Without explaining all the nitty gritty here is a summary of the last 10 days.

Mr S2 prescribes a drug to help with the groovy sounding, but so not groovy ‘spontaneous voiding’. I subsequently read his clinic letter which refers to a little spasm. Well if he calls that little I wonder what big is. 

Anyhow, once more dutifully check the list of side effects – oh just dry mouth he says. Ok but by a sheer act of brilliance I had foreseen such difficulty and booked GP appointment for the day after seeing S2. Brilliant organisation J.

See GP, discuss progress. He too checks drug. Mmmm should be ok he says.

Start drug. ….

Start to get dry mouth. Fine.

Start to get dry eyes. Not fine. Take contacts out. That makes blurred vision more blurry..

Start to feel faint. Dizzy. Sick. Blood vessels burst in eyes. OOps.

S/Voiding? Well no…so that’s a positive…I think…

Ring Specialist awesome nurse. Yikes she says. I will speak to S2. As if by magic she calls back almost immediately. Stop the drug. Check for uti. S2 will ring you Tuesday.

Do as I am told. Well you have to trust someone don’t you?

Tuesday comes and Jerome who we have cleverly added to the msu ‘form’ tells me of uti. Offers assistance.

so far so good. Had got a bit complacent about these infections. The pain creeping up my back reminds me…get sorted asap. frrrr.

Wednesday. Miraculously S2 rings for chat in the morning, I sense Jerome hint here. You have a uti he says. Right. I say.

go over exactly the same story as last week. That’s fine at least we know we are on the same patient.

Suggests drugs. Suggests prescription.

All good so far.

His secretary rings…lost the name of pharmacy. No problem. Tell her the name and number.

Much later ( past experience) ring pharmacy. Ah. No ‘Augmentin’ in stock. Will be in tomorrow. What?! That’s nuts. Surely thats like basic. Keep calm.

Ring S2, poor man is operating, an emergency, I am told. Sounds stressy. One minute he’s chatting about boring uti next he’s saving a life. That must be a huge burden of responsibility.  His secretary says she cannot help. Agrees to send me the script. ( It never arrives). Ring GP to speak to ‘usual’ GP. Rottweiler on the desk says I cannot talk to him for THREE WEEKS!  Ask if I can talk to ANY GP …I’ll try …she says. What is the nature of your call? In desperation I say: ‘ Allergy to drug‘ that’s only slightly true of course but well….. GP does ring 2 hours later. No idea who he was. Says could I take S2 script to the surgery so they can check. I give up . I don’t have the bloomin script! I feel too dreadful to drive. Email Jerome.

Sorry me again. I am struggling. I think I will take gent and hope.

He rings later. Agrees with plan and reassures. Despairs of GP. He is overworked, hospital creaking at the strain , will not see his kids for the next 5 nights.

I think we need to talk to NHS England what can we sort? Meanwhile today is another day so I am off to the chemist…see if I can win.

Some nice comments from Pain Patients: UnderMYSkin