Freaking Out

Freaking out tonight and that is putting it mildly.


My sister and her 4 children were in an accident today in a Jet boat. 


All the kids are ok although 2 were taken to hospital for observation and have been released with instructions to be further watched for concussion. My sister on the other hand is in surgery at the moment, 12.25am, (my time) after receiving a compound fracture to her wrist. 


Apparently the boat his a submerged log or something like that and everyone on the boat was thrown around. Of the 12 passengers at least 6 were taken to hospital. 


So I'm not able to sleep as I wait for that phone call to let me know she is ok. Last time she had an anaesthetic was when we were both kids and were having our tonsils out and she was quite sick from the aneasthetic :( So I sit and worry and wait. Knowing how useless that is because worry doesn't do anything except upset me!!


I feel pretty useless. I would love to be able to go down and help her out for a bit BUT our circumstances dictate that I remain here and try and earn enough money to pay the rent. 

BIG SAD FACE :(

Hmmm.. Workcover SUCKS

So it seems that in the state of Qld as a patient you have to learn how to 'work' the system to be treated as you deserve to be.

After The Man had a car accident in July last year we have played by what we thought were the 'rules'. Like this one.

If it's not major go see your GP. We didn't think it was major. Minor nose to tail accident. Feeling a bit stiff and sore the day of the accident. The next day (the day we went to the GP) he was in intense pain so we trudged along to the GP and his treatment started at this point.

We think this is important. We don't want to contribute to clogging up the hospital system so we decided to visit the GP the day after his accident. As the accident happened on the way to work  this became a 'Workcover' situation. Because DH has a pre-existing condition 'Workcover' had to cover their but and make sure it had nothing to do with his TM. Fair Enough we thought and it didn't and doesn't.

So he was on 'Workcover'... BUT because he hasn't healed as quickly as was expected??? Lets not take into account we are all different and heal at our own pace.. and if someone ISN'T then maybe HELP find out why? 'Workcover' has dumped him..  because he?? doesn't fit into that neat little box they want him to. 

So today we were chatting to a 'medical professional' who informed that we should have gone through the hospital system and then he would be treated more punctually, he would be seeing the people that can make a difference...

So we're torn. It's not how we live.. we don't want to 'play' games BUT seems we have to so he can get some proper medical attention. What is the world coming to? 

We aren't trying to rort the system.. I need to make that clear. He is not pretending to be injured. He has sustained a debilitating injury to his back. 

My husband has gone from pre-accident having a conditon that limited him in minor ways really. He got tired easily, he had cramping and spasms most of the time but had been, with medical assistance, learning how to get past the pain. He was working a full-time job, could drive a car, was paying taxes, was an active Scout Leader with 20 Scouts in his Troop who were achieving life and Scouting goals with his support.....and the list goes on...NOW He can stand for short periods of time, he can sit for short periods of time, he has limited sleep as he cannot get comfortable, he cannot be a passenger in a car without intense pain so we limit his outings to Dr's and Centrelink. That's it. His world has shrunk to the small things that most of us take for granted. He has progressed to being able to do the dishes.. but 'WORKCOVER QLD' in their wisdom deem he is fit and well enough to go back to work. YEAH.. NO!!!

So our options seem to present at the hospital whenever his pain is not in control.. I'm concerned that he may be hospitalised (which could be good) BUT brings back many memories :((

Doing what we Do!!

Hot day here in Brisbane.. Muggy. So Minigoat and I are headed to the Library (airconditioned goodness) to program Term 1 Scouts. He's the new Scout Leader and I'm the one with programming experience.. so I'm sure we'll whip this over in no time at all.. :)

We are in for a super busy year with Scouts. 

Next January is the Australian Scout Jamboree and with that we need to prepare our Scouts for the biggest Scouting experience they will probably ever have, unless they attend an International Jamboree.

They must have a minimum level of skills and while we are aware of other groups which give free passes so to speak.. we WANT to make sure our Scouts go in as prepared as possible to ensure their Jamboree is a great experience not a struggle. 

Venting ... sorry

Busy morning. The Man has applied for Disability Support. Did we ever expect to be going down this path.. no way.

Amazing to think that one little needle in 2007 has had such an effect on our lives. 

It's about time Australia got it's act together (in so many ways) and provided immediate no-fault  compensation to those who have adverse effects from immunisation.  More info here in the Medical Journal of Australia. The MJA. They put forward a case for providing for those people instead of them having to go through an adversarial court case when they are already dealing with life changing circumstances. 

This sounds fair.. don't you think??

No-fault compensation, based on the ethical principle of redistributive justice, should form a cornerstone of Australia’s immunisation strategy

This might also allow the 'treatment' of the patient to be more co-hesive. The Man in his clinical notes some ignorant Dr had the nerve to actually write that this condition which we now know is Transverse Myelitis, was 'ALL IN HIS HEAD'. 

