Additionally are outstanding bodywork articles regarding the role of the little toe, as well as how treating trigger points reduces pain in knee osteoarthritis. Also a practical feature about immune enhancing properties of plants and herbs and whether living an interesting life is a blessing or a curse.

www.positivehealth.com/issue/issue-189-december-2011

My Editorial from Nov Issue 188, detailing the somewhat harrowing clinical sequelae following ‘minor’ day surgery hernia repair of my partner Mike was written 25 October, just two days prior to Issue 189 being published live. At that juncture I was of the view that perhaps a corner had been turned. Little was I to know the drama which entailed subsequently.

www.positivehealth.com/article/editorial/editorial-issue-188

On the very day, Thursday 27 Oct, that PH Online Issue 188 went live, an almost life-or-death scenario occurred, such as is sometimes portrayed in the movies when the actor is racing against time to reach a destination, or if you have ever run for your life at the airport to make it to your flight before it takes off.

I had a voicemail from my GP around 12.30pm to call him urgently - very unusual; despite my almost daily emailing and phoning the surgery regarding my partner Mike’s clinical symptoms I have never received a call from the doctor before. I had been out for some errand; when I returned the call, I was informed that the GP wasn’t there and he would be back at 4pm. When the GP did speak to me upon his return, it was to inform me that the results of Mike’s blood tests indicated that Mike was in kidney failure, that he had written a letter for me to collect and  to drive Mike to A&E straight away.

Mike had never even been in hospital prior to having his hernia repair day surgery; the 3-4 weeks since his discharge had been spent in pain, suffering infection, urinary difficulties with various doctors attending. Having always been healthy, the prospect of going to A&E had been the very thing Mike had wanted to avoid. We arrived at A&E; because the GP hadn’t contacted the Consultants there, Mike wasn’t on the ‘system’ and had to wait for several hours until being seen by the physicians on call.

Mike’s bladder was severely distended, due to kidney failure and urinary retention. There was no clinical option except to drain his bladder, insert a catheter and admit him for observation and to observe if his blood and electrolyte results returned to normal. [Incidentally, the foremost thing Mike had wanted to avoid during his month of urinary difficulties and pain was to be catheterised.] Mike spent the weekend in the Margate hospital, where there is no urology department or expertise; all urology for east Kent is in the Canterbury hospital. While Mike was in the ward, one of his granddaughters gave birth in the nearby maternity ward  to his first great grandchild, although he wasn’t able to visit her at the time. Incidentally, Canterbury has no maternity ward; this is all at Margate. This insane medical centralization mania has resulted in people having to travel many miles to get to the hospital with the services they require.

Mike returned home on Monday 31 October, his blood and electrolyte functions having returned to normal and has been recovering well, albeit still with catheter. We have both now gemmed up on urology, enlarged prostates and their propensity to cause problems following surgery, anaesthesia. He finally saw a urology consultant only today 29 Nov, who confirmed that it was his enlarged prostate which would have probably caused urinary problems at some point in the future (a urologist would say that). Mike will be scheduled to undergo a procedure (Trans Urethral Resection Prostate) TURP) to reduce his prostate. Hopefully I will be able to report the end of this saga in time for Editorial Issue 190. It always amazes how case studies with real people elucidate so many aspects of health as well as the healthcare bureaucracy.