Bitz 'N' Blogs with CJ Cross

Hi! My name is Ceej. I like to write stuff!

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Tag: WhatNext

  • Life Update

    As we catapult ourselves into the middle of August, I thought it might be time to give a wee bit of a life update

    Recovery from surgery is going well. Turns out I don’t need to go back to Box Hill Hospital for a check up till sometime next April . This is good as it gives me time to work on myself and get more stable on my feet

    I can do things like shower (almost entirely independently) and I have started to walk small, unaided walks to the bathroom and toilet. I can manage about 10 or so steps on my own without a walking aid… although, that is more like a shuffle than actual steps. For the most part I still use Christopher ( my walker) for around the house and Bert and Ernie ( my crutches) for when I go outside. I do have a walking stick but its old and I want to get a new one. ( But I can use that quite well inside)

    Work is going through a lull at the moment. This is actually a good thing as it gives us all a chance to breathe and prepare for Christmas. We’re employing more people and, at present, TM’s and TSL’s are being moved like chess pieces on a board to ensure the right person is in the right place for the foreseeable future.

    Sadly, this means I am losing my boss to greener pastures ( Metaphorically. She’s not leaving the company. She’s just taking on another role) and so as of Monday, my team will be looked after by a new person. So we’ll see how everything works out

    In other news, I am trying to convince myself that I need to start using my rowing machine more often. I used to love that thing. And I still do… It’s just that trying to get on it at the moment makes my hip really sore and uncomfortable. I mean, I know once I’m on the thing, I’m fine, but yeah, the actual getting on the thing.. That’s another matter entirely. That said, It’s still early days and I am working on it.

    I am still doing my rehab exercises, my physiotherapy, my hydrotherapy and everything else I need to – but sadly, I’m not running marathons just yet.

    Hubby and I just keep on keeping on . We have our routine and it’s working well.

    This week I plan to follow up on a few NDIS related things and find out what’s supposedly happening with the NDIS funded bathroom I am expecting to receive – I’ve not spoken to my Provider for months and so this week I am planning to follow up with them and see what’s going on

    Other than that, the sun is out and the weather is nice .

    Have a great weekend

    Ceej

    PS: The banner image was created with AI. I think it’s kinda cute 😀

  • Rehab Part 3: Homeward Bound

    It was a Wednesday when I finally was allowed to go home.

    That morning Hubby arrived at just after 8am . I wanted to have one last breakfast and a shower before I left PJC – so I did

    After I got dressed and ready, Hubby packed the last of my things in the car and then we waited for my team to come and bid me farewell and give me my discharge paperwork

    By around 10 am we were in the car and headed to our first stop – the chemist. I had bunch of scripts to pick up. ( And by I, I mean Hubby went and collected them all for me)

    Then, as it was getting close to lunch time, we went and got a couple of breakfast focaccias.

    I tried to stay awake. I really did however, shortly after lunch I hit a wall and needed to go down for a nap.

    Hubby had errands to run and decided to take the opportunity to go do things whilst I slept.

    Sadly, not long after he left, I needed to pee and so … I found myself going to the toilet for the first time since surgery on my own. Given my overly tired, fully medicated state I was extremely overwhelmed and ended up sitting on the bed sobbing my eyes out completely freaked out by everything.

    Thankfully Hubby returned not long after this and all was blithe and bonny.

    It’s been about a week and a half since I’ve been home and things are improving a little more each day.

    I can shower now. I was given a stool on loan ( I have decided to keep it So, I will be sorting that out ASAP ) and I use it to sit on every morning.

    Going to the toilet is still a struggle but not as much as it once was ( it’s due to my surgery wound not being healed properly just yet and where it’s located on my right leg)

    Getting dressed is still a slow process but again, I am getting there.

    I do exercise daily so there is that. My rehabilitation takes a step up a notch as of this weekend when I hit the pool and start Hydrotherapy

    Being home has been nice. I was worried at first. Mainly because I thought I wouldn’t be able to shower – but since I have that sorted, I am pretty much OK.

    Things I currently not allowed to do

    • Kneel down on the floor
    • Use crutches
    • Get on my recumbent rower bike / Rower ( Though I have tried)

    Those I need to wait a little bit longer for. They will come 😀

    Once again, huge thanks to everyone at PJC for their support, care and understanding.

