December 2015, Thornton-Cleveleys
“Any fool can know. The point is to understand.” Albert Einstein
Just over a month passed by. I was really busy at work, yet I knew I needed to go to my GP because the lump was still swollen and angry, despite saying goodbye to the bladder infection pretty quickly.
December 8th came round, I called into my local surgery. I was really surprised that there was an appointment available that afternoon.
It had been over 6 years since I had last been in the surgery. Everything seemed much the same.
I spotted a couple of new names on the list of GPs; funny that it was these two newcomers (probably been there for years but new to me) were the ones to play a part in the misdiagnosis and the diagnosis.
The GP I was allocated was visibly flustered. The receptionist had warned me that the doctor's wife was in labour and had been taken into hospital so, "You'll be his last patient of the week"
I understand that he was there and not there. Wife having a baby right now and middle-aged woman with lump on her leg. I know which he chose.
"Take these antibiotics for 7 days and then come back and we'll re-assess"
I looked at him directly and asked, "Have you ever seen anything like this before?"
"Oh yes many many times"
His words felt insincere and dismissive and perhaps they were. He wore a forced smile.
"I've got no other symptoms of infection and I had a course of antibiotics last month for a bladder infection. Do I really need antibiotics?"
"Yes"
Interesting that later, totally unprompted, the sarcoma nurse would say to me, "Sarcoma is so rare that a GP can go a whole career without coming across a case of sarcoma"
Yum yum antibiotics just what I need. And that's not me talking.
Waste of time? Let's see. Not so happy but obedient patient. As a rule, I don't blindly follow what people say but on this occasion, probably fear-fuelled, I decided to follow his medical expertise.
I returned to Reception and booked an appointment for 10 days later - the earliest appointment.
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