Thursday, January 17, 2013

Eyes and things

 
Grandson and I went to the museum again today. This may seem rather unimaginative but I had him all to myself since Mr Life was at the eye hospital all day so some entertainment was called for. Grandson was wearing rather bright orange trousers, as you see. They were knitted by a friend of Daughter 1 and they have a tendency to sink beneath the little round tum. He could do with a belt or braces.
 
 
Mr Life was at the hospital so that they could take readings of the pressure in (behind?) his eyes at hourly intervals from 9 till 4. The pressure is too low and this may mean that he's at risk of glaucoma, though normally this is to do with pressure being too high.
 
We're getting our money's worth out of the NHS these days, it strikes me. Son had to go as an emergency to the eye place in Perth yesterday because he had another episode of iritis - inflammation of the irises. He's had problems with his joints since he was thirteen - inflammation of the soft tissues round his joints. It started with his hip and now affects his knee, ankles and fingers. Arthritis has some connection with the eyes also, hence the several attacks of iritis. Fortunately he knows to go and get steroid drops, which deal with it. He's very stoical about it all but has to have daily injections to combat the joint pain and swelling.
 
Daughter 2 also has a bit of it, in her fingers.
 
And then there was my dad, who was in hospital for nine months before he died, and my mum, in hospital for two months and on a lot of medication before that.
 
And I had to visit the doctor yesterday for the first time in years, for three little (at least I hope they turn out to be little) problems.
 
So: thank you, NHS. We're very lucky to have you (though I know you're not perfect. But what is?) Though I'd rather we didn't actually need you.
 
It's rather chilly here, though there's no snow. Yet.
 
 

15 comments:

  1. I will confess that my medical adventure of the week was private, a resort advocated by my GP at that. Buy good luck to all, especially to you, with such various interests. Do please keep showing us the Museum, preferably with its able custodian in full view!

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  2. It seems brilliant to me, to take a little tyke to the museum -- even again and again! There would be no end of things to spur the imaginations of both of you, and I am filing this idea away for use with my own grands.

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  3. I don't know where we would have been without the our little local museum in winter when the children were little.

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  4. It's all downhill after 25, you know.......the museum must be a fascinating place, for a small boy!

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  5. Poor Mr Life. Hopefully they'll sort it out - I have drops to use everyday for high eye pressure. Agree about NHS but I wish they could sort out husbands dizzy fits. No going anywhere today from here,constant snow. Hope Grandson's health is still improving.

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  6. Yes...God bless the NHS...we are all very fortunate to have it.

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  7. I hope all is well with you all!

    Love the museum. I remember visiting lots as a child. it is a great place to take kids and the renovations are wonderful!

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  8. I love your pictures of little boy in grand museum. Wonderful

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  9. i have a "grandparent" membership to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and LuLu LOVES to go there - she calls it the "New See Um" because she sees something new every time she goes ... there will be a new exhibit soon (Mammoths and Mastodons) that will feature the new (old) bones that were discovered by a construction crew about 50 miles from here ... we live in exciting times...

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  10. i have a "grandparent" membership to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and LuLu LOVES to go there - she calls it the "New See Um" because she sees something new every time she goes ... there will be a new exhibit soon (Mammoths and Mastodons) that will feature the new (old) bones that were discovered by a construction crew about 50 miles from here ... we live in exciting times...

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  11. My heartfelt sympathy is with your son, Isabelle. My arthritic problems started giving me pain when I was in my late fifties, and that is bad enough, but your young man has had to cope from such an early age, way too young. I 'dips my lid' to him.
    Not quite sure how your NHS works, but I'm very grateful for Medicare in Australia. Ken has had about half a million dollars of treatment in the last 12 years, all courtesy of the government. We would never have been able to pay all his bills if it wasn't for the health care system. We are both lucky to live in countries that can still afford to take care of their people.

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  12. hope everyone will get better, and this little lad will forever be healthy and bubbly. can i continue to follow your blog?

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  14. Oh you poorly lot. Hope you are all sorted soon.

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  15. I hope all the eyes are doing well, and that the winter weather doesn't make the arthritis sufferers worse! I loved grandson's wellingtons-I got my first pair for Christmas and I love them! I heard the effects of the Life of Pi were exciting, but had heard the book wasn't very satisfying. I have determined that if I see it, I will rent it at home! Hope it's warmer! Hugs!

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