Hi all,
I thought i would give you an update on the latest events.
I rang the councillor this morning and told her of my chat with the consultant and that he had backed me up with all the things that she thought were me being over anxious! I also told her that she had now put me in a difficult position with our DSN as i now felt a bit betrayed by her and didnt feel our relationship could carry on.
I also told her that the consultant had apologised on behalf of the councillor - for her unprofessional manner.
I told her that we already lived in an anxious state for a good proportion of the time and i really didnt need her to add to my worries - when she should have been ringing to help Alex.
She started to apologise and make excuses that she had been given our case at the last minute and that it was a hot day and she wasnt in the best of moods before she rang me and perhaps she had caused me some upset!
I told her that if she felt like that then she shouldnt have rang me and it was totally unprofessional of her to criticise me when she clearly knew nothing about diabetes and the medical implications.
She apologised properly and said she would send a letter to our consultant explaining what had happened. She then asked if i still wanted Alex to see someone - i said that given how they had caused me so much upset - i wouldnt trust them with my childs thoughts and feelings as he was too precious!
I then rang the DSN - told her it all in great detail and told her to be quiet when she tried to interrupt me. After i told her what the councillor said to me - i told the dsn that i now felt betrayed and unsupported by the very people who i should be able to trust - and that she should be ashamed of herself for telling another professional that i am an over anxious mother - OF COURSE I AM ANXIOUS - MY CHILD HAS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CONDITION - i said clearly!
Her voice was wobbling when she replied that she was terribly sorry and that she hadnt actually said i shouldnt check Alex in the night - she had meant that if levels are stable then in general people dont need to check - not Alex specifically! Also she agreed about the checking in the snow and hadnt realised i had found him having a hypo every time.
She apologised if she had created a situation that wasnt intended -- and apologised for causing me stress and upset. I asked her why she thought i was being a perfectionist when all i want to do is get the levels between 7 and 4 - and she said i dont i just think your a great mum who wants the best for her child and i just wish all of our parents at the clinic cared about their childrens future as much as you do. She apologised for calling me a perfectionist.
She said that it was all her fault - and that she should have realised that councillors etc wouldnt be able to understand the whole thing about diabetes and checking and that they were there to help with the emotional issues - not to criticise or make judgements on how we care for our child when they know zilch!
She told me it was my right to make a formal complaint - but i said i wouldnt because at the end of the day i am far too exhausted dealing with diabetes to have any energy left to fight the people who are supposed to be helping him/us! She apologised again!
Then she said she is making it her job to sort out the cgm and find the funding to use it.
Also she is putting us on the list to meet with the pump companies to look at all the pumps on offer with a view to him getting one as she said you have tried very hard with MDI and your doing nothing wrong but still not achieving perfect levels - so we have realised that Alex needs a pump - before he starts getting hormonal.
I now feel that these professionals are in no doubt just how committed we are to Alex and trying to get the best results we can. I just wish it hadnt taken so much upset and stress to achieve!
Also i just wanted to thank you all for making me feel a whole lot better yesterday - i felt that at least you all understand how insulting that woman was and how ignorant! This forum really is a godsend to us - so THANKYOU!
Bev and Alex x
