The Back Man – at last !!!!

Wednesday 8^th June 2011

After countless cancelled appointments I finally got to see the Back Man. My Mam came with me again as John wasn’t able to get time off work.

When the Back Man came into the consulting room he explained practically word for word what the Pain Man had said.

He showed us the results of the MRI scan and pointed out where my spine had moved to and where it should have been. No wonder I am in so much agony !!!!!

“There is an operation I can perform on your back”, he said, “it would involve putting a metal rod in your spine. However there are risks involved”.

“Like what”, asked my Mam.

“At worst paralysis in the both legs, loss of bladder and bowel control, loss of sensation. It will be a really challenging operation as there is no left hip bone to attach the medal rod to”.

“I had talked about this with my husband John after I saw you last year”, I said, “and knowing the risks, and knowing how lucky I am, the answer is no”.

“Have a think about it”, he said, ignoring my answer, “I’ll see you in a couple of months. If you decide on the operation I’ll then go through everything with you in fine detail”.

“I don’t want it”, I reiterated, “so the answer is still no”.

“We’ll see you in a couple of months”, he said, filling out the admin sheet.

What part of ‘no’ does he not understand !!!!

I talked it over with John that night and we both were in the same opinion, it’s too risky so the answer is…. no.

Electric shocks

Tuesday 31^st May 2011

Today was yet another visit to the hospital. This time it was for an electromyography on my hand.

Because John couldn’t get time off work, I asked my mam if she would come with me and we’d get a taxi there and back.

My mam had planned to stay in the waiting room and read a book, as John normally does, however the consultant who came out to greet us, said she was more than welcome to come in with us. Being nosy, she couldn’t resist….

After having both of my hands submerged in really hot water, the consultant then put electro stickers all over my hands and arms.

“You may feel a slight tingle”, he warned me, as he was preparing to electrocute me…

“OWWWW !!!!!”, I part screamed, part laughed, “you only said a slight tingle”.

“You wouldn’t have like it, if I said a huge shock”, he smiled.

More electric shocks, more owws …

My mam, sitting the corner, found it all very funny.

“I’m afraid”, he said, looking at the computer screen, “that you do have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and that’s moderately severe”.

“What does that mean”, asked my mam.

“It means that wearing a splint isn’t going to help. The only option is surgery”, he replied.

I can hardly do anything now. Will having my left hand out of action mean I’ll be bed ridden. It doesn’t even bear thinking about !!!!!

Our cruise - part 3

Saturday 29^th May 2011

One niggling little annoyance with Silversea is they have great ground staff but rubbish admin staff. I had informed their admin department several months previously that I wasn’t able to board the coach to take us to the airport when we go leave the ship.

“Don’t worry Mrs Harper”, reassured one of the admin staff, “I’ve made a note on your file that you will require a car instead”.

While we were waiting to be called to leave the ship, Mark, one of the Officers who we had had dinner with one evening, came over and said, “there seems to be a little problem with your transport. Head Office haven’t told us you require a car, and unfortunately there’s no time to arrange one now”.

So with a lot of heaving, lifting and generally being manhandled, I was put on the bus….

When we arrived at Rome airport Silversea had arranged for a guide to get us priority check-in, and then he stayed with us until the airport’s special assistance came to take us to BA business class lounge.

On arrival into Heathrow airport we were passed from one ‘special services’ purple buggy to another. We. As BA had taken Wizzy from me at the flight gate, and was told I wouldn’t see it again until we landed at Newcastle, I was simply ‘deposited’ in BA’s Club Lounge.

Although we’re not big shoppers as we had three hours to wait for our connecting flight from Heathrow to Newcastle, it would have been nice to look around the shops in Terminal 5. However as I didn’t have Wizzy we couldn’t do it. We were stuck in BA’s Club Lounge.

First of all it was huge. John had a good look around and said the place was unbelievable. Want something to eat - a salad, no problem, would you prefer some pasta, or maybe soup and a roll, or breakfast cereal, or biscuits, or crisps. All there, and all free. Then there’s an entire wall laid out with bottles of wine, and fridges full of beer and soft drinks. We hadn’t seen anything like it. Shame we were too knackered to appreciate or use it.

There was one small flaw to me being in the lounge – Wizzy was on his way to Newcastle and the little man had taken away his purple buggy. How was I got get around !!!!!

