Confident It Will Work Out Well.

Tomorrow Is Never, 1955.

Kay Sage
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Sage

 

I am having another quiet day after the exhausting appointment for the second fitting of the new bed support.

It is good to sit in, well reasonably good right now, certainly better than what I have now, which does not support me at all, it will be even better once its adjusted.

In fact it just seems like it seems to make it worse, how I am sitting; it seems to make my leaning to the left so much more extreme.

Last night I tried out my new support, it was good, but needs some important alterations, like some foam removed by the shoulders to give them more room.

As it is now it does not give me enough room for my shoulders, so they were, squashed, not good way to sleep comfortably.

Certainly felt like it, so not the best introduction, but I am confident it will be resolved soon.

Until then I will sit in it and not also lie in it until Kees has made the change I need so they this support actually works.

By the way Quattron had to repay the money thy got from Agis, for the cushion they made me last year.

A pretty useless thing we tried our best to use it for as long as I could, until it was clear that I needed something that would give me the support I have to have now.

I am confident that this time I will get the support I need, I will discuss with Richie exactly what I think needs adjusting, see if it tallies in with his observations

Then next Friday we know precisely what needs adjusting.

A brilliant plan, one I feel confident is going to work out very well indeed.

A Good Start To The New Week.

Pierre Roy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Roy_%28painter%29

Today I got the new wheelchair seat, it is very good, it makes a big difference, nice to be sitting straighter and higher in the wheelchair. 

Lovely to feel I am more stretched out, I no longer have a potbelly, actually I never had one, it looked like I did because I couldn’t sit up straight enough.

Shame Johanneke, my previous occupational therapist, had not noticed that I needed more support, which a new seat would have provided.

Other things should also have happened last year, such as trying out the electric arm support, it supports your arm so you can eat, read, type.

The IPaq gadget I have that opens the doors, adjusts the bed, turns on light, TV, operates the telephone I should have got in 2008 not November 2010.

Johanneke it seems did not research the support cushions well; she did not look for another better solution then Quattron who don’t have suitable support for me.

I spent months waiting from January until July to get the support cushions; since I have them they have been ok but not as useful as I had hoped.

Maurits does not think the cushion supports me; he suggested a couple things we can do to help me maintain a sitting position, while he finds a better solution.

Edith, my council mobility advisor was here too, she noted that the wheelchair arm supports are too high, neck support needs adjusting; she will see they get done, a good start to the new week.

A Visit From A Friend.

Viaje al Infinito- Hacio el Mar l -

Antonio. M. Ruiz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_M._Ru%C3%ADz

This morning Annelies from Quattron phoned, to inform me that the support cushion had been collected from them and would be delivered here tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone who phoned and mailed Quattron on my behalf, they are now customer friendly; this is good news for their customers.

Great to see such a positive effect as result of e-mails and phone calls from people reading how long it took to get the support cushion.

It took from 26 January until 4 July when I finally received it, very upsetting as I was told the whole process from application to getting it would take one month not 6 months.

A good friend, Cecile came by today for a visit, it just so happened that the earrings I bought for her on eBay arrived this morning, so I could give them to her before her holiday.

They looked great on her, which was what I hoped when I saw them; it is pleasing that they looked so good on her.

Nice to surprise a friend, and give her a present, particularly nice the day before she goes on holiday.

This morning I sent mails to local newspapers, the council as well as the Fijnout theatre enquiring about the news that the buildings will be turned into a hotel and disco.

.In September when Cecile is back from holiday then she will use her journalist skills to find out what is really happening.

.

..

Waiting.

1986

Bryan Charnley.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Charnley

After waiting for over two weeks for the appointment from Welzorg, I got a call from them this morning to arrange an appointment.

The woman that called was very friendly, when she mentioned my falling out of the wheelchair, I recognised her voice.

I spoke to her when I called Welzorg, to thank them for their quick work unbending the bent table support on the wheelchair table.

She was amazed that I was calling her to thank her; she told me that she had never once been thanked in 5 years of working for Welzorg.

That is a shame, this convinced me that thanking people was a good thing to do; I have no problems complaining, so I need to be aware that saying thank you is good.

It is important, not just to complain but to remember to say thank you, when it is in order, this morning’s call from Welzorg was proof that making that call was well worth it.

Nice to get a friendly call, especially from Welzorg who are not known for being a friendly company.

Today I got a mail from Maurits, my occupational therapist; he is standing during Johanneke’s illness.

He has made an appointment with Quattron’s Dennis Klein, to see what adjustments still need to be made, so that the support cushion will support me adequately.

MakingThe Best Of Everything.

 
Medusa Sky.
Jan Wheeler.
http://www.janwheeler.com/
http://www.janwheeler.com/page2biography.html

Today is a very unpleasant looking day, it has been raining since yesterday and it looks like it could be February or November.

It does not look like summer not right now; maybe this cooler weather is better for me as it’s often 30 degrees or more this time of year.

Seems a shame not to see blue skies and lovely sunshine at this time of year, instead its a grey day.

