What a painful month I am having…firstly I got caught doing 36mph in a 30. I don’t even remember it but according to the letter I was on my way to a Bristol Rovers game. We shouldn’t speed so I must accept my fine and go to a speeding workshop which will be conveniently near where I live now in Keynsham. I am ashamed to admit that this isn’t my first workshop for driving too fast. I have learnt from my first though and will just sit and listen. There are many good points to learn at a speeding workshop (maybe they should make you do one before you get your licence) but my favourite was how the nice instructor man was pointing out that all of the ‘reasons to speed’ that we had written down were actually excuses and the ‘reasons not to speed’ were genuine reasons…I agreed with him until I read that some deep and maybe disturbed thinker put down ‘escape’ as a reason to speed…
With that to look forward to I was happily getting on with my rewarding work at Cleve Chiropractic when I awoke one morning and my upper middle stomach started to grumble. Being a responsible and medically trained chiropractor, I promptly ignored the pain and carried on into work… Treating the first patient however caused me so much pain that I nearly fell over…that’s not a normal stomach ache I thought…and I carried on. After 2 new patient examinations the pain was referring up to my right shoulder blade so I considered drinking some water to help… after 3 more treatments I was nearly being sick and felt ready to pass out…maybe I should go to hospital.
It was my first time as a patient in Southmead and despite having trouble to park if I wasn’t in so much pain I could honestly say that I found the whole place delightful! It’s all shiny and new looking, resembling an airport lounge more than a hospital. I was happy to see only a 2 hr wait and sat down with my magazine ready to wait but within a few minutes I was called in to be checked and sent straight through (maybe because I couldn’t stand up straight). I was told to go and sit on a very comfortable reclining chair where a nurse who happened to be an old family friend and neighbour put a canula into me and pumped me full of IV paracetamol, anti-inflammatories and an anti-sickness drug. That helped. After scans and blood tests it was believed that I have an inflamed gallbladder (cholecystitis) and potential gallstones. I explained to the doctor that I was supposed to be going to London that night for a British Chiropractic Association meeting. She said I probably wouldn’t die if I went but…etc, etc. So now, a few days later, I have to see how it goes and come back if it gets worse. I actually feel a little bit better, but I have booked in to see a gall bladder surgeon this afternoon. It’s £150 for a consultation only but right now I will pay anything. So here I sit on my sofa catching up on paper work and writing this blog. I wonder if I will still have all of my organs by the time I write next month’s blog…
Shifting subjects smoothly this is the time of year I traditionally go and have golf lessons with my amazing coach Emma ‘ theladygolfcoach’ Brown from the Kendleshire Golf Club. I found her a few years ago through a golf pro patient who told me how great she is. I was new to golf and her skill in teaching was fabulous and soon enough she had me working through all the different aspects of golf. Most of all I enjoy Emma’s personality, she helps me forget about the stresses of life for an hour or so. Over the years I have sent Emma lots of clients so naturally we set up a referral system where she will offer 10% off her lessons if you mention me to her when you book. Let’s hope I can get though these gallstones so I can get back down there to help improve my short game asap! Contact Emma via her email: emmabrownpga@gmail.com or via her website www.theladygolfcoach.co.uk.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you from all the staff at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step!
