Wednesday 30 January 2013

Acute death

So.... I'm just about ready to get back on the road. I just need to prove I'm fit enough again (mainly to lift drunks and heavy patients). It'll be a couple of weeks but I'm returning to patient-care based stuff. I've had my fill of sitting in front of a bank of monitors.

I should explain what's been going on because many of you have been asking me why I haven't been posting and where I'd disappeared to.

I developed a very painful and persistent earache which turned out to be caused by a large 'mass' in my middle ear. My family and I endured a couple of weeks of waiting while they checked to see if it was malignant, post-biopsy. During that time I became much sicker and I think it convinced my loved ones that I wasn't going to be around much longer. It certainly felt that way!

I was finally told that it was benign but that it was destructive; eroding bone at the base of my skull and into the semi-circular canals. There was another wait to see if it was operable or not.

All of the problems I've faced in the last none months have been the result of this Cholestaetoma - the constant feeling that something was not quite right, the dizziness and nausea (which caused the fall that broke my collar bone) and eventually, the pain.

The potential for death had crept up on me without warning and I don't think I had much time left to stop it... but I did.

I've recently had the thing removed and I am recovering well. It hasn't made me deaf, as expected, despite the enormous damage it has done inside my ear, and I will be monitored for the rest of my life, to ensure that it doesn't recur and that I don't develop other problems associated with the internal structural damage. And it hasn't affected my brain; I'm still mad.

So, there it is. My excuse for not being around in the past nine months. Sorry.


I have been 'third-manning' an ambulance while I have my return to work managed and there have been no surprises. The world is still the same and people are still demanding emergency medical care for non-emergency problems. We are still social-working the population and we are still being run ragged and to the point of exhaustion.

I have been given a fresh opportunity to appreciate how hard my colleagues work, especially on the ambulances. One call after another. Relentless.

I'll be back and posting on as regular a basis as I can just as soon as I am fully able to.

Thanks for checking in and thanks for all your emails and messages of concern.

Xf

17 comments:

josh said...

Woohooo,Glad to hear you're on the mend and glad you'll be back soon, we've all missed you.

Anonymous said...

Thanks goodness you are on the road to recovery. You have been gone so long I was convinced you were suffering from something terminal, like blog burnout or something. Turns out it was just ear ache, phew!. I'm joking, obviously. I wish you the speediest of recoveries and look forward to catching up on your exploits. You have been missed.
A serial lurker. x

JR said...

Good to see you back Stuart. It sounds like you've been through a hell of an ordeal. I'm pleased the worst of it is over for you.

Looking forward to hearing more of your news.

All the best.

JR

Shade said...

Glad you're feeling better and good luck with returning to the full onslaught! :)

Anonymous said...

I find the same thing is always true, both on the ambulance and off. The people who really should be apologizing will generally always fail to do so, whereas those who genuinely need us, and/or have no reason to apologize, are so often endlessly apologetic.

No need to apologize for being away. I'm sure I can speak for all of your readers when I say I'm just glad you're feeling better!

-js

elliesun said...

Get well soon ! thank you for writting this blog! i ve always wanted to do something related to emergency medicine but it wasnt until my first year of my dentistry course when we had first aid classes that i thought about becoming a paramedic. Your blog has given me a full insight on the job and has made me more eager to do at least the course. I ll have to finish dentistry though first.. So yes thank you!

Ellie.

Anonymous said...

That sounds absolutely terrifying... I'm glad you're well and wish you all the best for the future and esp a quick return to work!

Anonymous said...

welcome back, good to see well on the way to full recovery.

John said...

So glad to hear that you are doing ok and I hope that you continue to do so.

All the very best,

John

Amanda said...

OMG you have certainly been through it in recent times. But, selfishly, I am so glad you're back on the road and posting. All the best for a speedy continued recovery. xx

Anonymous said...

So glad to see you back!

Catherine said...

Glad you're getting healthy and looking forward to your new posts. Be safe. CrC

Anonymous said...

Get well soon, its good to here you doing well, no need to apologise for being human .
Hope all stays well !

*mp*

Anonymous said...

Glad to see your back but more glad to see this illness of yours is on the mend.
Looking forward to the coming posts!
J

Ginger Mick said...

Good to see you back on deck....almost!

Anonymous said...


I hope you soon feel better! I have just had an operation to remove a growth myself, so I know how you feel! all the best for a quick recovery!

Hayley.

Paramedic said...

Its really good to know that you are back among us to after nine months and I am glad now I can hear more news from you.