But this year summer seems to have happened in the spring and now it feels like autumn.

Guess we will make the best of it, and enjoy everything we can enjoy, just now I enjoyed my physiotherapy session with Mathilde.

Yesterday there was a surprise in the post, a card from Quattron apologising for the delay in getting the support cushion.

Amazing to get an apology here in the Netherlands and a written one too that is quite incredible.

I think I will keep this card, maybe frame it, as this really is quite amazing to have received a card.

After I post this I shall read the newspapers online and do my leg exercises when Richie returns from the Chinese supermarket with fresh Tofu,Tempe and other delights.

  

Getting There Slowly But Surely.

 
The Past, 2006.
Anastasiya Markovich.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasiya_Markovich

So far there has been no phone call to cancel the appointment, like a month ago, when Quattron cancelled their visit one hour before.

Abit of a shocker, I am sure they could have let me know before, an hour before the appointment was quite upsetting.

Guess today will be different, looking forward to getting the big support cushion.

I will try to give Johanneke the benefit of the doubt, but feel strongly that I need an OT that supports me, and who communicates with me.

Johanneke got here early so we could talk; I explained that the lack of communication was upsetting.

Made me feel that I was the last person to know what was happening, I said I preferred to be directly informed about things affecting me.

Johanneke has promised to keep me informed so I will carry on with her, it was good to talk it out with her.

Dennis arrived late, the cushion is ok, it gives me the support I need, but was too high, so would not be able to use the table and laptop.  

it needs some adjustments which will be done Monday and I should get the support cushion back next Friday.

A Good Afternoon.

 
Cycle Vanitas.
Eva Svankmajerova
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_%C5%A0vankmajerov%C3%A1

As Richie was about to sit me in the wheelchair, the phone rang, it was Marjolein van den Berg from Agis.

She enquired whether I had received a phone call from Quattron yet, when I said that had not happened, she promised she would ensure I got a call.

Forty minutes later Dennis Klein phoned me, he seemed puzzled why he was calling, I explained.

That it was because of the agreement they made with Agis, that they would phone me and let me know when I would get the support cushions.

He said they always make the appointments with the client’s occupational therapist, I said fine, but it would also be good to inform the client too.

Especially when this was agreed with Agis as it had been, on 9^th June, but sadly they decided to ignore this promise as well as me, the client.

I said that I hoped the appointment wouldn’t be cancelled again an hour before the appointment, Dennis assured me that he would be here with the cushions this Friday.

The appointment this afternoon with Annelies, my mobility aids advisor and Welzorg went well, they will do their paperwork and organise an appointment with Ruud.

My case manager Jacqueline came along which was useful, we discussed the arco, she said she would ask questions, before they left I gave Annelies the presents which she loved.

A Mere Formality.

 Hammersmith, 1946.
Julian Trevelyan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Trevelyan

I may request another occupational therapist as I am unhappy with my current ones seeming lack of consideration.

Think I will discuss this with Richie see what he thinks and whether he thinks I can go on with Johanneke.

I feel dubious about being able to carry on, really am finding it difficult to deal with someone who seems not to understand that having a progressive disease means swift action.

Johanneke led me to believe at the joint appointment with Quattron, on 26th January, that she and Dennis Klein would do their paperwork quickly.

She told me that getting the o.k. from Agis was a mere formality, and I should get the urgently needed support cushions quickly.

The first shock was getting an e-mail from Johanneke at the end of February to say she had just sent the paperwork to Agis for their approval.

When I queried this I found out that Dennis sent her his paperwork on 28^th January, Johanneke got the supporting letter from the doctor the week after.

Johanneke’s part of the paperwork was finally completed at the end of February, at the end of March Agis said yes.

The cushions went into production 2nd April; I will get them finally on 24^th June, so much for a mere formality.

Thumbs Up For Welzorg And Down For Quattron.

 
Raoul Santoserpa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raul_Santoserpa

What a week, tumbling out of the wheelchair, that has shaken us both up alot, guess we will have to get over our shock and get back outside.

Then getting calls from Agis, out health insurance Company, because of letters of complaint received, unhappy that I have been waiting for the support cushions since February.

Agis called Quattron, the supplier, who told them they would call me on Thursday to make an appointment to deliver the cushions.

They did not, when I called them on Friday, they denied that they had agreed to call me; they could tell me nothing, nor would they give me an appointment.

 Then I received an e-mail from Johanneke, my occupational therapist, informing me that Quattron had called her and told her they would deliver on 24^th June.

Amazing they could call her, but not me, not even an e –mail, once the support cushions are here I hope that I no longer have to deal with them.

They seem to not care about their customers, at least that is the impression they have given me, this was amplified by the total disinterest of whoever I spoke to on Friday at Quattron.

Welzorg on the other hand were great, they sent someone out on Friday afternoon, who straightened the bent support for the wheelchair, which meant I can use the wheelchair.

