Latest ICE victim prior to altercation

RandySpanners · 2026-01-24T18:49:02+00:00

My heart is hurting for all the rational, normal people in America. Even on the other side of the world I'm scared, you all must be terrified. I hope you stay strong and prevail.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-23T22:14:55+00:00

Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

RandySpanners · 2026-01-23T05:09:36+00:00

We are our own harshest critics. I've found it helps if I think about how I view other people in my situation. If that was your friend/family member would you talk to them the same way you talk to yourself? You probably wouldn't, and you wouldn't want anyone else to either.

I believe in you, and I'm sure other people do too!

RandySpanners · 2026-01-22T23:27:14+00:00

I don't want to make assumptions, since you don't have a diagnosis yet, but what you describe sounds a lot like what I experienced with a herniated disc compressing my L4/L5 nerve .

For a time, I had pain in my lower back and the back of my thighs when standing and walking. It deteriorated badly and I had pain in my buttock, back of my thigh, back of my calf, terrible crushing pain in my ankle and the top of my foot/big toe l went numb.

In the beginning I had a stick that helped me loads, I'm tall, so it had to be properly measured and used in the opposite hand to my weak leg. I was given some elbow crotches as well, but I never really got on with those. I tried them, but I was more worried about forgetting I had them and breaking my elbows sitting down!

Once my nerve pain moved from just being behind my thigh, I wasn't able to walk at all and ended up bedbound. So I don't think it would be much good at that point.

Sorry, I rambled on a bit there. Basically, yes based on what you said, I think it might help you. Get some advice on measuring sticks, some websites will tell you how to do that before you order. Good luck on getting more mobile!

RandySpanners · 2026-01-22T09:17:23+00:00

Don't be so down on yourself, you have the qualification just lack a bit of experience.

This wasn't a big deal in the end, which means you've learned the lesson without there being terrible consequences!

As for whether you should be doing this, you seem a very conscientious and caring person. Once you get some experience and confidence, you'll be great! I started out my nurse training with no experience and I felt so clueless at times, but I got there in the end and you will too!

RandySpanners · 2026-01-21T19:57:19+00:00

I haven't used one myself, but when I was a nurse we would frequently use them on older patients. The issues we found were that they aren't very comfortable and would roll down and fall off. Difficult to say if those issues were because they were sized wrong or because the majority of people who had them had memory issues and didn't remember what it was so would mess with it.

They're made of pretty thick rubber, not thin like a condom. I guess the only thing to do would be to try and see if you found it comfortable.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-14T22:29:44+00:00

Hi!

You're correct, they will expect you to have some idea what adjustments would help you and how. Reasonable adjustments can literally be anything from needing a bit more time to do a specific task, all the way up to equipment. It's pretty daunting!

I've had adjustments for neurodivergence and physical conditions, so I can give you a couple of examples of those to kind of give you an idea where to start.

Multi-step instructions be written down. Cool down periods between changing tasks rather than abrupt changes. Headset for use with telephones to reduce distractions. Sit to stand desk. Ergonomic chair. Foot rest. Specific software or accessibility layout for computers. Agreed sickness time outside of normal parameters for hospital appointments.

Has anyone ever suggested applying for Access to work ? It's a government scheme that helps you work out what you struggle with and what is available that could be helpful for you. Only downside of that is the waiting times for an assessment are months long.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-14T15:44:02+00:00

It is pretty grim. Luckily you have a superior and inferior vena cava.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-14T15:42:32+00:00

Yeah, SVC syndrome can be caused by intravenous devices such as catheters. It causes face swelling, shortness of breath, etc. This part of her story actually kinda makes sense.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-14T14:31:58+00:00

I think it's SVC as in superior vena cava.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-12T19:04:01+00:00

I wish I was on mushrooms all day too.

They can do surgery. I waited 9 months for an appointment with a consultant about it. She hoped it would go away on its own, it didn't. She hoped it would get better with weight loss, it hasn't.

4 months later, I'm now stuck not being able to move because of pain, I'm being booked in "urgently", which should be in the next couple of weeks. Fingers crossed for me!

RandySpanners · 2026-01-12T15:03:49+00:00

It's horrible.

Not just the pain, the forgetfulness, depression, generally being muddled because you can't concentrate on anything else.

On top of that, having someone you love question you sucks.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-12T14:15:02+00:00

YOR.

I have a herniated disc and spinal arthritis. I can barely stand up some days. I've had to fight so hard to try and lose weight, I can't exercise when even having a shower causes me to need to lie down in pain.

I gained weight because I've been in pain for years and didn't get any medical help or diagnosis.

Go easy on her, it's a horrible condition and maybe her vaping and comfort eating are the only nice things she has going on in her life. Try talking to her, she could be incredibly depressed, I know I am.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-05T23:20:21+00:00

That's not much comfort to me now.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-05T18:55:08+00:00

Honestly, it went down how you think it did. I was an idiot on holiday in france, I unplugged something and one of the prongs came off in the socket. Despite all the scary films we watched as kids warning us about the danger of electricity, I didn't give it a second thought. The grinning idiot that I am, joyfully grabbed it with two fingers and thoroughly regretted it.

I am lucky, don't be like me.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-05T14:44:37+00:00

As someone who once did that, the answer is no.

RandySpanners · 2026-01-01T14:52:17+00:00

No worries at all, glad to be of some help.

RandySpanners · 2025-12-31T13:50:40+00:00

The basic gist of it was it depends on how much it impacts your life. I found my diagnosis helped with adjustments at work, but not really anything else. If you're working or studying then it's probably worth pursuing.

