6. Private health care gives you access to privacy, higher grade medical personnel, and speed of treatment. Providers of private health care do not like to cover serious long-term illness.
Dr W refers me to Prof. T who is a world expert on peripheral nerve illnesses. Prof T no longer works in the NHS – too old! Nurses in the luxurious private wing assure me that I would have received all the same treatment within the NHS – just not so quickly! I am in and out of hospital all year. My private health provider makes each admittance as difficult as possible.
7. Long term chronic illness can destroy the quality of the rest of your life and that of those who love you, if they can bear to stay with you.
Early in 1998, following treatment, I get a lot better. I am able to walk with crutches and I go back to work. Within two weeks, I deteriorate. I give up work again, thankfully not knowing that I would not go back. I enter a whole new phase of my life where I constantly believe that things cannot get any worse… and, they do!
By the end of 1998, just before Christmas, I lost the use of my left hand and arm and, more alarmingly, also lost most of my vision. Prof T (aka God - my consultant) had flown off for a four week holiday, leaving no cover! After much hassle, I was admitted back to hospital for more treatment over Christmas. EaZyD had a very merry "Yohji" Christmas on the wards and found time to get me a few nice pressies too! I was let out on Boxing Day but felt like I was living in a black hole – could not read, watch TV or use a computer. Then, I deteriorated further…
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