Hello new friends

[Petal]

Good Morning everyone, I have been lurking in the background for afew weeks but now I wish to take part in this community of yours, Well lets see what can I tell you about me?
I am a full time carer to my husband who's health problems started back in 2010 when he contracted a virus called giardia, he lost 3stone in weight in 2 weeks,he was very poorly.
Since then he has been left with lots of health issues but only finished working full time in January, over these last few years he has had several trancient global amnesia episodes along with hypo type episodes, My fear of the amnesia attacks is he will come round from one and not know who I am! He has now been diagonsed as having trancient epileptic amnesia when he saw a memory consultant, I personally do not think he does have this condition after researching it on the web, and will be seeking a second opinion!
In my life I have been senior care nurse working in the private sector of elderly care but the last 15 years i have worked with hubby as a gamekeeper, so outdoor active folks.
I have just become his power of attorney and to be honest we need it as so many things come up that i need to do for him.
Lots of people say "Make sure you look after yourself" yea fat chance when life revolves around hubby. So I came here.... for online companionship of others that know how I feel, so Hello new friends, I try to stay upbeat but just sometimes I may be having a rant.! please join in, at the moment the struggle is filling in this mountain of form for PIP and carers allowance afterwards,take care all xx

[Melly1]

Hi Heather and welcome,
Socialise and rant all you like, as you say it's only carers who understand what caring is really like. Take a photocopy of the forms before you send them off.

Melly1

[Petal]

thanks Melly

[Les Eve]

Hello Heather Petal, Although life as a Carer is all consuming, I had 29 years of it, it is still vital you keep an eye on your wellbeing because it is so true that if anything happens to you where would he be? I do not know where abouts you are located but I always recommend that people get the forms filled in by a "Professional", there are many agencies who will do them free , much better and easier that we can, a very highly recommended one is Age UK. I have to keep this brief at the moment as I am multi tasking, yes men can do that, I am cooking my dinner also.
Good luck, Les

[crocus]

Hi Heather and welcome to the forum.
I assume that your hubby has epilepsy - mine does too, not always easy to cope with is it?
Feel free to join in wherever you want.

PS remember to fill in the form as if it were the worst day.

[York52]

Hi Heather,
I know you will find the support of everyone on here of great strength to you,I know I do.
Just want to say hello and welcome.

[Petal]

Hi Heather and welcome to the forum.
I assume that your hubby has epilepsy - mine does too, not always easy to cope with is it?
Feel free to join in wherever you want.

PS remember to fill in the form as if it were the worst day.

Hi crocus, well no he does not have epilepsy as in fits, the last neurologist consultant thinks he has tiny electical pulses that make him have amnesia for small periods of time, a condition called trancient epileptic amnesia! he did say we could get a second opinion though as after reading up on it I/we do not feel hubby has this condition, I feel because he has other unrelated symptoms over a 4 year period the GP is trying to find a label for how hubbys health is. it is very frustrating as they don't listen to the whole list of problems and just take the one issue as worse but its not always the case in real everyday life.

[Saffy]

Hi Heather and welcome.
I'm sure you will find support using this site, I do and I also find it comforting to know that there are others in similar situations who understand.
Very best wishes to you and your husband xxx

[bowlingbun]

Hi Heather, welcome to the forum. Trust your instincts about his illness, especially with your background. It's a good idea to get someone from a benefits advice centre or similar to help complete the forms, it's so easy to make an innocent mistake without realising the consequences. My son and his partner go beating on an estate, his partners family have been beating there for 3 generations. The season starts next weekend for them, so I expect your husband is finding things especially difficult at the moment, so much more difficult with someone who loves the outdoor life.

[Vivien]

Hi Heather,

Welcome to the Forum. We are here for you.

Take care - sending you a Viv type hug.

Viv
xx