'd put through the door as I'd evidently missed them; I got a letter yesterday saying someone would come to do the check today, but I must not have heard the knock. Fortunately, as I was coming back home, I bumped into one of the people who were doing the checks, and asked him to come to my apartment. It only took about 25 minutes, and now the boiler's fixed -- it wasn't working for some reason, but this was only due to a loose wire -- and repressurised, so I'll have no problem getting hot water/heating for the foreseeable future.
Now, this isn't too big a deal as I now have (barring one thing that I'll need to pick up from the chemist next week) two months' supply of meds, and so all I need do is go and see my doctor sometime before they run out, and the same with the asthma check. I don't think either is hugely necessary, but then I'm not the expert.
In my apartment complex, we have to have all gas appliances (in my case only the boiler) checked for safety once a year. On my way out to get the prescription, I saw a note they'd put through the door as I'd evidently missed them; I got a letter yesterday saying someone would come to do the check today, but I must not have heard the knock. Fortunately, as I was coming back home, I bumped into one of the people who were doing the checks, and asked him to come to my apartment. It only took about 25 minutes, and now the boiler's fixed -- it wasn't working for some reason, but this was only due to a loose wire -- and repressurised, so I'll have no problem getting hot water/heating for the foreseeable future.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
well done emergency dental service
So, I was eating my lunch a couple of hours ago, and suddenly I got a severe pain in the back of my jaw on the left side, though I couldn't tell whether it was on the upper or lower teeth. It was to the extent that it made me feel shaky and nauseated from how painful it was, and I went to lie down.
After a while, I called NHS Direct -- basically a care line for if something comes up and you don't know what to do -- and they gave me a number for an emergency dental service. I called them and gave some details, and they said someone would call me back within an hour.
When they called back, I was asked for a few more details, then told I needed to go to the hospital at 6:30. I was then asked if I was driving or getting a lift; when I explained I couldn't drive and didn't know anyone with a car, I was more or less told to f--- off.
I don't have enough money for a taxi, and they basically dismissed me as I couldn't travel by car. I was told, instead, to just keep taking painkillers and to see a dentist tomorrow. The point here is that I don't have a dentist here, and as I don't really know the street names it's difficult for me to find one anywhere locally. And that's not to mention the idea of going to a dentist and getting any work done is pretty scary to me.
The pain has subsided to an ache -- it's no longer giving me nausea or shakes -- so I can at least manage. It's also brought back some memories; years ago, when Matt and I were together and he lived with me, at one point he had really bad toothache for quite a long time -- at least several days, though I think it was substantially more than that; he's severely phobic of dentists -- and I'm worried that the same might befall me.
After a while, I called NHS Direct -- basically a care line for if something comes up and you don't know what to do -- and they gave me a number for an emergency dental service. I called them and gave some details, and they said someone would call me back within an hour.
When they called back, I was asked for a few more details, then told I needed to go to the hospital at 6:30. I was then asked if I was driving or getting a lift; when I explained I couldn't drive and didn't know anyone with a car, I was more or less told to f--- off.
I don't have enough money for a taxi, and they basically dismissed me as I couldn't travel by car. I was told, instead, to just keep taking painkillers and to see a dentist tomorrow. The point here is that I don't have a dentist here, and as I don't really know the street names it's difficult for me to find one anywhere locally. And that's not to mention the idea of going to a dentist and getting any work done is pretty scary to me.
The pain has subsided to an ache -- it's no longer giving me nausea or shakes -- so I can at least manage. It's also brought back some memories; years ago, when Matt and I were together and he lived with me, at one point he had really bad toothache for quite a long time -- at least several days, though I think it was substantially more than that; he's severely phobic of dentists -- and I'm worried that the same might befall me.
Monday, 28 January 2008
doc's and benefits
I went to the doc's today as the standard bi-monthly thing, and that went pretty well. Last time I got my prescription, they didn't have the 15mg size of Olanzapine that I usually take; instead, I got separate lots of 10mg and 5mg. It made things easier taking one in the morning and one at night, so I asked the doctor to prescribe it that way instead. I also got some more Valium (diazepam) to help with panic attacks and suchlike -- enough so I could have one every other day, as it happens -- as well as a 100-pack of painkillers. (It's a good job I'm not a suicide risk.) I also talked about a few other problems I've been having, but it's nothing I want to elaborate on here.
Also, I had a letter through recently from the benefit agency saying that the amount I get will change. It was worded very confusingly, so I had to call up and find out what the situation was. I mentioned elsewhere about them taking £16 a week out of my money to pay the debt to the electricity company; this letter said that from the 9th of April, I'd be getting what looked to be a lesser amount, from which I assumed the £16 would be docked. It turns out that, in fact, this is the sum I'll receive after the payment has been taken out, leaving me about a tenner a week better off.
The last thing to mention is that I got a letter this morning from the community mental health service, to which my GP referred me some time ago. I called up, and they've said they'll send me an appointment in the post; if it's not convenient, I can call and rearrange it. The main problem now is how I'm going to get there; it's possible, I suppose, that I could get a taxi or whatever, but other than that, I have little to no knowledge of how to get there by public transport -- and I don't know anyone who can give me a lift.
