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

Hi ,

We3ll I had half completed quite a long posting but did not finish it as my carer came to take me to the hospital.
I saw a jolly specialis6t from the Far East
.
However as I refused to have a double hip replacement he said that he would not see me again. I told him how I hawd been told by a hosp0ital in London who had advised me that with my high blood pressure I
would probably have a stro9ke during the operation.

Thanks, but no thanks was my reply.

So he said, I shall not see you again.

Fine I said.

And off I tootled.

I have absolutely no pain = I do not know why, so why snould I go thourgh all that, when the psoriatic arthritis is apparently going to go through all my skeleton and I shall probably end up looking like an octopus.!!

He offered me nothing else, so I hope that it just continues not to cause [pain

WEll dear folks, that is that,. My last foray into trying to get sorted. From now on, I shall not complain, and just continue enjoying what life offers to me.

With much affection to all

Christiane
AR80
Friday 8/X/2010 17.35 BMT
.

Christiane, you are a lesson to us all in how to look on the bright side, and appreciate what you've got rather than worrying about what other people have.

I'll cross my fingers and hope that your lack of pain will continue for many long years.

Christiane long may the lack of pain continue. I agree, why take the risk of stroke or other complications if you are coping ok as you are.

As Gnomon says you are an example to us all.

Websailor

I wish these doctors were more understanding, though. It's perfectly reasonable to decline an operation of a doctor tells you it would likely cause a stroke. Why would any sensible person want to risk a stroke?

I also don't understand why the latest doctor thought as if the only choices were a double hip replacement or no operation at all. Maybe I just don't understand doctors.

Goodness, that doctor seems a tad insensitive. But it is always your decision.

Long may the lack of pain continue!

Christiane it was extremely insensitive of the doctor to say he would not be seeing you again, when the risk of a double hip operation would be a stroke during surgery.

I'm very glad that you are pain-free.

The way I see it, the culprit is the psoriatic arthtritis. Without that, you would probably have been able to continue walking, and the hip joints might have stayed solid.

Thank you all my wonderful friends.

I have you to talk to, and I canot tell yu the difference it nakes.

I actually said to him that as a qualified radiographer I had never neard of psoriatic arthitis and that if he wanted me to be a guinea pig and show other poor sufferers how I cope I would be willing to go round and tell people. He did say that geing in a wheelchaor could only be supported by some people. Well I reckon that my wheelchair is what has kept me going - although obviously it is very difficult to travel and I miss my wonderful concerts in London.

Howeverk the powers that be are starting a Dementia Association and so I appied about three months ago and my application has nbeenn accepted. So I shall go off to London on the 29th October and listen to the great and the good talking about Dementia. I felt that I could quite easly be a candidate as I have had very high BP for yoinks and as I am allergic to the medication I actually can only take the minimal dose to keep it lower than 200/100 (It has been higher much to the horror the person taking it.!! I really think I am extrwemely fortunate to be relatively pain free and also not to be losing lt mind too much. !!

Anyway, thank you for the lovely postings. They were ALL much appreciated. I must now go and lie down in my marvellous reclining chair before my head drops off.....!! Oh dear

With much affection to you all.
Christiane.
AR 80

Sunday 10/10/2010 16,41 BMT

Apologies for the typing errors - I have been over it several times but am now too tired...

Hi Professor Paulh,

I think you are totally right. But as they do not want tp know anything about psoriatic arthritis - which I think I have had all my life, there is nothing \I can do about it. Except perhaps to write alittle booklet and say how I have controlled the pain;... by using my wheelchair and so enabling there to be the mininum strain on my various joints.
Go well,

Christiane
Ar80
Sunday 16,55 BMT 10/10/2010 (wonderful date!!)

I know, Christiane, and I am sorry that they haven't gotten to the root of what causes this arthritis. Do you think it would help future sufferers if I leave some money for research into it in my will?

Hi Paulh,

What a fantastic idea. However I do think that it would help if people became aware this would appear to be a "new" sort of arthritis - and one which demolishes the skeletal system - which is fairly important to homo sapiens. Maybe if it were brought to the notice of researchers they might do something.

I have been writing to the Human Resources Research Council at both the prestigious Universities in this country advising them of the very excellent result that I have been having since my initial stroke nearly two years ago in my temporal lobe and have nevet had the courtesy of a reply. I had suggested that maybe they could devise some brain exercises which could help suferers of chronic mental illness as well. Still no reply.

Hence my application to attend the inaugural conference of this new organisation for Dementia - - They ask for suggestions for a Q & A session and I am considering sending a couple in and hopefully they might consider them. I do know that if one is over 80 one is considered as "past the sell-by date" and not much notice is taken.

In your case, my dear young friend, you will probably be the first generation to all live to be a century. !! And yet they researchers etc. are only just begonning to realise it. I always think of GBS and -oh dear that marvellous mathematician I shall remember the name when I go to sleep. !!

Thank you for your lovely thought but we need research into the problem long before you bid the temporal world adieu. You are like me and come from a family who live for ages and ages and ages.......

Anyway, it is a wonderful thought of yours.

Go well,
Christiane

Monday 11/10/2010 24.15(?)

Hi, Christiane. The "marvellous mathematician" you mention is probably Bertrand Russell, who lived to be 98.

I doubt that my generation will all live to be 100. I think someone has said that an average lifespan of 86 years is feasible.

Someone once said that having more life in your years matters more than having more years in your life. Right now I'm feeling total bliss because my beautiful stereo is playing the "Sanctus" from Bach's B-Minor Mass. The music is sublime. I feel blessed to be living at a time in history when such treasures can be heard in good performances on affordable systems.

I think we are all blessed in many ways. I feel bad for the unemployed and underemployed. Take care of yourself, Christiane.