Brilliant response from Welzorg, I was very happy to thank them for their help, support, they really impressed me, not so Quattron, I hope they become more customer orientated soon.  

  

The Good News Is I Am Fine.

Trois figures - Les voyeuses - 1949
Alfred Georges Regner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred-Georges_Regner

This morning the woman from Agis called and left a voicemail message that she had spoken to Quattron, there had apparently been a ‘ little’ misunderstanding.

This was now sorted; Quattron said they would call me today to make an appointment to deliver the support cushions, sadly they have not phoned.

I can’t believe that this ’ little ’ misunderstanding that has meant discomfort for me, and I am sure many others too.

There was no word of an apology, that I had to wait a month, for the support cushions that I urgently need.

But thanks to Richie and about 15 assorted cushions, pillows that he places around me, I have managed to somehow sit in bed.

I shall call Agis tomorrow and request a fuller explanation, than the brief voicemail message I received.

That I got a call is all thanks to letters of complaints about my not getting the support cushions, complaints are not something Agis would like receiving.

We went to the market this afternoon which was great fun, we stocked up on Greek treats, on the way home crossing the road abit too fast caused me to fall out of my wheelchair.

We have no idea how it happened, one minute I was sitting, the next I was sprawled in the middle of the road.

Ten helpful people helped us, some stopped the traffic, one was a doctor who checked I was ok, then they helped Richie get me back in the wheelchair.

We went home, the wheelchair table hanging next to the chair, the bar supporting the table, was the only casualty and will need fixing before I can go out again.

That is not good as it could take ages, its Whitsun weekend and my Welzorg contact person is on holiday until June 20, the good news is I am fine.

Maybe Good News On Thursday

 
Football, 1953.
Victor Reinganum.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Reinganum

This morning I got a call from someone from Agis, my health insurers saying she was phoning because they had received some complaints.

The complaints were about me not getting my support cushions; she wanted to know why that was.

So I told her that the reason that I have not got them was the disagreement between Agis and Quattron.

She seemed surprised at this, as if she did not know about any disagreement, she asked me to explain.

So I told her that Quattron were suspending supplying anything to anyone until Agis paid them again, she seemed extremely surprised at this.

She said that could not be as they had agreed to pay for the support cushions and promised she would sort everything out.

I also was promised that this situation would be resolved asap; she said she would call me again on Thursday to let me know.

So finally nearly a month later, after being disappointed at being let down so badly an hour

before I was to get the urgently needed cushions, I may get them after all.

I will not get excited until I know for sure, hopefully Thursday this week, that would be good news.

The Waiting Game.

 Naive Art.
Ricardo Ponce.
Biography: He received his first formal training at the Elementary School of Fine Arts (Escuela Elemental de Artes Plásticas “20 Octubre”) and the Academy of Fine Arts (Academia de Artes Plásticas “San Alejandro”) in Havana.

He was born on September 21, 1968 in Puerto Padre, Las Tunas Province. He is a member of the ACAA, the Cuban Association of Artists and Artisans and the AHS, the Hermano Saíz Association.

A beautiful sunny day today, looking forward to going out, I hope Riche will get the hang of the temporary new joystick.

Still no news about the support cushions that I was supposed to get on Tuesday, an hour before the appointment my occupational therapist rang to cancel the appointment.

Johanneke was angry to have to be the one to tell me the bad news; luckily she had the faxes with agreement from my health insurance that we could order the cushions.

She hopes that she can persuade Agis to pay for the cushions, as per the agreement with them.

That was in March, Johanneke then asked Quattron, on 2^nd April to make the support cushions.

I  was led to believe this would take two weeks, finally some weeks ago I heard they would be  here on 17^th may.

Feeling let down by them all, February we had an appointment with a representative from Quattron.

Dennis told us once Agis gave the go ahead they could be made in two weeks; Johanneke said getting the ok from Ages was a formality.

Now Agis and Quattron have a disagreement and until that is resolved no support cushions for me or anyone else.   

Another Good Appointment.

"Ridicule is Nothing to be Scared Of’’ 2006.
James Gobel.
http://www.marxzav.com/artist.php?artistID=26#

Had another very good appointment at 13.00 today with Denis from Quattron and my Occupational Therapist Johanneke.

Denis measured me up for cushions, they will give me a stable position in bed, look forward to that, should get them in March.

It was only an appointment of 1 hour and 30 minutes, but I feel very tired now and so does Richie.

Be good to get these cushions, as I can not maintain a stable position in bed, and have spent ail afternoon collapsed. to the left.

This is very tiring and creates a lot of unnecessary stress which I do not need, not with all the stress of having Progressive MS.

Luckily Richie has found some more pillows and cushions and I am sitting alright now.which is brilliant after the last couple of hours of discomfort.

Off for a shower now and before that, maybe even a haircut, that would be pleasant, as my hair isa getting long on top.

See if Richie is feeling up to doing my hair tonight, as he seems to be getting a cold, hope I do not get it too.

]

Looking forward to a quiet relaxing evening now and a delicious dinner..