Hello .It’s been a tough couple of weeks. One amazing friend been staying with us to be near her gravely ill brother. I find myself suddenly an expert in ICU. Explaining the leg pumps, the floating head, the varied lucidity.. and I’ve not ever been as ill as he.
Meanwhile another amazing friend has undergone a hysterectomy on account of ovarian cancer. Of course I know all about hysterectomy operations. I also know about ovarian cancer… Thanks to Patsie. So I’ve tried to say nothing but listen. Of course I know about and explained TWOCS, ( trial without catheter), using a pillow to help cough, pain, painkillers and so much more. My heart goes out to her and her family. We can do this I told her tonight. I also printed her a level 1 certificate of Rottweiler. My suggestions for ways forward , after cancelled clinics, crappy communications and unbelievable delays, she, as she recounts, put a paper bag over her head, took my advice and complained and protested and did an amazing School of Rottweiler reorganisation of Addenbrookes.

Then as for me, Saintly GP has been heroic. He confessed human error meant 2000 patients were told they needed a blood pressure check. Human reality meant no one could do that. Similarly asthma check. No one available to see the 3500 who had received a text.
He did somehow get me an appointment with local respiratory nurse. I saw the most amazing nurse ever. Empathy, understanding, humour and clinical know how. Shared birthdays too! Thanks to her I’ve changed inhalers. Gone back to daily nebulisers. Got treatment plan. That she said, says: ring 999. because, she said, I have a note here that says you are resistant to ask for help. She understood my protestations of too busy too worried about using up precious NHS time.

She also checked out the horrendous cough throat voiceless issue. After all the inhalers and drugs and nebulisers and steroids, obviously, #doh. you have oesophagial damage . You need special treatment stuff for that. Do not, she said, underestimate how ill you have been.
Bugger me it has worked..
GP has even got me a msu result… Sodding infection again.
Meanwhile special nurse revealed her frustrations with receptionists. They go, she told me, to a special training school. Called Rottweilers..

Well I never. I said. Have you read my blog? I asked. I’ve been calling them Rottweilers for years.

Well she said. They used to wear white coats to show their power and importance. That sums them up really.
I laughed so much I coughed and wheezed my farewells. She twirled on her seat laughing . My new heroine.