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20 February 2012

Posted by DMC on 21 February 2012 in Diary |

I have a new problem and I hate mentioning it as I feel as though I’m always complaining about something, however this one is getting a little serious. It’s all to do with the cushion in my NHS lounger. I think the flesh on my backside has virtually disappeared and I find myself sitting on two bones from eight o’clock in the morning until nine o’clock at night. Although we have taken to relieving this pressure by hoisting up at lunchtime and briefly at six o’clock, there are still a number of hours in between when this can be extremely uncomfortable. Accordingly, I have chased my Occupational Therapist to see if I could get one of those Roho cushions which are customised, through a computer reading, to an individual’s backside. I have one fitted on my wheelchair and I must say it is very successful.

The soft rubber cushion I have on the chair at present is fine for a few hours but towards the evening I find myself getting very uncomfortable and there is no excuse for that with all the wonderful equipment they have today to make patients feel as comfortable as possible. I telephoned my occupational therapist and from the conversation you might get the impression that I’m the first person who sits all day in one of these NHS loungers. In other words, she was not very conversant with alternative cushions and when I told her I thought I needed something like the one in my wheelchair, which I do find comfortable, she suggested that I perhaps spend a couple of hours a day in that. With the greatest respect, not a very useful suggestion. Apart from anything else, although the cushion is comfortable, you certainly cannot relax in a wheelchair and it would mean being hoisted out of my normal chair into the wheelchair and then back again at the end of the two-hour session. Who did she expect to do this.? Not a very practical suggestion. Anyway, she’s agreed to look into the Roho cushion. for me.

Yesterday, I discovered amongst all of my papers, that I had an envelope containing book tokens. One with a credit card at Waterstones’ and another one for £40 at Amazon. I went onto the Waterstones’ site and bought four books. I got onto the customer services division and explained that I was severely disabled and, in particular he could not write and add no use of my hands and they were very helpful and talked me through the whole process. I must say I find the business and reading books on my laptop, easy and enjoyable. I use the Kindle software which is free, and this enables me to change the font size and to turn over the pages orally.

Harriet, the head of Ross Nursing popped in this morning for a cup of coffee and a chat. It’s her new thing. She has decided to spend more time going around chatting to her clients to ensure that they are getting the service they want rather than spending her time doing the administration. I think this is a very good idea as one can diplomatically then sort out any little wrinkles in the service. Lovely though most of the girls are ,there certainly are one or two who are a bit dithering and nervous. – I expect it’s me who makes them so – but I suggested to Harrietit would be better for the clients if we could stick pretty well to the same people, at least, for the two key calls, the one first thing in the morning and the six call in the evening when I’m prepared for bed. Apart from the early morning call the other three seem to be serendipity, sometimes someone turning up who has never been here before, or perhaps only once, which means we have to take them through the process. Harriet took that on board and I believe will do something about it.

After that catalogue of misery, click here for some classical British humour.

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4 Comments

  • Christine from BC says:

    You go ahead and moan all you like, after all it is YOUR blog. If you didn’t moan occasionally we would think you were living in the lap of luxury with no problems at all……

    I am very sure your moans are useful/instructive to those with similar problems.

    Being an ex-nurse it surprises me you have not had rear-end problems before now with all the prolonged sitting you must endure. Hopefully someone will come up with the required product. Maybe you will have to do “the rounds” as you did with the bed cradle even though we all know you shouldn’t have to do all that! Hmmm

  • DMC says:

    Thanks Christine. Sage advice as usual. I’m on the case for a cradle but I am dealing with my fifth contact todate.

    Best wishes

    , Mark

  • Penny de Quincey says:

    Hello Mark
    Stuart has a cushion and a mattress topper called REPOSE. They come in a tube and the tube is used to inflate them. They are like a lilo (remember them?)I imagine you have come across them, but if not your OT can get it for you…….it’s an anti-pressure product. The TV sounds like a great idea, and I hope you can get comfortable enough to make use of it. Most things worth watching are on at 9.00….Stuart and I have the same problem.

  • DMC says:

    Penny

    Following receipt of your comment I contacted my occupational therapist. She said this is more to do with our District Nurse, who would get in touch with me. She had not heard of REPOSE but we do have similar anti-pressure products here. For example, on my wheelchair I have a ROHO cushion which is filled with air bubbles to different pressures calculated by computer after I had sat on it. I imagine they will be able to produce something similar for my lounger

    When I was in hospital after breaking my leg. They put me onto an air mattress, as you say like a lilo but the problem was, I felt as though I was glued down and could not move a muscle. It drove me crazy. so I got them to change it for a traditional mattress at 2 AM in the morning. Can Stuart turnover on his?

    The idea of the TV in the bedroom is Alice’s idea and she thinks it will be much more relaxing for me to settle down at 630 and then we can watch things that go on after 9.00, although I have my doubts as to whether I will be able to make myself comfortable in bed, sitting up, wearing the respirator. We will just have to try and see. Presumably Stuart is not presently on a respirator? How is he doing generally?

    Best wishes

    Mark

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