Waiting for Talbo(t) July 2005
July was characterised by waiting, waiting, and yet more waiting.
A few days out of hospital, I received a kettle tipper, long-arm reach and the biggest shoe horn you've ever seen. The kettle tipper was an absolute Godsend - no longer did I have to rely on my partner for absolutely everything, although, having made a drink I couldn't carry it anywhere because my walking was so awful. The long-arm reach meant I could pick things up, and open and close windows, but I've never used the shoe-horn! These items are still with me - I have to return them when they are no longer needed.
I received a letter two weeks after leaving hospital asking if I wanted help from the Adult Rehabilitation team; I replied yes, then over a week later they sent me a letter saying I should ring, and make an appointment. By this time I could use the bath again (just), and I couldn't have physio without a diagnosis, so I turned it down.
Having left hospital, I rang the charge-nurse to make sure I was still going to get a lumbar puncture - somehow. I was assured that she would ring the neurologist's secretary to explain the situation. I should get to see the neurologist, Dr. Talbot, to continue the tests.
I rang said secretary too, several times during the month, and pressed for an appointment, which I got towards the end of July.
Dr T said when he'd given me the report of the MRI, he himself hadn't actually seen the scans, only the report. He said he had now seen the scans, and that I should still go ahead and have a lumbar puncture. He also said I should possibly have a VEP test, but that was dependent on the outcome of the lumbar puncture.
The LP would be at Hope Hospital in Salford, and the VEP would be at Manchester Royal Infirmary in the city centre.
A few days out of hospital, I received a kettle tipper, long-arm reach and the biggest shoe horn you've ever seen. The kettle tipper was an absolute Godsend - no longer did I have to rely on my partner for absolutely everything, although, having made a drink I couldn't carry it anywhere because my walking was so awful. The long-arm reach meant I could pick things up, and open and close windows, but I've never used the shoe-horn! These items are still with me - I have to return them when they are no longer needed.
I received a letter two weeks after leaving hospital asking if I wanted help from the Adult Rehabilitation team; I replied yes, then over a week later they sent me a letter saying I should ring, and make an appointment. By this time I could use the bath again (just), and I couldn't have physio without a diagnosis, so I turned it down.
Having left hospital, I rang the charge-nurse to make sure I was still going to get a lumbar puncture - somehow. I was assured that she would ring the neurologist's secretary to explain the situation. I should get to see the neurologist, Dr. Talbot, to continue the tests.
I rang said secretary too, several times during the month, and pressed for an appointment, which I got towards the end of July.
Dr T said when he'd given me the report of the MRI, he himself hadn't actually seen the scans, only the report. He said he had now seen the scans, and that I should still go ahead and have a lumbar puncture. He also said I should possibly have a VEP test, but that was dependent on the outcome of the lumbar puncture.
The LP would be at Hope Hospital in Salford, and the VEP would be at Manchester Royal Infirmary in the city centre.
posted by Hazel | 12:24 PM
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