Musings from a Stonehead

The trials and tribulations of a modern crofter

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Long Covid and muscle stiffness "I have to stretch for an hour before I can fully move my body." A short sentence but one that stopped me in my tracks.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/02/19/long-covid-and-muscle-stiffness/

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Scraping By I share my struggles with Long Covid after several demanding work shifts Despite experiencing chronic pain and fatigue, I highlight the importance of small victories in daily tasks. My experienced evidences the lack of support from the healthcare system, leading me to focus on self-management and stubborness.... https://stoneheadcroft.com/2026/02/06/scraping-by/

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I’ve submitted my Portfolio of Evidence for my second placement of the DipHE Health and Wellbeing: nine reflective essays plus a further essay explaining my use of reflective frameworks to cover the 10 weeks. That’s nine reflective essays of 2,000 words plus one of 1,500. I also submitted a case study, which is a further 1,500 words. Juggling full-time study and full-time work would be challenging even without my Long Covid health issues on top. I got there, though. If I’d been doing the programme as originally offered, I’d have been working half-time on placement and studying full-time while being paid my full-time salary, i.e. the NHS paying me to study and improve my skills. However, they withdrew that three days before the start as there were no funds. So, I paid the costs myself, count my normal job as placement, and study full-time. A 2,000 word reflective essay after working 18 hours is one thing, writing one after working 33.75 or even 45 hours (two weeks) is another. In a couple of weeks I’ll be doing two full-time academic modules simultaneously as well as working. That’s going to be interesting. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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There’s one small problem with this piece of NHS guidance on self managing pain: Distract yourself Shift your attention on to something else so the pain is not the only thing on your mind. Get stuck into an activity that you enjoy or find stimulating. When I’ve finished the whatever activity I’m engaged with, the pain is still there! Also, I can’t do distracting activities, eg working hard, rowing hard, walking hard, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I’ve just spent 38 minutes rowing hard, which took my mind off the pain, but I can’t sustain that for several hours. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Awake since 03:20 today (woken by pain), left side and left leg so painful I felt as if cutting the leg off would be an improvement. Then I did a ridiculously hard shift—covered 10.8km, chest monitor thinks I did 78 minutes vigorous exercise and 74 moderate. It’s just on 10pm and I think I’m still somewhat functional. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Merry Christmas all. I’m on a single day off between a run of shifts and will be working Christmas Day onwards so it will be soup in a thermos for Christmas lunch and leftover sausages and beans on toast for Christmas dinner. No effort – at least on the cooking front. My ward was abruptly changed from cardiology to frailty a fortnight ago so the workload has gone through the roof – most of our patients now need assistance from two staff, are incontient, confused/delirious, and are major falls risks. Yesterday, three should have had 1-1 care but as we’re apparently over-staffed now that we’re frailty we had to make do. The ward changed as the hospital now has a 30:30 guideline: patient’s can’t be in ambulances outside for more than 30 minutes or in A&E for more than 30 minutes. So, patients are being shunted into already full wards and corridors so that the ambulance/A&E waiting times look good. A new frailty ward was supposed to open to support this but too few people applied to work on the ward (it’s brutally hard work as frailty has one of the lowest staffing ratios despite high levels of dependency). And so we became frailty. It’s hard to deliver person-centred care with fewer staff and higher levels of patient dependency as all we can do is run from patient to patient and deal with the most pressing tasks, usually cleaning and changing or trying (failing) to prevent falls. On Saturday, within two minutes of starting my shift I found a patient on the floor and then had.a patient fall on me. I’ve been told to let them fall but we all know that if we do we’ll be “held to account for their injuries”. Sigh. Anyway, we’ll be doing our best to give all our patients the best Christmas we can. (Linda and our lads are at her Mum’s, trying to provide a bit of cheer for her after Linda’s Dad died at the end of November. I won’t see them for at least a week, maybe more depending on when Linda feels she can head back. I gave Linda her presents on Friday and she seemed okay with them!!! 🤞😁😂😂) Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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I injured my right shoulder controlling a patient’s fall and preventing a colleague from being injured this morning. I could not be seen in Minor Injuries until six hours after it happened so I kept working with my right hand in my pocket. When assessing me, the Minor Injuries nurses asked about my level of pain. I shrugged and said, “it feels trivial compared with the neuralgia and chronic pain I put up with every day”. The more experienced nurse said, “yes, I’ve seen that before – people with chronic pain often don’t realise they’re badly broken because it’s less than what they’re used to”. I won’t know how long I’ll be off until I get seen by a physio. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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I debated whether to post this for a while, but the NHS Grampian Star Award exemplifies what I regard as genuine person-centred care. Two nurse managers told me it was “exceptional care”. I disagreed – it’s what we should do, day in, day out. They said most staff don’t do that. I said, “well then, instead of an award for me we need to get more of us doing things the right way”. One turned to the other (my former Senior Charge Nurse) and said, “you’re right, he’s different!” Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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My neurological issues secondary to Covid make it difficult to work out if have other issues or not. For example, I’ve had what feels akin to a toothache for more than two years – except that I don’t have an issue with the specific teeth. One doesn’t even have nerves in it. Today, I was back at the dentist to have my teeth checked because, with constant pain, it is possible to develop an issue and not be aware of it. Fortunately, X-rays and examination showed no issues with my teeth. It’s “just” my nervous system getting its signalling wrong. 