About me section


Hi, my name is Paul, I’m 26 and I have CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demylinating Polyneuropathy). This blog will try to document my symptoms, progression and treatment from start to finish, along with my frequent encounters with the NHS in both West Yorkshire and south Wales. This blog is an attempt to keep you and more importantly me entertained on this ongoing, ruddy bumpy, uncomfortable and often frustrating journey.

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This is me. Mid way through the Yorkshire 3 peaks in July 2012. 13 miles down, 13 more to go! (Not at all demoralised)

I can honestly say, my feet have never ached so much in my entire life! But from this I hope you can tell I was just like everyone else; reasonably fit, happy, quite outdoorsy and a keen angler (A link to my other blog Paul on Coarse Fishing can be found here). Now, I’m considerably less fit, still happy (with a few moody bouts), generally house bound (unless I break the Zimmer out) and it’s been well over a year since I’ve wet a line. If you’ve read this far you’re probably either aware of what CIDP is or are thinking “what on earth is this guy on about?” If either of those are the case, you’re committed, and I’m about to begin the story from the beginning...

7 August 2013

Occupational Health and other adventures...


On the advice of Debbie Jackson I booked an appointment to see Occupational Health. Apparently there isn’t anything that can’t be organised from Robin Lane Surgery. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this chap, and sadly after my first (and only) encounter, it wasn’t a great deal.

 
I had hoped that I would receive some advice on what may be entitled too. The prospect of taking time off meant a severe tightening of ones belt. Most importantly I wanted to know that I could make ends meet. I think I got the context of the meeting wrong because on arrival my partner and I were greeted by this chap, who was helpful but seemed very keen on find out where my employer could fall down if they didn’t accommodate my return to work. There was a medical student in the room too who very briefly filled him in on the nature of Guillian-Barre (which he had never heard off) and what effects and recovery time scale I was looking at.
 
I did explain that I could work (in a very limited capacity) but it would have to be from home, as the progression of my symptoms now made everyday tasks a time consuming chore. I was also concerned that I may prove to be a bit of a liability in work, as my frequent stumbling meant that I was regularly on the floor. The prospect of falling over in work did embarrassing to me. After much “tooing and froing” we left the meeting knowing no more than we did when we entered. I began to get a slight sinking feeling, as all I wanted was help and advice but didn’t much of either. It was also re-iterated that my option of working from home could only be facilitated by the agreement of my employer. Time off to recuperate with no “distractions” seemed to be the only way forward. Which meant the spreadsheets and budgets had to be drawn up quick-sharp to avoid any potential financial pitfalls.

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