Playing Catch-up

Up to now, this blog writing has been a bit of a breeze - mainly because I've been writing from memory of the major events that got me here, whereas soon, I'll have to decide if the blog simply becomes a record of how I feel, or what I've learnt on a daily or weekly basis. I'll probably keep on adding links to other people's pages and latest research as that way, I can stand tall on the shoulders of giants.

Anyway, it's clear by now (thanks wife...) that I've already muddled some of the time-order - I thought it was within about 1-2 days after I got home that I'd had the brainwave about foodstuffs, etc.

It turns out it was 6 days later, and only after my wife had already found a couple of interesting links...one of which I savaged somewhat a couple of blog posts ago.

Additionally, I've completely missed going back to the hospital for the final course of corticosteroids, the subsequent check for tuberculosis reagent and...

Symptom 2 - Part 4: A Night at the hospital and home-coming

During the rest of that night, in common with hospital stays everywhere, I think a different person was in my room every 30 minutes to check serum levels, blood pressure, bring dinner, clear away dinner...
By the time 11pm came around, I was tired enough to be almost asleep, at which point another nurse came in, woke me up and gave me a sleeping tablet...

I suppose everyone should know by now, you don't go to hospital to rest.
I think at 5.30 I was woken again for a blood pressure test, and then at 7.30 for breakfast.

Saturday continued like this with people in and out to tidy the room, make the bed, clean the floor, take away the breakfast things.
I don't understand why one person cannot do all these tasks, and get the entire faffing about finished in one visit, allowing the patients some privacy and time to rest. Actually, maybe that's part of the plan - prevent us from becoming too comfortable so we try to check ourselves out as soon as possible!

Anyway, by around 11am, I had seen my DR who was asking if, following the first course of the corticosteroids, had there been any improvement yet in the numbness (there hadn't been), and to let me know the second course was coming soon.

Symptom 2 - Part 3: Second trip to the Hospital

Friday, 2nd March,  2012.
Hmm, a new anniversary?
A New Menace...clearly, this blog could not possibly have been written by me unless there was at least one Star Wars reference.

I'd got my bag packed on Thursday night because I had been booked in for an overnight stay at the Ruber International Hospital.
T-Shirt, shorts (so no awful Hospital Gown needed), and a small wash-kit.
Survival gear (Laptop, DVDs and a couple of PC games, Kindle, plugs and chargers, mobile phone).
And...Joy of joys, the hospital had WiFi!!!

I arrive at the hospital and check myself in at reception and then again, complete the administration. This was a further €1000, and after this, I was shown up to my bedroom for the day/night. Co-incidentally, it was the same room I had been using the previous day.

Today was already planned out.

• Chest X-Rays
• Lumbar Puncture
• Course of Corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation in the areas of the lesions and hopefully reduce the numbness). This course would be over the course of the next three days; today, tomorrow and Sunday.

Symptom 2 - Part 2: First trip to the Hospital

Following on from Symptom 2 - Part 1 blog, I arrived at the Ruber International Hospital on Thursday 1st March. This appointment had been made the same day by my DR.

I went up to the Neurology unit and within about 15 minutes, I was talking with one of the consultant neurologists who also had another DR doing some on the job training.

The DR started asking questions about my current symptoms (the numbness being only one one side of my face, neck and by now, upper shoulder.
He asked if it was also affecting my left ear - it wasn't, and then asked about any other hospital trips or symptoms.
Not being sure if it was related or not, I told him about the shadow in my peripheral vision that had already cleared up some 6 months earlier.
I could see he was zeroing in on a theory, but still I had to take my shirt off and cough whilst he listened to my chest and my breathing.

After a while, he excused himself and he and the trainee went out to consult amongst themselves.