Thankfully Stickies had remained with me so I was able to walk a few paces. Had that not been the case, I would have had to remain in my seat until the ‘purple bug’ came to take me to the departure gate. Here’s an interesting thought. Say I didn’t have Stickies, what would have happened if I required the use of the loo? Wet myself….

Given that we had bought a Business Class ticket, surely a wheelchair could have been provided for me use whilst in the lounge. Passengers with young children who have their buggies and prams stored in the hold are handed them straight over as soon as they leave the aircraft. Why can’t this happen to wheelchair users. Instead we have to endure the degrading and embarrassing situation of having to be pushed like young children in purple buggies. The Customer from Hell will be dealing with this when we get home….

We had been told by the special assistance little man that someone would come at 5.10pm to take us to the departure gate. 5.10pm came and no purple buggy.

5.15pm. 5.20pm. 5.24pm. Still no purple buggy.

At 5.30pm John asked BA’s Customers Service Reception in the lounge if they could find out when someone would be coming to collect us. They too were a little surprised that no one had come. John were advised that ‘someone would be there shortly’.

At 5.45pm ‘Mildred’ finally arrived. She pushed the buggy toward me then turned to John and asked him ‘can she walk’….

BAD MOVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just because I may not have good use of my legs that did not give ‘Mildred’ the right to treat with me such disrespect.

John was caught off guard by her remark and simply said, ‘yes’.

I snarled, ‘YES!’ at her.

She tried to make conversation as we walked towards the departure gate but I refused to acknowledge her. I was too angry.

Normally ‘special assistance’ passengers are first on the aircraft, however given the lateness of ‘Mildred’s’ arrival, we were one of the last to board. Consequently we were stuck in a long queue of passengers and the constant stopping and starting of the buggy as we slowly moved really set my back off. I couldn’t wait to get seated and take some painkillers.

I don’t know if my face was telling the story of my woes but when the cabin crew came round with drinks, I just asked for a diet coke.

“Here”, he said, handing me a bottle of white wine instead, “you look like you need it….”.

Our cruise - part 2

Friday 20^th May – Friday 27^th May 2011

We’ve seen Wizzys on Silversea before but this was the first time for us.

We asked for a normal suite, not adapted for Wizzy’s. Having seen the inside of disabled hotel rooms, I don’t like them. I even hate having to use disabled loos whenever we’re out anywhere….

After we had unpacked our suitcases on the first afternoon, we had to attend the compulsory lifeboat drill. On the Whisper and Shadow, they are held in the theatre, on Wind and Cloud, which are smaller ships, they are held in the Panorama Lounge.

When we arrived at the Panorama Lounge, we were instructed to go and take a seat into the Humidor. Inside the room were other passengers who were disabled in one way or another.

The staff then started giving the life board drill to the rest of the passengers seating in the lounge. However, us in the Humidor, we got nothing. This went on about fifteen minutes. I was not happy. It felt like those who had either a Wizzy or a walking stick were being treated like second class citizens, and that should the need arise for us to abandon ship, then we would be just be forgotten about. Silversea would be receiving a letter from the Passenger-from-Hell…..

After checking out the various decks, I noticed that there was not one disabled loo on the ship. They do have disabled suites, but it appears no loos. Not happy about that neither as it meant when I needed the loo I had to go back to our suite. Something else to be added to my letter.

When we went down to dinner on the first night, Georg, the Maitre ’D, stepped out from behind his lectern, held out his hand and said “Hello Mr & Mrs Harper. Lovely to see you again”.

It had been three years since our last cruise so what a memory the crew must have. He noticed Wizzy and was saddened to see me in him. I replied it was one of them things. It’s the usual reply I give to people.

When the Maitre ‘D has allocated you a table, the Waiter would then hold out his arm to the lady and he will escort her to their table. Georg took hold of Wizzy and pushed me to our table. Normally only special guests get escorted to their table by the Maitre ‘D so we felt honoured.

When we go to dine, be it on the ship or in the UK, I prefer to get out of Wizzy and sit in a normal chair. Here on the ship, the staff were so eager to help me get on and off the various chairs I ended up with bruises on my arms !!!!

After we had been seated, Wizzy, and later Stickies, was taken from me and put in the ship’s $300 per person restaurant. No storage cupboard for Wizzy or Stickies….

