What are you all up to
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OH had a private appointment yesterday for ear wax removal. No longer done by GP’s around here. We have been doing a week of Olive oil drops beforehand to soften said wax. He has been getting progressively more and more deaf, I’m getting tired of shouting all the time and it’s unpleasant having the TV on so loud! Fortunately it has worked in one ear but the other ear needs a bit more work, as impacted too near the ear drum for a safe removal, at least things have improved a little. Good luck with your hearing test next week Nellie.
That was one of our appointments last week, heddlo, and we are the same with it not being done at the surgery. I just hope that the next set of test will give me a good indication of what I might need, although reading other posts it seems as if many give up using the aids they purchase so perhaps I might just not bother with them, should they not be an absolute necessity.
Tda, enjoy your night out. Hope that your OH 's audio test give you the results you are hoping for!!😊
Francis, hope you get your van sorted out in time for your next trip away.0 -
"…posts it seems as if many give up using the aids they purchase so perhaps I might just not bother with them, should they not be an absolute necessity."
Nellie, if you go for private aids, I recommend searching out a truly independent supplier. It seems all the high street audiologists are hand in glove with manufacturers and may not have access to all brands/models of aids and may push certain brands at you. I found NHS aids helped but they were clumpy and didn’t perform all that well. I’ve had my privately supplied aids for 2 years now and they turned my life around. Not only do they help the wearer but make life less frustrating for those around us.
I found my independent supplier by contacting the website linked below and you can read loads of useful info there too. In my opinion, if you need aids, go for it. 👍🏻
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Oh No, Millie. Really sorry to read this. Recently had my shingles jab.... have to have another one in 6 months. Lets hope the shingles jab has made it a little better than it otherwise would have been. Best wishes to you and to you OH for a speedy recovery.
David
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I know I have some minor hearing loss in my left ear, but can't imagine wearing aids. I can't even wear earbuds. When listening with ear/headphones, I always have to use uver ear headphones.... can't stand things in my ears!! All the best with it Nellie...
David
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Millie - sorry to hear you're feeling unwell - Ros had it a few years ago and I know how miserable she felt - here's to a speedy recovery. Well done WN - a big step forward and you, rightly so, must be feeling very pleased. David (DSB), surprised to hear you have to go for another shingles jab in six months. I had mine a couple of months ago and was told it's a 'once in a lifetime' jab - or have I got it wrong?
Decided to pack up and go home a day early from Bridlington, today. It's a bit miserable here - very exposed and wind blowing hard but we've got 47mph winds forecast for tomorrow and even though it's not far to home, seems sensible to avoid towing in those sort of winds. Think we might have fun getting the awning down!
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Well done WN, so good to hear that you are one more step on the road to recovery. Millie sorry to hear that you have shingles, not nice. I’ve had it twice and it really does take it out of you, couldn’t wait to get my jab for this. You seem very fortunate with your GP, our practice hasn’t made a Home Visit for anyone in 20 years. When I was very ill in bed with a chest infection last year the Critical Care Team at our Drs phoned insisting that I needed to be admitted straight away to hospital, OH said he had never heard me refuse anything so vehemently. I was never even seen by our GP or even a nurse, just prescribed lots of antibiotics, no wonder Devon hospitals say they can no longer cope.
We went for a day out to Exeter yesterday. It was free to visit the Cathedral as they were doing extensive work to lay new heating pipes, so we took advantage of that. We visited the Christmas market, which was nice. Bought lunch from one of the food stalls, a nice ‘French’ style lunch and we found a space at one of the trellis tables in the marquee and had a chat with various other diners. The apple juice mulled drink was lovely, I’ve never thought of making that before.
Back to leaf clearing of our garden today, two large green bins already filled and more to come.
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Can't answer that. But my brother, who hit 65 in October, was told by his GP practice that he wasn't eligible 🤣🤣🤣.
I did look at the NHS page, but I can't remember because I don't think I'm going to have it - see my earlier post
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I have no idea how they work it out. I asked about shingles vacc for Mum. Not eligible apparently……she’s 94.🤷♀️
Great night last night, very funny. If she makes it into Parliament, I might start watching Parliament TV🤣
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Something similar happened to me. They started doing those who were 70 after a certain date and those who were 80, I just missed on the being 70 date. Then the next year it was those who turned 71, and those who were 79, so I missed out again. And so it went on till they met in the middle and I finally qualified at 75.
