34. I'm Still Waiting

I’m Still Waiting

(To the tune of I’m Still Waiting. By Diana Ross)

I remember when

I was young and sporty then

I wanted to teach P. E.Then pain started in my left knee.

So that dream died.

Now I sit and wait

For letters from ortho doctors

While my joints disintegrate & pain grows ever more

Then the doc said

What you need is a little op

To see what’s wrong with you

Then we’ll decide what we should do

All the bad symptoms must be endured

‘Cos your arthritis can’t be cured

But maybe someday

And I'm still waiting

Ooh, I'm waiting

Ooh, still waiting

The other day I had a phone appointment with a GP to discuss my pills. Firstly, as they had prescribed me one to protect my stomach but it just made me extremely nauseous and secondly about pain killers.

At the moment I’m taking 3 different pain killers: Co-codamol; Topiramate and Ibuprofen. I’m trying to wean myself off the Topiramate as I don’t think they do any good, trouble is I started taking them long before some of my pains started e.g. pseudo-gout, so in some ways I need more pain killers not less.

It’s now 16th September and I’m still waiting to hear about my nerve conductivity test appointment and getting more and more miserable as each day goes by.

I know my problems are not life threatening but what about my quality of life?

All I do is sit at my PC all day doing my Family History work. If ever I can’t type anymore, I don’t know what I would do.

When 7 weeks had passed since I saw the consultant, I thought I’d see if I could find out if I’m in any danger of getting an appointment. I started with the consultant’s secretary, who is really nice and helpful as I’ve spoken to her before. She gave me the direct phone number to contact the nerve test people on.

I rang them and said the doc told me I would be a priority and whoever I spoke to said their doctors have to decide how urgent any case is, however, after checking she said I would have my appointment next month i.e., November. So presumably I’ll be getting my letter soon.

The cynic in me immediately thought ‘I bet they had forgotten about me and now they are going to rush me an appointment!’

About a week later a letter arrived from the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton saying they had received my referral for the nerve tests and I should ring them up to arrange an appointment.

After several attempts I finally got through and we fixed an appointment for 14th November at 9.15am. So, it will be a very early start for us to get to Brighton in time!

We arrived there right on time and found the hospital and the parking amazingly easily considering how big and spread out this new hospital building is, it only opened in April.

The appointment was as horrible as I expected it to be and seemed worse than last time but maybe that’s because I knew what was coming. This time I had the extra muscle tests which involved putting a small needle in several places on my hands and arms. Now I know what a pin cushion feels like.

The doctor told me it would take about 3 weeks for the results to get back so I’ll have to sort out another appointment with the surgeon now.

2 Days after the tests I rang the hospital to see whether I could book an appointment for about 3 weeks’ time but they said no when they get the results through, they would ring me and arrange an appointment.

A couple of hours later my mobile rang and it was the hospital saying that they had the results of my nerve tests and would I like to have an appointment next Thursday.

Of course, I said yes so, we shall see. Has it got worse, as I think it has, or not. Anyway, I am most impressed at the speed or is that a bad sign?

Well, I’ve had the appointment and I now know the results of the nerve tests. The tests showed that the operation does not need to be done again as the symptoms are not from the Cubital Tunnel Syndrome returning.

So, now he said the only possibilities are a pinched nerve in my neck or a nerve problem because of my diabetes, which is rather worrying. He will send me for an MRI and if that doesn’t show anything I fear that another orthopaedic surgeon is going to throw me into the bin.

The appointment for the MRI has arrived and as I thought it’s for next year, 2024. To be exact 5.55pm on 6th January, which is a Saturday.

I’ve had the MRI and I wonder why they ask ‘What music would you like to listen to?’ as it’s so noisy you can’t listen to anything, not helped by the fact that I’m a bit deaf as well. Now I’ve got to wait for an appointment to get the results but I bet it doesn’t show anything!

I had to change the appointment to a phone consultation as Bob & I were both unwell. But as expected the MRI didn’t show anything although the arthritis in my neck maybe a bit worse that it was nearly 20 years ago. So, this consultant is giving up on me and he’s going to pass me on to the Neurology Department. Woop-de-doo, another new department. I wonder how long their waiting for appointments time is!