Friday, October 26, 2018

I thought this would be a good moment to let everyone know that I have been officially Not Very Well but am now feeling Much Better.

Two weeks ago I went out to do some shopping and get a cup of coffee and found I couldn't get to the bottom of my road because of a sudden and very nasty pain my leg. I managed to get to the doctor's with the help of passing driver and it turned out that I had a fairly impressive blood clot. After a lot of tests, pills, injections and a stay in Southmead General Hospital, I now don't have a blood clot any more, and my left leg is very nearly the same size as my right leg, which is the way I prefer it.

I am probably going to have to be off work for another three weeks; currently have to give myself injections twice a day but will shift back to pills in a couple of weeks time. I feel pretty much okay again. Like Winnie the Pooh I just completed my walk, did my shopping and got my cup of coffee.

It is of course a matter of political dogma that NHS staff are wonderful, but this is (thankfully) the first time I've seen it close up; in the whole process I didn't come across anyone, from consultants to cleaners being anything other than cheerful, patient and helpful, even for a second. Although the nice Jamaican man who kept bring me cups of tea was convinced my name was "Rustone" and kept calling me "Rusty."


Total cost to me so far: £16 prescription charge and whatever I paid for taxis to the hospital. I hate to think what a ride in an ambulance, four nights in hospital, radiographers, surgeons, ultrasound and MRI tests and a home visit from a nurse to make sure I knew how to do the injections would have set me back if I lived in Abroad. No forms to fill out, no conversations with insurers, no proof of eligibility: I just staggered into Montpelier Health Center and said "I don't feel very well" and the doctor did some basic checks and said "We'd better to get you to the hospital and get you checked out": I was seeing a specialist within an hour of presenting.

No fuss, by request. Will take seriously all lifestyle advise from my physicians. 

7 comments:

  1. Should have said that as a result of the anti-coagulant pills I am on, I am going to have to give up drinking...

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  2. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well, and a bit jealous to hear how simple the process was for you. Enjoy your rest!

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  3. Glad to hear you got it taken care of. Those are potentially fatal if left untreated. My wife just had a blood clot in her leg recently. A few weeks on blood thinners and she was better quickly and is even off the medication now. It wasn't bothering her too much so I am grateful that she had the education and insight to realize what it probably was and got it treated right away.

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  4. I'm glad you're on the mend. All the best.

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  5. I am sad that you were miserable and needed to interact with the medical system, even though -- as an American -- I'm jealous that the medical system didn't make things worse. Hope to see you in health and jovial spirits soon.

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  6. Yikes! Glad you've been well taken care of; I hope there are no further complications.

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