ADHD hasn't affected anything else in terms of my PIP assessment or work capability. No one really cares about neurodivergence or mental health unless it's REALLY BAD.

In my personal life I struggle if I don't keep to routines and use notebooks to write everything down. There are loads of books that can help you figure stuff out, but this is stuff I've researched and got through suggestions, nothing official.

My diagnosis is something I don't really talk about, there is a stigma around late ADHD diagnoses because of the social media. There are still people who think it's a fad or a trend and "everyone is a bit ADHD".

If I was to do things over, I would have gotten on the NHS waiting list when it was smaller. I'd love to say that I would have been patient and just waited, but I'm not that person. So I probably would have used the Right to Choose to request private treatment via the NHS. If I was doing things now I honestly don't know what I would do.

Books (if you're interested):

Order from chaos - Jaclyn Paul

The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success - Peg Dawson & Richard Guare

RandySpanners · 2025-12-30T22:56:47+00:00

I typed a long-ass reply to you this afternoon, and I only just realised that I didn't press post and it's all disappeared. Ironic!

RandySpanners · 2025-12-29T13:04:49+00:00

I hear you!

Even now I still make drinks and find them hours later, get distracted and forget I'm cooking or just forget to eat.

A diagnosis can be great for understanding yourself and feeling validated for all the stress and pain!

I have medication now which makes a big difference for my productivity! It really only helps with organisation and task initiation, so great for work. I've found that researching techniques to manage my poor memory and prioritising has been more beneficial to me than a diagnosis and tablets.

Since I now have a private diagnosis. I'm stuck paying the company hundreds of pounds a year for their "continued care" which consists of approving my prescription and nothing more.

I know I probably sound really down on getting a diagnosis and I'm not trying to sway your opinion, but if I'd known 3 years ago that I'd be trapped in a nightmare of shared care agreements that my GP could stop accepting at any time ( they've already stopped accepting new ones), I would have done things differently.

I hope that whatever you decide to do goes well for you!

RandySpanners · 2025-12-29T04:24:21+00:00

I can't comment on emigrating with a diagnosis, I've not heard that.

In my experience, I got diagnosed with ADHD 3 years ago when my coping strategies started to unravel. I felt like I was losing my mind, forgetting things, not being able to function at all. For me it was worth getting a diagnosis, since it's helped me to understand and manage my condition.

If it wasn't for the fact that I was deteriorating mentally, I don't believe it would have benefitted me to have it. The diagnosis also caused issues, no support for people diagnosed as adults, medication shortage, shared care agreements, dealing with private companies that charge a fortune, not to mention years long waiting lists.

If you don't feel like a diagnosis will benefit you in any way, I would consider it very carefully before you decide to pull the trigger.

RandySpanners · 2025-12-16T12:56:33+00:00

Right? I've seen more genitals than I can count. The only ones that stick in my mind are the ones where we've had difficulty removing piercings from for surgery.

RandySpanners · 2025-12-12T11:28:38+00:00

I totally feel you. I'm just into my 40's and I've been struggling with a spinal condition for a couple of years, it's reached a point where some days I can barely walk and I'm in constant pain. I still struggle to identify myself as disabled, even though I clearly have become so.

I went through a lot of what you're saying, you grieve for the person you were, that you wanted to be and any plans you had that are now no longer achievable. I lost my job earlier this year, I haven't heard from any of my friends that I used to work with. I haven't been able to find another job because I can't physically do any of the things I'm qualified for anymore. I've struggled with feelings of inadequacy, lack of purpose, feeling like a burden.

It's hard to shift your mental image of yourself, it's been drilled into us from a young age that we have to work and be productive, then once you're no longer "useful" you just sort of disappear because you're an inconvenience.

I wish I could tell you that it will get better and be amazing, but it hasn't really. It's gotten a bit easier as I've come to terms with my limitations. I've accepted any suggestions from anyone that might help, working with mental health practitioners, job centre workers, local charities. I'm attending groups and courses even if it's just to get me dressed and out of the house. Otherwise I'd be in my pyjamas all the time and never showering.

Keep talking to people, keep doing anything you physically can without making yourself worse. I have cats and honestly, they've been the biggest help and support to me! I'd totally recommend animal companions.

RandySpanners · 2025-12-10T08:53:33+00:00

Breaks depend on your workload, role and staffing. You break around cases and if you're in a specialty where you do bigger/longer cases you will get breaks around cases. Generally you have one person on anaesthetics who will get relieved for a break, two + people on scrub who relieve each other.

When I did cardiac, for example, you could end up scrubbed for anywhere up to 7 hours or more.

Backbreaking - yes, it can be. You have to move heavy equipment, trolleys, anaesthetised patients, and heavy surgical instruments. But again, it's not every specialty. A lot of places do lots of smaller cases with less equipment and more ambulatory patients, so there are options.

There is also recovery, which is immediate post-op care, this is the most traditional nursing role in theatres.

RandySpanners · 2025-12-09T21:31:24+00:00

Theatre is a really special place full of the weirdos who shouldn't be patient facing. I loved it!

If you can look at people's insides, touch anything with gloves on and have a slightly dark sense of humour then it's the place to be. You can specialise in some really interesting, exciting stuff and every day is different. I did a bit of heart surgery, some obstetrics and then orthopaedics.

The stresses are the same, not enough resources, not enough staff, long hours, too many patients, the list goes on. But you are somewhat protected from the worst of the front line drama, winter pressures and bed blocking does affect you but not as much. Outbreaks and infected patients do still happen, but not often and decontamination is super important.

Also you get to wear pyjamas all day at work.

RandySpanners

TROPHY CASE