The 5th of January 2015 was a day I wanted to happen and be over with as quickly as possible, but at the same time it was a day I had also been dreading many days before. I had a scan called a lymphogram booked that day at one of my local Hospitals.  After a few years with puffy lower legs it was diagnosed this Summer as suspected lymphoedema. Lymphoedema is when a certain lymph gland/s are not working correctly in your body, not draining the fluid away properly hence causing the fluid build-up and swelling. I have been told there is a therapy that can help alleviate some of this excess fluid called Manual Lymph Drainage.  The only drawback being that not many qualified practitioners of this therapy exist because it is such a specialised thing. I have been lucky enough however to find two people in my area who are qualified to give me this treatment.  Nevertheless, after seeing a Vascular Consultant at the hospital I was told I needed to have a lymphogram done on me first, before letting anybody administer such treatment on me. The doctor just wants to make sure everything is as expected before they OK it.  Therefore, for the last few months I have been stuck in terms of getting my lymphoedema improved.  Stuck also in terms of getting physio for my back and pelvis, kind of stuck with life.  I guess I could have had physio on my upper back whilst I waited for this scan however I want to focus on my back once I’ve got more on top of the lymphoedema.  The scan therefore couldn’t come quick enough. I was very apprehensive before going though. What if the scan really hurt? I was majorly worried how I would cope with my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder issues, lets face it dodgy stains and smells are aplenty in hospitals.  I also wanted to try and get the Manchester Metrolink coming home, partly because I have major contamination issues and worries about getting taxis at the moment…..but getting the Metrolink instead would also be quite a challenge.

I arrived at 9.15am ish and even though the taxi man took me all around the ruddy houses, I was happy that I didn’t smell anthing dodgy in it when we finally got there. I reported at the desk at 9.30am but was not seen until about thirty minutes later. Going to the Nuclear Medicine place I thought I smelt something unpleasant in one of the corridors however I could not back out now, I just had to fight it and continue walking to the department. The way I dealt with it was to think look, you can throw away the stuff I have on when I get home. It was better to think I’ll do that and accept possibly being/feeling contaminated rather than not actually going for the scan. Like I have said, getting better with my physical health and in some respects my mental health issues, greatly depend on me getting help for this lymphodema first, and this all thus leads on from me having the scan.

Back to the actual lymphogram itself, the only downside or bit that hurt was the dye injections at the very start of it.  I had one injected between my big toe and next toe and the woman doing it stated it would be like a bee sting. If it was a bee then it must have been a big bumble bee because I really did have to clinch my teeth together whilst the pain took about five seconds to fade away, but after that it was fine. It hurt more than I expected but it also could have been worse. Five minutes later now back in the waiting room, I was then called to have my first  scan.  I just had to lie down on this metal bed fully clothed as this scan machine slowly worked its way down my body. It was utterly painless and took about twelve minutes in total. I was then told to come back in about one hour to have my second scan done. Once this was done I was then told to come back in about one hour and fifteen minutes for my third and final scan. Apparently the repetition of the scans was done to see how well or not, the injection was going through my body I think…..to show which lymph glands were blocked. I came away feeling rather pleased that I’d been able to cope OCD wise having the scans done. That was until I saw this cocky male doctor coming straight towards me as I was walking from the scanning place.  My quick step to the left to get out of his way(I did a cocky snigger back haha) then made me see this dodgy brown stain on the hospital corridor floor and then made me worry I may have trodden in it argh. I panicked but coped well. I had the long journey yet on two Metrolink Trams with tonnes of walking so it didn’t matter if I was now contaminated and would thus be contaminating the subsequent trams I’d be going on. Two funny incidents happened on my way out from the hospital. Firstly, I went to the local WRVS shop to buy a newspaper because I needed change for the trams. I only had a twenty pound note on me and when I handed an old dear this who was serving, you’d have thought I’d just said to them I’ve just been found guilty of committing murder. Oooh the looks and stares they gave me, along with the following half joking/half serious remarks, “oooh that’s naughty, very naughty”. I thought gee whizz, it’s always me ha ha ha. Upon leaving the hospital and entering outside I then got fully hit with the strong smell of weed/cannabis. I looked in the direction of the smell and there can you believe was a hospital worker in a green gown/outfit puffing away with his mate. Now I know the hospital I went to was in a bit of a rough area but surely that is taking a bit of a risk isn’t it? It could just have been his dodgy looking civilian mate smoking a joint but it did make me wonder…….and chuckle ha ha. Oh and regarding getting the scan results, I was told at the end that it takes about a week to two weeks for them to get back too my hospital Consultant. I’ll then have to wait for a letter from the hospital  for them to tell me when I am to attend one of their Vascular Clinics to get the results. I might be being pessimistic here but I can not see me getting them for a further six to eight weeks……so ll roads lead from there really.

Going home then, beforehand I had set myself the target of trying to get the Metrolink home. I had never got the Metrolink from this stop before so it was always going to be a bit of a challenge, regarding my OCD and anxiety issues more than anything else I mean.  I nearly walked in two massive dollops of dog shite but luckily I managed to get on the tram relatively unscathed.  I even managed to go to a supermarket on my to the tram stop. It reminded me of shopping for myself at Uni, the feel of independence and doing something productive(the scan bit I mean) felt great. Getting the tram was great therapy for me. I panicked a bit as the tram rolled through Manchester City Centre, as it stopped on Market Street. Panicked I guess because such streets are very contaminated in my eyes, I once remember seeing a right pile of vomit on the Market Street Metrolink Platform.  I coped however and after another tram change, the walk home from the local tram station was the only thing I had left to do. The long walk home felt great.  I truly believe those who say exercise releases some kind of positive chemicals within the body, it is what I’d been missing. I managed to avoid walking in any dog poo(this is an old OCD phobia of mine) and when I finally got home I felt somewhat elated. It had been a long tiring day but I was high on adrenaline I suppose, proud of myself for coping with the day. The person I was that day was the person who I used to be like………and more importantly, who I indeed like and want to be again.  I had been busy all day doing something productive(all in the name of trying to get my health better). I wasn’t thinking about my OCD all the time(even though this blog must seem like I had been). I had the ‘old Andy cocky swagger back’. I enjoyed doing fake hard poses on the tram, I’m laughing now thinking about it hahaha(but it stops me hassled by idiots ha).  I loved doing the walking, I’ve missed doing exercise and long for the day when my dodgy back and pelvis allow me to do more.  I FELT ALIVE AT LONG LAST AND SAW A TINNY GLIMPSE OF JUST HOW BETTER LIFE COULD BE ONCE MY HEALTH ISSUES IMPROVE!