The purpose of sharing this odyssey with you is not to evoke your pity nor admiration. Rather it is to describe a journey that had the most amazing experiences.
After writing the exams in October 2014 for honours in Accounting, I had completed the academic year. I then decided to rededicate myself to playing lots of squash to regain my fitness and lose a bit of weight (not likely to be successful due to the fact that I love bread!)
However while playing squash on a weekly basis, I started to get very tired while playing towards the end of January. My squash buddies were extremely concerned as I went white in the face when I played (it actually was the last time I ever played). I couldn’t understand it, I had played the game for most of of my adult life and regarded myself as quite fit. What is going on? One time when I was playing squash, the racquet went flying out of my hand and it almost hit my opponent, yet I never considered these various incidents as being related in any way.
I had to write some supplementary exams in January, very very stressful time for me as I had to pass all papers in order to pass. Duly completed the ordeal. My hands were starting to experience numbness after writing the exam papers, I did not think too much about it because of the intensity of the speed of writing that was required. The numbness was taking longer and longer to dissipate after writing the exam papers. The numbness was now moving to under both arms, the lower regions of my backside and also underneath both feet; my soles felt weird. Being a naturally healthy person, I felt sure that things would sort themselves out and left dealing with the problem for later.
I then waited anxiously for the results of the supplementary exams. At the end of February 2015, I got the astonishing news that I passed honours! This was after 4 years of unsuccessful attempts. Hooray – I never really believed that I could succeed. Now forward to write the CTA (Certificate of Theory of Accounting); if I could pass this I would be eligible to write the Board Exam in order to become a Chartered Accountant. My confidence was immensely strengthened by my success so I quickly registered. I then found out that test 1 was to be written on 17 March 2015. Hardly any time to prepare for the five subjects! I still have to get the textbooks.
I knew that I would have to deal with the numbness and weakness of my hands. As things stood I would not be able to write all the papers over one day as required to be written. So I went to my GP (general medical practitioner). He was alarmed by the symptoms, and advised me to immediately stop using Ritalin. I had been medically allowed the use of Ritalin in order to increase my ability to concentrate and to focus while writing exams. This post graduate degree is not a game for oldies like myself but rather for the youngsters. That is why I was prepared to take the risk of using Ritalin while studying.
He sent me for an x-ray just to check the upper spine. When received back, the GP looked at the x-ray but saw nothing obviously wrong, only normal degeneration which was expected for my age (I was 55 years old). He would help me manage it, but the symptoms still did not add up to the numbness that I was experiencing in my hands, feet and backside.
He decided that just to be safe, he would send me to a neurologist with the x-ray and a note. He told me to pack an overnight bag because I would probably be booked in to the hospital for a MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) the next day.
The Neurologist spoke to me and performed various tests. He never looked at the x-ray nor my GP’s note. He seemed to disregard my reservations about the numbness in my lower backside and feet. He kept saying “we will deal with one thing at a time”, “first we deal with the hands”. He diagnosed me as having “dual carpal tunnel syndrome” and sent me off.
So back to my GP and we discussed how we should proceed. The only hope I had was to have the surgery to my right hand and miss the first tests at the end of March while recovering. Then write the remaining three tests and hope that my aggregate would be high enough to qualify for the year end exams.
He set an appointment for me with an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Duly I went to the appointment which I remember was on a Monday. The orthopaedic surgeon seemed quite an abrupt fellow; when I told him that I had been diagnosed with dual carpel tunnel syndrome, he took both hands in his and bent my wrists upward and asked if I felt anything. Nonplussed I said no, he then declared that I did not have carpel tunnel syndrome. (I did not know at the time but if your wrists are bent like that you would go through the roof with the intense pain). I told him what the neurologist said, mentioning the symptoms. He told me to wait in the waiting room while he phoned the neurologist. I did so, just like an obedient sheep. After a while the receptionist called me, and told me that a surgery had been booked for the following day, a Tuesday. I was quite surprised at the speedy turn around in the surgeon’s opinion.
So into surgery the next morning I went, early start, I had to be booked in at 6am. When I had to go in for the operation, I said bye to Michele who then left for work. I remember the ice cold theatre, the smiling anaesthetist, small sharp prick of the needle into the back of my hand and blackness... Gradual wakeup in the recovery room, my right hand was heavily bandaged up to the elbow, a smiling nurse gave me a nice meal.
I phoned Michele who came and fetched me at about 14h30. On the way home we stopped at a Woolies for a few snacks and juice. Michele had to support me while we walked around in the shop because my balance seemed to have gone but it was put down to the effects of the anaesthetic. Michele put me in the bed and went back to work. I felt quite good and positive about my expected recovery. By the way, we got the bill, but never saw the doctor again to this very day. I did not know how long I should stay at home. I was quite annoyed and expressed this to my GP. He laughed and said that I was not sent to the surgeon for his bedside manner but rather because he was a brilliant surgeon.
I was anxious to get back to work but stayed home for Wednesday and Thursday. I advised the office that I would be back that Friday. I woke up on Thursday night with the most excruciating pain in my back. I did not know what to do, lying down I was in pain, sitting was painful and standing was agony. Michele ran a hot bath for me hoping it would ease my pain. I was now battling to stand alone.
I got a lift to work but I could not walk around without leaning on things to aid my balance. We went back to the doctor in the afternoon, he said that I possibly slept on my arm and that resulted in tense back muscles. It made sense yet did not. Saturday we went to donate our hair to a “cancer shave a thon”. It was the first time for Michele and I but it was the 3rd time for Maeve, my youngest.
Then we went to purchase my text books, but I found the trip very tiring, I was battling to stand and walk and I was very tired. I organised my books and got ready for the new year’s studying.
By Monday I could not stand at all, so the work took me to my doctor in the early afternoon. The GP got a fright when he saw me and now was very worried. I was placed on a bed while the GP was trying to get in touch with the neurologist. He was not answering the messages. Michele fetched me at about 16H30. Even though my GP could not get hold of the neurologist we were sent straight to the hospital where we were to have a meeting with the neurologist. I now was emotionally as numb as my body, I did not know what to think, I was terribly concerned if it was a problem with my brain.
We spent 2 hours booking in and then waiting for the neurologist. I eventually got a bed at 8pm, I explained to the nurses that I could not even help myself to the toilet without falling over. Michele waited with me for the neurologist but she had to leave at 10h30 as the children were at home by themselves and we worried that they were anxious and afraid. The neurologist eventually made an appearance at 11h15 at that night, his whole demeanour had changed and he asked me whether the MRI should be performed on my lower back or my neck area. Obviously I said the neck/head area should be the focus as my fear was now my brain.
He left and I phoned Michele to advise her. I then fell into an uneasy sleep, what would the next day bring???
