Catheter-man

Well, strictly speaking, I’m catheter-man no longer, the catheter was removed on Sunday 24 November in the Urology Ambulatory Unit at Stoke Royal hospitals. However, the sixteen days wearing it has left a huge dent to my emotional wellbeing. I can’t help thinking of the one event that springs back to mind – it was back in the year 2000 when I was diagnosed with clinical depression. That took several years to overcome fully. Too long…I need a shorter timescale this time round.

From a clinical perspective, I have had excellent treatment. On Friday 8 November, NHS 111 helped me to get the right medical treatment at the right time. The various departments within A&E were thorough with their investigations, though it wasn’t always clear what was to happen next. An unexpected blockage in the catheter led to another emergency intervention…this time from an out of hours District Nurse who changed the catheter, but who had no idea when it would be removed…or by whom.  

When no one contacted me about the catheter’s removal, I had no hesitation in getting help from NHS 111 who directed me to my GP. Although my first attempt failed, the second was successful and one of the GPs from the local practice was most helpful, enabling me to be referred to the Urology Unit, already mentioned.   

In general, I am on the mend. I shall be eternally grateful for the understanding and supportive, from so many individuals, especially my family, close friends and members of the OLGBT+ group. The group has a 15^th Anniversary Celebration on Monday 16 December, I hope to be fit enough to play an active role.