"Everyone has done their best for me"

In July I was suffering with fatigue, weakness, fever, sweating and loss of appetite.  I had a  CT Scan at the Princess Royal, and a weak after a CT Scan for my chest and blood test. The diagnosis was negative.

At the end of August my bowel extended, partial paralysis to my leg suddenly happened and my bladder became non functional and I had severe back pain. My wife called an ambulance.

In Princess Royal Hospital, they diagnosed it as COVID and admitted me. For my back pain they referred me to Kings College Hospital to do a coloured CT scan because I have shrapnel in my back and lung as MRI is not suitable for me.

I stayed in for ten days and was then discharged as they couldn't do neurosurgery because of Covid.

I couldn't walk, I couldn't go to toilet and no bed and chairs were suitable for me. I was suffering at home home in severe pain.

Next day a consultant called Jo phoned to say they had cultured my blood and found I have a bacterial infection called brucellosis and not COVID which is uncommon in UK.

She interviewed me and did tests and confirmed the infection. I am so grateful for her as she is clever and genius , and prescribed medicine for six weeks.  Within one week all signs and symptoms had gone- what remains is my disc pressing on the nerve at L2 and L3 Vertebrae meaning I can't  walk, sit down or lie down.

In my flat, my family modified the sofa and put some wood behind me so I sleep in right angle position. But day and night I was suffering from severe back pain and sometimes shouting.

A friend of mine phoned and guided me to Bromley healthcare rapid response team RATT team.

They sent a very clever physiotherapist calked Caroline. She is genuine and a  good helper and punctual .

She provided all the medical equipment I need and for the first time after 3 months of horrible anguish I can sleep on a bed and chairs without shouting, although there is continuous severe back pain. I am so grateful to Caroline.

A consultant from The Infectious Disease Centre at Kings College Hospital phoned me 2 weeks ago and made an appointment for me. I went there and 2 consultants interviewed me and they had doubts that brucellosis bacterial infection might affect my spinal cord.  They prescribed me a strong antibiotic and pain killers, and sent me to Queen Mary Hospital to do a radioactive CT Scan.

Lastly, I have appointment with the Infectious Disease Centre in October to decide if my back pain and difficulty in walking and sitting down is from this bacterial infection inside the spinal cord or not? 

I want to say that thank you to all staff at Princess Royal Hospital, Kings College Hospital and Infectious Disease Centre as they all did their best for me.