1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,480 Hello, how's everyone doing? Welcome to the next show. On today's show, predominantly, 2 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:21,720 I'm going to talk about something that I've been asked actually to do a show on. So I'm 3 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:31,320 going to and I'm going to be discussing how I actually got my diagnosis. I'm also, towards 4 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:40,240 the end, just a basic bit of chit chat, if you like, and I've actually written another 5 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:46,200 poem. So I'm going to share that with you towards the end, if that's okay. It's gone 6 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:53,360 down quite well, actually, on my Instagram and TikTok. So I'll share that with yourselves 7 00:00:53,360 --> 00:01:04,800 and yeah, see what you think of it. But the crux of today's show, I'm going to talk about 8 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:15,480 how I got my diagnosis and whereabouts we are with that. I'm going to start, as I said 9 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:23,400 previously in previous episodes, shows, whatever you want to call them. It all started for 10 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:36,720 me around 10 years ago when I had numbness in my feet. And to be fair, cut a long story 11 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:41,800 short because as I said, I've been through this previously. I was given antibiotics for 12 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:48,080 the numbness because they thought it was an infection. That did not work. It did not work 13 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:55,880 at all. So I kind of just ignored it. Bear with me because it is a bit chilly out in 14 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:05,920 my recording area at the moment. So I'm having a nice cup of tea like I did previously. Yeah, 15 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:16,280 I mean, as I again said previously, the numbness, it travelled all the way up my legs. And it 16 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,440 did took a long time for this to happen. It travelled all the way up my legs, all the 17 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:27,560 way up to the top of my chest and my stomach area. And that was on and off for a while. 18 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:37,160 We're at a point now where that's constant. That's neither here nor there at this stage. 19 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:49,800 So eventually, I did go for an MRI scan. That was an NHS scan. So it was in a closed scanner. 20 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:59,280 I couldn't cope with it. Again, for me, the closed scanners, I found them terrifying. 21 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:09,800 Being that enclosed and all sorts, it just wasn't for me. So that scan did fail. It 22 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:18,880 was then paid for a private MRI scan, which I went for. It was an upright scan. So okay, 23 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:24,400 slightly enclosed on your sides, but above you, perfectly fine. Actually, I found it 24 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:33,280 very, very easy to go through that. Not a problem at all. The scanner actually showed 25 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:42,400 up issues with my lower back. So I do have issues there with my lower back. And to be 26 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:51,200 honest with you, what I didn't really pay any attention to at the bottom of that report, 27 00:03:51,200 --> 00:04:04,120 it actually mentioned another scan may well be required if demyelination was suspected. 28 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:12,320 And it said for another scan, it really would be best if there was contrast I used. Again, 29 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:17,000 I mean, that went on for a little while where I pretty much ignored it because I didn't 30 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:22,720 know what demyelination was. I didn't understand anything like that. My GP was being a little 31 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:30,320 bit pushy that actually another scan really was required. But again, it was a case of 32 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:38,280 I can't go through the closed scanners. I found them absolutely impossible to deal with 33 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:49,360 at the time. So it was left for a good while, a good few months. And I started to get real 34 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:56,200 issues again. And it was it was a case of actually gonna need a scan. Well, I have this 35 00:04:56,200 --> 00:05:06,520 contrast scan done. So again, it was paid for privately to have the scan that was done 36 00:05:06,520 --> 00:05:15,680 with the contrast die. Which, again, I mean, I didn't really at this point understand why 37 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:24,400 we was even bothering with things like contrast scans. But after that one, I was actually 38 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:38,960 called in to go and see my GP. And he explained that demyelination was seen. And that I really 39 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:46,480 do need a brain scan. At this point, I'm gonna make a joke here. But at this point, genuinely, 40 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,840 I'm thinking brain scan me, that's going to come back completely clear because there's 41 00:05:50,840 --> 00:06:01,560 no brain in there at all. But yeah, I mean, it was very much a case of my GP. At this 42 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:12,960 point, he did say to me, all joking aside to prepare for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. 