I went to hospital this morning – the (inaccurately named) Treatment Centre at The Queen’s Medical Centre.
After a night worrying about being late I took a taxi and, as you do, found all my fears were groundless. I was then tested for blood pressure, height, weight and my ability to fill a small tube with urine.
I have blood pressure, height and weight, so that went well. The final part was trickier as I’d purposely not had a drink before going to hospital so I wouldn’t have to disappear to the toilet and have my name called in my absence. However, I did manage to provide a specimen, though not with any degree of accuracy.
The doctor then saw me. I had to drop my trousers. I moaned about not wanting to take my trousers down but they still made me do it.
It’s a flower – how should I know what sort?
Oh yes, the dignity of an elderly man (I’m dropping all this “middle-aged” nonsense as I’ll be lucky to make 80, let alone the 120 that “middle-aged” implies) comes second to a doctor wanting a look at my terra australis. How a pain in the finger becomes a viewing of my lower extremities I really don’t know.
The good news is that I finally have a diagnosis for the skin problem I’ve had for the last 15 years. It’s definitely psoriasis. This is mixed news. It seems they can possibly do something about it. On the other hand, all that time I spent learning to spell eczema has been wasted. This is all heading towards a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Or gout. They haven’t ruled that out yet.In fact they haven’t ruled anything out, they have just sent me for more X-Rays and more blood tests. That is why, in the absence of any treatment, I consider the unit to be inaccurately named.
The X_Rays went badly, and involved more dropping of trousers so they could get pictures of my lower back without a zip and belt buckle getting in the way. They also asked me if I could move further up the table. As my head was already touching the wall I had to say no. They also asked if I could flex my knees “like this” (accompanied by a wrenching of my ancient knees). I replied, quite reasonably I thought, that if I was able to flex my knees “like that” I wouldn’t be in need of the X-Rays. Fair point, I thought, but my words seemed to produce a slight drop in temperature within the room.
This one might be an anenome
Then there was the blood test. The Phlebotomy room at the Treatment Centre is the best hidden department I’ve ever seen in a hospital. It has a small sign saying “Phlebotomy” over a solid door with a combination lock on it. I asked about how to gain access and was told to take a ticket from the machine and wait.
Machine?
It’s like a bollard with some badly sellotaped signage, not at all like the one with the big screen that says “Please take a ticket” at City Hospital.
That’s just over 500 words now so I’ll stop. There were plenty more moans in the day (after all, I’ve only just arrived at 11.30) but I think this sample will do.
I thought the flowers might lighten the moaning mood a little. I’m gradually easing into maximum misery mode.
Rudebekia – I know that one
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What a day! I hope you don’t have to go through all that again any time soon. Then again, a diagnosis would be good.
I think the photo just before the cosmos is of a zinnia.
Yes, zinnia sounds right. I am back in five weeks (just had the letter) and am hoping for a diagnosis and some treatment or management techniques. I will no doubt be moaning about it on the blog. 🙂
😀
eliminating foods to treat it.
Sorry to hear about the possibility of psoriatic arthritis. From having had psoriasis, the good news is that you shouldn’t need to worry about el
I’m all in favour of not eliminating food. 🙂
Hope all is ok!
I’m a constant reproach to the medical profession – they keep finding faults and I keep ignoring them. 🙂
On the bright side, the flower photos are beautiful, Quercus! Hopefully you will have a diagnosis soon. Testing is not much fun.
This puts me in mind of an old music hall joke. “I went to the doctor for tests and when she’d finished she said:”You’re old and you’re fat.” I said: “I’d like a second opinion please.” And she said: “You’re ugly too.” “
Such an ordeal. Mind you, you are doing very well with spelling
Thank you. My two main requirements from the NHS are the ability to keep my trousers on and the availability of a diseases with short easy names.
Sorry about all the x-ray gymnastics, hope they find what they’re looking for. Have you tried sweatpants? Only for x-ray days? No zip or belt!
BTW, we call that pink flower Cosmos
I always get anenome and cosmos mixed up, and I was sure I was right this time. Mutter, mutter…
And then again, I could be wrong, was looking at the foliage, all good….pretty pink flower, and done🤓.
The foliage is from a cosmos, you are right. 🙂
I have a blind spot about them even though they are quite different in many ways.
That’s one of the reasons I was never much of a gardener.
Ugh, medical people are often brutes. I hope you get a diagnosis and treatment soon!
Another month and they maycome to some conclusions. 🙂
Lovely flowers.
Given the nature of your post, I won’t tell you that I went to the doctor today to get results of my tests and was given the all clear on every front. And kept my trousers on at all times. It might make you feel that it is an unfair world and i wouldn’t want to add to your grief.
I hope that the diagnosis will lead to some effective treatment in the end.
Congratulations on the retention of your trousers and the passing of your tests, Your good health is a just reward for years of sensible diet and healthy exercise.
My health is also a just reward for my lifestyle. 🙂
Hmmm the flowers helped, but a glimpse into my future has left me quite mortified, especially the bit about terra australis. Was that a test? I was crap at geography at school. Hope your feeling okay pal 😀😀😀
It may not be your future – you may have Tootlepedal’s future trousers on and lots of healthy exercise. 🙂