At a Burma Star Day show in the 1970's, a Lightning came in low over the runway and then did a vertical climb until out of sight. Damned impressive to say the least!

Ma recalled... not sure when. Sunbathing with female friend on beach. Then a shadow and a Roar! Thought it was a spaceship... but Vulcan! Very low!
Have heard of an excercise... US or Canada... where US fighter spotted Vulcan Low, over river... so attempted 'bounce'. TWO RAF fighters popped up from underneath LOL! 

Quote from: Steve J on 06 November 2022, 09:15:02 PMAt a Burma Star Day show in the 1970's, a Lightning came in low over the runway and then did a vertical climb until out of sight. Damned impressive to say the least!

Must have been impressive - Lightnings were all about pure brute power. Saw a then brand new USAF F-15 Eagle do a similar manuvere from a standing start at an Airforce open day at Ohakea in 1981. 'burners on and as soon as the gear was up it was climbing vertically and accelerating to mach 0.9.......I'd hate to think how much that would cost to do these days 

In the middle of the North Island of NZ is the Waiouru military training area. State Highway 1 passes through it and there are a number of steep gullies that the road dips down into before climbing out the other side

On one trip I spotted a pair of Iroquois helicopters flying along a gully as we headed down into it. I mentioned them to my then wife who was in the backseat with our very young son. She looked out the front windscreen down onto the pair of Iroquois flying past below us and for some reason screamed. This amused our son and I'm sure has contributed to his lifelong love of Iroquois

My health: I'm posting this not for pity points, but to record a catalogue of wtf's.

A brief recap:

• In May I what I thought was a tummy bug. Lots of shouting for God on the Great White Telephone.
• I phoned 111, and they asked lots of questions including if I'd been hit on the back of the head with a brick. I still consider this to be an overly-specific question. 
• Since this persisted, I went to see a doctor. I has stopped the upchucking, but just felt so terribly drained of energy. She set me up with a blood test.
• Had the blood test a few days later at 10am. Was phoned by the doctor at 12 noon and went to see them at 4pm.
• Sent to hospital, directly to hospital, no detour home to pack - sepsis.
• Spent 10 days in hospital with anti-biotic drip which was only changed when I managed to get to sleep. 2am was a favoured time.
• After a few days, the sepsis was identified as having come from an abscess of the bowl.
• Spent a fun hour with a nurse dressed as a clown, a one armed surgeon and a CT scan having a drain put in my side. This drain collected the gunk from the abscess and I shall never eat chicken soup again.
• Young blonde female surgeon told me the most likely causes of an abscess on that side of the body were "old age, fish bones and colon cancer." Bit worried, 'cos history of cancer in the family.
• Sent home with the drain (named Mr Stinky because of the faint odour) and told to contact the local Treatment Centre as the drain would need to be flushed daily.
• Phoned Treatment Centre and was told that they "don't do that".
• On 20 tablets per day, with 6 weeks supply from the hospital.
• Called to local pharmacy who gave me a second supply of 6 weeks of tablets. They didn't have the capsules for the drip, and their supplier didn't either. Did I want to try Boots? Since walking the 200 yards to the pharmacy was somewhat of a trial, I declined the offer.
• Sanity saved by the District Nurses who didn't have the correct flush capsules (it was just saline for Goodness' Sake) but beg/borrowed or stole some.
• Had a new district nurse and Mr Stinky was so pleased he ejected himself from my body. Nobody seemed bothered.       
• Saw the Boss Surgeon as an outpatient. He spent more time showing photos of himself at a football match to my daughter then he did examining me. I liked that; made him human.
• Boss Surgeon unable to proceed until the emergency CT scan that he had ordered 3 weeks ago had taken place.
• Had CT scan a month later.
• Saw Boss Surgeon and he started explaining how there was a tumour and they could do a colonoscopy but they were worried it would damage the bowel. Nurse interrupted and pointed results of 2nd CT scan after which he said "there is no tumour! You will have a colonoscopy and then we will hug." Like  I say, very human. Think it brightened his day to give good news. I think I would like to have hugged the nurse there and then.
• The night before colonoscopy had little sleep due to drinking bowel cleaner called Movieprep whose prime ingredient was, I think, battery acid.
• Had colonoscopy and was told that Movieprep hadn't done its job and I had to go for another colonoscopy with a double dose of Movieprep the night before. 
• That night will long remain in my memory.
• Second colonoscopy fine. Chatted to nurse about the benefits of university vs apprenticeships as she held my belly so the camera could "get round the corner". We all parted as friends, with a vague promise never to do this again.   
• Received a letter saying I had to visit the Chest Clinic. No reason given.
• Went to see chest clinic and was told that the appointment had been cancelled. Should have had a letter rescheduling, because I hadn't had a CT scan of the chest. However, the receptionist did get me five minutes with a chest specialist who said I had sarcoidosis, but would not be drawn on what it was, nor what caused it, nor what the effects would be.
• Received an appointment for a CT scan of the chest.
• Went back to Chest Clinic. Told that the sarcoidosis was "historic" (in that case I think he meant from the past rather than legendary) because new CT scan had shown no change in the sarcoidosis. He asked if I had difficulty breathing, told me to lose weight and dismissed me. No indication what had caused it.
• Had a call back to the Bowel Surgeons. Saw a blonde female surgeon who denied ever saying "old age, fish bones or colon cancer" and explained that the problem was all due to my appendix exploding. I asked if this would have been painful and she said it would be very painful, and that I must have a high threshold of pain. No use doing exploratory surgery as the appendix had been "obliterated". Now worried that my internal organs may explode and I don't notice. Not twisting my torso in case one of my kidneys pops. Anyway, she signed me off, and there I thought the NHS could safely forget about me.     

