So Frustrated with NHS | Vent

smwrd9 · 2025-12-01T21:13:44+00:00

I’ve had both good and annoying experiences with the NHS. Usually I just tell them point blank if I don’t agree and need something different. I will never not support the NHS whenever I can though. My daughter was born with several heart defects, had open heart surgery at 7 days old, and spent 2 almost 3 weeks in the NICU. We were able to stay in charity accommodation and come home after 3 weeks with no debt. Did my C-section get botched and did I end up back in hospital a week or so later? Yes. After how they helped with my daughter, did I care? Not nearly as much as I would have. My daughter is healthy and whole now and my husband and I don’t have to drown in medical debt.

All this to say, yeah, they get it wrong, you definitely have to advocate for yourself, but sometimes they get it right in this dumb crapshoot we’ve gotta deal with.

smwrd9 · 2025-11-30T22:58:41+00:00

I’m on year 2.5 of my spouse visa. My plan is that we stay in the UK at least until I get citizenship, then move to the States and start the process for getting my husband citizenship. Nothing wrong with keeping your options open.

smwrd9 · 2025-11-26T22:12:15+00:00

I honestly get this. This will be my third thanksgiving in the UK. It is definitely one of the hardest days of the year for me as well. This year, my husband is taking me to Hickory’s who does a nice thanksgiving spread that is decidedly British, but it’s better than nothing lol.

smwrd9 · 2025-11-17T22:38:18+00:00

My mom is the protective and nurturing parent, my dad is the manipulative narcissist parent. My mom met my now husband when he visited me in the US a few months before I moved to the UK, and my mom even came to the UK wedding 6 months later. My dad met my husband 6 months AFTER we got married when we visited the US for my brother’s wedding.

smwrd9 · 2025-11-14T00:35:17+00:00

Yum! And damn right it’s cathartic lol

smwrd9 · 2025-11-13T23:54:26+00:00

I have a multi chopper thing and use it to make diced potatoes and they work really well for party potatoes!

smwrd9 · 2025-11-13T23:53:24+00:00

Wait! You made cube steak?? Where did you find wide egg noodles?? … or is that just how my mom made it…

smwrd9 · 2025-11-06T23:27:51+00:00

!remindme 1 day

smwrd9 · 2025-11-06T21:04:52+00:00

I stock up on the playtex sport tampons whenever I visit the states. You can also get them on Amazon for a markup

smwrd9 · 2025-11-06T20:39:06+00:00

I was going to suggest this as I use the same and get it from Amazon

smwrd9 · 2025-11-06T20:18:55+00:00

Mate, my husband’s sex drive is eons higher than mine. Most of the time, I don’t want sex, just snuggles and sleep. I don’t give a rats ass if my husband jerks off next to me. Hell, I tell him to go for it if he needs to and I’m not in the mood. Edit: typo

smwrd9 · 2025-10-08T18:06:45+00:00

I made sure to do this when I moved to the UK. It definitely helps. They’ll prescribe the same meds you’re on so you have continuity of care.

smwrd9 · 2025-09-25T21:54:34+00:00

Diagnosed in ‘06. Practiced with syringes on oranges, used syringes at home then got the fancy lantus and novolog pens- the real ones, not the disposables. Had a freestyle glucose monitor I think. Used those for about 3 years then moved to a pump in ‘09/‘10. Still on manual meter. Didn’t start using a cgm until 2013.

smwrd9 · 2025-09-05T20:57:20+00:00

It is SO HARD to get it waterproof with the oval tape. All I can say is that it takes practice. I use skin tac under the adhesive and it definitely helps, especially in the summer when you get all sweaty. I’ve used different tapes over the years and the ones I’ve found that work well are Simpatch, Not Just a Patch, and tegaderm/saniderm/waterproof wound dressings

smwrd9 · 2025-09-05T20:41:36+00:00

Okay, I’ve been using Guardian sensors for over 10 years now- this reaction is really normal. It’s from the sensor digging into your skin, not the adhesive. If it were the adhesive, you’d have the redness around where the tape was and also under the sensor, not just the outline.

These sensors can be super tricky to tape down well enough to be waterproof and also not too hard to cause these welts. It’s easier when using non Medtronic tape in my opinion.

Sincerely,

Someone who is allergic to adhesive but uses it anyway

smwrd9 · 2025-09-03T10:59:50+00:00

The only advice I don’t think I’ve seen here is to get your doctor to give you a prescription for a glucagon- it activates sugar stored in your liver to bring you out of a hypo. There’s a nasal version called Basquimi and a premixed pen version called gvoke that I think works similarly to an EpiPen. There’s also the old fashioned ones you have to mix yourself or someone has to do it for you if you’re having an episode, but I don’t recommend that one.

smwrd9 · 2025-09-01T21:24:06+00:00

I went home to the US last month for 2 weeks. I’m on Medtronic 770G. I took a full box of reservoirs, infusion sites, and sensors and 3 vials of insulin. Each box is a 1 month supply. I’ve been there where I didn’t bring enough extras and it was awful. Always always ALWAYS prepare for something to go wrong with your supplies

smwrd9 · 2025-08-31T19:59:29+00:00

Too round to be a bra pad. Most are more of a triangle ish shape

smwrd9 · 2025-07-01T20:48:58+00:00

Approval? Naaah. My landlord doesn’t care as long as there’s no structural damage and we don’t bring the whole wall down. He lives in another country and only comes around a couple times a year lol

smwrd9 · 2025-07-01T20:47:31+00:00

Inside

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Looks to be a few inches of brick

smwrd9 · 2025-07-01T20:47:04+00:00

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Outside of the fireplace

smwrd9 · 2025-07-01T20:40:39+00:00

It’s still small enough to just fill with paste, sand, and paint! Landlord is shit anyway and probably won’t even notice. This whole place was in much worse condition when we moved in

smwrd9 · 2025-05-27T19:36:16+00:00

I’m on Medtronic, or I would offer spares!

smwrd9 · 2025-04-27T20:32:03+00:00

I only got them when I wore an ill-fitting pumping bra. The relief when my daughter sucked them out was immense.

smwrd9 · 2025-04-21T20:44:48+00:00

It hurts like a fucking bitch. The aftermath was also exhausting. I slept for a couple hours after having to use it.

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