No .. BUPA wont cover any form of SCS because it's not a cure as such. I'm on the good old NHS !!

So tired today .. have had bad flare ups and whilst I am trying desperately to not have any stronger painkillers, the ones I have do nothing really ... the Tramadol possibly hazes me out a bit but I remember you saying Sophie, that it gives you a dry mouth .. me too !! Been on Diazepam the last few days which depresses me ... and I do need to see the doctor about my meds as my husband pointed out that they gave me Diazepam when I had post natal depression with my first daughter (on top of Tamazepam) and I was suicidal .. I'd forgotten all about that.

Anyone want any .. I have loads !! lol

Got another journey to Eastbourne on Wednesday and back Thursday .. that's another 9 hour round trip if we're lucky ... the third since June. It's a killer, but at least it wont kill me, like the cancer is killing my father in law.

Then I am just going to put a bag over my head and sit in a corner and pretend I'm not there.

You make me want to grab Cleo and bring Talon along to meet Tootle, then give you big hugz because you are so LOW. You make tears accumulate in my eyes. This awful sense that pain is overwhelming you and waiting for NHS to address things is just plain inhuman.

You are well and truly in our thoughts, in our prayers, and hopes that sooner than later help comes your way.

Oh, how I know, SCS is not a Cure for pain as it is only a pain management technique. The pain is always still there as I know well from turning down my unit from time to time to check things out.

Prayin,
Mark56zzzzzzzz

Hi Saffy,
Gosh I didn't realise your father in law was so sick, of course the stress from that alone is enough to increase your pain and the worry of it all and of course your hubby is there for you and his Mam & Dad.
I take they live in Eastbourne, god love you, 9 hours in a car, I know I couldn't do it but then again needs must.
I've sent you a PM too.

Take care hun,

Sinéad xxx

Saffy I dont understand why BUPA wont cover your SCS. Did they cover the first one? Im with Bupa here in Ireland and I had absolutely no problem whatsoever getting cover and also when the faulty battery needed to be changed my stay in hospital was covered and also the battery.

The SCS isnt a cure as we all know it is just another part of our 'pain management' programme. I was told from day one that it wasnt a cure so Im bemused as to why they wont cover it

Could it maybe be your cover? Anyway I hope you get it sorted out sooner rather than later as you seem to be in so much pain

Jackie

It seems to me that pain ought to be considered a health-threatening condition all by itself. Because it is. And maybe you can't "cure" it in that you can't make the cause go away, but treating it is still beneficial to the patient's overall health. Do they view putting incurable cancers into remission the same way as this under your system?

I must side with Joan, Rae, Saffy, Sinead, golly, the whole kit and kaboodle on the notion that pain no matter how it is perceived by insurance does work its evil way into a threat to life, most especially if severe [we all pass] and protracted over length of time [we all pass here as well]. Love of life can falter when pain is the only facet; it was for this reason the thread Blessings was started. As any of us look beyond ourself to others and their needs, we ultimately are able to number blessings and notice the positive side of life which has persisted all of the while.

Love to each,
Mark56

Hello my friends. I'm feeling a lot brighter today. I didn't have any Diazepam yesterday and took an extra Tramadol last night which, together with a couple of glasses of wine and only ONE 10ml of Amytryptilline that I found in a drawer, helped me have a good night's sleep.

I do think that Diazepam is the drug making me feel "low" and have just handed in a letter explaining this to my Doctor as I can't get into see her till the 14th. I've also asked for Zopiclone to take SOME nights when I need more than 3 hours uninterrupted sleep, as this is what they gave me in Hospital for sleeping at night and it worked really well.

Jackiey .. I can't believe you got cover ok for your stim with BUPA. I'm under Mike's BUPA scheme at work.

I'm going to ask my Doctor to put me down for Alternative Therapy .. and hope that Reflexology will count because it will relax me and do me good !!!

Keep smily folks ... x x x

Absolutely Saffy there was no problem at all. Thats why Im a bit bemused why they wouldnt cover you. So are you saying that the original one you had done is done on the NHS? I know here in Ireland you would literally have to be on your last legs(if you get what I mean) before they will do that operation on our Health Service.

My Consultant said that the public hospitals dont do them that often at all. Maybe one a year! But anyone who has private medical care can have it done obviously. So when it was decided I needed the SCS I was given two codes. One for the trial and one for the actual permanent implant. This was given to Bupa and they then came back and said yep I was covered for that and that I would need a Psych evaluation also. Both my husband and I have cover in our own names. I have FamilyCare cover. And as I said earlier everything was paid for. The stay in hospital (less excesses) the operations, the blood work, etc. Everything!....so Im thinking could it maybe be something to do with your cover?....do you know which cover you have?

So do you have to wait a long time on the NHS for this new one? or will they do it soon?

Im glad you got a good nights sleep. I too am on Amytriptelene nightly. 25mg I think they are, but have to say dont find them great, but I am a light sleeper anyway

Hope you continue to have 'brighter days' too

Thank you for this loving reminder, Mark.
Sometimes I get off track and it's hard to see things on the positive side. It's good to be reminded of this....