Another year passes...

So where are we...

Ah yes well the out come so far... my lig is busted, in fact it is not even a strand to be seen anywhere. I told the consultant yes, I would like to proceed with the op. This was in around the summer of 2008 and after waiting a few weeks I called up to check where I was on the waiting list. Well the answer was simple enough. I wasn't even down on the list. Now this call seem to spur things into action and I got a pre-op date for either Sept or Oct 08 which I attended. I expected a dealy as they had to check my medial records. I called after a few weeks (I keep saying a few, but in fact I call about 10 days later) and I still was not on the waiting list. Once again this spur the hozzi into action and I was finally there.

It is now November 08 and I was still waiting to here about an op date. Around the end of Nov 08 I get a phone call asking if I would go to a hospital in Sheffield to have the op done earlier or stay on the waiting list. Well after nearly 1.5 years, I opted for the Sheffield Hospital.

Dec 08 I get a letter from the Sheffield hospital... it is a private hozzi to boot! I had to attend a meeting with the consultant In Jan 09. Hurra! Progress at last!

Jan 09, I attended the meeting. Lovely grounds, clean hospital and friendly staff. After a brief wait, I jumped the queue because a patient did not turn up. I get put through my paces and ding-dang-doolie I've got a date... end of Feb 09. Ah well at least my boss could rest easily as there was a project to be delievered around that time. I say was... but thats another story.

I'll update after the op, God willing, while I'm stuck in bed recovering.

Its been a while, huh?

So to catch up on what has been happening...

1. I had my last physio in March 08
2. Had an MRI scan in May 08
3. In June 08 saw yet another consultant who confirmed what the physio and I already knew
4. I've been put on a waiting list for a knee op...and I'm still waiting for a date.

Lets talk holistic healing. The NHS don't or won't think holistically. I'll break it down here...

1. I cannot do any physical exercise, you know the 30 mins of activity to leave you out of breath
2. That means I'm putting on weight, which in turn means problems are building up currently
moving into high blood pressure.
3. Add to that my leg is slowly getting weaker and my other leg is suffering because I depend
more on it.

What does it all mean? Well instead of quickly treating one problem, they will now have deal with three. Treatment for the other leg, high blood pressure, the op for the leg that started it all and probably more time in physio that could have been avoided. It seems to me that they are just burning money and time by not approaching things logically or holistically.

The consultant

Well after going round the houses I met the consultant, 20 minutes earlier that scheduled. After a few twists, pushes and pulls, it looks like I have "more than usual movement" just below the knee cap. It could be a tendon but I will find out more in a few weeks time. The swelling has gone down somewhat but not enough for a meaningful exam. Still I came out with some strong version of ibuprofen and painkiller combo.
I was back at physio and that went smoothly. Chatted to Mike about the next possible England coach and the fact that we are in the group with Croatia, our new Poland.

Appointment on Friday 16th

Well this went smoothly. Buses ran on time, appointment on time and things are looking promising. Okay so it was only 15% arch loss and not 20%. But is that a glass quarter full or quarter empty (so to speak). I'll take it as quarter full thank you.

The GP Take 2

Once again I'm on the phone to the GP...
0830 answer machine...it disconnects me
0831 to 0840 answer machine...it disconnects me
0940 answer machine...it disconnects me
1030 ...it disconnects me
1130... in queue position 1
So I get through and oh dear the computer goes down. No appointments can be made....
1340... in queue position 1
1341... please hold
Hurrah! A human! Well you don't need a doctor the nurse can see to that.... shall I book you an appointment? Humph! Yes please...

The GP

My daughter was experiencing some pain in her ears. So bright and early the following morning (but not early enough) I called the surgery's 08444 number to make an appointment. Only to receive a message saying the surgery is experiencing high volume of calls (the apology came first) then please try later...click. It took eight attempts and by the time I got through, the surgery was full for the day and the could not book appointments because the computer system was down. STOP!
Here is a crucial service unable to use its system to make bookings without any fall back method? As a ICT manager I find this rather disturbing. Common sense would say use a paper base fall back system. Common sense would say this is one service that should have a stand alone system built in that would then update the main system when it came back on-line.
I wonder if it was included in the system but had to be cut for budget reasons?

Physio today

Well my next physio appointment was better. Mike (the physio dude) put me on that funky machine again. Unfortunately the swelling is still a problem and it means they are still unable to determine the problem.
So lets hope next week its gone. I'm still on two crutches for longer walking distances. My exercise routine is still in place and seems to be helping or at least keeping my other muscles going.