I AM ANGRY
In fact I am very angry. For the last couple of years I have had repeated Liver Function Tests – the ALT has been high. For longer than that, I have periodically told the doctor my stomach is bad, almost as soon as I have eaten I am in the toilet, (I leave the rest to your imagination).
About 3 weeks ago I was summoned by the doctor for more Liver Function tests – once again the ALT was high. This time my GP was not available, I saw a younger doctor, she took the time to sit and talk through my whole medical history. Right through to some tests I had undergone in the late 1970's and with a reference to my drug use prior to 1975.
The upshot of this conversation, a doctor's consultation that lasted more than 10 minutes, was yet more tests. My arm has more holes in it than it has ever had since I gave up drugs. The phials of my blood duly went off to the Lab. A week later the results of all the tests barre one were back, and apart from the ALT they were fine. Then a few days later the doctor phoned me, the last result was back I have Hepatitis C.
Now I am angry for a number of reasons. First off if my doctor had talked to me at any time it would have soon become apparent that a test for Hepatitis C and B would be advisable. I did have a test in 1990 when I requested a test for HIV – a precaution based on my drug use. Unfortunately a test for Hepatitis C was not developed until 2 years later.
The HIV test was confidential and the results not available to my GP, indeed to the best of my knowledge my doctor would not know I had been tested. However the 1978 tests including a biopsy, in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary although inconclusive at the time, do contain indicators that I had Hep C.
What I want to know is this. - Why when the knowledge of Hepatitis C and the relevant tests came were developed in 1992, didn't the hospitals trawl through the records of people who had been given inconclusive Hepatitis diagnoses? Maybe I am being naive, or I am overestimating the capability of computers and computer software. But I would not have thought it was beyond the wit of computer wizards to write a program to look through old patient records looking for key words or phrases which might indicate a missed diagnosis?
So now what? Now I am waiting for a letter from the hospital and an appointment. I have trawled the web, rejecting many sites, sticking with UK sites. The prognosis does not appear to be too bad, one thing in my favour – I do not drink so my liver is in pretty good condition.
Apart from being angry how do I feel?
Like I have been kicked in the teeth. For the last couple of years I have been living a relatively virtuous and healthy lifestyle. 2 years ago I gave up smoking, I have been monogamous for over 4 years. I do not drink – less than a bottle of wine a month (from now on I will not drink at all!).
I am depressed and stressed. For the last ten days or so despite mild sleeping tablets I have not slept properly. When I start thinking I can see so many of the symptoms have been with me a long time.
My mental ability and ability to concentrate is poor – 5 years ago I could write 5,000 word short stories in a day, edit and rewrite and the story would be of a publishable standard within 4 days. To write this 650 words has taken me 4 hours with a number of breaks, the breaks are because I simply cannot maintain hour in hour out concentration.
An hour of dithering about and I am back at the keyboard. Now I cannot think of anymore to write.
Keep watching this Blog and you will find out more.
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