When we arrived at the port of Cadiz, we decided to venture off the ship for an hour or two. I wasn’t sure I could manage the steps off the ship so the Head of Security rounded up three members of staff and they carried me, sitting in Wizzy, down the steps. The same thing happened when we went back to the ship. Lets just say it was an experience I didn’t fancy doing again !!!!

When we got back to our room on the first night, an invitation was waiting for us. It was from one of the Officers inviting us to dine with him the following evening. It would have been impolite to refuse so we said yes… We had a lovely evening with a

dentist and his wife from Australia (they were hysterical. We dined with them on several other nights as well), and a dealer in commodities and his wife from Stow on the Wold. It must have been a good night because we spent three hours at the table, missed the show in the theatre, and were the last to leave the restaurant.

One evening Georg asked if we would like to have some company that evening. As we’d dined alone the previous night we said we would be delighted.

We were shown to our table and a few minutes later an elderly gentleman called John (he was a regular on Silversea – his father had been a director of a shipping company), Diane, the Spa Manager and Caren, the fitness instructor joined us. On chatting to Caren I asked her if she could give me a little advice on what exercises I could do to help me tone up my spare tire. With not being mobile any excess weight went straight to my middle. Not only is it bad for your health having a spare tire, my clothes were getting uncomfortable and excess middle weight wasn’t good for my IBS.

“Meet me in the Spa tomorrow at six. I finish work then and we’ll have a good chat”, she said.

At six the following day Caren and myself were sitting on the pool deck drinking Pimms and ‘Sex on the Beach’ as we left Mahon. After giving her the abridged version of my medical history, she said, “you’re going to be a challenge. I like challenges….”

A couple of days later Caren joined me in our Suite to give me an hour’ fitness workout.

“You really did put me to the test trying to find you exercises,” she said, “as I’ve never seen a person without a hip before”.

When I was on the floor doing some abs exercises she asked, “do you mind if I have a feel of where your hip should have been”.

“Course not”, I said.

She first put her hands on my right side and felt the hip bone there, then onto the left side.

“I.. I…I find it really weird”, she stuttered, “I’ve never seen anything like it”.

That’s me all round….

About 12 hours after my workout I started to feel the muscles in my stomach aching.

“Excellent. Keep it up”, said Caren, when I told her the next day…

Gradually as the days went along my pains began to ease slightly. I didn’t know if it was the warm weather, just being on holiday, or my new painkillers. Whatever it was I was so happy. I even managed to walk around the ship a little using Stickies. Passengers and crew who had seen me use Wizzy had made lovely encouraging comments when they saw me with Stickies. Even the Captain said so.

On of the loveliest places we visited on the cruise was Mahon. It’s a beautiful island, however it does have one fault, really steep hills. We would love to go back to Mahon for a holiday, however at the present time it’s not Wizzy friendly.

Shame….

Our cruise – part 1

Thursday 19^th May 2011

Today was the day we set off to Lisbon for our nine day cruise. This was the first holiday we’d had since having my hip removed. And boy were we looking forward to it.

Getting up at an unspeakable hour to get the taxi at 4.30am to take us to Newcastle Airport wasn’t the most pleasantest part of our holiday. However we were prepared to suffer seeing as it was Silversea !!!!!

One of the advantages of being in a Wizzy is you get fast-tracked though airport security. Newcastle Airport’s security staff aren’t the friendliest or nicest you could come across. However today they were the complete opposite. Just goes to show what a Wizzy can do….

Along with other ‘Wizzy’s’, we were taken to the departure gate in a specially designed van, then lifted up to the aircraft doors. As we were the first passengers to board, there wasn’t the normal hustle and bustle of finding your seat. Sadly Wizzy wasn’t able to be stored in the cabin, as we had been told by BA he would be, so he had to go into the hold.

“Don’t worry, it will be waiting on the tarmac at Lisbon for you”, I was assured.

When we got to Heathrow we had to be taken off the aircraft by one of ‘special assistance’ purple buggies. We were told by one of the ‘special assistance’ little men that there were not enough buggies to transport all the passengers who required help, so we were told to wait in a corridor while they organised another buggy.

We explained to the little man that our connecting flight left in 90 minutes in Terminal 3 – we were in Terminal 5.

“Another buggy has been arrange. That’s all I can do”, said the disinterested little man.

After fifteen minutes of sitting in a deserted corridor waiting for someone to come and collect us, John went to find a BA customer service desk. They contacted ‘special assistance’, to which John was told ‘someone was on their way and would be there shortly’.

