Monday morning and another test

Sitting at the hospital waitng to undergo a test. Naturally a bit apprehensive . It feels that since  my TIA some 20 months ago I have spent a lot of time at the surgery and hospitals being the one getting sorted out. It still remains strange to be the one on the receiving end waiting with others. You see such a diversity of people of all ages trying to keep themselves preoccupied.  So some flick through the magazines, others are on kindles or tablets, while others check their mobiles or is it playing games on the   mobile? Always an air of expectancy of concern.

One consistent experience for me has been the helpful reassuring staff. Keen to put me at my ease  and explain what will happen. 

Well pretest check with the nurse saw the usual questions asked including has any one in the family suffered from a type of mad cows disease - No! 

Then I was taken through to get changed. Now I see what a friend meant by the pants!! Hilarious. And yes I will take the gas and air if needed! 

So far everything was  running to time which is fine by me. "You did well to drink all four litres' I was told. It was the stuff you had to take in preparation the evening before. I thought you had to drink it all the instructions were clear. A lot of people apparantly don't manage it which I can understand.  I wish I had been told that  I could have at least left the last glassful!

Getting a little bit nervous now so bring on the gas and air. But first it was time to put a line into my arm just in case. In case of what?

Back to the small male waiting room to find a man sitting there who was clearly nervous and wanted to talk about how bad it would be. I just wanted to get on with it. Thankfully his doctor came and then mine only a little behind schedule. 

It's a strange state of affairs that you have to go into hospital to learn how to wait. To not be doing which of course means time to think. We are of course people who fill our time  which can drive out the time just to be still.

Well into the room for the deed. It was going to be filled with folk. Two doctors and three nurses. The TV screen meant I could once I gathered myself after the initial beginning of the test , and a bit of gas and air, follow the procedure. Wow what clarity to be able to see inside yourself. What I was not expecting was the conversation with the nurse who I discovered did not like Donald Trump. Well we were on firm ground there. Then  I gained the impression she had voted brexit, liked Boris Johnson and Mrs May. So diplomatically I sought to avoid disagreement, and talk of a granddaugter was safer territory. Then it was all over and I could go home. I remain still a great admirer of our NHS which is worth fighting for and preserving.