Hello, how's everyone doing? Welcome to the next show. On today's show, predominantly,
I'm going to talk about something that I've been asked actually to do a show on. So I'm
going to and I'm going to be discussing how I actually got my diagnosis. I'm also, towards
the end, just a basic bit of chit chat, if you like, and I've actually written another
poem. So I'm going to share that with you towards the end, if that's okay. It's gone
down quite well, actually, on my Instagram and TikTok. So I'll share that with yourselves
and yeah, see what you think of it. But the crux of today's show, I'm going to talk about
how I got my diagnosis and whereabouts we are with that. I'm going to start, as I said
previously in previous episodes, shows, whatever you want to call them. It all started for
me around 10 years ago when I had numbness in my feet. And to be fair, cut a long story
short because as I said, I've been through this previously. I was given antibiotics for
the numbness because they thought it was an infection. That did not work. It did not work
at all. So I kind of just ignored it. Bear with me because it is a bit chilly out in
my recording area at the moment. So I'm having a nice cup of tea like I did previously. Yeah,
I mean, as I again said previously, the numbness, it travelled all the way up my legs. And it
did took a long time for this to happen. It travelled all the way up my legs, all the
way up to the top of my chest and my stomach area. And that was on and off for a while.
We're at a point now where that's constant. That's neither here nor there at this stage.
So eventually, I did go for an MRI scan. That was an NHS scan. So it was in a closed scanner.
I couldn't cope with it. Again, for me, the closed scanners, I found them terrifying.
Being that enclosed and all sorts, it just wasn't for me. So that scan did fail. It
was then paid for a private MRI scan, which I went for. It was an upright scan. So okay,
slightly enclosed on your sides, but above you, perfectly fine. Actually, I found it
very, very easy to go through that. Not a problem at all. The scanner actually showed
up issues with my lower back. So I do have issues there with my lower back. And to be
honest with you, what I didn't really pay any attention to at the bottom of that report,
it actually mentioned another scan may well be required if demyelination was suspected.
And it said for another scan, it really would be best if there was contrast I used. Again,
I mean, that went on for a little while where I pretty much ignored it because I didn't
know what demyelination was. I didn't understand anything like that. My GP was being a little
bit pushy that actually another scan really was required. But again, it was a case of
I can't go through the closed scanners. I found them absolutely impossible to deal with
at the time. So it was left for a good while, a good few months. And I started to get real
issues again. And it was it was a case of actually gonna need a scan. Well, I have this
contrast scan done. So again, it was paid for privately to have the scan that was done
with the contrast die. Which, again, I mean, I didn't really at this point understand why
we was even bothering with things like contrast scans. But after that one, I was actually
called in to go and see my GP. And he explained that demyelination was seen. And that I really
do need a brain scan. At this point, I'm gonna make a joke here. But at this point, genuinely,
I'm thinking brain scan me, that's going to come back completely clear because there's
no brain in there at all. But yeah, I mean, it was very much a case of my GP. At this
point, he did say to me, all joking aside to prepare for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
That took me back. I didn't understand that. And I've again, I've mentioned this, I'm
not going to go into too much detail on that because I have mentioned it previously. But
yeah, it really knocked me for six. I'll be honest with you. I didn't quite know
where to go with that information. So a brain scan was booked. It had to be done. And I
actually did overcome my fear of a closed scan. I realized actually, I really do need
this. I can't, I can't keep not having this brain scan because at this point, again, I'm
I'm having some quite bad problems. So I need to know what's going on. So I did overcome
the fear of the closed scanner. And I went through the brain scan. It did show there
was a brain in there, which surprised me. I'll be honest with you. But there you go.
After the brain scan, it did show that there was a few small lesions on my brain. And my
neurologist at that point referred me to an MS specialist nurse. After he'd, he'd
diagnosed the MS. So yeah, that was done. I had my, my first meeting with my MS nurse.
And she did go through, she explained to me exactly what MS is, what it's, what it does.
And again, I mean, thankfully, Lisa, she, my wife, she came with me to that appointment
because I think I might have been a bit over, overawed by it all, if I'm honest. But yeah,
the nurse, she was, she was great. She explained it all very, very well. She explained what
would need to happen next and that another MRI scan was going to be necessary. She also
explained to me what she believed the level of my MS was. And again, until I've had that
confirmed, I will keep that to myself. But yeah, I mean, so another scan was required.
This scan was brain and spine. So again, I went through it. I've been through a close
scanner once. I'd taught myself how to get through it. So I did. And again, I have previously
done a podcast explaining how I managed to get through the fear of closed scanners. So
please, by all means, go back through and have a listen if you do struggle with the
closed scanners. Because I like to think that it's quite good advice on there that I've
been been given. Because it got me through. So if it can get just one other person through,
that to me is quite successful. Just having a sip of me tea. Nothing better than a nice,
nice strong cup of tea. I do enjoy it. Maybe I'm getting old. I don't know. But yeah,
so that that brain and spine scan was completed. It showed what they was expecting it to show.
Again, that was done with contrast dye. And my MS nurse, she passed my file onto the MS
MDT, the multidisciplinary team. And they had a look. They have requested that I have a
lumbar puncture done, which I can't say as I'm best pleased about. But if it's got to
be done, it's got to be done. I'm not very pleased about the wait time. 10 weeks wait.
