My First Week In the Pilbara

My first week of work went great. I was extremely nervous about that first day as I said in a previous post, especially as I couldn't speak to anyone beforehand because my Supervisor was on annual leave and would not be back until the day I started...they didn't even blink at the crutches...my Supervisor just asked what I had done to myself so I kept the explanation very brief and too the point and he was fine about it...the next day he casually says so how long are you going to be on crutches for and I said well it has been about 11 years now, but I am hoping that being up here in the warm climate, etc. that things will improve and I will be able to get off them. So all is well.

The job looks like it will be interesting, especially as I will be dealing with a lot of other hospitals that are in remote areas etc...the people here are very friendly and accepting.....

I went to find myself a GP up here, and that was an interesting experience as well. I went in there and said hi and explained that I had just moved up here and said that I would be her nightmare patient and she laughed and said give it to me. So I started listing all the problem areas and she was like OK lets take one at a time and go through them individually and I just laughed and said sure.

We started with the RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) and she had all these plans for me and I was like no you don't understand been there done that not going there again. I am happy with how I am at the moment and I will let you know if things change and I can't put up with things any longer and she was satisfied with that.

We then went on to the PCOS/endometriosis (no one can make up their mind what is wrong with me- seem to have bits and pieces of both conditions - lucky me)....I said my Gynae in Perth was happy for me to consult with him over the phone if I had any problems or questions and when I am in Perth he will fit me in for an appointment and he would write her a letter explaining my situation and treatment regime. She was happy with that.

Next was the Diabetes...oh boy that did not go down well, she says no you can't have type 1 because you are not on insulin so you must have type 2...so I explained that yes I do have type 1 but I am honeymooning and was on insulin for 8 months but never had to change my dose was just on 8 units of novarapid 3 times a day and 8 units of protophane at night and I had no idea I was low because the symptoms are exactly what I feel normally with the RSD so I was putting myself at risk so chose for now to not take anything as I was honeymooning and seemed to be doing ok without it, yes I do get some nasty readings occasionally, but I am very strict with myself in what I consume so that helps some as well and would continue that way until I had no option to go back to being on the insulin. Still not sure what she thinks about all that but we will see. She has organised a heap of blood tests testing just about everything you can think off and I have to go back and see her next week and see where we go from there.

Next I told her about the blood clots in my brain and that got her attention and she said boy you are very lucky to still be here. So will we see how things go with her. She is actually very good - she is young and very willing to listen and if she is not sure of something than she will go find out she doesn't just let things go - so I am thinking that is a good thing.

It is great being with my family again, though stressful all being under the same roof until my sister's house finishes getting built and me finding my own place. Being 29 and living with my parents just doesn't feel right to me at all :-) The cuddles and kisses from my niece and nephew make everything worth while though - I just love being an Auntie.