After all this time (circa 2019)Dipstick seems to be waking from his slumbers. Not that I’ve heard from him directly. A mumbled phone call from some random hospital person last week turned out to be arranging a ‘procedure’.

Not knowing what ‘procedure’ I’ve had a preadmission online, as in ERIC software questionnaire. Then a pre admission appointment by phone. Inflexibility on their part meant I had to do that whilst on a meet call. Then whoever that was said I’ve got to actually go in to London as well for ‘preadmission’! Next week. What? Her questions were a

allergies ? Medicines? Those two took a while. Then, can you walk up stairs? Can you do shopping? Have you been admitted to hospital in the last year? Yes. Your hospital.

Oh when?

Er August. 2022

Should be on ERIC.

Mmm.

Next question.

Have you been admitted to hospital over the last year?

Err yes same as above

And so it went on.

Then just as I was trying to rearrange the pre -pre -admission -preadmission -face2face- with mask to mask- appointment around mum’s appointments I got a call from the hospital again. This time it was a ‘urology doctor ‘ no name. She said that ( as I’d told them ages ago) the last MRI did not show the ureteric stump which was the whole purpose of the MRI. Doh! So I’d have to have another MRI before the ‘procedure’.

Well I can hardly contain my excitement… nothing will happen. No worries.

Not to be left out, latest teeth story involving surgeon metal peg took place. That fell out. Back I went next morning nice max fax

surgeon had asked his wife to re-do it. She tried. Got one bit in. She saw another patient then had another go. Got a bigger peg thing in. Battered and bruised off I limped. Dunno why I limped ! Just felt limpy! As Claire reminded me what part of you actually works ?!

Tuesday I’d got to London for the final of the clinical trials. This is the difficult asthma trial at Barts site. The University of Leicester were the NIHR grant recipient/research team. It seems they had aimed for 100 patients across various sites. But had only recruited 23. The trial had been shut down. I don’t know how all the teams involved must feel, certainly at BARTS they were devastated. ‘Never happens.’ ‘Can’t believe it ‘ . ‘ Was too complex’ ‘all that money’ all those jobs. All that equipment, letters, emails, prompts, questions, questionnaires, data collection …..

As for me I went through another raft of tests and safety checks. Not yet ‘unblinded’ but safe! Seems I passed because now they are thinking of another trial. Then Mr Clinical Director asked to see me afterwards. Turns out he pioneers the training of medical students in year 2 and 3 the covid kids … some not quite up to the mark …need research methods etc etc and he wants real patients to mentor them. As you do. Did I agree to join. Yes of course I did. No idea how I’ll find the time but it’s a good cause. Let’s see.

After an incredibly sad funeral in London yesterday I’ve limped to Friday hoping to calm bladder, ice my jaw, and sleep. A chilly evening dip will help. ( sooth the jaw!) leaks don’t matter in a lake so that may cure the limpy feeling.

Have a good weekend.