Okay, I'm about three weeks into that wait. But they've already sort of earmarked what
they're expecting treatment wise for me to receive. So I don't quite understand why we
can't just get to a point where they push through and put me on treatment. I know they
need to cross all the T's and dot all the I's. But in all fairness, as I've explained
recently, I really am struggling. I'll be honest with you. My mobility all sorts, it's
like it's dropped off a cliff. So I really could do with with this all, all speeding
up. But not a lot I can do on that apart from sit back and wait. But yeah, I mean, that's
how I've got my diagnosis. And again, it's, it's a lot longer for some people. It's a
lot shorter for others. But I have to say it. I do think for any kind of chronic condition.
I do wonder if things should be done a lot quicker. Because this sort of stuff does play
on your mind. It is with me at the moment is playing on my mind a lot. And I can totally
understand his wait times and whatever else is other people out there fully respect that.
But personally, for me, it can be a bit torturous, sitting here, constantly waiting with with
nothing really going on. So I do wonder if there's better ways of this this happening.
But again, I'm just one person I can't make things go quicker. I can't. I can't rush
things through. Say it is this people out there in a worse, worse state than I am. But
personally, I think everyone should be in a position where this sort of stuff is done
as quickly as humanly possible, just to try and help. But yeah, as I say, that's where
I am currently. That's how I've got my diagnosis. And it is quite a brief synopsis of what's
gone on. I mean, there's there's other bits and pieces. But that that is the the long
and short of it, if I'm totally honest with you. So yeah, I mean, hopefully, as I say,
I have been asked to do this show, and I hope this helps. As I say, the crux of it, if it
wasn't for the private scans that that I had done, I probably wouldn't be where I
am now in terms of diagnosis and knowing what's going on. And if I hadn't really fought through
the fear of the closed scanner, again, don't think I would be where I am now. So that really
is where we are with it. Yeah. So moving on from that, some a bit different I want to
talk about World Cup starts soon. Yes, I am a big football fan. For my listeners in the
United States, I'm a big soccer fan. I have to say, I'm going to give a bit of a prediction
here for England's World Cup. And actually, I hope I'm wrong. I hope we go further than
I'm expecting. But I'm thinking we're going to get quarterfinal. Don't know why. I've
just got a feeling it's not going to be a very successful World Cup for us. I have to
say as a big West Ham fan, I really hope Declan Rice can push us forward from that midfield.
And yeah, at the top end, I hope Harry Kane has got his shooting boots on. And we can
actually go further than that quarterfinal. Because in my lifetime, I'd love nothing
more than to see England lift that trophy. I would love nothing more. But I just don't
think this is our time. I'll be honest, I really don't think it's our time. But Mr Southgate,
if you can get the lads up for this and you can bring that trophy home, I will sing till
my heart's got nothing else left in it. I would be over a moon to see us walk away with
that trophy. But I can't see it. Not this time. Well, I've got to say, the weather
and a half turned. I'm literally, I'm sat, those that are watching on YouTube, you can
see I'm sat in my studio. And it's an outside britch head. It's a bit chilly in here. I've
got to say it is a bit chilly. I've actually had to bring a heater out. I've got that on.
And yeah, it's made a bit of a difference. But if it wasn't for the fact that I'm sat
here with the heater and a cup of tea, I'm a jumper on. I don't think I could be out
here. It's really chilly. Talk about a cup of tea, it means I've got to have a swig of
it. But yeah, no, I must admit the weather really has turned. It's got cold and wet.
Very wet. But yeah, so I think we really are pushing into winter now. Not be far from Christmas.
Like I said last time, I actually put the Christmas tree up. What I do, what I have
said at the start is about this, this new poem that I've written. It's actually gone
down very, very well on my Instagram and my TikTok, which I'm surprised about. But yeah,
if you don't mind, I would like to share that with you all now. Hopefully, hopefully
you like it as well. Because I did almost talk myself out of sharing this on any social
networking. But there you go. So here we go with the poem. Here I sit, another day, another
set of thoughts, another fight with what's inside. Every day to wake and see what comes
next. The next pain, the next fall, the next laugh. Yes, that's right. I said laugh. Because
through each pain, each fall, each bad day, it builds a fire. It builds a passion. It
builds a desire to keep going, to fight, to knock back down. Each time looking around
and seeing life, seeing love, seeing beauty makes that fight, fire and desire to keep
going and grow stronger and to turn and burn hotter. I take a step back and look at what
was and compare it with now. Wow. What a difference. Different views, different abilities, different
life. Well, I keep going, keep smiling, keep laughing. Because through it all, I choose
not to back down, to not give in, to not lose myself. Because I choose to fight. I hope
you like that. As I say, for some reason, those sort of thoughts do pop into my head
now and then. And I'm putting them down on paper. So I hope you don't mind me sharing.
What I will say is a massive thank you for listening. Show wise, I'm going to start
doing one show a week, which is going to be released at midnight on a Monday, Greenwich
time. So yeah, I mean, hopefully that's okay with everyone. I hope you're all doing okay.
And I actually hope you all have a really good week. Have a good time. I'll speak to
you again soon. Bye bye.