But, alas, no. This week I received a text from the NHS inviting me to a diabetes clinic. I replied that I had not discussed diabetes with anyone and they responded that I had been referred by my practice.

Wondered down to the practice to gather information. The receptionist asked (quite rightly) if I had diabetes. I was going to respond about my diabetes being analogous to the welfare of Schrodinger's cat, but decided that would be somewhat d**kish, so I just shrugged and said "I don't know. Do I?" She tapped away (on her computer) and then confidently told me that I did in fact have diabetes. At that moment, I felt as if the Movieprep was making a comeback. I asked when I had been diagnosed and she said that I must have had a blood test in the past 3 months. I most definitely had not, so she arranged for the Diabetric Nurse to phone me.

Diabetic Nurse (turns out both interpretations of that description are true) rang me and explained that I had not responded to a letter sent to me in August. I could categorically assure her that I had not received any such letter (all communication with the NHS is filed in strict date order). I was somewhat disheartened, as you may imagine. I don't have a perfect diet, but I don't eat cakes or sweets or takeouts and the last time I had alcohol was last Christmas.  I asked if my bout of pancreatitis (in 2002) may have been a factor and she said that 40% of people who have pancreatitis develop diabetes. Would have been a good thing to have been told in 2002.

So now, I have a boot camp diabetes session booked in, a visit to the Diabetic Nurse, but first off I  have an appointment with the "Blood Nurse".


Individually the people I have seen have been excellent, and I won't have a word said against them ... except maybe blonde lady surgeon. Boss Surgeon was a "good bloke", clown nurse was bright and reassuring, local doctor probably saved my life, and those angel District Nurses definitely saved my sanity. The bigger battle for me has been against the poor communication and the medical bureaucracy that seems so disjointed.

Overall I feel fine, physically.   

Good to read you're feeling fine, Stewy (sorry about the brick, btw - I was aiming at someone else). As my old aunt used to say, "auld age disnae come by itsel" (although I would not classify you as old). I could tell you stories about our wonderful NHS in relation to me and my family (suffice to say, the stories are both good and bad). Colonoscopys are great fun (I preferred my endoscopy), particularly the wiped out day beforehand constantly drinking that awful stuff and running to the loo. One time, when I was wheeled into the theatre lying there in all my glory (you know how you are 'dressed' - or rather 'undressed'), I heard a voice saying, "Oh hello, David. How are you?" It turned out that lady surgeon carrying out the procedure was someone I knew! 

"get well soon"   doesnt cut it really.    so I hope you get to the next step as quickly as the system lets you.


As for endoscopies they are much better than colonoscopies provided you make the right choice when they ask "Do you want to be sedated or shall we just numb the back of your throat?"   45 minutes later being able to drive yourself home doesn't really compensate for the trauma.

Blimey Nobby!

Blimey, you have been run ragged old chap! Dealing with the NHS is rather akin to Local Government, you constantly feel you are going round in circles and not really being told what is going on etc. Hope things begin to improve for you!

     

Thank you all for your kind words.

It has certainly been a tumultuous and interesting few months.

Not much fun! Sepsis is dangerous...uncle, (in his late 80s), has been found on the deck twice after lying there for hours... once outdoors... lucky... like yourself, straight to hospital. Might be an idea to take small bag of undies, etc, to Docs,,, just in case,,, if feeling really unwell.
I always tell people with illness, to 'get it checked out'... but do not do it myself! 'Appointment in 2 weeks'...! Referral, another 2-4 weeks... tests, results... more tests...
By that time, either you are mending or dead.
Always exaggerate symptoms... never say "It's not so bad, really". Uncles' daughter in law Radiographer... so knew how to push things on phone to get something done.

Anyway, Best Wishes.

Nobby it makes my eye op seem trivial. I find Diabetes makes little difference apart from the 27 million pills I have to take. Hope you didn't respond the way I did when told - at midnight having been in A&E for 7 hours "What f***ing Diabetes"

Well, mate, you story is not unusual these days, more's the pity.  I could exchange notes with you in the context of my dealings with my GP, a different one every time, the urologist at my local hospital and the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), who refused to allow my medication to be prescribed notwithstanding that it had been approved by NICE for NHS use in 2012, such that I had to buy it privately for six months until the CCG was disolved earlier this year, but I don't think current IT has enough band-width to relate it all here.    At least you have retained your sense of humour which is a positive thing.  Hope you are feeling better.

Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 13 November 2022, 07:56:11 AMNobby it makes my eye op seem trivial.

Oh Heck no! They need to stay away from my eyes! I will take any number of colonoscopies, CT drains or stoma as opposed to one eye operation.   

Quote from: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 13 November 2022, 07:56:11 AMI find Diabetes makes little difference apart from the 27 million pills I have to take. Hope you didn't respond the way I did when told - at midnight having been in A&E for 7 hours "What f***ing Diabetes"

Nearly. I was quite respectful with the Diabetes unit I had been referred to, kept myself reined in with the receptionist at the practice, but lost it slightly with the Diabetes nurse. Seems a long time between August and November to chase up someone with the condition.   

Quote from: John Cook on 13 November 2022, 10:47:25 AMWell, mate, you story is not unusual these days, more's the pity ... At least you have retained your sense of humour which is a positive thing.  Hope you are feeling better.

Indeed, I don't think my story is unique or even rare. The worst bit is having to explain to my boss a series of increasingly ridiculous stories. Telling them that my appendix had exploded, but I hadn't felt it, was something of a event. The reaction I got was "are you sure?"