Arthritis?

[Bob Williams]

That is useful Nolan, passing it on to a parent of an adult on the spectrum. Good spot.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

I saw a very clever bloke today, this fella.

Very nice and helpful. He’s doing some letters for my gp and my rheumatologist regarding medication and further ways to help me. It was a very interesting 50 odd minutes, he pointed me at a book one of his friends and colleagues has done and there’s a short video on You Tube explaining the principle. It makes sense to me, the book comes tomorrow.

Arthritis and autism are probably very closely linked, as are other conditions. Prof Hall does the consultations on a voluntary basis as until recently there was next to no NHS autism services in Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan. Usually it’s only the initial consultation he does but because of my circumstances he may well see me again periodically as it might help with his research.

[Bob Williams]

Thanks for those links, Nolan.

The YT video is particularly helpful and gave me to realise that the personal effects of my current problems are being made worse by a sudden increase in left side spinal pain, running down my leg. I think that has made me snappy with SWMBO, exacerbated by all the work we are doing atm. I have to hug, explain and apologise. ?

You do find some good stuff! Helped me/us anyway. Hope you find a light at the end of your tunnel, mate.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Wheels-Of-Fire]

I feel for you Bob. Long term pain will make the best of us ratty. On the subject of the spinal pain thing, a few years ago I fractured L2 and L3 in my spine and the first I knew of it was a huge pain in my left knee ! Fortunately it healed its self

[PlaneMan]

Bob, thanks.

Going to have a look at the book in a moment.

[Bob Williams]

In my case Nolan, C4 was damaged for 15 years before I got the correct diagnosis, treatment and surgery. It was gradually breaking up and tiny, scalpel-edged pieces (neurospinal surgeon’s description) were detaching and cutting into nerve sheaths and nerves. Which is why I became more and more paralysed and numb down left hand, arm and leg, for 15 years, thanks to previous diagnoses of that old medical chestnut, “Slipped Disc”. The surgery involved detaching the damaged C4 and nerves, positioning the broken C4 in a carbon fibre box made to replace the C4, replacing everything in situ pinned to C3 all via a long incision and several hours of deep, welcome unconsciousness. ?? Looking at the image from its left profile, you can see where the incision was, at a downward angle of approximately 35º, from behind my left ear to slightly left of Adam’s Apple. A very delicate operation, the sutures behind the ear for about 3″ were so fine that only a very faint scar remains: more evident up to the Apple. This all began with a fall into a Truck pit, not noticeable for some years until pain then pins & needles, then numbness and paralysis over several years. Now they think L4 and/or L5 may have some damage. Never rains but it floods!

On a brighter note, I have hugged, apologised and been instantly forgiven. I am married to the most understanding wife in creation, I can be a real PITA at times. Did I tell you that her mum’s maiden name was Griffiths? Still trying to find the Welsh roots.

EDIT: dumb of me, forgot the Pic:

 

No blood was spilled in displaying this image! ??

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

Just seen my GP again and I now have another referral in the pipeline, this time to a gastrointestinal specialist because of my stomach issues. The medication I’m on makes me more vulnerable to other issues and the GP wants to make there is nothing untoward going on.

In the meantime I have another drug to try, Ranitidine.

[Ed P]

PlaneMan wrote:

this time to a gastrointestinal specialist

Good luck with that! I was told that there is a dire shortage of such specialists within the UK, so their quality is a little variable. I was extremely lucky, the shortage is so bad in my area that I ran well over the NHS time-promise and was referred to a private specialist who really knew his stuff. (i.e. Clued up on the micro-biome aspects of the gut and their influences on nearly every aspect of health including allergies and autoimmune issues.  A rare individual by all accounts)

[Bob Williams]

PlaneMan wrote:

Just seen my GP again and I now have another referral in the pipeline, this time to a gastrointestinal specialist because of my stomach issues. The medication I’m on makes me more vulnerable to other issues and the GP wants to make there is nothing untoward going on. In the meantime I have another drug to try, Ranitidine.

