I went to hospital this afternoon for my tests. I had the usual catheter fitted and blood sample taken. And then I had to wait.<\/p>\n
My blood pressure is up again and my legs are starting to swell up. That’s a couple of things to worry about, but the lymph nodes that have bedevilled me – the doctor can’t find them. If they really have gone, that will be the best news that I’ve had for ages.<\/p>\n
I had an echograph this afternoon and my kidneys appear to be quite normal as far as their make-up goes, but there is still a problem in that according to the urine sample that I gave, the protein loss from my body is accelerating.<\/p>\n
But the worst news is about my blood count. That’s now down to 10.0, a loss of 9% over the last two weeks. Considering that while I was away in Canada for – weeks, then over that period of time I lost 10% of my count – that’s about a third of the current rate of loss.<\/p>\n
That is causing them a considerable amount of concern and so the upshot is that I have to come back … next Thursday! <\/p>\n
Yes, just one week, and that’s not even enough time for me to go home and come back again. How I hate all of this. But at least my little room in the hostel hasn’t been taken so I’ve moved back in and I’ll stay here. But what I’m going to do next if i’m on weekly visits I have no idea.<\/p>\n
I had a difficult night last night – it took me hours to drop off. And then I had a very disturbed sleep. I was off on my travels too but as usual I forgot absolutely everything as soon as I awoke.<\/p>\n
After breakfast I tidied up my room and then had a good shower and a change of clothes. And once I’d organised myself I went off to fetch Caliburn to load him up with the stuff from here. And I nearly squidged a cyclist who rode straight out of a side street without even a pretence at a glance at oncoming traffic.<\/p>\n
I sat in the lounge here until it was appointment time and then walked up to the hospital for my appointment with destiny. 14:15 was the time of my appointment, and I was seen at … errr … 14:10. A far cry from the situation in the UK
\n“I needed an urgent appointment, and the hospital has made a special effort to fit me in. They are going to see me at 20:20”
\n“You mean at twenty past eight in the evening?”
\n“No – I mean in four years time”
\nSuch is life with the British Health Service.<\/p>\n
And I made all of 20 yards down the corridor on the way home with my catheter today. I’m improving.<\/p>\n
And now I’m having an early night. I’m exhausted.<\/p>\n
And fed up too.<\/p>\n