Ten minutes later and still no one appeared……

Five minutes later we saw a purple buggy coming along the corridor. At last we thought. Err, no. It wasn’t for us, said the little man.

It was now, as we’d had enough. We explained to the little man that we had been waiting thirty minutes for someone to come and collected us, and that we were on a very tight time schedule for our next flight. He took pity on us and escorted us to the ‘special assistance’ area in Terminal 3.

We explained to the ‘special services’ little woman that our flight was leaving soon and she assured us that someone would come to take us to the departure gate shortly.

Several minutes later and ‘Anthony’ arrived. He asked if he could have our boarding cards then started fiddling with the computer. The little woman advised him that our flight was now boarding and he should take us to the departure gate. He ignored her.

“ANTHONY. THEIR FLIGHT IS NOW BOARDING. WILL YOU GET A MOVE ON !!!!”, she screamed. He still ignored her and continued typing away on the computer.

It had now been one hour since we had landed and we were still no closer to boarding our flight. To say we were a little annoyed, would be an understatement…

John grabbed our boarding cards from the computer desk. “As you are refusing to take us to the departure gate, we were going to make our own way there”, he yelled, and started pushing me (who was still in their purple buggy) and our hand luggage away from the special assistance area.

It was only then that ‘Anthony’ decided to help us. We eventually made it to the departure lounge with just ten minutes to spare. The ground staff were not happy with ‘Anthony’ as we were holding up the rest of the passengers as we had to board first..

British Airways staff are always friendly, however they were even more so as we were travelling business class as part of our cruise deal. What a difference !!!

Instead of three by three seats in pleb class, it was two by two with loads of leg room. Once we were in the air the cabin crew brought round the drinks. Normally we just have diet coke, but as we were on holiday we had a bottle of wine, with glasses made from real glass….

Lunch was amazing. Real china plates and china teacups. Proper metal knives and forks, and fabulous food. One of the cabin crew came round to take away our empty plates and she noticed that my coffee hadn’t been touched.

“Is there is problem with your coffee, Madam”, she asked.

“It’s just a little too strong for me”, I replied, if you know me you will understand this…

“I’ll make you another one”, she said, whisking the cup away.

A minute later she returned, “is this one better”, she asked, handing me the cup. I took a taste from it.

“Perfect”, I replied, “exactly how I like it. Thank you”.

“My pleasure”, she beamed.

You don’t get that kind of service in pleb class….

When we arrived at Lisbon airport, their ‘special assistance’ were ready and waiting for us. They were so much better than Heathrow ‘special services’. They even spoke better English than the Dipsticks at Heathrow… Unfortunately Wizzy was not ‘waiting for me on the tarmac’ as I had been assured. I was told it would have to be collected at baggage reclaim.

So with the help of the friendly Lisbon special assistance crew, who put Heathrow to shame with the help and service they gave us, we went to baggage reclaim to collect Wizzy and our luggage.

At Newcastle airport’s check-in desk our luggage had been tagged ‘priority’ so all three cases were the first off the luggage belt. However there was no Wizzy.

“Don’t worry”, said the lovely ‘special assistance’ man, “sometimes they put them with the bicycles”

We went to the reclaim area for bicycles but no sign of Wizzy.

“Don’t worry”, he said, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat, “we’ll will find it”.

After asking several of his colleagues Wizzy was eventually found, abandoned in the middle of the arrivals area, and damaged. Thankfully it was only minor and John was able to repair it there and then.

I was a little concerned we might get stopped at Customs as some of my painkillers are controlled drugs. I had to get special permission to take them in and out of the country – at cost of £14.50…. However we sailed though (excuse the nautical pun…).

We met the Silversea representative outside arrivals – it’s a lovely feeling to see someone holding up a card with your name on it – and she insisted on pushing Wizzy to the car which would take us to the ship.

Our chauffeur was lovely and friendly. So much so that we gave him a good tip when we arrived at the port.

Once our holiday documents had been checked, it was only a short walk/wiz along the port to the ship. Although I have difficulty walking upstairs, I was determined to climb the steps to board the ship. With John behind me to help, Wizzy carried by a member of the crew, and an officer walking in front of me to help if I needed it, I very slowly ascended the stairs.

I was shattered when I got to the top but I made it. Our holiday had begun…..