Early December - Up and Down

Yes, I know, I've not been keeping this up to date. Very poor. So, what's been happening? Well I got the bus pass for a start. Still waiting for the railcard (I need to wait until I get my free prescriptions card from the NHS first, which Railtrack or whoever it is now require as proof of my disability).

On the health front it's been up and down. The side effects of the Sodium valproate have diminished a lot now and I'm on a version of it called Epilim Chrono, which is a single, easier to swallow, tablet morning and night rather than three. The "Chrono" part indicates it's controlled release (Sodium valproate has a fairly short half life, hence two doses a day).

I have periods when I'm great, in fact I had four days a week or so ago when I felt really normal, and then it comes back again: tightness across the scalp and a general feeling of "strangeness" which I really can't explain or describe but comes and goes. It all seems to be stress related and is also triggered by the lights in Sainsburys for some reason (and defeated by wearing sunglasses - which gives me a few strange looks but means I can make it all the way around without too many problems).

On the financial front HMG are paying me Incapacity Benefit and kindly backdated it to April. It's not a lot (about £65/week) but it's all free money. More importantly Swiss Life have accepted my claim on my Permanent Health Insurance, which is a great help.

I finally saw the consultant's registrar(?) this week. They're going to do another MRI scan, just in case anything new is going on. Even if there is they wouldn't operate mind you as it's too difficult to get to. They're also referring me privately (courtesy of Swiss Life, assuming they agree to it) to a neuropsychologist who should be able to investigate the symptoms I'm getting day to day (and help me get back into regular work, hence Swiss Life's likely interest in paying for it).