    Only onwards and upwards from here!

    Thanks for reading

    Ceej

  • Three Weeks and Counting

    So, here we are.

    Three weeks and counting

    My official date for surgery ( barring any situation whereby someone requires immediate attention) is February 24th 2025.

    I’ve been on a waiting list since May last year so, the fact it’s only taken 9 months to get to this point is pretty good.

    I’m not nervous – well, at least not at the moment. For a few months I was pretty much shitting myself b/c I slipped and fell down the “What if” rabbit hole

    • What if ….I’m knocked out and they leave me there?
    • What if…. while I’m knocked out and they have a fire drill?
    • What if… I have my surgery in the morning and it’s Taco day ?
    • What if … I’m awake and the radio is playing Christian music?
    • What if… There’s a $100 note on the ceiling and I can’t reach it?

    So yeah, I’ve been there. It kept me awake for months. Trust me.

    Anyway, like all my surgeries, ( I’ve only ever had two) this one is also during the hottest month of the year.

    In case you’ve not been following along, I’m due a full right hip replacement due to severe osteoarthritis of the hip joint – full bone on bone. I’ve spent the last year or so either getting about in a wheelchair or a walker and, after a rather nasty fall a year ago, here I am .

    The initial recovery time is 6-8 weeks and then a further 6-12 months to be fully back up and functional.

    So there’s that.

    Other than that, It’s been stupidly hot – which is why this blog is coming to an end at this point because my brain is melted

    Ceej

  • Life Update

    Well,

    Here we are. At this point in proceedings I had hoped to give everyone a date as to when I was to receive my hip replacement surgery date.

    Sadly I have not. To say I am disappointed is the understatement of the year. Let me tell you how things went.

    I arrive an hour early for my appointment at Maroondah Hospital Acute Outpatients department

    I am told I need to get x-rays ( despite bringing the x-rays I had done at Box Hill Hospital back in May with me) so I go do that.

    Around 45 mins later I am called into a room. I meet a “Doctor” who prefers to be called Pete. We have a quick chat. He gets me to sign some kind of consent form and proceeds to tell me the risks of my operation including but not limited to:

    • Blood loss
    • Infection
    • Numbness / nerve damage
    • Heart attack
    • Stroke
    • Several other not fun things I can’t remember at the moment

    He did tell me that a full recovery will take 6 weeks and that they’ll get me up walking the day after the surgery ( He did mention the Spastic Diplegia and asked me how long I’d had it for. )

    I enquired about rehab and he said “It could be organized if I needed it”

    In the meantime I had to lose weight which he said ” I know is hard with a bung hip”

    So there you are.

    I just have to wait for a phone call / letter to see when my surgery date is and God knows when that will be .

    From tomorrow ( Monday – for those wondering) I begin clean eating. In the hope that I can lose some weight before my op.

    I have no idea how much I weigh. ( last I checked was at the beginning of the year and that was 103. 9 kgs or 229.06lbs) so I’ll have to figure that out somehow.

    In other news – things regarding the NDIS are slowly happening. Had some new taps and things installed in the bathroom the other week so now I’m just awaiting approval for the shower to be useable .

    Anyway, I don’t really have much else to say so I’ll just end this here

    Thanks for reading

    Ceej

  • Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Adult-esk Things

    Greetings and Salutations dear Reader!

    I hope this blog finds you well. Yes, I know, you’re waiting for #HublanderPart3 but- I plan to write the final installment of that tomorrow while Hubby goes out and does all the things.

    By the title of this blog, you must’ve figured out by now that there has been a little bit of celebratory shenanigans coupled with a side of Adulting ( Yuk!)

    When it comes to the month of May ( That’s enough from you Justin Timberlake! We be know your meme!) everything happens all at once.

    *Hubbys Birthday

    *My Birthday

    *Other family members birthdays

    *Mothers Day

    *Car Registration

    *Chasing up invoices and service agreements for the NDIS – that kinda thing. It’s a very busy month

    To start with, my Husband turned 50. ( That’s half a Century for those playing at home) It was a very quiet affair- just him and I and the kittens. I got him a few dinky gifts and a pair of homemade bunny slippers .. .which I’m happy to report, he loves.

