Showing posts with label mental well being. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mental well being. Show all posts

Thursday, 14 May 2015

No counselling you're not dying

I have had five surgeries, two of which went wrong and three of which were to correct the original two. I am now unable to speak and have secretions running out of the front of my neck all over my clothes.
I am a little down and was pleased yesterday when finally it was mentioned that counselling was available.
Today I have been told that I can't be refered for counselling based upon my surgeries because I don't have cancer.
I have to go to my (overworked) GP and ask her to refer me.
I should be able to get an appointment with her in about two weeks and yet again I will be post op, with an open wound, sitting amongst people with germs. My consultant says the most important thing at the moment is for me not to get a chest infection so sitting in a GPs waiting room AGAIN is exactly what I need.
Yet again help with mental health issues is made as difficult as possible to get. I am not depressed but some help would be appreciated. Guess I just have to hope I get better on my own.

Tuesday, 12 May 2015

Is my mental health part of the recovery process?

Having had five operations in the last five months and now being back to where I was four months ago I have been feeling a little low.
 I would not say I am depressed but I am not my usually jolly self and tears flow a lot more easily than they ever have before.
I have now mentioned to a number of different health care professionals that I come into contact with that I am feeling sad, and this has been greated by such wisdom as:
'Yes a lot of patients feel low after surgery.'
'Well we knew it wasn't going to be easy.'
'There is a long way to go yet.'
Before the surgery there were many offers of meeting people who had been through something similar and talking things through before I made the decision as to which surgery to have. But now the surgery is complete I just need to get on with my rehab with the help of speech and language therapists.
Surely if my state of mind was positive the potential for my physical rehab would be higher.
Where is the support for my state of mind?
Is the link between mental and physical well being obvious?
Or do I have to hit rock bottom before this help is offered?

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