More hospital tests

[lnr]

After visiting the nuclear medicine department last week and the week before for some radiography today was the turn of the ultrasound. And a nice chap called Matthew used that to take a look at my neck too. He's confirmed that a) I do have a dodgy parathyroid gland and b) it's where the nuclear medicine people said it was. It's about 10mm along and 6mm across and apparently an ideal candidate for the sort of minimally-invasive day surgery I was suspecting would be necessary. if it were normal he wouldn't even be able to find it with the ultrasound. And it was nice of him to talk more openly about the fact that that's what's going to happen: I've known for ages, but I think that's the first time I've been *properly* told. And even he seemed to think I'd know already. Clinic is next week, when I get to see the consultant, and then I guess we just see how soon they can fit me in.

Bizarrely I was chatting to my neighbour across the road a couple of days back, and it turns out *she's* going in to have surgery for the exact same thing. An unusual version of small world syndrome! Here's hoping it goes well for both of us.

I also took the opportunity of a hospital appointment when I'm coming from home rather than work (I've got the week off) to take the bus and take my crutches back. Which got me a couple of funny looks, walking briskly and carrying them over my shoulder. And it was such a nice day I walked home along the Shelford bike path, enjoying the hot sunshine, the wild flowers and the birds. And I'm pretty sure I saw a yellowhammer. Bright yellow head, sitting on the fence only a few feet away briefly before it flew away. I've never seen anything quite like it but the information boards at Nine Wells local nature reserve had mentioned it, and looking it up it definitely seems right. Lovely. Thank goodness for factor 30 sunblock though. I took a similar length walk when visiting my parents on the bank holiday weekend and factor 8 was definitely not enough for the job.

Comments

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

SWS-ish: narenek's mother has surgery for the same thing this coming Friday.

[lnr]

And here was me thinking it was quite rare!

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

I guess it is in the scheme of things, compared to e.g. a sprained ankle, but still, weird! Perhaps it's one of those wossname effects, like when you learn a word and suddenly hear it everywhere. I might not have remembered what it is that narenek's mother's got when I was told, if I hadn't been reading your LJ and remembered that you'd talked about it (and that I'd gone and read about it after that). :D

Fingers crossed it doesn't take too long for you to get a date.

[lnr]

"Primary hyperparathyroidism occurs in about one in 500 to one in 1000 people. It affects women twice as often as men. It is more likely to occur as you get older but can occur at any age." Now I need to find 1.5 men who are about to have surgery for it too ;)

[numberland.livejournal.com]

I hope that if the operation is needed is straight forward and soon. Hospital wrangeling is never much fun.

[beckyc.livejournal.com]

Hope it all goes OK. If (as seems likely), you need surgery, let me know if you need lifts or moral support or whatever.

[uisgebeatha.livejournal.com]

Hope the surgery goes well!

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the surgery - glad it's been picked up on and is treatable.