Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[quickcluck]

Hi guys....

 

Some of you may know that I lost my beloved dog Cooper 2 weeks ago. It was very sudden, so there was no warning and absolutly no time to prepare. I took him to the vets with what a thought was a bad leg, and he didn't come home. A tumour in his back. I am devasted.

 

He came to me at a special time, as I was newly on my own after a marriage spilt. He was also my baby, as i'm unable to have any of my own.

 

I took a couple of days from work as I work 1:1 and I couldn't pull myself together at all.

 

Last week I thought I was doing better. However I had 2 fairly major melt downs at work, for no apparent reason. Friday I was sent home via the work counsellor, she has arranged for me to visit the occ health dr on the 8th.

 

Eventually here's my quandry.

 

I'm due at work on weds. I've no idea if I should go as i'm incapable of making a decision at the moment. Can I just not go? Do I need to go to GP who will no doubt laugh at me...... I'm not too bad at home, but feel out of my depth at work....

 

Sorry to harp on, it's not like me I'm a really decisive person ordinarily.....

 

Thanks

 

K

Edited June 11, 2011 by Guest

[Goosey Lucy]

Go and see your GP. He/she won't laugh at you. Grief in all its different forms affects us all differently.

 

Please take time to look after yourself x

[mollyripkim]

I agree you probably see your gp and I am sure he won't laugh at you. I really sympathise with you at this difficult time, no one should judge you for your grief, it hits us all in very different ways. Wish I could say something to make it better but know I can't and only time will help. Sending lots of hugs.

[dancing cloud]

Go and see your gp and give yourself some time. Sending lots of ((hugs)) from me too.

[Chucky Mama]

I am so sorry to hear about Cooper When I lost my last dog after 14 years of life together I too was devastated and I was prepared for it so I completely understand how you feel. I got very low and spent far too much time crying and being useless to my husband and children. I expect Cooper spent more time with you than any other living breathing thing and saw you through the highs and lows of your live. I liken loosing a dog to loosing a shadow. It is just awful Eventually I drove a ridiculously long way to find a s"Ooops, word censored!"py little rescue puppy (in my avatar). She was in no way a replacement, more a distraction and she got me through it. I think that if you are crippled with grief and you must allow yourself a little time to deal with it. As you say, he was your baby. Can you book some time off work?

[snowberry]

Like all before me, you do need to have a chat with the docs. Animals are so much a part of the family, you won't be the first to see your doctor about this. Everyone deals with grief in their own way. Diving straight back into work won't heal anything, you need space to grieve.

[quickcluck]

I think I can self cert for this week, but the guilt is huge...... I know my lack of decision making is speaking volumes, it's a new experience for me!

 

I'm at a loss to explain what is going on inside. We are distracting ourselves by going walking, but it's just not the same......

[Willow]

So sorry to hear about Cooper. That must have been an awful shock.

 

You absolutely must go see your gp. If they don't understand (maybe they have never had a pet of their own) see another. Companies often have prescribed amounts of time you have have off after a bereavement and typically they are woefully short amounts of time so if you need more time off (and it sounds like you very much do need more time) be careful how the time is recorded.

 

I suspect if you google something like 'grief pet loss' you'll find you are far from alone.

[Chucky Mama]

Going back to work and being useless is going to be worse that not going back. It will set you back and dent your confidence even more. Walking without a dog is just awful isn't it I found it hard when I had that tasty little something when I was cooking and having no dog to give it to. I don't think that a GP would laugh at you at all but I am not sure what they will do that will help(medication ) and counselling is only as good as the counselor in my humble opinion.

[Groovychook]

I just wanted to say how very, very sorry I am

 

I'm sure that your GP will understand your loss...

Sending hugs xxx

[Plum]

Yes you can self certify for a week and don't need to see a doctor. Do see one later if you feel no better but I think it is normal to feel so bad when you lose such a close friend and you need to give yourself time and not push yourself to ignore it.

 

Why not ring work and take some leave so you can grieve properly and spend time remembering Cooper so you can begin to come to terms with it.

