Monday 5 November 2012

A Development. (Updated)

I awoke at 04:20 this morning in pain.
I won't attempt a description of the sensation.
I've been taking a variety of over-the-counter painkillers for just over a week and have managed to ignore the, what now seems like, mild discomfort I've been in.
This level of pain is different.

Linda rang the doctor's surgery and argued quite vigorously with them to get me in to see the doctor I'd originally consulted at the start of this episode and when the receptionists finally realised she wasn't going to take no for an answer they relented and gave me an appointment.

So here I am again in another waiting room:
IMG_6391
Linda came with me to make sure I was't messed about.

I'm back home now waiting for a phone call to tell me what will happen to me next.
Looks like steroids are the only avenue left open to me now.
I'm not in a mood to argue.
Pain has a way of making your choices for you.

Update:

I've just had the phone call.
I'm been put on a "heavy old whack" of (oral) steroids which should take about a week to kick in.
500mg Medrone (5 x 100mg tablets per day over 3 days) c/w 1 x 20mg Omeprazole capsule (to combat any digestive 'problems').

My doctor has also spoken to the neurologist.
The neurologist has suggested I check the Multiple Sclerosis website so I can prepare some questions to ask when I meet him. 

4 comments:

Le Sanglier said...

So you have actually been given a diagnosis of MS? Did I miss that somewhere along the way? I am still stuck at the stage of wondering what is causing your brain to show inflammation on the CT scan!

OutaSpaceMan said...

Oh, no, no, no.
There has been no diagnosis of MS just the suggestion that I might like to read up on the condition so I will be able to ask 'informed' questions.
MS is a very tricky condition to diagnose.
There are usually several related 'attacks'.
The MRI scan may have given another clue on the trail.
I won't know one way or the other until I've spoken to the neurologist.
That's the way of the world today.
Nobody wants to risk getting sued.

Glyn said...

Oh hell no :-(

Le Sanglier said...

I see. I completely get THAT. Medicine seems very different in Britain in some ways (becuase "socialized?") but in that respect exactly the same as US. And everywhere, I suppose. I have read about MS and know it is one of those tricky diagnoses. A current "problem diagnosis" here is Lyme Disease, which is politically sensitive and can mimic MS and other neurological ailments. It can be hard for ppl with Lyme to get treatment becuase of the the controversy surrounding its diagnosis and treatment. After all, no one wants to get sued, or sanctioned by the medical board, for that matter - so the spirochete is fairly safe, for now.