Appointment

August 8, 2006 at 1:52 am (Health)

I went to see the specialist today with regard to having a brain scan only when I got there all I got was the chap going through my records, asking me a lot of strange questions – Was I left or right handed? What was my marital status? Did I smoke or drink? – before examining me on a leather bench and saying “well I think the likelihood for the ‘funny turns’ you’ve been having are severe migraines* and I’m 99% convinced that you have nothing to worry about however I would like to bring you in for a brain scan in the next 4 weeks because there’s a chance, though very small, that what you might be suffering from is a ’slow growing brain tumour.’

Words, I have to say, I had no desire to hear.

I said “what are the chances of that?” “Well” he started “I think you’re going to be okay, in fact I’m certain of it, but we would like to rule the chance of such a thing out, I hope you understand?” “Yes” I said trying to swallow and having great difficulty, “I do.” Not good at all. Well, as you can imagine I didn’t leave there in the best of spirits. What I did do however was made my way over to Morrison’s, bought some genuine Devon clotted cream (in fact the very same stuff Kim & I had when down in Devon) some luxury scones and strawberry jam then came home, sat down in the kitchen with Mum, had said scone and a nice hot cup of tea.

*Looking at the link in question, you can see that the symptoms of a Classic Migraine are as follows:-

The symptoms can be more severe – there may be a tingling around the mouth or in one arm, difficulty in speaking, or weakness in an arm or leg. The other scenario is that I may be suffering from a Hemiplegic Migraine. If it is this, it will probably mean a recurrence (which I’m not looking forward to) but it’s better than ‘pushing up the daisies’ isn’t it?

I think the great likelihood though is that’s it’s been a combination of factors that has put me in this situation. All of these things contribute to having the kind of severity of pain that I’ve been experiencing:-

Teeth Grinding, Congested Nose/Sinus Problems, Anger, Worry, Going through a stressful time, Depression, Tension, Change in sleep patterns, Tension/soreness in the neck and shoulders, Infrequent meals, Sitting for too long in front of a computer screen, Central heating etc etc. All of these things apply directly to me so what I need to do is limit my time spent on the computer, exercise more, drink plenty of fluid, exercise correct posture, don’t over exert and don’t do the negative self-talk that keeps me feeling bad about myself. In short a total lifestyle change. I’ve talked about it before but now I have no choice but to implement the changes I need to feel better and get healthier.

2 Comments

Cats & mice

August 7, 2006 at 10:18 am (Cats, Films, Health, Music, Nature)

I’m listening to The Ragpicker’s Dream by Mark Knopfler. A lovely album. It’s mid-morning here and my appointment at the hospital for my brain scan is 3.15pm so I’m not sure whether to stay up and feel like shit or try and get a couple of hours sleep as I woke at 9.00pm last night and haven’t been to bed yet. I managed to finish French Connection II this morning and what an ending. Absolutely brilliant. They were real films back then, it reminded me a little of a Spaghetti Western, not very much happening throughout but with an explosive ending. The actor who portrayed Charnier, Fernando Rey, did so brilliantly. You really wanted him to get his just desserts. The thing I like about older thrillers is the way the stories are structured, there’s a greater sense of timing and pace and when the violence comes, it’s shocking in its simplicity. There are no sweeping camera angles and special effects so with each shot fired or punch struck, you can feel the full force of it.

I managed to do 30 minutes on the exercise bike this morning before getting dressed, shaving and heading out for a walk. I passed the spot where I had seen the dead cat and saw some very heavy staining of blood still visible on the path. I followed the trail which led out into the road, getting wider and darker until there was quite a significant patch about 2 metres or so away. It was a continuum, there was no gap, so the poor animal must have been hit by whatever and most likely driven over before managing to crawl back to the kerb where I discovered it. If it had been picked up by whoever was driving the vehicle and carried to the side of the road there would have been a break in the blood flow and a dripping pattern but there wasn’t. Whether the person then manoeuvred the animal so it was more on the grass verge than the path I don’t know because it was placed very tidily by the road, perhaps a little too tidily. What I do know is the person in the car/van/truck would have felt the impact.

I carried on down and walked through Balmore Park and down the stone steps into Hemdean Road, dropped a package off at Blackphi’s then on to the corner shop a little further on, picking up a paper and a Fry’s Turkish Delight for Mum and a paper for myself before heading back. I was going to cut through where the doctor’s surgery is and up the hill and back along but just couldn’t muster up the energy so walked back past Blackphi’s place, up the stone steps and out into the open, where I espied a decapitated dormouse with flies all over it. It was in a right old state, with its bloodied head hanging off. I walked over to the bench where Blackphi (another mention) and I chatted some weeks back. I read some of the paper and got my breath back. The sky looked threatening and I felt moisture in the air, so I wandered back home only the sky still looks threatening and it’s some hours later. I guess it’s going to be one of those days.

