Hopefully, The Last Posting

Saw the GP again today. Apart from slightly raised cholesterol, all the tests were fine. I told him that I still have short strange episodes followed by cold shivers but they were becoming less intense. Obviously, I am hoping that they continue to improve but they may be something I just have to accept.

The good news is that he is happy for me to travel abroad.
The bad news is that I cannot drive for twelve months!

I expect to see the consultant again in a couple of months but (fingers crossed) there no longer seems any need to keep this blog active. Consequently, this is the last report that I hope to be posting on the subject.

My thanks, as ever, go to the very many of you who have provided such valuable moral and practical support to Margaret and me. You know who you are and we are deeply grateful for it.

Don

Contact achieved

Not much to report except that contact was acheived between my GP and my specialist who is on holiday in India. Basically he confirmed what I had already been told.

I continue to have some strange little episodes but they are progressively less marked. I had some blood tests on Tuesday and get the results next week.

More when I know something!

Don

Nowt To Report!

My GP still hasn’t heard from the consultant.  Efforts are being made to track him down in India but meanwhile we are working on the old adage of no news being good news.

More when we know something!

Don

Two Heartfelt Words

I went to see my GP today hoping to discover more of what has been going wrong.  However, it turned out to be an anti-climax as he had not yet received the report from the consultant.  I have grown to accept that slow news tends to be good news in this arena so I have rescheduled for next week without too much anxiety!

All of which leaves space on this posting for my Thank Yous.  This goes to all who, one way or another, whether in person, by post, telephone, text, blog , e-mail  or carrier pigeon, sent their best wishes.  Those with relevant experience helped me face the hospital procedures with much higher confidence in the system and the future than I would have had only a few weeks ago.  And the thoughts of all of you have helped Margaret and me enormously.  It has been quite humbling to realise the strength and extent of the support we have received.

To all, I have just two heartfelt words to say.  Thank you.

Don

Siderenios, or a Surprise Development!

A big day yesterday.  Jamie and Margaret took me down to Preston in good time for my  MRI scan.  This is the test that I should have had last Wednesday but the machine had broken down.

The test was expected to last about forty minutes but, with the various variations that the consultant had requested, it lasted almost twice that time.

We then had a long afternoon to fill before the scheduled admission at 5 p.m..  Fortunately, they were able to process me an hour early which left Jamie and Margaret free to get off home.  I asked the ward sister if I might see the neurosurgeon before he finished for the day as I had a few questions about the procedure and the aftermath.  She agreed to see what she could do.

The ward into which I had been booked was new and spacious.  The other occupants, Sid, Rod and Ron were very friendly.

Tea was a little strange.  It had been someone else’s choice, that of a lady who presumably had been let out that day.  The main course was Butter Pie which I was told was a Manchester dish although I have no recollection of it from my childhood.  Wikipedia says it is a Lancashire Catholic dish made of potatoes and onions to be eaten on a Friday.

Some time later, my consultant arrived and led me to his room.  As I pulled out my pad of questions, he said I might not need them.  The results of the scan were, he told me, much better than the previous set and he was now of the opinion that I did not have a tumour (you may recall that no tumour had been spotted previously) nor an infection but that the cause of my problems had been a mini stroke.

Obviously, this is a diagnosis not without implications but equally obviously, it is a rather better outcome than I had been anticipating.  And it meant that I was to be released immediately, without the need for surgery or having to consume any more Butter Pie.

Margaret drove down to collect me and I arrived home to a great surprise.  Danae, whose last night it was in England, had been hard at work, not just making dinner but also, with Emma, decorating the kitchen for a Welcome Home party with the Greek word Siderenios, meaning "Ironman" or "Man of steel", hung across the room.  A lovely surprise, complete with celebratory champagne.

I, we, just need to remember that I have not been given a clean bill of health but rather a diagnosis less traumatic than the alternatives with which we had been faced.  There are still issues and steps that need to be taken but the outlook is significantly better than it might have been under the alternatives.  I will find out more when I see my GP in a few days time.

Don

The Preston Commuter

Commuting to Preston seems to be a feature of life these days!

On Tuesday I saw the consultant neurologist to whom I had been referred to determine whether or not I had an infection rather than a tumour.  He examined me and then explained in detail why he has ruled out an infection. The implication is that the problem is, as originally thought, a tumour, hopefully benign.  Superficially that sounds like bad news but I don’t think that is necessarily the case.  Had it had been an infection it would have been encephalitis and I would have been getting progressively worse.

