Tag Archives: health

no news isn’t good news

21 Monday Oct 2024

Posted by in health, hospitals, knee saga, knees

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no news

I’m already exhausted about writing this post even before starting it. For a few days it seemed like the sudden and excruciating knee pain I first experienced back in May 2023 (left knee), which then extended to the right knee, and then got worse and worse to the extent that I’ve been painfully shuffling around (you can’t call it walking) on crutches since August, was finally about to be taken seriously and treated.

I knew I shouldn’t have got my hopes up.

I arrived at the health centre fully prepared with a typed-out list of the whole saga including every doctor’s visit, every test, every “non-treatment”, thinking it would be helpful for the traumatologist to see it laid out chronologically because, in my experience, most doctors know nothing about you or your case until you walk through the door and then there is the usual them skimming through your files on the computer and half-listening while you try to explain your situation.

Anyhow, my knees were poked and prodded and it was confirmed that I did indeed have mobility issues and PAIN because of the torn meniscus. Then the doctor said she wasn’t going to recommend a knee replacement (wtf?) but would send me to another specialist to see about getting the meniscus repaired. Well okay, better than nothing. I asked how soon I would get this appointment and was told not until AFTER CHRISTMAS. It was like a punch in the gut.

I got the usual ride a bike – go to a pool – lose weight – take painkillers “advice” and when I asked about seeing a physiotherapist the doctor said physio isn’t helpful for a torn meniscus. SO THEN WTF WOULD GOING TO THE POOL OR RIDING A BIKE DO?

I honestly don’t know what I am going to do now. The right knee keeps getting worse and worse and I fear that soon I won’t be able to walk at all, even with the crutches. Meanwhile not working is taking its toll both emotionally (I miss my old life) and financially (so scared about this). And to think that everything is just on pause, yet again, until January… right now I can’t bear to even think about that because it’s just too much. Fuck.

got the call!

18 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in health, hope, hospitals, knee saga, knees

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got the call

Well today took a sudden turn! I had planned to go with Peter to see Nice GP because he does better with an interpreter and also because I wanted to ask her what the heck was going on with the “priority” request she made for me to see a traumatologist (made almost a month ago). Then early this morning my phone rang. At first I wasn’t going to answer it because it was an unknown number then I picked it up… and omg I’m so glad I did. It was the Traumatology Dept calling to say I have an appointment NEXT MONDAY. Like wow.

First thing I did was cancel Peter’s appointment. Okay, not really, I moved it to two weeks from now. Why? Well organising medical appointments has become both simpler and more difficult these days as the ease of being able to book some things online is thwarted by long waiting times. For example, the first appt Peter could get is in two weeks, which is fine because it’s nothing urgent, just getting his blood test results and checking his bp meds. And since I go with him the end of October works better for both of us as that’s when I need to ask the doc about my next blood test and also update my bp meds, so then we can do it all at once.

One less trip to the (maskless) health centre is always a good thing.  Especially as Peter was already there yesterday to get his Covid-Flu booster (yay!) and I should be getting mine next week. And now I also have this new appointment on Monday. At first I was worried I might get the same awful traumatologist as before but it’s at a different health centre, so hopefully not. Last time they asked me if I wanted my appointment at Fleming or Marqués de Paradas and I chose the latter as it’s five minutes from my house. I’m starting to think that was a big mistake as both the Evil Endo and Dismissive Traumatologist appts took place there. This time I wasn’t given a choice so fuck convenience. Fleming is about a 40 minute bus ride from my place, but the bus stop is on the corner so that’s okay (the trusty 32 bus, which we may be losing to make Sevilla more TOURIST FRIENDLY).

Anyhow, I feel like I only have this one shot left to get the help I actually need. So I will be arming myself with the entire timeline of THE KNEE(S) SAGA, which began back in May 2023 (though I’d been having knee issues for years, this was the first time it affected my ability to walk).

May 2023 – sudden acute pain in left knee which continued to get worse
July 2023 – X-ray both knees
July 2023 – GP request for MRI (had to plead, wasn’t taken seriously)
Sept 2023 – MRI on left knee (though by this time right knee pain was much more severe)
Oct 2023 – Emergency hospital visit for severe right knee pain, was told that as there is osteoarthritis in left knee then obviously it’s in the right one too (ER doctor looked at previous x-ray not MRI), said I did not have a Bakers cyst, refused to do any further testing – was sent home with a prescription for Nolatil, a drug banned in 20 countries.
Oct 2023 – Started using a cane, could no longer walk without it
April 2024 – Appt with Traumatologist who admits I have Bakers cysts behind both knees but won’t recommend physiotherapy and refuses my request for an MRI on the right knee, tells me to ride a bike, lose weight and prescribes more drugs
June 2024 – GP (a new one) requests an MRI on right knee
August 2024 – Unable to walk anymore without using crutches, pain unbearable, at best I can shuffle-walk
Sept 2024 – MRI on right knee
Sept 2024 – GP requests appt with Traumatologist (again)
Oct 2024 – I guess we’ll find out

Meanwhile I have not been able to work since July and, aside from the physical and emotional stress (I miss my life!), I am also under a lot of financial stress wondering how I am going to make ends meet. Especially as this doesn’t look like there’s a quick solution, even if I start getting proper treatment asap.

