3 healthcare workers - dumb, dumber and (you guessed it), dumbest!

No, this is not leading to a side splitting joke - honestly.

Over the past week and a half, 2 health visitors (both at the same time) and an occupational therapist have visited me at home.

I have been patiently waiting for 3 months or so to see such people.

They were visiting me to reassess my needs as to whether an electric wheelchair would be more suitable now that my ppms has progressed and other assistive devices to help with daily living.

I truly understand that out there in the community, some people have it worse than us - I’m thinking terminally ill and families coping with loved ones who have dementia, so I do understand I’m not a priority and therefore I’m grateful to them for coming to seeing me.

I was astounded and saddened by their collective lack of knowledge of MS in general, let alone PPMS. Just for reference the age range of the healthcare workers is late 20’s, late 40’s and late 50’s.

I will only give you a selection of comments from the health workers

“I know people with MS and they are still walking and even taking part in a local half marathon”

“You look so well, it’s a pity that this has happened to you, you’re so young”

’ Make the most of what time you have and have as many experiences as you can"

“Get a puppy, it would make a good companion for you and you can take it for a walk and get out more”

“You should move into a more suitable home”

“You looked after your children, it’s their time to look after you”

Well, I suppose, the above comments do make you shake your head in disbelief and put a wry smile on your face in a farcical way.

I did retort to the OT regarding the puppy - ‘and who is going to scoop the poop, mop the wee and take it to obedience classes, let alone the vet when it needs it’s vaccinations and walk it. (The more I think about my retort the more I could apply it to me and PPMS - in joke for ppmsers’).

Go on make me laugh with your experiences of healthcare workers.

Take care all xx

Hello there, fortunately I have not had any personal dealings with such people although I’m approaching that stage. My father however has had many such incidents with so called health care professionals and the “carers” who used to attend daily. Even after he cancelled the visits they just kept on turning up. Now physios-I don’t doubt their sincerity but (maybe I’ve been unlucky) they seem to take great satisdaction in pushing me so hard it’s messed me up for the next couple of days. Then thewre was the indignance of a certain madam when I declined to “keep going” because I prefered to use my energy on more pleasurable things. Best wishes, Steve.

Goodness Steve you seem to have been allocated the team nobody else wants. I must say that my lot are fantastic, they seem to have gone to the right classes on ms and its limitations. Don’t give up, there are good ones out there.

Cath xx

Hi, sorry to hear you got a set of folk who dont understand MS.

Folk look at me competely lost when they ask what is my condition and I say;

idiopathic spastic paraparesis.

Yeh!

pollx

ps I`ve had great help from physios, district nurses, GP, carers, as regards neuros…not so great!

“idiopathic spastic paraparesis” - great response, I’ll try that one out next time I’m asked, thank you Poll. There appears to be no rhyme or reason on why some healthcare workers have a handle on ms and it’s many guises and others don’t. My GP is useless and always refers back to the Neuro / ms nurse - well when I say “refers back” - it’s usually left to me to make contact with ms team. Saying that my Neuro and ms nurses are very good - even though there’s not a lot they can actual do for me regarding treatment/drugs, however, they will refer to other departments such as physio, urology, if necessary. Take care all xx