Sunday 31 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 090

Shoreham.



Origami-SpaceMan: 3 Easter Bunnies.



Origami-SpaceMan: 18 Five Petal Flowers (unit construction).



Saturday 30 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 089

Littlehampton.



Friday 29 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 088

Happy birthday June.



Thursday 28 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 087

Bognor Regis.



Wednesday 27 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 086

Bognor Regis.



Tuesday 26 March 2013

The Condition: Six Months On.

Untitled
So, here I am six months and a bit down the line from the 23rd of September last year when I noticed something was wrong with my left eye.

My eyesight is back to as normal as I could hope to expect.
It's changed significantly and I really need to get glasses.
Many years ago I was told that my eyes would change when I got to about 50-ish so I'm not sure if the changes are due to my MS or advancing years.
Both, probably.

To St. Richard's Hospital in Chichester for my appointment.
After negotiating the reception desk of misery (why are all the NHS receptionists I meet miserable?) I am ushered into the presence of the Consultant Neurologist.
The first thing the Consultant Neurologist does, after shaking my hand, is to apologise for having cold hands.
"Warm heart though" I reply and instantly regret trying to be jovial.
This is serious business.

The tricky question of blood tests arises and I admit to not actually having had them and apologise for wasting the NHS's time, but point out that my diagnosis came just before Christmas and times became difficult emotionally.
The Consultant Neurologist understands this.
I agree to have the blood tests done before I have to go to my appointment to discuss Disease Modification Treatment in June.

I'm shown images of my spine from the recent MRI scan.
I'm fascinated by them.
I'm especially fascinated by the white dot at the top of my spine which turns out to be the cod-liver oil capsule that was Sellotaped to me as a marker.
There's no problem with my spine.

The Consultant Neurologist wants me to consider having a lumber puncture for some obscure diagnostic reason that I couldn't grasp involving platelets, I think.
This procedure would mean having to travel to Haywards Heath to have a local anaesthetic, laying on my side in the fetal position, having a large needle inserted into my spine to draw of some fluid then laying on my back for three hours whist drinking lots of water in the hope I wouldn't get a headache.
I considered this carefully and decided it's not for me.

I am sent behind a curtain and remove several layers of winter clothing.
My reflexes are tested.
Several more functions are tested by lifting, pushing, pulling various bits of my anatomy.
I follow a pointed finger back and forth.
I touch my nose then the consultant's finger in rapid succession.
I am pricked with a small sharp thing in various areas of my body which makes me laugh.

I'm told to put my clothes back on and return to my chair.

The Consultant Neurologist seems quite happy with my progress and, because my relapses so far have all been sensory, doesn't see any necessity to see me again before this time next year.
Which is good news as far as I'm concerned.

This Multiple Sclerosis business is a puzzle and no mistake.
I seem to be getting off lightly.
Time will tell.

On my walk back to the car my mood lifted despite the gloomy overcast and cold day.
I ran into J a friend of mine from the world of folk music.
I told her all about my MS and what had happened during my hospital visit and just how lucky I felt.
We parted and I waved her off.
Then it suddenly hit me that I'd completely forgotten to ask about her husband, B, who is undergoing chemotherapy for prostate cancer.

I felt like an idiot.

Untitled

On A Plate 2013: 085

Rose Green.



Monday 25 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 084

Chichester.



Sunday 24 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 083

Chichester.



Saturday 23 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 082

Bognor Regis.



Friday 22 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 081

Barnham.



Thursday 21 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 080

Felpham.







Wednesday 20 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 079

Goodwood.



Tuesday 19 March 2013

OrigamiSpaceMan: Shirt & Tie



On A Plate 2013: 078

Goodwood.



Monday 18 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 077

Bognor Regis.



Sunday 17 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 076

Worthing Wukulele Jam.



Saturday 16 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 075

Eastergate.



Friday 15 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 074

Comet Corner.



Thursday 14 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 073

Bognor/Chichester Boarders.



Wednesday 13 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 072

Boxgrove.



Tuesday 12 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 071

Felpham.



Monday 11 March 2013

The Condition: An Appointment In Southampton Appears.

Dear Mr. O'Spaceman,

You have been referred to Dr. H's clinic and an appointment has been made as follows:

Day: Tuesday
Date: 4th June 2013
Time: 11:00
Location: Neurological Outpatients, A Level, Wessex Neurological Centre
Site: Southampton General Hospital

Please bring this letter with you to the clinic and report to the reception desk on arrival. You may not necessarily see the consultant and every effort will be made to keep to the appointment time but please be prepared for possible delays.

Parking : Please allow plenty of time for parking as space is limited in the hospital grounds.

Teaching: We are a teaching hospital and medical students may be in clinic.

Yours sincerely,

Outpatients Supervisor.

On A Plate 2013: 070

Bognor Regis.



Sunday 10 March 2013

On A Plate 2013: 069

Goodwood.