I believe there are limits on supplies, and the vaccine is expensive, so cannot do everyone immediately.
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I too was surprised to read David's (DSB) post as well as both of us were told that shingles was a once in a lifetime jab. I have come to the conclusion that no-one, not even the GP surgeries, know who is eligible for the jab but I do know of a number of people who have been told that once you are 80 you are not eligible.
Interesting post David K . I didn't realise that those cows we see are not the original ones. That sounds a very interesting museum
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Only had my shingles jab a couple of weeks ago, Millie, and was told I needed a follow up jab in 6 months. Perhaps, as KjellNN says, there are different vaccines requiring different protocols? I've definitely put it in my diary to follow it up..... I think out local GP practice and hospital must get fed up with me. If they say I need a 6th months appointment for something and I haven't heard, I'm on the phone to them.... 🤣🤣
David
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NHS hearing aids have come on in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years. Mine are blue tooth enabled which is brilliant when using the phone - just one push of any button on the top of the aid and you are away. As long as the phone is within say 15 ft, handsfree conversation is easy.
Regarding DSB's comment about nothing liking something in your ear, I can honestly say I don't even notice them.
The Shingles criteria is easy if you just assume that the NHS can only afford/manage 2 years of pateients every year so 65 and 70 this year, next year will be this years 64 year old and this years 69 years old. Very soon those aged 66 - 69 will all be vaccinated.
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Yes, I wondered if somehow she was too old.
We came up against the postcode lottery that can be Clinical Commissioning a fortnight ago. A chat with Doctor gave us hope that some of the expensive food supplements we buy for Mum might be available on prescription (I add that she’s on no other medicines bar Lansoprazole, so we aren’t being greedy). He thought they might be, but when dietician phoned us, he said no, our area CCG don’t prescribe them, not even for Cancer patients. Six mile away, Sheffield area, they do. Luckily, it’s no big deal for Mum, we can buy them, but goodness knows how some folks go on. I suppose the GP groups have to prioritise their patients needs in their particular area.
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NHS aids are also subject to the postcode lottery described by TDA depending on what your health trust prescribes. The sophistication of them can also vary according to individual hearing loss and specific needs.
My privately purchased aids link to my phone as you describe and will also Bluetooth connect to other devices. The phone connection is brilliant as is adjusting the settings via the app. A far cry from my NHS offerings.
I also find the receiver sitting in the ear canal unnoticeable in wear - the rest of the gubbins sits behind the ear - but I can understand having the whole thing in the ear is likely to cause a bunged up feeling.
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I suspect OH will be deep into the vagaries of some sort of hearing aid search after his hearing test in December. He’ll look at all sorts of options.
We booked a lovely cottage in Wales yesterday, not far from Caernarfon. A whole week to ourselves hopefully. The castles are open, we have one or two houses in mind to visit, and hopefully will get up into the mountain areas, as well as some beaches, for a bit of walking. Getting a flyer on the evening before, booked a Travelodge for a night, so we can get bulk of drive over early, enjoy a look around somewhere on our first day before we get to cottage. £38 for Travelodge, bargain👍
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Point him towards the hearing aid website I linked to yesterday, TDA. I found it to be a real eye opener.👍🏻
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This i think is appalling, we had same problems re energy drinks for OH when she was discharged after having had a stroke, the hospital gave her a perscription for the drinks, 2 cartoons per day.
We continued to get these via perscription for approx 2 months, then, i strolled down to the pharmacy to collect the drinks, no drinks, pharmacy contacted surgery, no perscription, i rang the doctor and was told that there was no money in the budget to fund high energy drinks, ok, you can buy on Amazon at approx £30 per month, which is what we now do, but OH only takes 1 pill for BP, and one for cholesterol, makes my blood boil when i see what others get FOC just because they are on Universal Credit or similar, suprised they dont get their ciggies on perscription.
