MEDICAL MATTERS

[Stanley]

That's a bugger Pluggy. From the sound of it I'd rather have my Cancer thank you..... I feel so sorry for you but I know that won't help. Like Wendy, I hope you get support and help quickly.
Don't think you are going to stop being my IT consultant that easily! As long as your brain is functioning I shall send a taxi round for you!

[plaques]

A close neighbour suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. A similar inherited condition but affecting young people. As with myositis there is no long term cure but anti inflammatory drugs and therapy treatment can slow its progress down. Get to see a specialist as quickly as possible and get the tests done for a proper diagnosis. Hoping things aren't as bad as you fear. Best of luck.

[PanBiker]

Not good Pluggy, I have been left with a degree of foot drop as my tumour was impacting the motor region of the left hemisphere of my brain. Mine has resolved to some degree by physiotherapy but not fully. I also use an orthotic device with some footwear that ensures that the front of the foot is lifted. With your family history it looks like yours could be a different cause but the effects you are experiencing at the moment are the same.

My symptoms were transient but they got to the bottom of it fairly quickly. If you have more permanent symptoms one would hope that they could do the same for you. I hope they put you in a scanner also to cover all bases. I can recommend the new AAU unit at Airedale, they only took 12 hours to identify exactly what was wrong with me. I wish you well for a speedy diagnosis and treatment options.

[Tizer]

I'm sorry to hear about your medical problem, Pluggy, and I trust that you'll get quick and effective help. Keep in mind that things have moved on from when your mother had it. Reading on the web I can see that research is under way to identify the cause and find a cure, such as this early stage US study: LINK Their results suggest that a cell protein is being disrupted and in mice they've been able to prevent this using drugs. Elsewhere robotics are being developed to help sufferers of foot drop: LINK...
`The investigators have developed a shoe-interfaced ankle robot with an adaptive control system, to assist an individual with ankle movement only as needed. Data from the investigators' previous studies on foot drop due to stroke show great promise for this ankle robot as a new rehabilitation tool for invididuals with foot drop, when used during treadmill walking. The investigators would like to utilize our findings from these stroke studies in learning how they can be used for PNS-related foot drop.'

After writing the above I told Mrs Tiz about it and she pointed out that even those people who have lost lower limbs can still drive specially adapted cars, so don't think you'll have to give up driving!

[Marilyn]

Foot drop I have the residue of it too.
You have bigger problems than me though, and my hopes/thoughts are with you.
Just believe in yourself, stay strong, question EVERYTHING! It is so easy to absorb wrong information.

[chinatyke]

Wow, Stephen, I hope all goes well with whatever treatment is available. Best wishes for a complete recovery.

[Sue]

In June I received a reminder text from my dentist that my 6 month checkup was due. Since then I have been trying to book an appointment. I have been on the website numerous times and could not find a slot! Just been on today and managed to find a session at 9.15 on the 10th September, almost 3 months after my regular appointment was due.

My dentist was off sick on the day of my appointment in late June which was thus cancelled. No new appointment till mid September. However if treatment is necessary he discusses both the private and The NHS, which would be best ie lasts longest etc. I have had a few private fillings rather than NHS crowns.

[Stanley]

Pluggy, Mrs Tiz's suggestion re. adapted cars seems very sensible?
Re. teeth, I was thinking this morning that one of the great advantages of pot gobblers is that first thing in the morning you can take them out, scrub with cold water and then wash your mouth out and gargle and start the day with a wonderful feeling of freshness.

[Tizer]

The antibiotic resistance problem is bad enough but now we have to face this too. The answer is, as it says at the end of the story, don't get infected!
`Drug-resistant superbug spreading in Europe's hospitals' LINK
`Superbugs resistant to emergency antibiotics are spreading in hospitals, a Europe-wide study shows. Drugs called carbapenems are used when an infection cannot be treated with anything else. The spread of resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae was "extremely concerning", researchers from the Sanger Institute said...'.

