Tuesday 26 June .

I had text from GP  surgery. Please ring for test result.

I rang. The rottweiler was quite nice. Explained she could not tell me the result. Explained a doctor needed to speak to me. Explained I could not have an appointment there are none … they were merging with other surgeries next week. But that a doctor would ring me on Wednesday. None the wiser and not a clue as to which or what result I may or may not be worried about.

Later that day I had an appointment at the Moorfields in Bedford hospital clinic. This was to check my left dodgy eye. I had received many letters changing the day and time. I also had two text messages. One said it was an appointment at 14.30 the other 16.30. Opting for the earlier I finished teaching early and grabbed a taxi to the hospital.

I managed to escape at 17.30 with dilated pupils and a weird diagnosis. “Too young to have a dodgy eye” . Wow. What a nice man. The very nice doctor could not locate last year’s CT scan report from the same hospital. The clinic nurse tried valiantly to phone radiology but they did not answer. I tried to find it on my calendar . I remembered it was July ish… out it was July 4th 2017. MJ had kindly looked after me that day. Anyhow they are now arranging another CT scan and hope to find the old scan ! one to compare.baseline etc. FFFFFFRRRR

So I missed the special teacher keynote research lecture which  had started at 5. Too late. I. Any case I could not drive.  I could not see. You see.

Wednesday

My phone rang with a London number. It was DIPSTICK. He had lost his voice and croaked down the phone. It seems he had an msu result . I knew Jerome was away at a conference so I guess Dip was covering. Having not spoken to him for so long it was quite a jolly surprise.

As far as I could make out he was going to send a prescription. He also asked about the current state of play. He was actually really nice although I could hardly make out a word he said.

I was able to read him, hot off the press a tetchy letter from Montmerency. He, ie Montmerency seemed to think I was getting too many opinions. That is quite funny as the only opinion I am getting is Jerome’s. In fact the only one I trust to guide me through this minefield. Ah well,  said Dip, he often gets tetchy. Don’t worry.

He also offered to reset the SNS which is not working. Which he tried to reset last year. Which the supplier’s rep told me to see the specialist nurse Bingo about. So I had done that. and it was concluded the leads had migrated. So it was turned off until an MDT meeting. So that was 6 months ago and I have heard absolutely nothing. BINGO

So now what? Who knows. Here we go again. endless circles.

Not long after, my phone rang again. Good job I am not at work any more. Too busy taking phone calls. It was ‘unknown’ It was the GP. The Saintly one. Seems the 2 week ago msu had grown some weird bug. We discussed antibiotics, I told him Dip had rung and was sending script. Then I told him about the scan as in lost report scan of yesterday. Two secs he said.

Literally 2 seconds later he said: . Yes here it is . 4th July 2017. He had logged onto the hospital system and there it was.

FFS. why could they not have done that on Tuesday.

Right he said. I will print it off here. I will leave it at the front ( Rottwieller ) desk. You can collect it and take it to the hospital yourself .

Good plan. but REALLY?? He also apologised for the illogical NHS, the lack of appointments and he hoped I would still support his medical student programme and would I do a talk to his trainees. Of course I will.

Phone rang again. This time Dipstick office. We cannot fax prescription. We have no fax. We will have to send in post. ARGGGGGHHH. so actually I had no prescription. fffff and away from home for the next few days .

Then there was a flurry of emails arranging an appointment with Dip.

I wrote: Would it be possible for an appointment on 4th July 2018 as I have a 10.00 am hospital at the hospital which is round the corner from you ie before 10.00 or after 11.30 but NOT at 10.00

Guess what? The appointment was arranged for 10.00 on the 4th of July (Groundhog Day?).

with Dipstick and the supplier rep. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO> I’m actually losing the plot.

I spent Thursday and Friday of this week locked in the RCOG in Regents Park. It was  NICE committee meeting. My overnight accommodation organised by them, was, well, nice… Until the air-conditioning in my room starting making weird noises. The porter came to assist at 11 that night. He managed to bash a switch with the controller. That old trick eh.High up on the wall and whilst standing on my chair. I had visions of him falling and me in my pj’s having to somehow save the poor man. Well the switch-hit stopped the noise, but then the unit developed continence issues and leaked over the floor dripping from somewhere on the ceiling. . It was a long night! A long couple of days of serious decisions. Finally got away to St Pancras. Alas no trains were running. So I sat on the platform floor and contemplated busking.

Show me the way to go home

I’m tired and I’d love a little seat

I had a glass of water about an hour ago

And I think it’s gone right through….Oh

. I eventually managed a train. A hot armpit to armpit journey standing all the way. I don’t think kidney nor bladder are meant to cope with this.