Hospital

Originally made back in March before going to Thailand, the appointment was rearranged twice with one time done for me and not even aware until the letter came. Having arranged it so I could go, the new time meant I had to get cover for my class and pay someone for it. 

The lift was a little wierd, had to go from level 2 to 4, then down to 3 in another lift.  Luckily level 3 reception where i could get my parking validated was also the floor I needed.  Unfortunately upon reaching the reception area for orthopaedics at the other end of a very long corridor I found out the toilet was back at the original reception!

I finally arrived at 1035am and the self serve machine told me the clinic schedule was on time for 1040am, to see an orthopaedic consultant.

My reason for wanting yet another opinion was that pain is a sign in the body and must always have a cause. Telling me otherwise, with my knowledge, is futile.  Treating it forever with ineffective and life threatening drugs was not my ideal situation and I did feel the existing surgeon doesn't want to do any more, which is not surprising considering his cock-up putting the screw into the L5 nerve on the good leg.

And before you ask, no one wants to take the case on for damages; unfortunately a 5% risk is acceptable for this type of mistake and I signed my rights away, despite the catalogue of cock-ups and ridiculous delays during my extended stay in 3 different wards!

90 minutes later I'm called in. I did find his accent a little difficult, without sounding racist, because he was pakistani/indian.  He read the GP referral and did a quick exam, then suggested there is no quick decision because he doesn't have any XRAYS or MRI details, and will need to get them from the other THREE hospitals I've been treated at.   He told me to return in 2 months!

Meantime, I am still barely working and living, mostly with moderate pain.  The medication I know is not doing me good, the celebrex is damaging my stomach and giving high BP, and the codeine is stopping me going so I take laxatives to make me go.  My guts feel bad but mostly the pain is still there, especially late evening and night.

I have to get up at 5/6am (when I wake) to take the pain meds so I can get about. I'm usually in bed by 10-1030pm on weekdays, and not much later at weekends.

Dont get me wrong, compared to before the operation when I could not walk at all, at least I can walk with difficulty, a stick and mobility scooter.

And now I limit the crap I take I am at least sane again whereas half of last year was spent in a drugged haze; I used to take family members with me to appointments so they could tell me after what was said. 

I could tell you about the June to December period but you'd probably not believe me, especially when I say I could easily have ended it all, it was all too much.

Having finished in 15 minutes, I left, not surprised at all. On the way down in the lift I pressed "2", and ended up on level 4... I had to find another lift when I realised where I was to go down to level 2.....