Also, I had a letter through recently from the benefit agency saying that the amount I get will change. It was worded very confusingly, so I had to call up and find out what the situation was. I mentioned elsewhere about them taking £16 a week out of my money to pay the debt to the electricity company; this letter said that from the 9th of April, I'd be getting what looked to be a lesser amount, from which I assumed the £16 would be docked. It turns out that, in fact, this is the sum I'll receive after the payment has been taken out, leaving me about a tenner a week better off.
The last thing to mention is that I got a letter this morning from the community mental health service, to which my GP referred me some time ago. I called up, and they've said they'll send me an appointment in the post; if it's not convenient, I can call and rearrange it. The main problem now is how I'm going to get there; it's possible, I suppose, that I could get a taxi or whatever, but other than that, I have little to no knowledge of how to get there by public transport -- and I don't know anyone who can give me a lift.
Saturday, 5 January 2008
twitch
For a while now I've been experiencing a bit of a problem, though it's only of late that it's become prevalent enough to really concern me. It's not like a nervous tic or anything, but I keep finding myself fidgeting uncontrollably; most often I'm tapping my feet or hands to a rhythm, not necessarily one I can actually hear, or to a count of numbers.
It happens most often when I'm sitting or lying down for a long time, such as when watching a film or trying to sleep, no matter how much I might otherwise be occupied with other things that are going on contemporaneously, or how much energy I have.
Lately, it's got to the point where getting to sleep is a problem, and a number of people have commented on it; clearly it's not only my concentration that's affected. I'm worried about it, but I don't know what to do; I guess I'll have to mention it to the doctor, though as it seems to be a subconscious thing I'm not sure how much can be done to remedy it.
It happens most often when I'm sitting or lying down for a long time, such as when watching a film or trying to sleep, no matter how much I might otherwise be occupied with other things that are going on contemporaneously, or how much energy I have.
Lately, it's got to the point where getting to sleep is a problem, and a number of people have commented on it; clearly it's not only my concentration that's affected. I'm worried about it, but I don't know what to do; I guess I'll have to mention it to the doctor, though as it seems to be a subconscious thing I'm not sure how much can be done to remedy it.
Wednesday, 19 December 2007
recovery
Despite thinking (as of my previous post) that I was feeling better for not taking the olanzapine, after about 10 days without it, I started to feel the worst I have in years. I didn't initially attribute this to not having the drug, as I'd felt so good for stopping it; I assumed there must be some other cause. However, this persisted for over a week, and left me often unable to even leave the house, let alone get anything done -- like see the doctor to find out what might be wrong.
Yesterday I managed to summon up the energy to go to the chemist and pick up the missed part of my prescription, and I took a dose as soon as I got home. Almost immediately I began to feel very tired, and went to sleep for a long time.
I was in and out of sleep from yesterday late afternoon until this morning, but I've been consistently feeling very much better, and I think I should be able to make it to town today; usually I go in on a Tuesday, when the benefit gets paid into my account, but I didn't feel up to it.
I had the option to see the doctor yesterday, but the only available appointment was at 5:30pm, and I didn't really want to take the long-ish walk back up there again, having already been to the chemist which is right next door -- especially given that it was very cold yesterday, and by that time it would be pitch dark. Seeing as I feel almost completely recovered, it doesn't seem like it would have been necessary anyway.
My theory, which is based on a little medical knowledge, a lot of internet research and some logical inference, is thus: the medicine regulates some kind of mood-controlling chemical in the brain, and stopping taking it caused an overflow of that chemical, causing me to feel on top of the world for a period of time. However, once that had gone, there wasn't enough left to maintain equilibrium and I was left feeling very bad. Taking the medicine again, I imagine, has re-regulated the flow of this chemical, meaning that my mood is neither over-the-top and manic, nor extremely depressive. It's a happy medium, more-or-less, though with a degree of blunted affect.
Yesterday I managed to summon up the energy to go to the chemist and pick up the missed part of my prescription, and I took a dose as soon as I got home. Almost immediately I began to feel very tired, and went to sleep for a long time.
I was in and out of sleep from yesterday late afternoon until this morning, but I've been consistently feeling very much better, and I think I should be able to make it to town today; usually I go in on a Tuesday, when the benefit gets paid into my account, but I didn't feel up to it.
I had the option to see the doctor yesterday, but the only available appointment was at 5:30pm, and I didn't really want to take the long-ish walk back up there again, having already been to the chemist which is right next door -- especially given that it was very cold yesterday, and by that time it would be pitch dark. Seeing as I feel almost completely recovered, it doesn't seem like it would have been necessary anyway.
My theory, which is based on a little medical knowledge, a lot of internet research and some logical inference, is thus: the medicine regulates some kind of mood-controlling chemical in the brain, and stopping taking it caused an overflow of that chemical, causing me to feel on top of the world for a period of time. However, once that had gone, there wasn't enough left to maintain equilibrium and I was left feeling very bad. Taking the medicine again, I imagine, has re-regulated the flow of this chemical, meaning that my mood is neither over-the-top and manic, nor extremely depressive. It's a happy medium, more-or-less, though with a degree of blunted affect.
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