43 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,880 That took me back. I didn't understand that. And I've again, I've mentioned this, I'm 44 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,000 not going to go into too much detail on that because I have mentioned it previously. But 45 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:26,640 yeah, it really knocked me for six. I'll be honest with you. I didn't quite know 46 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:40,880 where to go with that information. So a brain scan was booked. It had to be done. And I 47 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:45,720 actually did overcome my fear of a closed scan. I realized actually, I really do need 48 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:55,320 this. I can't, I can't keep not having this brain scan because at this point, again, I'm 49 00:06:55,320 --> 00:07:03,080 I'm having some quite bad problems. So I need to know what's going on. So I did overcome 50 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:10,840 the fear of the closed scanner. And I went through the brain scan. It did show there 51 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:17,720 was a brain in there, which surprised me. I'll be honest with you. But there you go. 52 00:07:17,720 --> 00:07:30,360 After the brain scan, it did show that there was a few small lesions on my brain. And my 53 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:39,760 neurologist at that point referred me to an MS specialist nurse. After he'd, he'd 54 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:53,480 diagnosed the MS. So yeah, that was done. I had my, my first meeting with my MS nurse. 55 00:07:53,480 --> 00:08:00,880 And she did go through, she explained to me exactly what MS is, what it's, what it does. 56 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:07,920 And again, I mean, thankfully, Lisa, she, my wife, she came with me to that appointment 57 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:15,600 because I think I might have been a bit over, overawed by it all, if I'm honest. But yeah, 58 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:24,440 the nurse, she was, she was great. She explained it all very, very well. She explained what 59 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:31,600 would need to happen next and that another MRI scan was going to be necessary. She also 60 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:38,240 explained to me what she believed the level of my MS was. And again, until I've had that 61 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:48,960 confirmed, I will keep that to myself. But yeah, I mean, so another scan was required. 62 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:57,640 This scan was brain and spine. So again, I went through it. I've been through a close 63 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:06,080 scanner once. I'd taught myself how to get through it. So I did. And again, I have previously 64 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:14,320 done a podcast explaining how I managed to get through the fear of closed scanners. So 65 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:19,480 please, by all means, go back through and have a listen if you do struggle with the 66 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:27,200 closed scanners. Because I like to think that it's quite good advice on there that I've 67 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:36,360 been been given. Because it got me through. So if it can get just one other person through, 68 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:46,560 that to me is quite successful. Just having a sip of me tea. Nothing better than a nice, 69 00:09:46,560 --> 00:09:54,920 nice strong cup of tea. I do enjoy it. Maybe I'm getting old. I don't know. But yeah, 70 00:09:54,920 --> 00:10:05,040 so that that brain and spine scan was completed. It showed what they was expecting it to show. 71 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:17,600 Again, that was done with contrast dye. And my MS nurse, she passed my file onto the MS 72 00:10:17,600 --> 00:10:28,720 MDT, the multidisciplinary team. And they had a look. They have requested that I have a 73 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:37,360 lumbar puncture done, which I can't say as I'm best pleased about. But if it's got to 74 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:43,400 be done, it's got to be done. I'm not very pleased about the wait time. 10 weeks wait. 75 00:10:43,400 --> 00:10:51,320 Okay, I'm about three weeks into that wait. But they've already sort of earmarked what 76 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:58,000 they're expecting treatment wise for me to receive. So I don't quite understand why we 77 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:04,520 can't just get to a point where they push through and put me on treatment. I know they 78 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:09,840 need to cross all the T's and dot all the I's. But in all fairness, as I've explained 79 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:16,760 recently, I really am struggling. I'll be honest with you. My mobility all sorts, it's 80 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:23,600 like it's dropped off a cliff. So I really could do with with this all, all speeding 81 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:31,720 up. But not a lot I can do on that apart from sit back and wait. But yeah, I mean, that's 82 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:37,680 how I've got my diagnosis. And again, it's, it's a lot longer for some people. It's a 83 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:49,680 lot shorter for others. But I have to say it. I do think for any kind of chronic condition. 84 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:58,560 I do wonder if things should be done a lot quicker. Because this sort of stuff does play 85 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:04,240 on your mind. It is with me at the moment is playing on my mind a lot. And I can totally 86 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,520 understand his wait times and whatever else is other people out there fully respect that. 87 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:21,000 But personally, for me, it can be a bit torturous, sitting here, constantly waiting with with 88 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:27,960 nothing really going on. So I do wonder if there's better ways of this this happening. 