Day 10 - “Friendships” and “phonation”
Day 10- “Friendships” and “phonation”
Early start today and an amazing boost in my confidence in the health system we have in New Zealand. As primary care practitioners we struggle with constant access for our patients into the government health system and are frustrated as we constantly advocate against ever lengthening wait list and declined referrals. “ Resources are constrained”!!
This I guess can”tarnish “ our view of what excellence can yet be occurring within the hospital walls. I have been blessed to date on this journey of mine . Yes I accelerated my diagnostic process by fronting up with personal dollars and am one of a privileged few in NZ who could do so where so many remain with such poor health outcome statistics. But I have subsequently required a dependence on the national health system. I have had access to funded PET Scan and then funded cancer care once the diagnosis became clear. I have been unfortunately afflicted with a paralysed voice box and struggle to be able to hold any sustained and easily audible conversation. Can anyone imagine a “ quietly spoken and short of words” Grahame Jelley!!!
When we saw the radiotherapy nurse last week Tuesday we asked about whether we might be able to access some help around my voice. We had been exploring amplification type devices ourselves and obviously simple self help guidance. A referral to speech language was offered and today a week later I had an amazing experience with a dynamic young lass at the “voice clinic”. This young speech language graduate provided an instructional well informed consultation including doing a audio speech track with a special device I had to talk into. Then she took me through into a procedure room and provided a full nasal endoscopy( telescope down my nose) and video that showed exactly what my voice box was performing and obviously on one side “not” performing. This until then I had imagined remained a procedural skill still confined to a Medical specialist as I had experienced in the past. Such upliftment to see a young person who has been given the opportunity, training and knowledge to confidently work at “top of their scope” and deliver such an efficient comprehensive service.
Early start today and an amazing boost in my confidence in the health system we have in New Zealand. As primary care practitioners we struggle with constant access for our patients into the government health system and are frustrated as we constantly advocate against ever lengthening wait list and declined referrals. “ Resources are constrained”!!
This I guess can”tarnish “ our view of what excellence can yet be occurring within the hospital walls. I have been blessed to date on this journey of mine . Yes I accelerated my diagnostic process by fronting up with personal dollars and am one of a privileged few in NZ who could do so where so many remain with such poor health outcome statistics. But I have subsequently required a dependence on the national health system. I have had access to funded PET Scan and then funded cancer care once the diagnosis became clear. I have been unfortunately afflicted with a paralysed voice box and struggle to be able to hold any sustained and easily audible conversation. Can anyone imagine a “ quietly spoken and short of words” Grahame Jelley!!!
When we saw the radiotherapy nurse last week Tuesday we asked about whether we might be able to access some help around my voice. We had been exploring amplification type devices ourselves and obviously simple self help guidance. A referral to speech language was offered and today a week later I had an amazing experience with a dynamic young lass at the “voice clinic”. This young speech language graduate provided an instructional well informed consultation including doing a audio speech track with a special device I had to talk into. Then she took me through into a procedure room and provided a full nasal endoscopy( telescope down my nose) and video that showed exactly what my voice box was performing and obviously on one side “not” performing. This until then I had imagined remained a procedural skill still confined to a Medical specialist as I had experienced in the past. Such upliftment to see a young person who has been given the opportunity, training and knowledge to confidently work at “top of their scope” and deliver such an efficient comprehensive service.
We were then able to replay video and she could demonstrate all that was happening. Left with so much positive thought about the future of a team based approach to the “care of our Whanau/ families.
Message received later in day with appointment with “laryngologist” voice specialist on Monday lunchtime to talk about options for possible injection into paralysed cord to help voice strengthen. I am blessed to have been offered such opportune and efficient service.
Friendship
Blessings come in different guises and today it was so nice to be able to have lunch with a close friend from days back in Chipinge and Chimanimani, Zimbabwe and a colleague who has been so supportive of my GP work that has allowed us to be settled into a whole new life in KeriKeri. Thank you Lauren Demblon for being there today and 4 years ago when I called about locum opportunities upp in sailings wonderful Bay of Islands. Renene and I have had 4 years of a completely different life than we had anticipated. Lauren and the team at GrennCroos The Doctors in Kerikeri have made me welcome and I have felt so much part of a great team in my workplace. Lauren has been a steady hand at the wheel until recently and always there to support me with all my little foibles and frustrations. Just a little “shout out” to an amazing person
Better day medically today . Just mild nausea. Fatigue is the most surprising aspect. One feels up to a walk in park but it amazes me how quickly the fatigue settles in. One takes measured steps up any incline and definitely need a bed rest when get home to recharge the batteries. Found some “pillows” to rest on whilst walking today.
All together quite a tumultuous day with some other challenges thrown our way as further destabilisation of our foundations at the moment other family health issues . Another subject for the future that I may talk about.
Comments
Post a Comment