    I got him a Black Forest Cherry cake and we partook of that till it was all gone.

    Next, it was my turn. I turned the ripe old age of 47. I celebrated by having my uterus turn against me and let me know it was not going to play Happy Birthday without a musical cheese grater or two – so that was nice. I also continued the tradition of scones w/ jam and cream and a can of Irn Bru.

    Hubby got me a beautiful Dragonfly charm for my charm bracelet – which I love. I got an Outlander t shirt from my Support Worker Miss C and a $50 gift card for Typo from my support worker Miss B. My Dad also gave me some spending money – but I think I might save it for a rainy day instead.

    Again, a quiet day spent at home. Nothing crazy. Spent it eating a 6-pack of Chicken Nuggets from McDonalds and a caramel Sundae while watching the latest Jimmy Carr Special on Netflix

    Right then, now the adulting.

    Like most people, I despise adulting .. but also, like most people, I know it has to be done.

    Naturally, I paid rent, paid Hubby’s registration and threw money at other things that needed paying off but…the most adulting thing of all was that I found out I had severe Osteoarthritis of the right hip ( to the point of bone on bone) and it doesn’t look good. I have been referred to an Orthopedic Surgeon and have an appointment lined up in June to see what my options are. In the meantime, I have to do everything I can to lose weight and strengthen the muscles around the hip area. Especially my glutes. According to the CT report – two of my glute muscles have atrophied and are currently useless – so I have to work on that.

    I have to admit that the idea of surgery terrifies me. The last time I had surgery I was 18 and it was to have bunions removed. But yeah, Hip surgery is a whole new level of “I fucked around and now I have to find out” and I am not OK.

    Finally, my Hubby and I celebrated our 27th year of us back on April 25th, 2024. I know, it sounds dorky but we think it’s kinda cute and so, along with our Wedding Anniversary, we celebrate the milestone that is us – happy in the knowledge that, despite getting older, grayer and more cynical as each year passes – we can still agree we don’t suck!

    Thanks for reading,

    Ceej

  • The One Where The NDIS Was (still) Taking The Piss Regarding (my) Allied Health Providers

    To start with – The header of this blog has nothing whatsoever to do with the the subject matter – it’s simply a cool pic ( thanks to IG for the filter) and frankly describes how much I wish I could drink – Given just how much stress the NDIS has caused me in the last 5 days.

    Five days ago I received an email from the NDIS regarding the outcome of my S100 application and then, everything went to pot.

    (For those playing at home a S100 means a “Review of a Reviewable Decision” in NDIS terms. Frankly, after I read it, I thought someone was playing a cruel joke.. Although, to be fair… The NDIS is a governing body; ergo run by clowns .. so I really shouldn’t have been as shocked as I was)

    The NDIS – National Disability Insurance Scheme is designed to support Australia’s Disabled and Chronically ill – giving them access to all the things, all the time with a minimum of fuss. It’s to ensure that the Disabled and the Chronically ill have a fair chance at life and oh.. hang on.. That’s on paper..Heh. Oops!

    In reality however, it is a ginormous, twat-berking shamozzle of a shit show- that not only leave those of us who are disabled up shit creek without a paddle – but also our able bodied full time carers with nothing more than a leaky canoe with no lifejackets to help us out.

    At time of writing this blog, the NDIS is going through a massive overhaul of how it does things, why it does things and when it does things which means .. everyone and their dog is confused!

    Hooray!

    Here’s my story. ( And the reason behind today’s blog)

    So, I got to the NDIS in 2022. My funding was just over $75K for two years.

    Pretty much straight away, I began a “Change of Circumstances” because there was no way I could stretch $75K over two years.

    At this point though, my Allied Health providers( My Chiropractic, my Remedial Masseuse, my Podiatrist, my Psychologist, my Physiotherapist, my Occupational Therapist and my Exercise Physiologist) were being covered by the NDIS as enough medical evidence has been provided in my original application for them to be so.

