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A TIA that led to other conditions I did not know I had

Posted By Jim from Whuitburn

"A TIA that led to other conditions I did not know I had"

About: Scottish Ambulance Service St John's Hospital / Cancer services Western General Hospital / Oncology

(as the patient),

I had been in Ontario, Canada attending my daughter's funeral and the day after the "Celebration of Life" ceremony I took a TIA or (mini stroke) my son in law noticed it and  I was rushed to the nearest hospital. The Canadians were very thorough and said although I had had a stroke I was fit enough to fly home providing me with their information for the Stroke unit at St.John's Hospital in Livingston, West Lothian I was given more examination and proscribed medicine.

However on Boxing Day I found I was passing blood. Following a phone call to 111 I was given an appointment at St.John's Hospital that night. I told the Doctor who dealt with me about my stroke and wondered that the medication could have caused it. The Doctor however said he did not think that was the case and booked me in for an abdominal scan  I was duly given the scan and kept in overnight for observation.

The scan showed I had a shadow in my bowl which might be a tumour but that the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh had the expertise to deal with this so it was that on an awful snowy night when emergency calls were high I was skilfully transported by lady ambulance driver accompanied by a lady medic to Edinburgh.

The Western General Hospital staff moved quickly to t make a decision to give me a blood transfusion ready for an operation to removed the tumour the following day.

My Wife,sons and Daughter in Law who visited the following morning along with me were given the explanation on the procedure to be followed. 

The operation was a success and the tumour removed.

However the biopsy of the tumour showed that I had Non Hodgkinson's Lymphoma.

Dr McNiel, whom I came to know well, now explained that this was treatable and curable and so I started chemo therapy  initially at the Western General hospital in Edinburgh  Then for five months at St.John's. Hospital Livingston. I have now completed that and so far so good my lymphoma cancer  is in remission. I will be checked every three months for the next two years. The staff at the oncology unit at St.John's have been friendly and efficient.

I have had another TIA and after a complete ultra sound  examination and an MRI scan They found my arteries leading to my brain were OK but the small vessels in my brain wee not operating correctly I have a condition called Lacunar and have agreed to assist the Edinburgh University doctors with their research into this condition and small vessel disease.

I think we should all be proud of our NHS and support it and Governments should fund and resource it properly it is a service and should remain as such.

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Responses

Response from Steve Elliott, Clinical Nurse Manager, Day Services, East Lothian Community Hospital, NHS Lothian 5 years ago
Steve Elliott
Clinical Nurse Manager, Day Services, East Lothian Community Hospital,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 11/09/2018 at 15:55
Published on Care Opinion at 16:30

Dear Jim from Whuitburn,

I am sorry to hear that you had health issues over the last year.

I really appreciate you taking the time to document the positive experience you have had with Dr McNeil and the staff in the unit at St John's, I will ensure that the team are made aware of your post and wish you well with your recovery.

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Response from Catriona Rostron, Associate Nurse Director, Western General Hospital, NHS Lothian 5 years ago
Catriona Rostron
Associate Nurse Director, Western General Hospital,
NHS Lothian

Submitted on 11/09/2018 at 16:54
Published on Care Opinion at 17:13

Jim from Whuitburn

I too would like to thank you for taking the time to post such a positive message when you have clearly been through a very difficult time.

I am really pleased that you found our services at the Western General helpful and efficient, including our oncology team at St John's..

I will ensure all the services involved are able to see your message. Feedback has such an important role when shaping our future services, but feedback such as this means so much to the staff who aim to deliver the best of care to all our patients.

I sincerely hope that you continue to make a good recovery and thank you for making yourself available for invaluable research.

Many thanks

Catriona Rostron

Associate Nurse Director

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Update posted by Jim from Whuitburn (the patient)

Thank you Steve

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