Hi , my name is Jonathan (22/08/1943)
I was diagnosed with MND March 2019, after months of doctors appointments, my past life style was a very fit / healthy way of life, I cycled 4/5 miles each way to work every day on alternate days ran to work, ran loads of 10k races, loads of half marathons, dId 1 full marathon, have been a member of the Rambler’s for 20 years +, leading walks of 8/10 miles regularly, group / area. secretary , even since I retired in 2008 I was still running 6/7 miles 3 times a week,
then in 2018I started having problems walking , starting with leg cramps, waited 1 month for doctors appointment, doctor advised more salt more water, still no change, bought an exercise bike thinking it. was lack of exercising, my previous exercise timings I could last 30/40 minutes , but could only do 3/4 minutes,
so back to doctor’s who referred me to a vascular surgeon ,Waited 1 month for appointment,thinking it was a circulatory, waited 1 months had scan waited another month for results ,waited another month For response from my own doctor, an appointment was made for a spinal scan, ( Yes another month ), attended Sunderland City Hospital, Had a physical by nurse prior to scan, then the nurse discussed her physical test diagnosis with the spinal consultant, I was informed by consultant, I was not going home and bed was was being found for me , I was in 3 different bed/wards that night, my wife(Irene)had to go home alone, bemused at what had happened, for the next 2 weeks l had ,daily scans, tests , visits from numerous doctors/consultants ,
10 days after first entering hospital the consultant ask to have a meeting with wife and I, My daughter decided to attend also, when she declared that I had MND, I/we we we’re shocked gobsmacked, Irene and my daughter took it badly, I myself was not a happy bunny, but thinking back, I was 76 have had a very good life, a wonderful marriage, had 2 great kids, with there own family, life is a bugger, but life can still go on, I am not a quitter, I survived stomach cancer 2012, and trapped bowel 2013, both requiring major surgery, today my legs are completely useless, Thankfully my upper body is still reasonable ok, but staring to fail,I am confined to a wheelchair,(manually powered by myself at the moment )cannot walk, cannot stand, Irene helps me transfere from wheelchair to other seating areas & bed, even including the car, (which enables me to get out and about, ) via a transference board suggested and provided by our local occupational nurses, they also suggested a shower chair/commode for use in recently converted bathroom to wet room,
as said previously my legs are useless, while my arms and hand and brain is ok, I can sane by continuing to be of help to our Rambler’s group by being webmaster for the 2 websites,
and continue to paint watercolours , am about give acrylics a try,
last Xmas Newcastle MND centre asked me to do a Xmas card for them for further publication to be sent out to other
As I also said previously I am no a quitter, I intend to give this MND a run for it money
maybe very down at times, gotta keep fighting back
jonathan
I was diagnosed with MND March 2019, after months of doctors appointments, my past life style was a very fit / healthy way of life, I cycled 4/5 miles each way to work every day on alternate days ran to work, ran loads of 10k races, loads of half marathons, dId 1 full marathon, have been a member of the Rambler’s for 20 years +, leading walks of 8/10 miles regularly, group / area. secretary , even since I retired in 2008 I was still running 6/7 miles 3 times a week,
then in 2018I started having problems walking , starting with leg cramps, waited 1 month for doctors appointment, doctor advised more salt more water, still no change, bought an exercise bike thinking it. was lack of exercising, my previous exercise timings I could last 30/40 minutes , but could only do 3/4 minutes,
so back to doctor’s who referred me to a vascular surgeon ,Waited 1 month for appointment,thinking it was a circulatory, waited 1 months had scan waited another month for results ,waited another month For response from my own doctor, an appointment was made for a spinal scan, ( Yes another month ), attended Sunderland City Hospital, Had a physical by nurse prior to scan, then the nurse discussed her physical test diagnosis with the spinal consultant, I was informed by consultant, I was not going home and bed was was being found for me , I was in 3 different bed/wards that night, my wife(Irene)had to go home alone, bemused at what had happened, for the next 2 weeks l had ,daily scans, tests , visits from numerous doctors/consultants ,
10 days after first entering hospital the consultant ask to have a meeting with wife and I, My daughter decided to attend also, when she declared that I had MND, I/we we we’re shocked gobsmacked, Irene and my daughter took it badly, I myself was not a happy bunny, but thinking back, I was 76 have had a very good life, a wonderful marriage, had 2 great kids, with there own family, life is a bugger, but life can still go on, I am not a quitter, I survived stomach cancer 2012, and trapped bowel 2013, both requiring major surgery, today my legs are completely useless, Thankfully my upper body is still reasonable ok, but staring to fail,I am confined to a wheelchair,(manually powered by myself at the moment )cannot walk, cannot stand, Irene helps me transfere from wheelchair to other seating areas & bed, even including the car, (which enables me to get out and about, ) via a transference board suggested and provided by our local occupational nurses, they also suggested a shower chair/commode for use in recently converted bathroom to wet room,
as said previously my legs are useless, while my arms and hand and brain is ok, I can sane by continuing to be of help to our Rambler’s group by being webmaster for the 2 websites,
and continue to paint watercolours , am about give acrylics a try,
last Xmas Newcastle MND centre asked me to do a Xmas card for them for further publication to be sent out to other
As I also said previously I am no a quitter, I intend to give this MND a run for it money
maybe very down at times, gotta keep fighting back
jonathan
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