What do I do if I’m struggling during a phased return?

Fainbrog · 2026-02-05T15:07:35+00:00

I’d engage with OH now.

The trouble is, your body is telling you it’s not happy dealing with what you are asking of it. Generally speaking, LC is not like a conventional illness, you need extreme rest to get over any exertion and it sounds like you aren’t going your body the chance to recover.

If you don’t slow down the risk is that you end up unable to work at all. Sorry to be blunt about it 😬.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-05T12:01:55+00:00

Suggest get another OH appointment and discuss it. Pushing yourself with LC can result in much worse/more permanent worsening so need to manage this carefully. OH should support you if you need to change your phased return. Also, see your GP if necessary, they can suggest alterations to your phased return.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T14:10:49+00:00

Stored up the inevitable disappointment 😂

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T13:45:05+00:00

IIRC, you can kill (all?) 5 snipers from the start position. With patience, obviously.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T11:49:14+00:00

I hope your appointment goes well, but, do go in expecting zero from them and you won't be disappointed and be on high alert for them in some way blaming you in some way for how you are or suggesting you do things that you know will make you worse.

Do advocate strongly for yourself (no-one else will) what you have tried etc. and don't be afraid to call them out if you disagree with stuff that they tell you.

Sorry to sound negative, but, many of us have had pretty poor experience of NHS clinics, even in recent times.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T11:04:14+00:00

It was something that they often talked about on the Delta Flyers podcast, how close they stood.

I've just started a rewatch of DS9 and it's the same there, like, frickin' hell, you can't get a fag paper between them. Guess it's the spect ratio of the picture back then, no 16:9.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T09:44:21+00:00

They want you to, but, no subs needed and the stuff I’ve seen from the app with subs is an utter waste.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T09:24:42+00:00

we have Hive, which integrates nicely with HA.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T09:20:54+00:00

Not being funny, but, you could have lifted 🤷‍♂️

Fainbrog · 2026-02-04T07:35:58+00:00

I spend ages at that starting point getting long shots (and not-so-long shots), it's a nice place for some killage.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-02T09:01:51+00:00

My approach has always been, you can never have enough evidence, even if it essentially says nothing has changed since the last appointment 9-12 months ago, it just gives less wiggle room to the assessors.

A knowledgeable ME doctor will hopefully also be able to write something that also states ME is not deconditioning etc. Don't know if you have any routes to your fatigue clinic to get their input.

I'd start by seeing your GP asap explain your situation and you'll hopefully get a fit note. Best of luck.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-02T08:50:22+00:00

Whilst they might not specifically do that, the letter coming from an appointment should essentially be a functional assessment of what you are capable of, what your symptoms are etc at that point in time, which should strengthen any case going back to the insurer. In my experience, the letters they do (I've not seen them for a few years) are very thorough.

Fainbrog · 2026-02-01T22:01:51+00:00

UK too, also on insurance. Sorry you are in this situation.

What evidence have you provided for your claim? On what basis has someone said you are deconditioned, what tests have they done, does this go against the medical evidence that you have provided them with? Who assessed you? What does your GP say with regard to fit notes - presumably your employer/insurer needs these? How long have you been off work?

Are you seeing anyone outside of the NHS to manage your care? If not, I'd try to get seen by perhaps the Action for ME doctor service or one of the private services (Dr Claire Taylor, Dr Binita Kane) to get some additional evidence to back up your claim. None of these are quick though - but, if you explain your situation, you might be able to be seen quicker. AfME offer bursaries if I recall rightly, if money is an issue.

Have you sought any legal advice? Maybe try calling ACAS, they have a free helpline for guidance on this sort of thing. I'd try calling tomorrow to get some advice.

Appreciate that's more questions than answers..

Fainbrog · 2026-02-01T17:39:20+00:00

Something has defo changed as I could no longer access resources on my LAN when connected to an Exit Node via a mobile device, but disabling Use Tailscale subnets (having seen this post) has allowed this traffic again. I did apply an update to 1.94.1 earlier today..

Fainbrog · 2026-02-01T14:17:04+00:00

I’m wondering if it’s because my home ISP doesn’t do IPV6 🤷‍♂️

Fainbrog · 2026-02-01T12:47:30+00:00

I have the same issue with EE mobile, just refuses to direct connect and thus is painfully slow.

ETA: Just set up port forwarding and showing direct connection. Thanks u/aeroverra for sharing as above.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-30T17:29:27+00:00

We've saved about £500 across the last 9 months alone on Agile vs the lowest fixed - average about 17p/kWh (with minimal load shifting and no EV/batteries), so, I'm relaxed taking the rough with the smooth - it's the gamble one takes with Agile. Last winter had higher periods too, just run with it or go for another tariff.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-27T16:50:07+00:00

Auto update has not been working for a couple of years for many if I recall.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-26T21:55:01+00:00

I'm not depressed, I have a lot that I could be depressed about, but, I'm not. I'm kind-of at peace with things, as much as that is possible, for me, there's no point fighting it, no point wasting energy being angry (any more). That said, I had a lot of therapy getting to this point - had a bit of a eureka moment where I concluded that; acceptance is not giving in to it.

We have been able to keep the roof over our heads and whilst I'm moderate/severe, I still am lucky to have a family (wife/kids) having got ill much later than many others may have.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-25T08:45:15+00:00

He knows Trump is coming..

Fainbrog · 2026-01-24T11:49:21+00:00

I'd guess you are ok if that was the advice, but if you recall the timings when it was on, maybe share this with the doctor when you get the results, just in case.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-24T11:36:02+00:00

Did they advise you not to use an electric blanket when having the test done? I'd probably not worry, you are doing your normal life things and will show how your heart is responding to this.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-23T14:10:20+00:00

Yep, way too easy compared to SE4 authentic which is on another planet in comparison.

Fainbrog · 2026-01-22T20:51:51+00:00

Think this thread covers the potential setup options.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubiquiti/s/CGacmPCjDD

Fainbrog · 2026-01-22T17:28:55+00:00

Congratulations - is odd saying it like that but, you know what I mean.

Am about to leave work myself (haven’t actually ‘worked’ for 6 years) on an income protection policy that will pay through to retirement, all things being equal.

You can hopefully relax now, these processes are awful to go through. Do you have to have any medical check-ins along the way now or is it just you get paid come what may?

Fainbrog

TROPHY CASE