[Jools]

I'm afraid I have no constructive advice but I am really sorry to hear about Copper. Let it out is all I can say. Don't be afraid or embarrassed by your grief. Not everyone will understand but that doesn't matter. Don't judge yourself or set expectations you can't meet. One day at a time with whatever help you need.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I had no idea you had lost Cooper . I'm so sorry, he was just gorgeous, no wonder you are devastated .

[Redwing]

I am so very sorry about poor Cooper

 

I cant add anything to the advice given - I agree with the suggestions to take some leave, you'd feel less guilty that way although there would be nothing wrong with self cert-ing

[beach chick]

I think you would be very sensible to take some time off, whether you can self-certify or your GP can sign it off.

non pet-owners will never understand the relationship you have with an animal, but its neither here nor there really - it was a relationship you valued, and therefore you are going to grieve for it.

 

so sorry about Cooper, and I hope you can remember the good times soon rather than your loss.

[Couperwife]

sending hugs from here (((hugs)))

 

cathy

x

[Bramble]

I am so sorry to hear about poor little Cooper, he looks just gorgeous in your signature. I can't begin to know what to say to you though. People who don't have pets don't tend to understand what it is like to lose them. You should definitely go and see your GP s/he might be more helpful than you think. I also think it's important that you try to keep busy, it's awful just being at home because you will be thinking about what you have lost constantly.

I am sending you the most enormous hugs and thinking of you, but don't forget about the very happy life you gave to Cooper and that you didn't let him suffer.

Keep us posted on how you are doing

[Angie]

See your gp, If you need more time you need more time .

I lost milly last week and was struggling as it was sudden too, my gp was very understanding.I'm still crying as i have her daughter and all i seem to do is walk around hugging Lula..can't help myself, it is very hard

So Sorry about Cooper.

[quickcluck]

Angie, that's terrible, my heart goes out to you.......

 

Well I took your advice. I went to make a GP appointment and there was a space!! Must have been fate, as he doesn't work a tuesday!!

 

He was very understanding, he said that he'd never seen me in such a state and we've known each other for 15yrs! He has signed me off until the 13th which is after i've had to see the Occ Health Dr.....

 

He's changed some of my meds to help me feel a bit more perky, I can increase it again after 3 weeks if I think I need to. Then I've to go back in 6 weeks for a re assessment.

 

Is that a good plan? It would also mean I would go back for a week and then I'm on leave for a week.

 

Thanks everyone.......

[Seagazer]

First of all I'm so sorry about Cooper, its so sad when they go, especially if you're not expecting it. I totally understand where you are coming from. When I had my old dog Sally put to sleep I was beside myself. I took to my bed in fact for a couple of days. It was months before I felt anywhere near normal. Your doctor sounds like a good doctor and you should just go with what he/she says. I'd also say don't rush into getting another dog, give yourself time to adjust a bit first.

[Bramble]

Well done Quickcluck for seeing your GP, that is a HUGE step in the right direction! Just take things one step at a time, take care and keep us posted.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Oh quickcluck I am so sorry.

I too lost my best doggie friend last week. My gorgeous Puck who saw me through a marriage rotten in parts.

He lived with my mum last year...two old crocks enjoying eachother's company.He was 17 years old.

I brought him home to The Lakes and in a the little sunshine we had I let him sniff around his old garden and quietly put him to sleep on the lawn. He fell in my arms and knew nothing but my heart is broken.

He is a puppy again running in the fields with his mum.

We can mourn together.

[poachedegg]

Really sorry about Cooper - hope things start to look brighter for you soon. x

[kerryegg]

So sorry. Good luck for the future. When I lost a dog I thought I never want to feel this bad again. But then I remembered the good times and how much love I had to give to another dog. Thoughts and prayers for you at this awful time.

[quickcluck]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh OSH that's so tragic, you poor, poor thing..... I find it odd that there are so many of us out there feeling the same.......... but it is better knowing that I am not alien in my feelings....