5 Comments

Kim’s Dad

August 7, 2006 at 12:18 am (Health, Love)

I received an email earlier today from Kim that simply read as ‘Dad’ in the subject line and I knew something horrible had happened.  It turns out Kim’s Dad had blacked out and had a seizure.  He was taken to hospital where a heart attack and stroke were ruled out thankfully.  They performed a brain scan and the results came back as okay.  My dearest darling one called me to let me know what was happening.  Thank you for doing that Kim.  It was then I realised that I have family out there, Kim’s Dad is a part of my life too as is Kim’s Mum.  I haven’t met either and I don’t know if they’ll like me or whether we’ll get on but they are still family, my family.  That makes me very happy indeed. 

3 Comments

Ever pick your feet in Poughkeepsie?

August 5, 2006 at 8:40 am (Cats, Health)

I sat down last night and started to watch French Connection II though didn’t get to finish it as I got waylaid by other things, namely feeding the cats and when I did sit down again they wanted my full undivided attention which I was only too happy to provide.  I came upstairs some time later (at around 6.00am) and ran a bath, washed my hair and had a shave then got dressed and headed out for a walk. 

I managed 5,000 steps by walking down into Caversham, past the library, along Hemdean Road, up Rotherfield Way where I chanced upon something that caused me to take a sharp intake of breath and recoil - it was a beautiful pussycat that looked on first glances as if it was sleeping, though a tad awkwardly, by the side of the road.  It was only as I leaned in towards it that I noticed the blood in its eyes and pooling on the ground by its mouth. 

I was genuinely shaken by it and just stood there not knowing what to do.  I didn’t want to leave it like that but what could I do?  I had nothing to cover it with nor could I move it, this was someone’s pet after all.  I eventually left but kept looking back.  It was then I realised that someone was going to be very unhappy today.  Doesn’t bear thinking about. 

I came the rest of the way home attempting to step over and under the spider threads dangling between bushes and from tree branches, got in and made my way up to see Klara, who was asleep on Mum’s bed and gave her a big hug and kiss and told her she was loved and gave her another squeeze and got attacked for my troubles!  I didn’t care, I was just glad to see her and to know she was warm, comfortable and happy and not laying in the road somewhere lifeless. 

I went downstairs and found Bramble and he got the same treatment.  I wasn’t bitten this time though I could see he would rather have been someplace else.  I love cats.  I opened the back door and it wasn’t long before they were both stretched out on the grass, with not a care in the world between them. 

I came inside, made Mum and myself a cup of tea and here I am, feeling a whole lot better for my walk and the chance to get out in the fresh air.  Oooh, here’s Klara now.  She’s jumped onto the stool beside me and is peering across with those deep, soulful and loving eyes.  She really is beautiful.  My sinuses are a lot better and that awful sick feeling has subsided.  All is well in my world once more. 

I can’t help thinking about that little kitty though…..

2 Comments

Natural Science

August 4, 2006 at 1:52 pm (Health, Love, Music)

I’m sitting here listening to the track Natural Science from the album Permanent Waves by Rush.  I’m in the presence of the great love of my life and I’m happy.  Added to that, the Vick’s and Sudafed are doing the trick and a huge amount of mucus is slipping and sliding down my throat.  It tastes foul but it’s clearing away the congestion and I’m feeling a whole lot better.  Did I mention that my darling, beautiful one is with me?  Yeah.  Well, I’m mentioning it again.  I love you babes.

12 Comments

Acute Sinusitis

August 4, 2006 at 8:28 am (Health)

As some of you may well be aware, I’ve felt under-the-weather for some time and as a result, have to go and have a brain scan next Monday as well as having had to go through a battery of tests.

Last night, I came across a small tub of Vick’s mentholatum and proceeded to rub it onto my throat as I did as a child, as well as putting a small dab in each nostril, which you’re not supposed to do. I did this purely and simply because I always liked the smell of it and thought “why not?”

I woke up this morning and the majority of my symptoms have gone. I don’t feel 100% but I do feel a helluva lot better. I typed in some of the symptoms at Google and it took me to a page pertaining to Sinusitis. The symptoms match entirely what I’ve been feeling:-

Pain above the eyebrows and a forehead that’s tender to the touch.
Upper teeth, jaw and cheek ache and pain.
Pain around the eyes and nose.
Earache and neck pain.
A surfeit of thick mucus.
Frequent headaches.
Reduced sense of smell.
Cold symptoms that are unresponsive to treatment.

One of the treatments for Acute Sinusitis is to breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water containing Olbas Oil or Karvol as well as using decongestants such as Sudafed and good old Vick’s vaporub. I shall still have the head scan just to put my mind at ease but at least I know what it more than likely is now and to make sure I treat it early next time. I’m going to get some Sudafed later and take those as well as some Ibuprofen to take down the feverish symptoms I’ve been getting.

Bloody sinuses!

5 Comments