Struggling with everything

PBL3
PBL3 Member Posts: 7
in Living with arthritis

Hi, i have posted here previously but nothing has really changed for me except the date and my increased pain levels. Any tips or advice welcome to help me navigate this diagnosis would be helpful. I am becoming more of a hermit and depressed about it all. Oh and to top it all off i have been told i am in the peri menopause which is NOT helping my situation.

Background: I was diagnosed back in september 2021 with moderate osteoarthritis in my left hip. There was talk from my physio in 2022 about getting a referral to the hospital for consideration of a hip replacement. well I am STILL waiting for that. They kept putting off the referral stating my age (too young) and weight, even though i was very slowly losing some. they eventually re did my xrays and told me 'it is worse than before' no other information. had to have a breakdown at the physio about how much it was affecting me and my family before he agreed to make the referral. However my 3 local hospitals apparently will not accept me so have to travel even further for the consult. Due to now having a referral i no longer see the physio. The hospital wrote to me saying they accept the referral but will be over 18 weeks before the appointment. It has now been 14 weeks of waiting and still no appointment given. Has anyone got any thoughts or tips on how to get seen quicker or what to actually say when i do eventually have my appointment? i get the feeling they will try fobbing me off again just like what has been happening all through my journey. Even the last GP i saw cannot understand why it has taken so long to get referrals.

I receive PIP for standard care and support only. I also now have a blue badge. I have had to buy a new car as could not drive a manual any more and we recently had to purchase a wheelchair to be able to have days out with the kids as they were suffering from not being able to do things because of me. I absolutely hate this. I used to be such an independent person. I have had to give up my Pilates classes as could no longer participate. I can no longer get on the ground. I struggle just picking things up from the floor or bending over.

For help with my weight i was referred to the local tier 3 weight management at the nearest hospital that have this service, which is over an hour away (have at least 3 closer). waited over a year for the consult to be told they could only offer me the intensive weight management programme which is a milk based liquid diet. Its been 6 weeks since that appointment and i have to wait until July before starting it. Has anyone been through this that can give me any tips? I am not sure i will be able to cope with it. Im not the biggest fan of drinking milk.

Sorry this seems to have turned into a vent post but i am really struggling on how to manage this on a daily basis. i cant even do my housework or go shopping anymore. I seem to cry everyday about something else i cannot do or the pain i am in.

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