Nolan my missus takes that and is happy with it. Just a thought: it gives her relief and a little prevention for the problem she has, and she is of Griffiths descent, so perhaps some slight genetic benefit upon you too??

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[PlaneMan]

Bob, I hope so.

Brother and his kids are visiting in November, as long as I’m sorted by then I can cope.

[PlaneMan]

Now have an appointment for a Gastroscopy

Not looking forward to that at all.?

At least it’s not going up the other end!!!?

[Richard]

Good luck, my wife and I have had a few of those. Direct through the mouth or up the nose and down again, though at least one of those was to look inside a lung. Worthwhile as it found an infection. My wife has a hiatus hernia which causes her problems and all they every do is comment that it has grown, though a speech therapist, (I kid you not, they deal with such matters) gave her excellent advice about swallowing.

The stomach person I saw ruled out colon cancer, thank goodness, but also said my BMI was 32, in May. It is currently 24… so I might want to raise a glass or two that shortages of skilled people exist.

I have declared UDI and dropped a couple of items, one of the blood pressure pills and Naproxen in an effort to manage a range of stomach and other issues. So far the benefits are not obvious, but the BP appears to be holding steady for the moment. I have been put on a ‘waterworks’ tablet some of whose undesirable effects overlap those of a BP tablet and I could do without a double does of issues.

If you opt for sedation for your procedure you should not drive for at least 24 hours I was told. I did not have the sedation but that was for other reasons than the shorter recovery.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Richard.

[Ed P]

If you are offered sedation (normally one of the ‘date-rape’ drugs), my advice would be to take it.

[PlaneMan]

Thanks Ed.

I’m awaiting a leaflet with further information about options and what I need to do beforehand.

 

[Richard]

I had been scheduled for that procedure at 10:00 hours with another different one in another hospital at 14:00 hours. Delays pushed action back until well gone 12:00 hours , so a 2 hour sedation recovery before being moved would have blanked out my afternoon procedure, so Hobson’s choice ruled my life again.

If Ed’s assessment of the sedation is correct, then do take the option unless force majeure rules your life too. (I also abreact to some sedatives, I go ‘active shambling happy drunk’ and so does at least one of our children on the wrong one! A ‘recovery time’ is thus essential.)

[Ed P]

Staying on the gut, this week’s New Scientist has an article on the way different foods affect the gut and its microbiome. In particular it focusses on the different problems that FODMAPS can cause some people.  Worth a read if the specialists have deemed your problem a ‘syndrome’ (medical short hand for it is a real issue, but it beats the hell out of me’.)

[PlaneMan]

Sorry Ed, missed your post. ?.

Knowing my luck it will be a syndrome. I have chronic pain syndrome, which I was told by the medical assistant to the consultant that diagnosed me with it basically ment ‘We can see your suffering but I’m f**cked if I know what’s causing it’. Essentially the same as your description above.

Now had the bumf and I’m going to try for the throat spray, I don’t do well with sedatives. Also bought some ear plugs as I’ve been informed by someone that had the procedure done not long ago that the suction machine can be loud. I hate noise, apart from engine noise.

Finished the book a few days back, it makes a lot of sense to me and I look forward to the developments discussed in it. Well worth a read if that’s your thing.

[PlaneMan]

Had the gastroscopy earlier today and it was horrible. 10 out of 10 to the staff though, they made the hideous experience bearable.  Just.

No food I coped with easy, lack of fluids was far more difficult.

Nothing serious wrong, but a mild issue I need to spend some time on Google deciphering  the medical speak. In and out in just over an hour, they fast tracked me because of autism and choice to have the throat spray, so glad I took my ear plugs, there was a machine that just made loud beeps for no apparent reason, like the machine that goes ping.

[Ed P]

PlaneMan wrote:

Had the gastroscopy earlier today and it was horrible.

Yep, that is why I always ask for sedation for my biannual check. Claiming that the procedure causes involuntary larynx spasms helps to get you on the sedation track.

[Author]

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