This picture was taken by John about 1975 and shows rather well my relationship with my parents. Close, but not touchy feely.
For the past few months I have been feeling a bit tired and run down and a little low in spirits.
Additionally I have developed a tremor in my right hand/arm.
A few months ago I took myself to see the GP who asked a few questions, tried a few tests and found that I had an accelerated heartbeat plus high blood-pressure. He gave me some tablets and slowly the blood-pressure returned to an acceptable level so the original problem was the only thing which needed to be addressed.
To cut a long story short some kind friends from church took me and brought me back from the hospital some 17 miles away, since I do not drive and the only bus runs every two hours.
That was this morning.
I saw one doctor who examined me closely and talked me through most of my life's health history. He said he was uncertain and would I mind being seen by another doctor.
Another set of trials and questions and he too said "I think we need Mr............ who arrived a minute or two later.
"Yes" he said, "I can see why you are difficult to diagnose but, you have two problems:
1 You have an Essential tremor, and
2 You have Parkinson's disease"
He explained at some length what the first one meant - not much to worry about. The second one is
of course the last thing I wanted to hear, although he told me it is very early on and the tablets he prescribed would ease the tremor and lift my spirits.
Seeing that he had winded me he said "Don't worry, you could be no worse than this in ten years time"
If I sound less than cheerful please forgive me, but this has knocked me off my perch and at present I don't quite know how to adjust my emotional barometer.
My GP seemed so sure it was not Parkinson's that i had mentally dismissed it.
Please don't see this as a plea for sympathy, it really isn't. It's just that my habit of blogging my angst as well as my joys has never seemed more necessary.
Missing my Mum.
