EVOKED POTENTIALS

That’s a rather mystifying title and one I imagine most people would not have heard of.   It is quite possible that is the name given to the test I have just described and the Nerve Conduction test is the one I am about to relate.  As nobody told me what they were doing I am at a loss.   I only know these two “names” because that is what the communication I received from UCHL told me they were going to do.

So, after the first test I was passed onto a very pleasant young girl who I think was described as some sort of technician.  I am afraid I forget some of the details now but I do know she was not a doctor.  Anyway, she wired me up in a similar way to the first young man, except this time the wires went to my legs as well and the room was  just as cold as the last one and I learned at this point there was a problem with the heating!  Usually people complain about hospitals being overheated but this particular clinic more than made up the balance in the other direction.  As well as telling me about her commute into Fitrovia from New Cross this person was only too happy to tell me about what she was doing and dealt with everything swiftly and efficiently.  Apparently, the tests measure the electrical activity in parts of the brain caused by light, sound and touch and they can help doctors diagnose someone with MS because they can detect problems along some nerves that are too subtle to find through other examinations.  When I went for my last two consultations I was told that these two tests had revealed nothing conclusive on the MS front.  These consultations were on 25th April and 25th May 2018, and were after I had a lumbar puncture and another MRI, which had been done on 4th April.  Apologies for the inclusion of those dates but I realise that I am relating these events slightly out of order so I thought I should just include those dates for my reference as much as anyone else.

By about 1pm I was told they had finished everything they needed to do and I was free to go home.  By 3.30 I had made my way back home where I collapsed into a heap of weariness and tears.  I realised that what had upset me so much was that I just felt like a piece of meat being prodded and pushed with no reason or explanation.  My husband is totally unused to me collapsing and weeping and thank goodness after a hot bath and a rest I was able to pull myself together.  That is a day I would not like to repeat but I fear that many patients find themselves going through something similar or worse.  However, there are people out there who have had the same tests which were not at all unpleasant.  Cue?

Enter:  Stage right.  Coral Snake.  I’ve not come across her before but she has a particular habit of managing to get my right shoulder and right buttock at the same time.  She thinks she can get away with her presence because of her beautiful bright stripey strip (?) and I try the mindfulness and deep breathing to try and dispel her presence.  At 5.15am this morning I gave up the meditative approach and plugged into the shipping forecast instead.  Coral Snakes obviously don’t like grey skies and damp, cold weather (and force 6 out at sea!) and she let me know it.  It’s much better for me to be upright and doing something, to try and ignore these slithery, sneaky serpents and after 4 or 5 hours the coral snake has gone back under whatever it is that it likes to live in – the leaf litter of the rainforest floor I understand.   Another fact I have learned is that because coral snakes have small fangs, rather than biting quickly and letting go (like vipers), coral snakes tend to hold onto their prey and make chewing motions when biting.  And that is exactly what happens with this latest pain:  it comes on suddenly and then crunches about for a few seconds before easing up and then coming back again.  And again.  And so on.

Do you think she chews with her mouth open?  Yuck!

My next post will be about the amazing therapy centre we have here in Kent, but in the meantime I’d love a name for the latest character (as above) and you may also get an introduction to Stan.  Stan?