Anyhow! One step at a time, so to speak. At the moment it all hangs on the Monday appointment and whether I get a sympathetic and not-too-overworked doctor who actually wants to help me. Let’s hope so. I’m a bit annoyed with myself for not being a better patient advocate for myself all this time but sometimes it’s really hard to stand up for yourself when you’re in pain and being told nothing is really wrong and it’s all because you’re old and fat and otherwise being dismissed as not worth their time. But now I’m angry as fuck. And I really need Monday to work. Wish me luck.

less is more

30 Monday Sep 2024

Posted by in casa azahar, fitness, health, health & happiness, home

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5 kilos

I am happy to report that I am leaving the month of September carrying 5 fewer kilos than when it started. It’s more impressive (to me) if I think about it as no longer lugging around this 5 kg sack of potatoes (just over two Morcillas doesn’t have the same impact). I know it’s still tip of the iceberg and also that I’ve been here before, many times, but let’s see if it sticks this time.

If what sticks, you ask? Well that’s what I’m not sure about. I mean, I got a bit of a “head start” when I got sick a few weeks ago and could barely eat anything for a week. Then when I was getting back to feeling normalish I just tried eating a bit differently, at different times. And of course keeping up with my chair workouts, as well as trying to get out for a daily hobble (my god I miss walking!). The good thing is that this new “whatever it is” hasn’t actually changed how I live. I can still go out to my tapas bars, enjoy meals out and Beer O’clock, have fun cooking at home etc, which I think is going to help make it sustainable because this isn’t a DIET, more a bit of a lifestyle tweak, if that makes sense.

Anyhow, it’s also a learning process as I figure out what feels best. Weight loss is just a part of the changes being made, and losing 5 kilos a month is maybe a bit too optimistic, but I’ll check in again at the end of October and let you know how it’s all going. Maybe by then I’ll know what I’m doing!

sled was right!

24 Tuesday Sep 2024

Posted by in health, knee saga, knees, sevilla

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torn meniscus

Back in mid-August when I suddenly couldn’t walk anymore without using crutches Kate @sledpress said it sounded like a torn meniscus and… guess what? She was right. Well, there are a few other things thrown into the mess, but this seems to be the biggie. And it was the reason that yesterday my GP pushed for another traumatologist appt ASAP. Of course I’m happy that this is finally being taken seriously, but it’s kind of a year late as my right knee was clearly the one with serious issues as far back as summer 2023. Instead I got the first MRI done on the left knee Sept 2023 (booked the previous June) and – until now – have been told that the right knee pain was because I am old and fat. Remember when I went to emergency last October and then had that disastrous appointment with the dismissive traumatologist? Anyhow, now I wait again. Meanwhile, can’t work, can’t walk… though I’m still getting out for a daily hobble and I’m also keeping up with my chair workouts.

If any of you understand DOCTOR here is the translated report of last week’s MRI…

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my 31st sevilla anniversary!

16 Monday Sep 2024

Posted by in health, health & happiness, hospitals, sevilla

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31 anniversary

post-hospital Sevilla Anniversary cava at Las Teresas

An afternoon at the hospital wasn’t how I’d have planned to spend my 31st Sevilla Anniversary but FINALLY getting my MRI done was kind of celebratory in itself. I’d been waiting almost three months and since then I’ve gone from getting by with my trusty stick to barely being able to walk with a pair of crutches. This past month has been a long, frustrating and painful one.

The previous MRI last year (left knee) was at a state-of-the-art radiology place but this time it was at my old hospital Virgen del Rocío. I like to think I know that place like the back of my hand after having spent so much time there, but with “after hours” late afternoon tests half the entrances/exits are closed and nobody is manning the information desks… it took me half an hour to find my correct waiting room and also took some doing to find my way out again. After which I met up with Peter at Las Teresas for a glass of cava to celebrate the day.

Anyhow, I wasn’t expecting any big news today but it still came as a surprise when the technician told me the results wouldn’t be available for 15 days. What? I told him I had an appointment booked with my GP for next Monday, so he said he would leave a note on my file to help speed things up a bit. Fingers crossed. And of course after seeing the GP there will be more waiting… will I be offered physiotherapy? an operation? Meanwhile…

I haven’t worked since mid-July. Part of that was my doing, taking some extra “staycation” time in July, though in fact I stopped doing tours in August years ago. Way too hot. But when I suddenly couldn’t walk without crutches mid-August… well, that totally fucked everything up. I scrambled to find people to take the tours I had booked the first half of September, and now I clearly have to do the same for the rest of the month and possibly longer. Luckily I not only have Peter to help out with this, but two other freelance friends Fiona and Sharon have also been happy to take on the new tours being booked that I obviously cannot do myself.

This means that I know clients will be in good hands, and that’s great. But it also means no income for me and, now realistically looking at how this is likely to pan out, until something is done to fix my knee I will not able to do any tours. What I don’t know now is how long that will be. There is a little extra income out there, I’ve just finished another article for Decanter magazine and the Patreon brings in about 100 euros a month (appreciate it!) but I can’t live on that. I know I’ve been “pivoting” for ages with the tours, looking for other ways to move forward, without giving up the tours entirely, so maybe this is my wake up call. I just wish I knew how and where I am supposed to be pivoting and moving on to.