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

My 21 year old autistic son, Chris developed DVT in his right leg (a giant blood clot running the length of his leg) last March and four weeks ago the hospital told him to stop taking his prescription of Warfarin without so much as a check-up appointment despite his leg remaining noticeably swollen. Unhappy at this, I requested a scan for Chris and this was refused on the grounds that his clot will have dispersed after six months of taking Warfarin and I was advised to ‘wait and see’.

Last Friday morning, Chris complained of pain in his right knee and a painful tightness in his right calf muscle during our walk down to town for his hairdressing appointment. As this was the leg affected by DVT last March, I took him for an emergency GP appointment and after a brief examination; the GP placed Chris on a ‘DVT pathway’ to enable blood tests, injections in his stomach and an ultrasound scan. Consequently, Chris had his first lot of blood tests and injection at the surgery yesterday and this morning, I took him for an ultrasound scan in hospital, which confirmed the presence of blood clots in his right femoral artery, although it is unknown whether these are remnants from last March’s clot or new ones.

The District Nurse visited Chris at home this afternoon to inject him in his stomach and is due to call again tomorrow afternoon. I have to take Chris and the results of his scan to the GP on Monday 24 October and he also has to have injections in his stomach every afternoon for at least the next five days, although these can thankfully take place at the GP surgery in Crook.

It is likely that Chris will resume taking Warfarin to thin his blood and he will therefore require regular blood tests, which might entail his being late into college. Hopefully, he won’t miss any other time from his course and I am grateful that at least it is half term this week although Chris’ opinion of the timing may differ! In the meantime, I might have to request an extension on my first assignment of my new DD203 OU course (how not to impress a new tutor)!

Geez, I can only wish you luck with getting a consistent treatment and 'monitoring' regimen for the poor lad. That's a helluva age to begin such a long-time thing. And good luck with your own works ...

I don't often do smilies, but ?

blimey, Gwennie, that's terrible treatment of Cris (not yours, the hospital's)

I'm sure your tutor will be perfectly lovely - they well understand how RL interferes with Unseen Uni stuff.

How is the course going? That is one of my next ones.

Thanks for the Nick. Fortunately, Chris doesn't appreciate the serious nature of his condition, as otherwise he would naturally be upset and this and autism doesn’t go well together.

Osh? When did that happen

The DD203 course is enjoyable but it feels 'dry' and has little reading compared to DD201, which was 'pure' sociology and involved extensive reading. I find it difficult to switch my brain cell from sociology to politics, as I see sociological concepts throughout. My first DD203 assignment is to discuss whether everyone and everything is political and as it's only 1200 words, I may not have to request an extension depending upon how things progress with Chris.

If you are going to do DD203, I recommend stocking up on printer cartridges first, as the study planner, guide and TMAs are all online and if you will therefore need to print them out if you are like me and prefer referring to hard copies whilst reading for a TMA.

sorry, I'm in disguise for Halloween and there's not much you can do with Sho.

You've finished 201? cool. I have to do 201, 202 and 203. If I'm still at my place of employment I will print everything there since they have totally messed up my schedule and stuff by moving

Sorry Osh you're too late as, according to the information pasted below on the OUSA social sciences forums:

"Sadly, this October saw the start of the last presentation of DD201.
There is a new module in preparation, but it is not 'pure' sociology - I understand that it will be more like DD100/DD101, a mix of all the components that make up the 'social sciences' (I guess we're talking economics, psychology, human geography, etc., as well as sociology). The new module has the working title of DD206 The Uses of Social Science.

DD201 was brilliant, it's such a shame that it couldn't be updated. Only DD308 will be left to fly the sociology flag."

Everyone who loved DD201 is 'well miffed'

it's very strange - for BA45 (PPE) you have to do 3 level 2 out of: DD201, DD202 and DD203

so... no choice...
oh well, I'll probably have to give up when I've finished this one as they are not freezing prices for overseas students even those who have linked to a degree and even those who are very nearly finished

they have changed it again

I can only wish you all the best for Chris

That's bad news about the pricing for overseas students, Sho and I am so sorry and I would be devastated. Would you qualify as a British citizen living abroad for a student loan that would enable your studies to continue?

Thanks Pierce . I found out yesterday that Chris' blood clot is a new one and he is on Warfarin for life, the poor wee (6'1") lad. His first thought was that he wouldn't one day be able to one day fly to New Zealand to visit family but I convinced him that going by boat might take longer but would be more fun! However, I didn't point out that it unlikely that we'll ever have enough money for a holiday anywhere! Sometimes living in ignorant bliss is preferable!

Don't give up all hope, there's still the lottery, just remember to buy POSH tickets: Portside out, starboard home

There might be a slight problem on the lottery front, as I don't do them because they are a waste of time and money and I'm too skint in the first place.

Never mind, as I'm sure that one day my boat will come in!

So sorry for Chris. Hope it will quickly come under control with the drug.

Thanks Mary!