under another sun

Writing a quick blurb for the Children's episode of the podcast, and kept myself busy this morning. I had a doctor's appointment. As I was making a new start with a new doctor, I had made an appointment to explained about my white coat syndrome. I always feel super stressed by having my blood pressure taken, and so the readings they have are of me being very stressed indeed. I took Lorraine as a character witness to assure them I wasn't a complete nutcase. Luckily my new doctor listened brilliantly, was deeply reassuring, explained that we are going to do another 24 hour test, like the two I've had already (both showed my blood pressure was okay) and do some tests to keep an eye on everything, now that I am over 60. She was clear, proactive and positive. Best doctor conversation I can remember having. Brilliant. Felt rather pleased with myself afterwards for grasping this particular nettle. Lorraine and I went shopping in preparation for Innis and Rosie coming round, wi...

So a really poor night again, with gut pain keeping me awake again. Spoke to different doctor, who prescribed some antibiotics, and has set up a blood test. I am going next week. If the antibiotics don't sort it next step a colonoscopy or MRI.  Not getting too alarmed so far, boosted by my cancer test a few weeks ago being negative. Apprised Keith of this, as I'm  not in the business of taking a stressful brief next week. After doing a smidge of work for a couple of hours for some folks in Munich, I strode down London Road to pick up my horsepills and on down to West Street Specsavers. One of the nose pads on my Harry Potterish specs had disappeared, probably after I sat on them. Always very helpful in there. My pad replaced, my screws tightened, glasses polished.   A plaguey bus home sat among teenagers.  Shortly after I got home, Beth popped in for a coffee and Sam, Beth and I had an enjoyable hour's chatting. Had my first coffee for a few days, and the three of us...

Horrible night, kept awake by searing lower gut pain, and Lorraine woke up again with me shifting around.  Called the surgery, got a phone appointment, and biffed my meeting with Keith, as I was braindead after just a couple of hours of sleep and needed to focus my limited resources on completing the German work. He was sympathetic, and told me he'd spent a night in a hospital with suspected appendicitis when it was actually trapped wind.  Sent off the German work, talk of another job from them which happily evaporated. Finally the doctor called, about two hours late, and arranged for me to come into the medical centre. As it got dark, I was seen by an excellent woman doctor, attentive, reassuring, listening and assured. After being examined and chatting, it seems that the most likely explanation was constipation. Not something I have experienced before. Was given a prescription for drinkable sachets, and told to take Senna poo pills, then I was, ahem, good to go. Walking help...

So a migraine in the night, and spent today recovering from it. A quick teleconference this morning at nine, before I devoted myself to slumping about. I chatted with Mum on Facetime, as the woman next door to her danced out invitingly in her nightie as is her wont. Looking forward to being with Mum in Guernsey in a few weeks. This is a carrot of niceness on the horizon. I was sufficiently recovered late this afternoon to get to the doctor for results of bloods. Bumped into Adrian en route and I blurted about Chad, and showed him my new camera which I bought as a reward to myself. It is rather spiffy. I took some shots of nothing in particular just to try it. At the doctor my bloods were okay. Not diabetic and cholesterol not too bad. I took the opportunity to score some tranquilisers for the four flights. I really like my doctor. We had a good laugh about stuff, and I offered to show him my jackal bites when I got home. Walked home too, through the park as the sun set. I love this...

A lazy start, as I had a doctor's appointment this morning: a long wait in the waiting room, followed by a long wait in the pharmacy with three drug addicts and a pensioner.   As I listened to the drug users discussing where they could score after collecting their free NHS methadone, I found myself making first contact with my inner Daily Mail reader. The drug-fuelled burglary I had several years ago has  strained the quality of mercy in this respect, and I found it slightly galling to be paying for my prescription, and their methadone. Off then to London for work which was mainly given over to pet parasites, but working with a nice Spanish account handler called Yaiza and talking about the presence of Toxocara cati eggs in cat faeces.  Grabbed a cheeky single beer after work with Matty boy, Andy and Anne from the agency, and caught a slightly later train that got me into Brighton at the same time as my usual one. I stopped off at Sing Li for a bag of fish and chips ...

Sorry for myself first thing, sick of pain and feeling my whole life impeded. Hobbled slowly off to the doctors and had time in the waiting room to twice listen to a 20 minute meditation tape. I at least felt centred after this, and had visions of Moulin Huet valley in Guernsey. Snapped out of this to find the doctor prescribing me a stiff five day course of steroids. Mad people are liberally sprinkled along London Road. I effortlessly blended-in, hobbling and scowling on the way home. When it began to rain it also gave me the opportunity to wear Lorraine's ill fitting wet top, as she had left home with mine. I paused for a coffee and a sandwich in a cafe and listen to the last two chapters of Moby-Dick. Yay for Moby-Dick who strikes back on behalf of benighted sperm whales/writers everywhere offing Ahab and sinking his ship Peqod . You feel in need of a shower after reading Moby-Dick to wash away all the whale grease, gore and caked sea salt. An amazing book. Later, I started ...

Glowing mono To the doctor again. At least it is a chance to read the paper in the waiting room. Apparently my deaf ear should sort itself out in time. Meanwhile we discovered that my other ear is blocked by wax, which needs to be sluiced out. So in a few days I will be able to hear better in glowing mono. Managed to find my accounts for the last couple of years. Also started doing my accounts for last tax year, and was in touch with my lovely accountant. Generally feeling much more in control about all this stuff now. I love the onset of Autumn. These next few months are my favourite time of year, and I keep sneaking off to the local park to hear the wind in the trees. Tody I spoiled myself with a flapjack and a coffee after a stroll around the park. Find I really enjoy cooking for Lorraine when she comes home, tired after a long day. Sam arrived to collect the last of his things. He had been out celebrating like fury the night before. He looked extremely dapper today in a new jacket...

All well in the world Off to the Doctor's first thing this morning. For the first time in my life I can honestly say that I have a good relationship with my GP, which lessens all my other neuroses such as white coat syndrome. Today he had two students sitting in during my consultation and my blood pressure was taken twice, and fortunately was normal. He confirmed ECG readings were fine and dandy, and I left feeling rather cheerful. And the doctor saying my holiday was perfectly timed. In the afternoon I slept for almost three hours. After this I felt brimming with optimism and cheeriness. Simple things like going into Sainsbury's seemed happy. It was red nose day , and so many of the staff were wearing tutus, including the men, which was at least colourful. And I fell into a nice conversation with a blue haired girl behind the counter at the pharmacy. Apparently it comes off in her sleep. I pictured her waking up with her pale emo face looking even paler with blue tinged skin...

Orange eye It is the sign of being a hypochondriac that my NHS doctor actually knows who I am, and is very friendly to me. There was a taciturn trainee mountebank in the room, so my doc went to great lengths to make sure everything was pukka. In passing I mentioned that my eye was sore and I got the full orange eye dye treatment and examination for corneal scratches etc. while I told them about the glaucoma pages I've been writing lately. Then to the pharmacy with a baleful orange eye. There a senior gentleman was explaining that vegetarians tend to look pasty, and it makes them more susceptible to flu. Back to work on a few pages of the hogsite: a smorgasbord of ailments today from arthritis to ulcerative colitis. Turned on the radio: a programme about ailments in the 17th century. Some days are themed whether you like it or not. After finishing for the day at 4, I called the Cat with the Hat, who I've not chatted to for some time. He was very cheerful about Obama and invitin...