After two months off I'm taking my first faltering steps back into blogging. I wrote previously that I would return only when we had made progress with Mrs Carr diagnosis and treatment. I am breaking my word but I feel if I didn't return soon I would never do so. Therefore, I will try to blog occasionally and just see how things go. If there is an adverse effect on the family I will stop immediately.
Little has changed for Mrs Carr other than her eating disorder (ED) treatment starts this month. This might seem like major progress but the ED, we are certain, is only a symptom of a much greater and deeper issue and treating the ED without a proper diagnosis of the other issues could lead to a worsening of her condition. Hopefully, the treatment centre will realise this too.
Every day is a struggle but her fabulous counsellor is a magnificent help and early this year we hope to get some additional support from Social Services and voluntary organisations. How much, we'll have to wait and see.
Our Health board is either immensely inefficient or is playing silly buggers: we have waited more than 3 months and still there is no reply to our MSP's second letter. Their first reply took 6 weeks but 3 months ..... When our MSP returns I think I'm going to ask her to up the stakes a bit - whatever that is. Might be involving the appropriate Ombudsman or going to the press.
I wouldn't wish Mrs Carr's illness on anyone but there are times, I must admit, when I wish some of those who have been unhelpful - to say the least - suffered for long enough to realise the torture they are putting us through. Those politicians holding the purse-strings who deny adequate funding to mental health could also do with a short dose of her symptoms.
Would there be a change in attitude? You bet - unless, of course, they managed to beat the queues imposed on ordinary mortals. That couldn't happen, could it? That would be corrupt!
7 comments:
Glad that you are back. I have missed your posts. And, this one is right on. If you didn't see it, I posted a few days back about a fellow named Jim Hightower. He is a progressive who calls out those in power. And, one of his wishes for the coming year sounded a lot like your post. He wished that all of our politicians would be forced to have the health care and pay of the "average" American rather than what they get as civil servants.
And, I agree. That would most definitely give folks a different perspective.
I hear a little bit of hope here.
How right you are that the ED is only a symptom of other issues but so difficult to uncover and treat too.
May this new year bring some radical changes for the better with this problem for your family.
Hi, Calum and hope all goes well for you.
Kevin
Thanks for your kind comments.
I read you Hightower post without really digesting it or reading more about him - sorry. That's just where I am sometimes.
There's something to be said for politicians truly experiencing the life of ordinary people but that is virtually impossible to achieve. They could see that living our life, for example, is difficult but, unless "he" and "his" family have the same problems, they don't experience it (sorry about the gender stereottyping - simplicity rules). There's a huge difference between living a difficult life and seeing that another's life is difficult.
If only politicians would leave their ivory towers and connect with the rest of us; leave their party politics and ideologies at the front door; then we might make progress.
Now that is the impossible dream!
jmb
Thanks for your wishes.
Yes, there is some hope but, after our struggles of the last year, we'll wait before believing.
Bretwalda, James or whatever personality you are today,
Thanks for your best wishes and let me take this opportunity to hope that your health improves and you have another happy and productive 2008. Look after yourself.
I hope that the counselling and treatment of the ED will help uncover the real issues, but also hope that the treatment itself will be successful.
Glad you're back Calum and hope things get better for you all soon.
Sorry to hear that you are still not getting the help you need.
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