He was bundled off to see a Dr who specialised in Geriontology. Hmmmm at 41 years of age they sent him to see a Dr looking at the effects of aging. She took one look at him and told him he needed to see a Neurologist. That it was NOT in his head as his notes stated. 

Maybe with a no-fault system he would not have been treated like a 'law suit waiting to happen'. Just maybe he might have had the medical tests and treatment that could have arrived at the diagnosis in a more timely manner. Rather than waiting from the injection in Feb 2007 to Diagnosis of TM in June 2011 while investigation after investigation occurred. Maybe his symptoms might have been treated more aggressively with the appropriate medication instead of 'paracetamol' for neuraligea 

I know that he has a rare condition... but surely there is a checklist that Dr's go by... when a patient starts to present with (and I have only picked the symptoms he had.. not all the TM symptoms. Remembering also that at this point he WAS A PATIENT IN THE HOSPITAL. A major teaching hospital at that... and we are grateful (seriously) that he was still in the hospital after a nurse when flushing a canula the Dr's wanted remove created 30cm clot in his forearm.  He didn't arrive with a full set of symptoms.. they were watching as it happened as it happened. They had front row seats.. 

sudden paresthesias  - (abnormal sensations such as burning, tickling, pricking, or tingling) in the legs, sensory loss,

paraparesis (partial paralysis of the legs). 

Paraplegia (paralysis of the legs and lower part of the trunk). 

Urinary bladder and bowel dysfunction. 

Muscle spasms, a general feeling of discomfort, 

headache

fever 

Oh and respiratory problems as well.

Add to that voice - vocal cords weren't working

Ear cramp... in the ear.

Are there THAT many conditions with the same symptoms? Really? AND AND AND... I've just put in the symptoms in an online diagnosis ... which I don't think is the right thing to do at all if you are experiencing any of these symptoms NOW.. I was just checking to see if it could come up with a diagnosis and YES.. acute Tranverse Myeltis is on the list. 

So in my frustration... I managed with the same information and symptoms SPECIALISTS were seeing and hearing my husband complain of AS IT HAPPENED to get a diagnosis from a computer program.. 

Ok VENT over for today. I know he received the very best of care at the time. BUT how bloody frustrating it is to be in his shoes - our shoes. He might have received the injection but as a family WE are all victims/survivors of the adverse reaction he had. 

Recipe - Vegie Salad with Pomegranate

I just put this on another blog to win some yummy scrummy salad dressing and oil...mmm BUT I thought to myself I should put it on my own lil blog so here it is with the yummy photo to go with it.. well not the best photo. It really does not do this salad justice...

Joe's Roast Vegie Salad with Pomegranate/Mango
An ever evolving salad depending on the season and our tastes

We use a mix of roast vegies. Cut into small (not tiny) pieces

Our favourites

Potato
Sweet Potato
Pumpkin
Parsnip
Beetroot
Carrot (I hate this but the family seem to love it so I pick it our. )
Cherry Tomatoes (take out when they are suitably 'roasted')
We also pop some garlic heads in with the vegies... mmm

Rocket and Salad Leaves. Must include the Rocket for that little extra zing.

Proscuitto, Pancetta or Bacon - crispy .. I don't always use this.

Parmesan Cheese .. thinly shaved

Leftover Ciabatta made into croutons.

In a large bowl toss the salad leaves with the roast vegies, garlic, bacon cheese and croutons.

Just before serving sprinkle the delicious Pomegranate seeds over the top or Mango finely diced.

Variations include adding Chicken (hot or cold)sometimes breast sometimes leftover schnitzels
We might add some thinly sliced beef or lamb... 

Home

Woodpuddle is the nickname for where we live. A play on words which we cleverly came up with. We are not the only inhabitants. There are many animals, wallabies, bandicoots, birds such as King Parrots (our favourites), Kookaburras and currently we have the Pacific Baza and of course I can't forget BUGS.moths, spiders, mozzies. frogs, toads, snakes and more bugs .... lol. we don't mind sharing our home.... ok we prefer the snakes stay away.

If you want a peek .. an ad the house was in. 

The first couple of seconds show Woodpuddle - the blue house. See you can visualise what I talk about now. 

We didn't know how the ad would turn out or what brand it was for when it was filmed but to our delight/embarrassment the ad was showing at the cinema when I took the kids to see ???  I can't remember. I have no doubt the people in the audience remember us though as we squealed in shock.."that's our house".. LOL and sat there laughing and looking at each other saying 'WHAT THE!!" 

I'm not joking when I say it is beautiful... I am grateful everyday I am here.The tree is home to Brush Turkeys  and through the day and night many other species including the Powerful Owl. 

So that's it for today. nothing deep just a bit of me....


A little something that I created.. made me feel good.

fun doodling... soothes the savage mummy    :)