    After almost a year of pushing for a Change of Circumstances – it gets approved and I end up with just over $159K over two years . This allows me to purchase Eleanor Whillie ( my Electric Wheelchair) a DAY CHAIR ( that I am STILL waiting on) and a pair of shoes from Dr Comfort. *

    On this plan however, ALL of my Allied Health services have been dropped..well, nearly all of them. They’ve kept my Occupational Therapist and my Physiotherapist in. This is great and all but… Hello? Really? Are you kidding me? They’ve also included ( as a money saver, they tell me ) a Therapy Assistant.

    I have no idea who or what that is.

    I ask around .

    No one has any idea of who or what a Therapy Assistant is. Like, literally nobody!

    No one on my team has a clue. There are questions asked :

    Are they a T.A.F.E Student? A Support Worker with benefits? Who or what are they?

    Eventually we turn to Google and look up this mysterious profession. It doesn’t take long to realise that a Therapy Assistant is a person who comes along attempts to be a whole lot of Allied Health providers all at once – (while getting paid less than an Allied Health provider, I might add – hence the “Money Saver” angle they try and sell you) and their job is to try and implement all the things your Allied Health provider does without all the experience that goes with it.. Or, something like that anyway.

    Joy.

    At this news I completely lose my shit and have a breakdown. I am at a loss as to how I am going to cope with having to pay for all of these services ( I mean, I have my Allied Health team for a reason, guys! And while I’m at it.. What in God’s name I am going to do with this Therapy Assistant funding??) given my Husband and I are not made of money and have only just managed to clear up our last lot of debt. I lodge a complaint with the Office of The Honorable Bill Shorten MP and a representative from his office advises me that my Allied Health invoices can continue to be submitted and paid for under the NDIS

    In the meantime my Support Coordinator and I take steps to lodge an S100 – A Review of a Reviewable decision. We have 100 days to gather all the required information to support our argument that my Allied Health providers are imperative to my continued well being and continuing to function etc etc

    We began that process in August this year. It’s now December. Five days ago I got the email. In this new, new, new plan I now have just over $206K over a two year period.

    As far as my Allied Health Providers are concerned – They’ve kept my Podiatrist, my Physiotherapist, my Occupational Therapist and 2023’s Money Saver of The Year – Therapy Assistant– in … While giving my Exercise Physiologist, my Psychologist my Remedial Masseuse and my Chiropractor the ass claiming either that “Not enough evidence was provided” or “We believe an Occupational Therapist will suffice in these areas” which is an absolute load of bull-twang. There were 40 very heavily worded, exceptionally well written documents submitted for my S100 .. and, frankly, what it all boils down to is one extraordinarily lazy NDIS person by the name of Neerusha who skimmed the whole lot because they couldn’t be bothered to read it properly.. Thus here we ( my Support Coordinator and I) are again. Another 100 days. Another round of reports and supportive letters explaining why these things are important to my mental health and general wellbeing .. Etc Etc Ect …

    It just never seems to end.

    Thanks for reading

    Ceej

    *I wish there was some kind of sarcastic font for this.

  • The update about the update that never happened …

    Ladies and Gentleman,

    Twice now I have failed to write a blog.

    On Thursday I was to wiped out from my two appointments and Sunday I lay down for a nap and overslept

    Add this I have been dealing with quite a nasty bout of sciatica, a MONSTER Aunty Flo (now since finished) and life kicking me in the metaphorical balls….. I just haven’t had the spoons to write anything worthy of note

    So, please bare with me as I struggle to get through the obstacles thrown at me this week and I promise I will get back to writing my blogs as soon as I’m able

    Thanks for your patience

    Ceej

  • The One Where I Lost All Faith

    No, this isn’t a post about the Great Beardy Sky man – so back away with your precious bibles and sit down.

    Nor is it an Outlander reference (IYKYK) because frankly I’ve dealt with enough emotional turmoil this week and I have no desire to self inflict anymore on myself right now. (Look at me taking the advice of my Therapist and not punishing myself! Whoo- Hoo! Go me – Oh.. wait.. No …wrong kind’ve … You know what? Never mind. Don’t mind me… I’m FINE!)

    Despite the image header chosen for this blog ( Why do I do this to myself – JHRC) this week’s blog title stems from the fact that this week was a week I lost faith in not only the system ( The NDIS) but also people in general.

