A Reprieve


The consultant was in Taunton so we allowed lots of time for traffic and parking. All went smoothly so we had quite a wait when we arrived – our fault not theirs. We could have had coffee but the machine made such explosive noises I knew I wouldn’t be able to cope with it so just had water which was one of those jugs like a rubric cube which you have to master before you can get it to pour. I had taken Angela’s Ashes but find it difficult to read in waiting rooms. There were twin boys aged about seven and they were so sweet and well behaved. I hope they didn’t have a serious problem.


There are a number of consultants in the building so people are coming and going all the time; before long a receptionist took me up a broad staircase and showed me into the consultant’s room. She rose from her chair and greeted me with a firm handshake. She reminded me of the hardworking house surgeons I used to work with and immediately inspired me with confidence.


She had the notes written by the registrar I had seen initially.

‘I see you were given quite a lecture by the registrar.’
‘Yes.’
‘What was it about?’
‘She wanted me to come off HRT.’
‘And have you?’
‘No,’
’Don’t!’


We had a chat about my symptoms and then she examined me – painlessly - and a nurse brought a scanning machine like they have in soaps with pregnant women and I could see my innards. Nothing abnormal to be seen and as she thought I was border line for an operation she suggested I see a Professor D who was a specialist in the sort of intense physiotherapy which she thought might solve the problem.

I’m to see the Professor – another woman - for two or three sessions and then we’ll decide if that has done the trick.
Downstairs I made an appointment for September and collected MTL from the waiting room. We had both quite forgotten that he was going to come in with me. I think he was relieved at the outcome.

Back home I got a phone call from the receptionist to say I had left my diary at the desk but as I groaned, she sweetly said she would post it on to me. I also had an urgent email asking for an answer to an email I had received earlier in the week and to which I had already replied a couple of days ago. That panicked me so I sent a duplicate and then managed to establish by phone that the first one never arrived but the second one appeared as I was speaking. Emails – it seems can go astray.