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Pain when travelling with fibro

I hate travelling because I have fibromyalgia and it makes my pain worse. Also it leaves me physically and mentally wrecked for days afterwards.
Short local journeys by taxi are not so bad, but I have 2 hospital appointments coming up and am dreading the travelling.
I used to be able to get hospital transport but it has all changed now. Your eligibility is decided by a points system. Apparently I no longer qualify because I can physically get into a car. No consideration of the help I need from someone to do this, or that I need a wheelchair once at the hospital as I can't walk far. Porters are usually too busy and may take an hour to be able to take you.
The first appointment is for a pre surgery assessment, and the 2nd is for the actual surgery as a day case (cataract replacement).
I cannot use public transport. I can't get a lift from anyone. I have nobody to accompany me. The only option is a taxi with a driver who knows nothing about fibro and whose job ends when I get out of his cab.
I also suffer from incontinence so getting from A - B a.s.a.p. is important to reduce any embarrassment. Both hospitals are just under 20 miles away, and depending on traffic, 40-60 mins.
Any ideas how to make the journeys easier?
Short local journeys by taxi are not so bad, but I have 2 hospital appointments coming up and am dreading the travelling.
I used to be able to get hospital transport but it has all changed now. Your eligibility is decided by a points system. Apparently I no longer qualify because I can physically get into a car. No consideration of the help I need from someone to do this, or that I need a wheelchair once at the hospital as I can't walk far. Porters are usually too busy and may take an hour to be able to take you.
The first appointment is for a pre surgery assessment, and the 2nd is for the actual surgery as a day case (cataract replacement).
I cannot use public transport. I can't get a lift from anyone. I have nobody to accompany me. The only option is a taxi with a driver who knows nothing about fibro and whose job ends when I get out of his cab.
I also suffer from incontinence so getting from A - B a.s.a.p. is important to reduce any embarrassment. Both hospitals are just under 20 miles away, and depending on traffic, 40-60 mins.
Any ideas how to make the journeys easier?
Replies
Is there no one at all who would be able to drive you there?
Could you take things to distract you in the taxi? It could be a good or to download podcasts beforehand. I hope your appointments both go okay
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Unfortunately not. Family don't live near enough.
There is a volunteer car service I could book but it's going to cost about £160 and that still leaves the problem of having to get from reception to my appointment. I have very little energy by afternoon so will need help from others.
Have you asked if the hospital would cover your travel costs?
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If I was travelling on public transport I would be able to claim travel expenses. If that was the case A) I wouldn't claim because I have a free travel pass.
To top it all I'm stressed expecting a DWP letter giving me a date for a PIP f2f which I'm dreading. If I don't get a home visit then that's another taxi £80 to the assessment centre.
Also the first hosp appointment is for pre assessment for cataract surgery which will probably need to be postponed as I still have an ongoing eye problem. So I will need the same appointment at a later date, but if I cancel the appointment I'll be taken off the waiting list!!!!!!!!
I sometimes think my head won't take any more (feeling sorry for myself now, boo hoo).
Oh and I bought a box of Cornflakes yesterday, and I don't even like the bloody things.😞
Feel free to smile
Also on the point of taxis, the hospitals around me are further away and it costs a lot of money to use taxis. My son was going to go with me by taxi if I couldn’t get a lift. Anyway it’s worth looking into on the internet, at the doctors or at the library etc. It’s terrible that I consider it okay to avoid hospital appointments due to my health issues and unnecessary.