🙄 Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Having been dismissed by my NHS GP surgery, “there’s nothing to be done for Long Covid”, I’ve had to go private. Fortunately, Social Security Scotland have determined I’m eligible for Standard Rate Adult Disability Payment so that will pay for private GP, physiotherapy and medication. However, it really, really riles me that even in Scotland with a non-Tory government I’m forced to pay for healthcare because the NHS won’t deliver what it’s supposed to deliver. Anyway, the point of this post was that I had to write up my symptoms for my first appointment on Monday. The list extends to two and three-quarter pages of A4 paper! Luckily, a private appointment is 30 minutes rather than the three minutes I usually get with an NHS GP. It’s supposed to be 10 minutes but I’ve never had that long – virtual or phone consultations mean I know exactly how long they take Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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I’ve just had a video consultation with a private GP who was 1,000 times better than any GP at our current NHS practice. She’s going to write a letter recommending various referrals, tests and medications to forward to NHS practice. Most of her recommendations align with those made by various consultants I’ve seen but our NHS GPs have disregarded those. I don’t know how tthey’ll respond but I suspect there will be no change. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Three horrendous shifts in a row: short-staffed, inappropriate patients for our ward’s numbers and skill mix, multiple deteriorating patients, an ongoing significant behavioural issue that needed security (and me to backup security as only one security guard was covering entire hospital) and multiple lesser behavioural issues. We should have three breaks in an 07:00 to 19:15 shift: 30 minutes for breakfast around 09:00-10:30, 30 for lunch around 12:30-13:30, and 20 for tea around 16:30-17:30. On Wednesday, we managed all three break but late and curtailed to 20 minutes; on Thursday, it was two late breaks of 15 minutes, and on Friday, one late break of 15 minutes and one of five minutes. Around 15:30 on Friday, I realised my kidneys were hurting (on top of everything else), went to the toilet for the first time in the shift and passed brown urine. I’d had nothing to drink since leaving home at 05:45. I knocked back two half litre bottles of still lemonade in one go each!), a litre of water, and 330ml of Coke. Then back to it before my “breakfast” break at 16:15. It was the same for all of us. I did 11 ECGs in the shift: only two were routine ones to monitor progress. I was the only HCSW on my side of the ward, with seven patients who needed assistance times two. There should be at least three HCSWs. And even then it would been hard going. And my skillset means I do a lot more delegated nurse tasks than many HCSWs. Thinking about it now, I was doing delegated doctor and occupational therapist tasks, too. It was nothing outside my skillset or practice, just tasks that normally come under the primary remit of other members of the Multidisciplinary Team. I’m careful to never interpret, diagnose or decide but I can free up more highly qualified registered staff by doing many of the initial assessments. It’s a huge responsibility as they have to absolutely trust not just my capabilities but my understanding of boundaries and never overstepping them in an extremely pressured environment. It’s exhausting. Not surprisingly, one of our best nurses put her notice in. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Back on the rower. Rowing wasn’t a problem, stopping was! I had the staggers as I got off then my throat muscles decided to have a random party (spasms resulting in dry heaves). Neurological issues can get rather weird. 🙄🤷‍♂️🤪 Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Just after 11am today, my day off, an urgent text arrived on my phone from NHS Grampian Nurse Bank. Inverurie hospital, not far from us, needed urgent help due to staff shortages. I really needed the break but, knowing how bad things can get and what a relief it is when someone unexpectedly shows up, I phoned the Nurse Bank, packed my work bag, and headed out the door. I worked on their main ward until 19:15. I’ll be back there tomorrow, too. Then Sunday off followed by four shifts on my normal ward. I’m bonkers. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Another day, another urgent appeal to work an additional shift at the ARI. Linda Donnelly said if I booked another one she’d divorce me. I said okay, I’ll book it three times! 🤣😂🤣😂 Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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Extremely pleased this evening. I’ve been struggling to find exercise I can do safely with my neurological issues, until I decided to splash out on a gym-spec rower with a wide seat. I can keep my balance (unlike a bike, weight training, HIIT), there’s nothing to drop (weights), I’m not staggering about (running) and, if I fall off, I bought the low-seat model so it’s not far to the floor (unlike cycling). I did three short, low RPE sessions over three days to re-familiarise myself with the required form (yes, it’s a bit dodgy). Yesterday, one of the initial sessions went pear-shaped but I decided to push on. Today, I tried a low stroke rate, 20-minute time trial. I managed 3.8km and, although a bit wobbly afterwards, it felt bloody good! Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.

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NHS Grampian Payroll is appalling. They’ve stuffed up my pay yet again and, as usual, the payroll officers pass the buck. It turns out I have four payroll numbers, each of which comes under a different payroll officer. One has sent me a P45, although I’m still employed by NHS Grampian and am transferring roles. I’m also owed six months arrears of pay, thanks to a delay in a pay rise being implemented. As I’m a “leaver”, I’ve not been paid the arrears like continuing employees – although I am one. My tax codes are entirely wrong as I’m both a leaver and a continuing employee, so my current role is a second job even though it’s my main job. And my occasional COVID tester shifts are being taxed at highest rate due to a wrong code. On top of that, my pension contributions haven’t been paid as my main job is my second job as someone thinks I’m still in the role that finished on 25 June. At least HMRC are on the ball and can fix some of the issues from their end, plus they’ll do what they did last time Payroll stuffed up my taxes – make a “stern phone call”! I’ll have to get the union involved to get my pay arrears and pension sorted out. Post updated 10/06/2026 due to WordPress phasing out the Classic block. Content converted to blocks. SEO Metadata updated automatically.