Hello and welcome to my fourth podcast. On today's podcast I want to talk about something
that's gone through my head in regards to open MRI scanners. I'm also going to talk
about how the weekend has been for me and where I currently am in regards to the pains
and issues that I believe my MS is currently causing me. To the first point, in regards
to the MRI scanners, obviously on my last podcast I talked about how I have managed
to overcome my fear. Not everyone can do that. Not everyone is the same. So my little thought
on that would be, would it not be worth actually having maybe one open MRI scanner per hospital
trust and again if people need to have transport for that because again it's not going to be
close by for certain people. Totally understand that. Provide them with transport should it
be required because each closed scan that is unsuccessful, it clearly it costs money
and I have been made aware by people in the know that actually it's quite common for a
decent chunk of closed scans to be unsuccessful. I know, I've been there more than once. So
the thought for myself would be, is it certainly for cost effectiveness, long term, one open
scanner per hospital trust, provide transport for those that need it, yes the initial outlay
is going to be massive. I do get that and I'm not a politician under any stretch of
the imagination. I've done no research into it. This is just my personal thoughts. It's
gone through my head so I just have to float that out and see what other people think.
But if it helps those that actually physically cannot go through a closed scan, well if we
can provide them with an open scanner which quite honestly it does take away the claustrophobia
aspect of it, surely that's got to be better and in the long term, and I'm talking long
term, I just wonder if that would be more cost effective because you're going to have
a significant dip in unsuccessful scans. It's going to be a lot more successful for
people so that's my thought on it. One open scanner per trust and transport for those
that require it. It might be possible, it might not, but as I say, just my thought process.
I thought I'd float that out there and see what people think about it. Now thinking about
my weekend, it's not been the best of weekends I must admit. I've had four falls this weekend
and it's been a few weeks since I've been a bit foley. One of the falls was in the living
room and unfortunately I hit the deck and I was probably on the floor for about 10 minutes
or so before I could right myself and get back to my feet which wasn't great, I wasn't
overly happy with but it happens. Another one, I was going up the stairs and I was actually
using one of my crutches to go up the stairs. It was a sticky sticky stick stick that was
with me, I just thought I'd share that bit. As we were towards the top of the stairs I
had a fall and I actually hit my forehead on the crutch itself which was quite painful.
I didn't do any major damage to myself thankfully but yeah it was quite painful but again I
managed to eventually right myself and carry on, managed to get up the stairs and do what
I was going to do. Over the course of the weekend I've had two injections, my left arm
has definitely been like a pincushion, I'll pin this with you. I've had my flu jab on
Saturday which I've never had to have before. It's a bit of a new one for me that, obviously
I've been put forward for that due to my diagnosis. So yeah that on Saturday. On Sunday I've had
my fourth Covid injection. As it stands at the moment I think I'm doing okay, I've got
a bit of a sore arm but that's it. Fingers crossed it stays that way. Due to the issues
that I've had over the weekend we've been a lot more wobbly than usual. Every single
day I am quite wobbly I'll be honest with you but this weekend's been particularly bad.
Spent a lot of time actually just sort of relaxing. I've watched a bit of telly, been
a bit of sport on the telly. I've watched a bit of cricket, a bit of American football
which usually I would watch when I wake up for work. It's quite early in the morning
so I would sit there and normally watch the fourth quarter because that's about where
we are time wise. So yeah I've watched a bit of American football. There's been football
on the telly as well. And watched West Ham play, they are my team. I'm a West Ham fan.
Not the easiest team in the world to follow believe me but we carry on with them and we
follow the scores every week. At least we picked up three points this week which was
quite nice. Makes a change because it's not been the best of starts to the season let's
be totally honest. My youngest she's gone off to camp this weekend with school. I'm
sure she's going to really enjoy that and I'm actually really looking forward to her
coming home and letting us know exactly what she's been up to. She's been in touch a few
times and yeah it sounds like she's having a great time. So yeah it's another one I'm
quite looking forward to hearing all about it. Going back to some of the issues that
I've had over the weekend. One of them last night went to bed I was actually having a
really good night's sleep. Around quarter past, half past two I woke up and I really
needed the toilet. But I was in a lot of pain with my back and my legs to the point actually
I physically could not get out of bed. It was very very uncomfortable. Now I laid there
for probably half hour 45 minutes give or take and I'm thinking just talk yourself out
of it you don't need the toilet you'll be okay. I was wrong it seems you can't talk
yourself out of needing the toilet. So after a while I realised actually you know what
I really do need some help here. So I very gently woke up the wife to ask if she wouldn't
mind helping bless her big smile on her face she was quite happy to try and help me which
she did she managed to get me out of bed get me across the hall to the toilet and yeah
I managed to go and get back in bed. What I will say is I'm pleased that she went straight
back to sleep from my point of view I couldn't I stayed awake for a good couple of hours
after a little bit upset with myself that I'd had that issue and I had to wake her up
because she's got work today so she needs rest but sometimes we just need help and unfortunately
last night I was absolutely in that position where I really did need help and I'm very
lucky that I got all the help that was required. I did go back to sleep I managed to process
it all and sort of get everything straight in my head and sort of realise actually this
sort of thing is probably something to an extent I need to get a bit used to. So I did
I processed it I accepted it and woke up this morning I could never say perfectly fine but
I was able to get out of bed and walk around still very wobbly but at least I'm able to
move which is quite helpful it's been quite nice I must admit but yeah I mean in terms
of what I've got going on I think at the moment my MS is being a bit of a problem I'm having
a lot of pain in my back and my legs and as I've alluded to I'm very wobbly currently
but yeah so the pain in my back and legs is actually quite quite extreme and it's been
a bit of a struggle I must admit I'm trying to carry on as best as I can sort of trying
to find a balance on how to continue doing everyday things but it's not been easy but
I'm getting there I'm finding a way I'm trying to find a balance and once I've found it all
good I'll be able to continue on as best as as best as I can. Back at work tomorrow so
I really need to try and find a way to continue on but yeah I think that's pretty much all
I was going to talk about today I will say I'm really grateful to everyone that's downloading
and listening to this podcast I know I've said this previously but the fact that I'm
looking and I've got people all over the world downloading and listening to me talking about
what I've got going on and whereabouts I am currently it's it's very eye-opening and
I thank you all very very much I really do appreciate it I think that's probably it I
think I've probably bored you all enough for today I look forward to talking to you all
again soon and I hope you all have a good time okay speak to you soon bye bye