[Stanley]

I suspect that if that man was to write an article on all infections we would find we were in constant danger! I don't doubt the substance of the report but we can't go through life being afraid of everything. I am fully occupied dealing with cancer at the moment......

[Pluggy]

I had my appointment with the Doctor. Referral to a neurologist, appointment for blood test and occupational therapist. Dr Jackson knew me and saw me stuggling in the waiting room. she didn't take any convincing that I had something serious and it had deteriorated. As the website said she hadn't heard of the condition. She looked up on her computer and did some preliminary tests

The NHS gets way too much flak in my book.....

[Marilyn]

Hang in there Pluggy.. The walk from the waiting room, down the cooridor to the doctor's room seemed to take a fortnight, when hobbling with my stick! ( and I was doing me best!)

[PanBiker]

Yes, good luck Stephen, looks like you have started your journey. You're right about the NHS as well, cant fault it with my experience and ongoing care.

[Stanley]

I'll echo the others Stephen. You are in the system now and I agree with Ian, the NHS are brilliant with acute conditions. I applaud Dr Jackson for being honest and admitting she hadn't been aware of the condition, that in itself is a promising start. You can be sure you will get good service because you are an unusual case. Little consolation I know but it works like that.
Very best of luck!

[PanBiker]

You will no doubt have the added benefit of educating rafts of students as well. LGI is a teaching hospital and my experience was more or less anyone who knew anything had a shadow. I signed more student nurses journals than I can remember for their practices on me, fantastic and for me one way that you can help put a little back in. Good luck Stephen.

[Tizer]

Most of us will remember that man who used to complain on OG about science and scientists. He got tired us pointing out that modern medicine is based on science and he left. Pluggy will now benefit from scientific advances...and from knowing we are thinking about him.

[Whyperion]

results suggest that a cell protein is being disrupted and in mice they've been able to prevent this using drugs.

Interesting as I wondered if the problem is a neural transmitter problem ( brain wants foot to move, foot moving mechanism does not get message ). Or a Muscle or Ligament Problem- message recieved but activation failure.

[plaques]

results suggest that a cell protein is being disrupted and in mice they've been able to prevent this using drugs.

Interesting as I wondered if the problem is a neural transmitter problem ( brain wants foot to move, foot moving mechanism does not get message ). Or a Muscle or Ligament Problem- message recieved but activation failure.

A bit of both I believe. Whatever the mechanics lets hope they can develop something for the short term and go on to stop it all together.

[Stanley]

Tiz, fond memories of the dinosaur Hartley......
Dead right Ian about students and I volunteered to let the trainee have a go at catheterising me for practice but Helen said that it wasn't allowed but she thanked me for the offer.

[Stanley]

I'm sat here listening to You and Yours on R4 and listening the the horrendous story of a young woman who, wanting to 'improve' the look of her teeth, found a 'cosmetic dentist' who could do a £6,000 treatment installing veneers for less than £2,000. To cut a long story short after months of pain she had to spend the £6,000 with an approved dentist and will have to repeat the treatment at intervals for the rest of her life.
Apart from the obvious lesson of not believing unbelievable offers. why bother in the first place? Is it vanity or some deep psychological flaw? I'll stick to my pot gobblers thank you.....

[Marilyn]

Yes...but...you have got no choice now. It is pot gobblers from here on in for you!
I'm hoping to be buried with my natural teeth...

[Stanley]

If I could go back and have a choice I would go for the gobblers again. They have been wonderful for me! Not everyone's choice I know but just imagine a lifetime of trouble and expense free teeth. Would you go for that if it was guaranteed?

[Marilyn]

No.

[Stanley]

[Tripps]

Stanley has told us that he knew of a suicide , and I read last week that half a million Americans go bankrupt every year due to medical bills. That's shocking enough, but this is even worse. Diabetes USA.

Isn't the phrase " shortly after he aged out of a family health insurance plan" horrible?

Home of the brave. . . You'd need to be.