Dave Hunt

In amongst all this scatalogical talk may I bring news that at Hunt Tqwers I  am being feted as the man who today walked a mile?  The speed could only be described as slow and the progress uphill as hesitant but it was done and I am quite chuffed, even more so when I was presented with, instead of a winner's medal, a rather toothsome egg'n bacon brunch. I am, however, now under orders from The Management not to try for greater distance until it gets a bit easier. I think I will award myself a drop or two of Caol Isla 15 a bit later.

Dave

Well, who's a clever boy then? Today I managed to walk a mile. Not very quickly and not in supreme comfort but progress is being made. I am now instructed by The Management not to 'overdo' things so I have to stick at a mile for a time until it gets a bit easier before trying to go further. And my reward for today's achievement? A jumbo egg'n bacon butty - yum yum.

Dave

Now that the excitement over my possible DVT  has receded I have resumed the drive to get properly mobile again and even possibly get nearer physical fitness - the last few years having been fairly disastrous in that respect. To that end, yesterday I managed to walk 3/4 of a mile - not earth shattering but a damn sight better than I could have managed a couple of weeks ago before my spine operation. I’m just about to set off for a repeat performance or, who knows, even better?

Dave

Today I managed to walk 3/4 mile. I realise that this will probably not get into the Guinness Book of Records but its been a while since I could achieve it so for me it' a big deal. Next week a marathon.

Dave

As previously posted, this morning I had yet another appointment at Telford hospital. Unlike those so far this week, though, it turned out to be less time wasting, simpler, more informative and less stressful as I was seen on time, underwent an ultrasound scan and saw a consultant all in short order. The diagnosis was the I do not have a DVT but a less nasty thing called a superficial thrombophlebitis that can be treated with a heparin based cream and anticoagulant tablets but the consultant did say that it was a good thing I had it looked at as had it been a couple of inches higher up my leg or a bit deeper it could have been a lot more serious and that recent research indicates it is not as benign as once thought. As he was going through my notes, though, he started to frown and asked me to describe in detail the events of the last four days and as I did so he started cross-referring what I said with the notes then writing things down on a jotting pad. Once we had finished I saw that he had written in large capitals, "CALL XXX (a name)" and circled it with two exclamation marks added. From his demeanour as he was questioning me it was obvious that he was not happy with the way in which I had been treated and I got the impression that he was going to take issue with someone.

Anyway, the outcome is that my happy bunny outlook is beginning to return, which is obviously a Good Thing.

Dave  

An addendum to my last: one of the things I was told could exacerbate my condition is the recent finding that exposure to the colour generally described as Brunswick Green, copper caps and the word pannier can be detrimental. I pointed this out to HH as we arrived at the Muddy Hollow and once he had thrown a large blanket over the contents of his modelling bench we enjoyed a convivial visit.

Dave   

Well, this morning's visit to Telfland hospital was a great deal simpler, more informative and far less stressful than the earlier part of this week. I was seen at the appointed time and given the necessary ultrasound scan (once I had pointed out to the operative that she was scanning the wrong leg) then after only a few minutes saw a consultant. The diagnosis was the I do not have a DVT but a less nasty thing called a superficial thrombophlebitis that can be treated with a heparin based cream and anticoagulant tablets. However, the consultant did say that it was a good thing I had it looked at as had it been a couple of inches higher up my leg or a bit deeper it could have been a lot more serious and in any case recent research has suggested that it is not as benign as once thought. As he was looking at my notes he started to frown and asked me to describe the events of the last four days and as I went through the sorry tale he started making notes that he cross-referred to those in the file. The only thing that I could see of what he wrote was at the end when he added in capitals CALL XXX (a name) and circled it. From his demeanour and his questioning of me it was obvious that he was not happy with the way in which I had been treated and I got the impression that he was going to take issue with someone.

Anyway, the bottom line is that I am now a much happier bunny than of late.

Dave  

I've had a couple of days absence due to a medical hiccup. All was well following my operation then on Saturday I felt a pain on the inside of my right thigh, which got worse over the weekend and felt as thought there was a very nobbly varicose vein underneath that was hard to the touch and the area was somewhat inflamed. On Monday morning I therefore called the hospital and one of the registrars told me to see my GP immediately. I did so and got an appointment within the hour at which blood tests were taken and the leg examined. The blood test results were in by 1800 and indicated that I could have a DVT so I was told to report to the duty GP doctors at Telford hospital to have an ultrasound scan as a matter of some urgency. After being examined yet again, though, I was told that there was no-one on duty at night who could do it so I was given an anti-coagulant injection and told to go this morning to another hospital unit for a scan. When I got to the hospital I was told to expect to be there for several hours and for starters went through the sort of rigmarole with blood pressure, etc. that is usually the precursor to an admission. After a lengthy wait I was a bit surprised when they then went through exactly the same examination and blood tests as had been done yesterday so I queried what was going on and when could I expect the ultrasound scan? The reply was that I was being assessed for eligibility to have one so I pointed out that yesterday no fewer than  three doctors had decided following examinations and blood tests that I definitely did need one so I was examined by yet another doctor and it was finally decided that yes, I did need an ultrasound scan but they were booked up until Thursday so I was given a prescription for some anticoagulants, sent home and told to report back on Thursday at 1145. You couldn't make it up.

Dave

So, there I was being a happy bunny after my operation when on Saturday I woke up with a pain on the inside of my right thigh. By Sunday night it was worse and felt to the touch as thought there was a very nobbly varicose vein underneath that was hard to the touch, which was painful, and the area was reddened. On Monday morning I called the hospital and one of the registrars told me to see my GP immediately. When I told the GP receptionist what had happened she got me an appointment within an hour, blood tests were taken and an examination made during which the term DVT was mentioned. The blood test results were in by 1800 and I was told to report to the duty GP doctors at Telfland hospital to have an ultrasound scan as a matter of some urgency. After trekking to the hospital being examined yet again, though, I was told that there was no-one on duty at night who could do it so I was given an anti-coagulant injection and told to go this morning to another hospital unit for a scan. Off I toddled (well, to be exact was driven by Jill then hobbled the rest of the way) and went back this morning to be told when I got to the hospital that I could expect to be there for several hours and for starters went through the sort of rigmarole with blood pressure, etc. that is usually the precursor to an admission. After a lengthy wait I was a bit surprised when they went through exactly the same examination and blood tests as had been done yesterday but who am I to argue? Eventually, though, I queried what was going on and when could I expect the ultrasound scan? only to be told that I was being assessed for eligibility to have one. This after three doctors had decided following examinations and blood tests yesterday that I definitely did need one. After yet another doctor saw me it was finally decided that yes, I did need an ultrasound scan but they were booked up until Thursday so I was given a prescription for some anticoagulants and told to report back on Thursday at 1145. To say that I'm a bit p1ssed off would be somewhat close to the truth.

Dave

PS - and my leg still hurts