I am scheduled for admission next Monday evening for a biopsy on Tuesday and expect to be in for two to three days, assuming all goes well.  In anticipation of that, today I had my pre-op examination down in Preston following which I should have had another MRI scan of my brain however the machine had broken down.  This has been rescheduled for Monday afternoon.

So, for the next four days I can relax and enjoy being with all the family; Scott has come over from Germany to join Emma and Luca whilst Danae has arrived from Crete to be with Jamie meaning we now have a full complement.  And then, on Monday, it’s back to Preston!


Don, 23^th Feb 2011

A Second Opinion

Some days I feel a bit of a fraud.  After all, someone who can manage an eight mile hike (see BOOTboys) can’t be that ill, can they? 

Then I remind myself that the problem is in the brain, not the body.  There are two practical manifestations of this.

The first is that I get occasional very strange feelings in my head.  They don’t last long, just a few seconds, but they are not pleasant.  Fortunately they have been getting less intense, shorter and rarer.

The second is the confusion that I face from time to time when asked even a simple question.  It is as if some of the links in my brain have broken.  Then, after a few moments puzzlement, the link is usually re-established.

My consultant has referred me to one of his colleagues for a second opinion on the cause of the problems.  I see him on Tuesday and will report further in due course.

Don, 19^th Feb 2011

Tests and Walks

I had a very relaxing test at Preston hospital yesterday.  Basically I just lay there for half an hour or so with some head gear on whilst a lady sat behind a desk and pushed various buttons.  Hopefully we will know more later in the week.

Meanwhile, physically I seem to be in quite good shape, all things considered.  I have just got back from a surprisingly vigorous walk with Jamie along the river and, although I feel tired, there do not seem to be any other after effects.  But then, the problem is in the brain, not the body!

Don, 15^th Feb 2011

Nearing The Diagnosis

Firstly, Margaret and I would like to thank the very many of you who, one way or another, have been in touch to express your concerns and best wishes for the problems we are experiencing.  It has been a quite humbling yet motivating process to receive so many expressions of goodwill.


Things have moved forward somewhat this week.  We had a very constructive meeting on Wednesday with a consultant neurologist who has helped us better to understand what has been happening inside my brain.  Some more tests are needed to confirm his diagnosis and we will report further when this has happened.


Each day has given me a greater realisation of what has been going on.  I now understand that on Sunday 23rd January I had a fit and that the subsequent hospitalisation was as a direct result. Fortunately, both Jamie and Emma (plus Luca) were able to come home whilst I was in hospital to help out and take some of the load off Margaret.  I also realise that my clarity of thought and understanding a week ago was considerably less than it is now!


One frustrating aspect for me is that the fact of the fit means that, for the time being, I am not allowed to drive!  However, I seem to have my wits back and am able to get on with things, even if they are taking rather longer than they would do normally.  I am in good spirits and greatly encouraged by the support I have received from so many, for which my grateful thanks.


Don

What Is Wrong With Don?

In recent weeks it has become clear that something has been going wrong with my body.  Without going into too much detail, I have developed a condition that has at times led to confusion and lack of understanding on my part coupled with lack of energy, mild hallucinations and other issues.


The preliminary diagnosis points to some form of low grade tumour on my brain that is interfering with normal activity.  Further tests are ongoing and it could be some weeks before we have the full diagnosis and prognosis.


I have therefore asked Jamie, my son, to set up this blogger facility for me in order that between us we can keep friends and contacts informed about progress with the problems I am currently having.  If there are knock-on consequences for you, then please accept my apologies and let's discuss how they can be best resolved.


Whilst these medical problems exist, it is going to be difficult for me to carry out my normal social and business responsibilities.  Where there is a direct impact on a group of people, I hope to contact them about interim or new arrangements, but if I fail to do so, please do get in touch with me and I will do my best to redress matters.  You should be able to contact me in your usual way but if that fails please either e-mail ds@lakeland-enterprise.co.uk or phone 01539561027.


Several of you will already know about at least some of these difficulties and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and good wishes.


I look forward to us resuming our normal relationships as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Margaret and I thank you for your ongoing support.


Don