    To begin with, on Thursday Aug 3rd 2023 I had my Change in Situation meeting via the NDIS. For those that are not aware, a Change in Situation occurs when someone’s NDIS funding has either run out early or is deemed inadequate for the person’s needs. Evidence needs to be provided of course and if successful- the application is renewed and funding is increased. That is the short version . And, in a perfect world, the short version would be all it would take to get you over the line.

    Unfortunately, this is the NDIS and naturally if you’re not prepared to jump through hoops while trying to make sense of something that have been lost, found, copied, faxed to a completely different office, left sitting on a desk for three months before being buried outside, forgotten about, remembered again only to be made triplicate and then those triplicates duplicated for security reasons before being handed to you to sign off on with a BIC pen that ran out of ink 2 weeks before your scheduled appointment.

    Okay .. so I may have exaggerated that slightly but given that this is my second Change In Situation application that took seven months to complete and submit- (even the submission was not without its complications) it’s closer to the truth than anyone would care to admit.

    Anyway, my Support Coordinator G and the her Manager J joined the NDIS representative and I for the meeting at the required time ( G in person J via TEAMS) and off we went.

    The next 3 hours were excruciating to say the least. I swear as I sit here and write this – I have never heard someone speak so much unnecessary gibberish in all my life! As the meeting wore on – I could honestly feel my brain packing a suitcase and telling me that I was entirely on my own as it DOES NOT get paid enough to put up with that type of shit! (And honestly, if it left at any point during those three hours – I would’ve given it a standing ovation)

    By the time all was said and done – Myself, G and J felt we’d been pulled through the ringer and the three of us spent the next hour trying to figure out what the heckin’ heck just happened and what the next steps were moving forward. (Hint: We still don’t know and there’s still another 14 days to wait. With that and a provider of mine with two unpaid invoices outstanding due to my funding allocation being exhausted – the next 14 days are gearing up to be a whole lot of fun indeed)

    If you asked me just a few days ago what I had hoped to achieve with that Change in Situation I would’ve told you the following:

    • Access to the community via a broader range of activities ( Over time. Small steps required given that I’ve spent the better part of 3.5 years at home unable to get out without help)
    • Respite – The ability to be able to go away on holiday and enjoy myself with friends. ( I’ve not done this in almost the same amount of time)
    • More help via Support Workers
    • Eleanor Wheelie! (My long awaited electric wheelchair)
    • Proper time frames for when things were going to be happening/taking place

    Instead, what I got was :

    • A whole lot of gibberish that made no sense
    • The feeling that the NDIS representative had no clue what they were talking about
    • The moment I heard the rep say the words ” Oh wow… I’m just .. trying to ..Imagine your life” I knew the entire conversation was a lost cause and that G and J would have to go in and fight harder for what it was I wanted.
    • Being told a whole bunch of things weren’t going to be requested because the NDIS delegate wasn’t going to approve them due to ” trying to find the best value for money”
    • Being made to feel like I was being ignored and overlooked
    • No idea about the when/ where/ how and why of anything

    That night I fell into a funk and I haven’t really come out of it . I’ve learned not to get my hopes up. I’ve learned that you cannot rely on a system that was designed to help those of us with lifelong disabilities ( Thanks a lot Liberal Government) and that just makes me really sad.

    If I’m honest, at this point in time, I expect my funding to be cut to even less than it was the first time around and the whole things just turning to shit . I’ll keep everyone posted with updates as things progress…

    But for now .. I wait.

    In other, less stressful news (I hope) I have taken a mini Social Media hiatus for the month of August. The last time I did this was a few years ago and I found it very beneficial for my mental health. I have deleted TikTok, Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter (X) because, with the exception of TikTok which was proving a distraction than anything else…. The other platforms were making me angry. For a number of reasons ( A majority of which have to do with the Outlander Fandom – and while I will not be discussing specific situations today – let’s just say I am better off not having access to those platforms at the moment. For everyone’s sake.. Not just my own.) and so, taking a well deserved break is just what I need to refocus and recharge the batteries.

    At the beginning of this blog I said it’d been a week where I’d lost my faith in people but that to is also Outlander Fandom related BUT… given that it’s almost 3:30pm on a Sunday afternoon … I am going to put that off till next time. You’ll want to pull up a pew for that one, I assure you!

    Thanks for reading

    Have a great weekend

    Ceej