WWYD Trying to get well enough to access help

[Intothe]

I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms but that's the position I find myself in.

I'm very unwell physically, but the only way I can access help is to go to a clinic which is about a 35 minute journey. 20 mins bus, 5 mins waiting, 10 mins walking uphill. I have severe diarrhoea, nausea, exhaustion etc. The alternative is the hospital, which is about a 50 minute walk (if you're walking at a sprightly pace).

I'm also supposed to go in for tests related to treatment but have been too unwell to go, so they've now left a voice message saying that if I don't go in, they'll have to cancel me off the list.

What on earth do I do, short of shitting on myself on my way for the tests? I'm already in my overdraft, and I literally can't afford taxis everywhere. It's about a 3 mile walk to the hospital.

A nurse came out and said they would try to organise help for me, but I need to try to do stuff myself. So today I've tried to clean flat, but am now crippled with diarrhoea and cramping. Also out of breath and tired and want to cry!

It's almost like the nurse that comes out thinks that I'm lying about my pain/illness. So I don't think she's going to help me. Should I just ring the hospital and say to cancel the tests as I can't make it?

WWYD?

I'm past caring tbh. I can't sleep. They're all stressing me out.

Can't they send an ambulance or community car?

Not something they've suggested, no.

If you are on a low income or physically ill you may be entitled to hospital transport

Could you ask on your local FB page if anyone is going that way and could give you a lift?

ring and ask?

that would be the sensible thing rather than continuously cancelling surely?

Is the diarrhoea qnd nausea related to your illness or medication or do you think you might have a stomach bug. Without prying what help are you looking for.

You need to ask about hospital transport or enquire about community transport such as the schemes run by the Royal Voluntary Service - much cheaper than a taxi.

How important are the tests? Will the tests lead to a diagnosis/ treatment that will help you get better? How much would you need to spend on taxis to get these tests completed? Would it be worth extending your overdraft to get the tests done and hopefully get a diagnosis and treatment? Or make the difficult journey a few times to get the tests completed?

What do the doctors think your diagnosis could be?

Other options I can think of

• enquire about hospital transport
• phone the PALS department and ask if any charity/ low cost transport to the hospital
• ask someone for a lift
• ask on local fb group if anyone can give you a lift (I have seen people ask this before)
• borrow money from friends/ family
• do the bus and walking option and take changes of clothes, babywipes and plastic bags to be prepared if you have diarrhoea, wear double/ triple pants to stop leakage onto trousers
• take immodium prior to setting off (if this is safe with whatever conditions you are being investigated for obviously)

The D&V is related to the illness and some treatment.

I suppose the tests are life and death if they turn out the wrong way.

I would bring baby wipes and clean myself up but I can be crippled with pain and there would be nowhere to clean shit off myself. That suggestion is a non-runner.

I'll ring tomorrow and just say I can't make it at the moment and she can delete me off the list if that's what she needs to do.

TBH, I'm scared of the tests so I'd rather find an excuse not to go anyway!

sounds awful I work in a doctor's surgery and the hospitals do arrange transport but it is arranged for a certain criteria/ illness ect but I would ring and see if they could take you on this situation. The other option and it's not very nice but you can get incontinence pads proper ones that elderly Incontinent people use the district nurses arrange them usually would that be an option just so you could have your tests ? Could the doctor give anything to stop it just for the day of the tests?

If you look under the NHS help page under arranging hospital transport the info there may be of help.

Poor you. It sounds miserable. You could call them in the morning for advice and see if they can either arrange transport or delay the appointment if that's what you want. Does your g.p practice have volunteer drivers. I hope you're ok.

I'm sure there's an answer OP. The answer isn't just to not go. You really need a diagnosis and proper treatment. (My ex used to get hospital transport to go for dialysis).

OP you need support so you can access treatment (whether you want it is of course another matter!).

I have family members who have had bowel cancer, and all that entails. I understand how embarrassing it is to not have control over your bowels. How utterly exhausting it is, and how you feel awful to have to even ask for help.

If you need treatment, and you cannot access it because of your illness, please talk to PALS.

I wish you strength to deal with this.

Were none of the suggestions given here last week when you posted helpful?

Not sure what helpful posts you're talking about as I haven't posted about this issue before. But thanks for the troll-hunting.