89 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:35,560 But again, I'm just one person I can't make things go quicker. I can't. I can't rush 90 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:43,080 things through. Say it is this people out there in a worse, worse state than I am. But 91 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:50,480 personally, I think everyone should be in a position where this sort of stuff is done 92 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:57,120 as quickly as humanly possible, just to try and help. But yeah, as I say, that's where 93 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:05,840 I am currently. That's how I've got my diagnosis. And it is quite a brief synopsis of what's 94 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:11,040 gone on. I mean, there's there's other bits and pieces. But that that is the the long 95 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:20,640 and short of it, if I'm totally honest with you. So yeah, I mean, hopefully, as I say, 96 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:28,360 I have been asked to do this show, and I hope this helps. As I say, the crux of it, if it 97 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:34,400 wasn't for the private scans that that I had done, I probably wouldn't be where I 98 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:43,160 am now in terms of diagnosis and knowing what's going on. And if I hadn't really fought through 99 00:13:43,160 --> 00:13:52,240 the fear of the closed scanner, again, don't think I would be where I am now. So that really 100 00:13:52,240 --> 00:14:02,920 is where we are with it. Yeah. So moving on from that, some a bit different I want to 101 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:12,240 talk about World Cup starts soon. Yes, I am a big football fan. For my listeners in the 102 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:20,880 United States, I'm a big soccer fan. I have to say, I'm going to give a bit of a prediction 103 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:26,720 here for England's World Cup. And actually, I hope I'm wrong. I hope we go further than 104 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:33,560 I'm expecting. But I'm thinking we're going to get quarterfinal. Don't know why. I've 105 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:39,360 just got a feeling it's not going to be a very successful World Cup for us. I have to 106 00:14:39,360 --> 00:14:48,920 say as a big West Ham fan, I really hope Declan Rice can push us forward from that midfield. 107 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:56,440 And yeah, at the top end, I hope Harry Kane has got his shooting boots on. And we can 108 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:00,800 actually go further than that quarterfinal. Because in my lifetime, I'd love nothing 109 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:08,600 more than to see England lift that trophy. I would love nothing more. But I just don't 110 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:15,400 think this is our time. I'll be honest, I really don't think it's our time. But Mr Southgate, 111 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:24,000 if you can get the lads up for this and you can bring that trophy home, I will sing till 112 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:30,160 my heart's got nothing else left in it. I would be over a moon to see us walk away with 113 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:41,440 that trophy. But I can't see it. Not this time. Well, I've got to say, the weather 114 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:50,400 and a half turned. I'm literally, I'm sat, those that are watching on YouTube, you can 115 00:15:50,400 --> 00:16:00,960 see I'm sat in my studio. And it's an outside britch head. It's a bit chilly in here. I've 116 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:08,360 got to say it is a bit chilly. I've actually had to bring a heater out. I've got that on. 117 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,760 And yeah, it's made a bit of a difference. But if it wasn't for the fact that I'm sat 118 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:17,640 here with the heater and a cup of tea, I'm a jumper on. I don't think I could be out 119 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:24,960 here. It's really chilly. Talk about a cup of tea, it means I've got to have a swig of 120 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:33,480 it. But yeah, no, I must admit the weather really has turned. It's got cold and wet. 121 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:43,520 Very wet. But yeah, so I think we really are pushing into winter now. Not be far from Christmas. 122 00:16:43,520 --> 00:16:51,960 Like I said last time, I actually put the Christmas tree up. What I do, what I have 123 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:58,320 said at the start is about this, this new poem that I've written. It's actually gone 124 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:06,240 down very, very well on my Instagram and my TikTok, which I'm surprised about. But yeah, 125 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:12,840 if you don't mind, I would like to share that with you all now. Hopefully, hopefully 126 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:19,760 you like it as well. Because I did almost talk myself out of sharing this on any social 127 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:31,200 networking. But there you go. So here we go with the poem. Here I sit, another day, another 128 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:39,680 set of thoughts, another fight with what's inside. Every day to wake and see what comes 129 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:48,960 next. The next pain, the next fall, the next laugh. Yes, that's right. I said laugh. Because 130 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:57,040 through each pain, each fall, each bad day, it builds a fire. It builds a passion. It 131 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:04,560 builds a desire to keep going, to fight, to knock back down. Each time looking around 132 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:12,800 and seeing life, seeing love, seeing beauty makes that fight, fire and desire to keep 133 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:21,080 going and grow stronger and to turn and burn hotter. I take a step back and look at what 134 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:30,400 was and compare it with now. Wow. What a difference. Different views, different abilities, different 135 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:39,800 life. Well, I keep going, keep smiling, keep laughing. Because through it all, I choose 136 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:54,880 not to back down, to not give in, to not lose myself. Because I choose to fight. I hope 137 00:18:54,880 --> 00:19:00,640 you like that. As I say, for some reason, those sort of thoughts do pop into my head 138 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:08,280 now and then. And I'm putting them down on paper. So I hope you don't mind me sharing. 139 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:14,360 What I will say is a massive thank you for listening. Show wise, I'm going to start 140 00:19:14,360 --> 00:19:22,680 doing one show a week, which is going to be released at midnight on a Monday, Greenwich 141 00:19:22,680 --> 00:19:31,440 time. So yeah, I mean, hopefully that's okay with everyone. I hope you're all doing okay. 142 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:39,080 And I actually hope you all have a really good week. Have a good time. I'll speak to 143 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:53,120 you again soon. Bye bye.