Beautiful day today, once the sun popped out, had a good ride out on my bike, very blustery and cold in the shade, the Spitfire was doing his sorties over the IOW and Stokes bay, at £2k per pop too expensive for me, this was him waiting to take off
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Millie
We were surprised how comprehensive the Museum was. We have driven past it, probably hundreds of times over the years. On our travels we quite like local museums as they can be fascinating. I think it was last year we visited the Sheringham Museum and was surprised to learn that the town had listening stations linked to Bletchley Park. I suspect with the Concrete Cows they were never designed to last for getting on for 50 years? They became so associated with MK, both good and bad, they have become part of the place. Whatever people might think of them they certainly got people talking about Milton Keynes. and that, of course, was the whole idea!
David
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My best friend (whose husband died just before Christmas) arrived round this afternoon with her 'Meals on Wheels'. She had made a cottage pie for us. Such a lovely surprise. I was just wondering what I had the energy to make for tea.
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Thanks for the information, TW, I will certainly follow your advice should it be deemed that I really do need them.👍
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How wonderful. A true friend.
Hope you're resting or at least slowing?
It's jolly hard I know from personal experience....
Our carpets have all been fitted, wardrobe arrives tomorrow. And I've been on a go slow for a couple of weeks. Took some getting used to but I could like it 🤣. I think that's it. Plumber still unable to work so refits look likely to be well into the new year. That really will be everything done 🤞🤞🤞
Been glorious here today, very mild. So pottered in the garden, think it's ready for winter now.
Sparrowhawk visited Tuesday morning. Revisited Wednesday. I was by the bins and wondered what all the starlings moved so fast for. They shook the hedge, there are generally lots at feeding time 75-100. Plus lots sparrows. Heard terrific screaming, one starling had been caught 😪. Clapped my hands and it was released - phew. Mind you it was a beautiful bird and it needs to eat but not my birds.....
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Thanks for your good wishes, David.
Hope that you managed to get your awning down without any mishap and that you got home safely, R&R. It's a shame that you have had to cut short your stay but better safe than sorry.
Glad you thoroughly enjoyed the show last night,tda, and I hope you have a good time during your stay over in West Wales.
It was very good of neighbour dropping off an evening meal for you both, Millie, and I hope you are both feeling a little better.
Glad to read that nearly all of you jobs are complete, B2, you certainly deserve a well earned rest now.
Not a lot going on at home, a little gardening during the odd period of fine weather but they don't last overlong before the rain comes back. Hopefully the next two days should be fine and we might get out Grizedale Forest for a good walk.
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Took brother to hospital for an MRI scan. He was lucky to get an appointment within 2 weeks of his consultant request.
We are off to North Norfolk in the van tomorrow and just hope the weather behaves, Been a nice day although the wind is starting to increase in strength.
Anyone else out on the road this weekend go carefully
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Thanks NTH - back home safely. Was very windy when we took the awning down but with a bit of pre-planning we got it down without incident. Don't know what's going on with the weather here - according to the BBC forecast (if that's to be believed!), winds in Hornsea today are due to reach no more than 23mph - but Flamborough is showing almost 50! - and it's less than 20 miles away as the crow flies. Weird??
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Another day, another gig. This time it's Seth Lakeman at Kendal Brewery Arts Centre, so no overnight stay. And yesterday I booked tickets for a gig 12 months away - Bellowhead! They split up in 2016 and returned for a "one off" tour last year. We were gutted that we couldn't go because of my husband's degenerating hip. But maybe they miss us as much as we miss them and they're back on the road again next Autumn.
Something to look forward to in these unceratin times.
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I agree Goldie. Nice to start filling up a calendar of events early. We booked to see Bill Bailey last night. Decided against Sting, tickets that are left are very expensive, and we have seen him three times previously.
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Arrived back home today after 10 weeks away. We've covered just short of 5000 miles France, Spain and Portugal.
Weather varied from 31c to torrential rain and gale force winds. Thankfully the bad weather was only for about a week. We did however leave Portugal 2 weeks earlier than planned because of the bad weather.
The places we liked best was Galicia and the Picos mountains.
Sites were busy in most places but none full. Spain was very busy with German vans, every site had many already set up for the winter. We saw less Norwegian and Swedish vans than in the past and hardly saw a British van.
Our journey back through France last weekend was wonderful, the weather was perfect. The same can be said about our journey up from Portsmouth this week, lovely sunshine all the way.
Van now unpacked of most things, I have a mountain of washing to do and food shopping tomorrow but it's nice to be back home, even if it is freezing cold. ☺️
Will catch up with what's been going on over the next few days. Have a good weekend all.
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