There's always someone to piss in your porridge. Last Thursday started reasonably well. After researching the art of pickling (onions & red cabbage) I awoke to find the cabbage and onions doing fine after their respective dry and wet brining... By way of explanation, I've experimented with Indian pickles (which are basicly lemons/limes, loads of salt, spices, splash of vinegar and some oil) as some form of therapeutic activity. GF loves 'em. So I got the idea to try English pickles, being salted veg and vinegar but with sterilisation issues. There's some logic to this turn of events as I've been living with the aid of a carrot dangling just out of reach (a la donkey) in order to live through the next few days/weeks; so pickles which take anything up to 2 months seemed like a plan, with the added benefit that the whole project involved going out to shop and a level of household cleaning.
...and ventured over the road to Churches (purveyors of china and top kitchen-stuff) for pickling jars. So far so good. Then I opened my post to find that the Council are being shitty about my Housing Benefit claim and have turned down flat my application for back-dating. I have until 10/05/05 to get various original documents and shit or I'll have to put in a fresh application. This did my mood no good whatsoever. I was shaking and on the sitting on that uncomfortable fence between tears and violent rage. Cut to the General Hospital where I have an appointment with Consultant Sattayamurthy regarding my carpal tunnel (see January). I'm there in good time to have the ritual "fag outside" before registering my arrival with a rather attractive young nurse :p I'm called into the clinic fairly promptly and take my seat opposite a consultant not corresponding with my racially stereotypical image of a guy called Sattayamurthy. I duly take my seat and a "consultation" ensues:

Cons: What seems to be the problem Mr Dav... Smi... errrrr......
Andy: (has he even looked at my notes?) Well, er I think I was referred for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Cons: I know that but what are your symptoms?
Andy (sighing internally): Numbness and tingling in these fingers (does he know what carpal tunnel is?)
Cons: Any pain?
Andy: I've kind've got used to it over the months but I used to be kept awake with a burning sensation.
Cons (spotting burn marks): What are those marks on your arms?
Andy: Cigarette burns. Don't worry, I've discussed all that with my Consultant Psychiatrist, GP etc. have been signed off with mental ill health and suicidal ideation for months so the carpal tunnel hasn't exactly been my top priority.
Cons: Do you want anything done about it?
Andy: (Why the fuck do you think I went to my GP in the first place you anal wart! Sigh, yawn, suppress anger/frustration etc.) I guess so. What are my options?
Cons: An operation
Nurse enters and talks to Cons.
Cons (looking at nurse): Any questions?
Cons (looking at me): Well?
Andy: Sorry, I thought you were talking to her.
Cons (patronisingly): No...
Andy: You were looking at her. Your communication skills are bleeding awful! etc etc...
Cons: Do you have any questions?
Andy: (You've told me fuck-all!)Well, what does the operation entail? Recovery time? Waiting time? What outcome can I expect?
Cons reluctantly answers questions
Andy: Sorry. I didn't mean to have a go at you, but from the patient's perspective: I see my GP, I go for tests, I get a letter telling me to come and see Dr SattyaMurthy...
Cons: I'm not Dr Sattyamurthy....

Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Thus the setback moodwise. All Dr Patel's lovely cuddliness undone in one 5min "consultation". I know my temper's a problem these days but It really feels like the world thinks you are a dog turd on the sole of it's shoe.

Cue weekend of comfort eating/drinking.


2005 snogs

posted by Andy 10:59