THE END OF DISCOVERY AND THE BEGINNING OF LEARNING

Well now I knew the Neurosurgeon's educated opinion and the words were out there in the ether. Once said words can never be unsaid all that can be achieved is clarification. People, trying to be helpful, such as my other half, pointed out that until I had seen the Neurologist nothing was definite. [That was true so ALAN WHY DID YOU TELL PEOPLE???] I didn't tell anyone except close family and friends, excluding my Mother, after all when they said it wasn't that would mean fewer people to have to explain to.

I became an avid letterbox watcher, anticipating a letter from the hospital, After 3 weeks I rang the hospital as the Neurosurgeon had suggested to see how much longer my 'urgent' appointment would be. I was getting anxious because every time I sneezed or coughed I had, and still have, a searing pain in one of my temples and so taking a lot of paracetamol, a fact that I was uncomfortable with.
No appointment was forthcoming and, frankly, the admin staff at the hospital was less then helpful. I told my GP and the reaction I got was more worrying than hearing nothing. I was told that I DID need an urgent appointment because I needed to start treatment as soon as possible but that still did not make me realise the seriousness of the illness, I needed the consultation to for my own peace of mind. Peace of Mind??! More like Piece of Mind or Mind in Pieces.
Eventually the follow up appointment with the Neurosurgeon arrived, 4 months after the consultation where I had first been told MS. The Neurosurgeon was not best pleased that I hadn't heard anything and even before I entered his consulting rooms he wanted to know why. I must say I enjoyed watching the admin staff wriggle out of that, eventually the reason given was that the Neurosurgeon had not 'ticked' the correct box. Looking back I didn't realise just how many different departments would be involved and therefore it was reasonable that the Neurology Department need a definite referral i.e. the correct boxes ticked before they begin to notify the other departments,
Eventually the appointment day with the Neurologist arrived – it had only taken 4.1/2 months instead of the 3 weeks originally indicated. I was relieved that at last I would have an answer. Little did I realise how much and how dramatically my life would change.
My next posting will pick up at that point and begin telling you about the process of my learning.