h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, I get the biopsy results next week when I go to get the stitches out - and then I guess it depends on what they found. Still got the other lumps to get rid of, after all.

And I get ten sessions of physical therapy and then have to go back to the hospital for an evaluation to see how my arm's developing. Almost a full-time job

Lieber Arm ab als arm dran

Is it Göttingen you have to go back to, or where is the hospital of your choice? 'Cause if you are in Gö... gimme a call and we might meet or something. We'd be all (see it coming?), we'd be, like, lumped together

Y.

Other way round, no? My arm's still firmly attached, just can't *do* anything with it.

again. Yes, Gö, but I won't tell you if you keep doing that

Keep doing what, praytell? Ich bin doch nicht so ein Lump!

Beware the Language Police.

Sorry, I was in Göttingen today but that was rather spontaneous. And I'll be going back tomorrow, but that's to get the stitches out and finally - hopefully - get some kind of results.

*gnaws fingernails in anticipation*

If they give me the wrong answer - a shrug is the wrong answer! - you may read all about The Incident in tomorrow's papers. Maybe I'll even make international headlines

I can see the headlines now
"When lumpy-necked girls go bad"

or something. Good luck and hope they have some info to give you.

Went to the hospital this morning.

Arrived on time despite the sudden detour we were forced to take because they've taken out one of the bridges

They kept me waiting for two hours anyway. Then, I finally got to meet the surgeon who'd done the operation - he wanted to take the stitches out himself. Said it looked good, must just have been admiring his own handywork... At least the damage to my shoulder isn't permanent, and he said the lump he took out was actually two lumps - both enlarged lymph nodes, not tumours.

I got him to sign for more sessions per week as the therapist had requested. And then he sent me back to another waiting room while he got my file with the results...

Fifteen or twenty minutes later, a nurse came in to inform me that my results weren't ready. Apparently, the pathologists lost one of the files and have to do it over, or something like that - she was vague on the details.

So now I'm supposed to phone them sometime after Christmas and ask All in all that was three hours at the hospital for getting seven stitches out and a shrug to all the rest - they haven't even given me my discharge letter yet that I was supposed to get when I was released last week.

The only reason there wasn't an incident is because it's shortly before Christmas

Though I just remembered, I *could* have strangled him for his greeting.

When I walked in, the doctor was looking at my file, and said "Oh, I hope you weren't in too much pain after the operation, I just realised I forgot to prescribe any pain medication for you"

Dig his heart out with a spoon...

Tempting... But then I'll never get results!

Some cartoon-style beating with a mallet was in order I think!

Ok....

Called the hospital again today. A very bored nurse called an even more bored doctor who didn't want to talk to me because she wanted her tea.

Anyway, the information I got, such as it was:

Good news: it's not any kind of cancer

Bad news: they don't know what it is, and don't particularly care. "Maybe" I should talk to my GP about it, that's all they'll say

I am glad for the good news!
Tea for everyone, I would say. Or maybe some ?

Y.

But only virtual , I'm still on pain medication

Hi Mala, I've been following this story from a discreet distance. I'm glad it's turned out as it has.

Ditto, from me!


*nibbles a bit of the *

Hey! My cake!

They suspect it's just toxoplasmosis, which is a very harmless infection that comes from cats and that most people get at some point in their lives. Usually, it just passes without anyone noticing they've had it, or at worst like a mild flu.

What it doesn't do is hang around for four months causing symptoms like this. (Which show no sign of stopping, the leftover lumps are still growing.) So I'd quite like them to *do* something about it, so I can get on with my life and if they figure out why it's being so for me, that would be a bonus

But no cancer is good news and the most important bit.

At least you are getting somewhere... I've got further tests to do, and see the specialist in another 6 months. That's two years after the . So much for 'an answer in 6/12 months'.

you had to wait so long to see the . Pleased that I'm not the only one who waits weeks to see the

Hope all is well, and good news.

Must dash, store closing...





MMF