Oh the Humiliation!

It was Saturday morning, Grandpa had taken my son to football training, and my wife was getting ready to take my daughter to gymnastics and then on to a birthday party. Being a dutiful husband and having just woken up from my mid morning post brain surgery recovery sleep I thought I should help her get ready. So I made sure that my daughter was ready to go, had put her shoes on and got in the car, which she did. By this time my wife had packed her basket and was ready to go. She sat in the drivers seat and wound down the window and asked me if I could do my daughters seat belt up. This is a task I had performed a hundred times before, but this time something happened.

Just after I had clicked my daughter in place, my complacency got the better of me and as I stood up I cracked my head on the roof of the car. I got myself right on the staples and yes, it hurt like hell. I eventually managed to compose myself and after refraining from a barrage of four letter words (because of the presence of my four year old daughter) I looked up at the two girls in my life.

I expected panicked or shocked looks, at least a modicum of concern on their faces. But no. Neither one of them had moved an inch, they were both sitting there in their car seats laughing. Women can be so mean. Oh the humiliation. After what seemed like an eternity my wife eventually asked if I was OK. She already knew the answer though. I was fine, the bump was just extremely painful.

The point I want to make though is that even when you are down (because of an illness or surgery or whatever) it is important not to lose your sense of humour and not take yourself too seriously. I had two choices. I could go back inside the house and sulk or I could join in the joke and shrug it off with a laugh. I decided to pick my wounded pride up off the floor and join in the laugh. Surgery and illness can add a great burden to your life but it doesn't have to change the person that you are. You didn't have a choice in becoming sick, but the choices you can make effect the sort of person that you are. Choose wisely. Until next time, stay well:)

My first posting!

Dear Readers,

Welcome to my first blog. I hope that those who read find it interesting, and you can find some insights and benefit in assisting people who find themselves in similar situations to what I have experienced.

I will be writing about my experiences in dealing with a variety of medical problems that I have dealt with and continue to deal with, and hopefully help others cope in similar situations, and also discuss things that have allowed me to improve my quality of life. Writing from a patients perspective will hopefully allow me to show a better understanding and empathy for others, compared to your standard health care professionals.

So, what exactly have been my experiences with medical problems? The first time I was hit with a nasty medical problem was in 1994 when I came down with a kidney stone. It hurt like hell, but I will go into that another time. Anyway, three months later, I had another stone, so after extensive testing I was diagnosed with a metabolic disorder known as cystinuria. Since then I have had over 50 kidney stones and 30 surgeries to have them removed.

The other major problem that I have had developed in 2000 and was one of the scariest times of my life when my legs started getting weak. After four agonising weeks, bucket loads of tests and consults from three different doctors I finally was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (CIDP) which has left me with weakness and numbness in my arms and legs for the last ten years. To add to my neurological woes I also have essential tremor and depression, and I have also had to cope with the standard colds, flus and other bugs that everyoine gets, just worse because I have had to have my immune system surpressed.

Currently I am dealing with a kidney stone which will be removed shortly, and I will talk about this next blog. In two months time I will also be having brain surgery for my tremor. Until next week, stay well and I will see you next time.