Thank God for my Phone

I have been waiting to see the Dermatologist since last February. When I received my appointment letter, I made a note in my mobile phone to remind me. The alarm went off on Sunday but I didn't take too much notice because I had it firmly in my head that it was for Tuesday. So when it alarmed again at 10h45, I looked closer, then checked the letter. It was for this morning at 11h15 so I dressed and scrambled to the hospital with a speed. I had to phone the Nursery to say I would probably be late to pick Wendy up.

To my surprise, I saw a South African doctor and he told me something interesting. He diagnosed Poikiloderma of Civatte which is basically sun damage from living in South Africa and it is harmless and no treatment is needed.

The other problem is that it looks like I have a dread of soap and water. Parts of my neck look filthy despite vigorous washing and exfoliating. He says it is probably inherited, that there are endocrine disorders linked to it causing abdominal weight gain, erratic menstrual cycles, facial hair, weight gain and insulin-resistance. He said it was not a skin disease but a symptom of something more serious. He asked if I had had any serious illnesses and I told him I had had Brucellosis Abortus and Melitensis in 1996, followed by pneumonia. He asked it I had symptoms of Myaligic Encephalitis (yes, he actually used the word encephalitis).

The problem in the UK is that Brucellosis has been eradicated here so even my elderly GP has never seen a case. If Brucellosis becomes chronic, it cannot be distinguished from ME, and it won't show on simple blood tests because the organism becomes intracellular. He is going to write to my GP to suggest a referral to a general physician who could then refer me to the top specialist in infectious diseases, a Dr James Nash.

It would be fantastic if I could get well again.
Thank God for my phone, because if it hadn't nagged me with its alarms, I would not have seen this Dr. Now I have a glimmer of hope in the darkness.