... Although one must be grateful for free treatment the it's obvious the NHS system has organisational problems - "Em did you have any stool samples we can't find them on the system ?" , they eventually found them and then realised that they hadn't tested for the right things so I have to do another 3. "Em, they didn't give you a blood test did they ?, well you'll have to go down to the lab and do one now"...

- But why hadn't this been picked up before ? I could have done the blood test and 2nd set of stool samples weeks ago.

- "We can't make a diagnosis now ...since it's only the lower bowel bleeding it's probably colonitis brought on by bacteria infection" ..(The endoscopy notes said "suspected Crohn's disease ?" )
... So here's a prescription for enemas try them and we'll see you back in 4-6 weeks.
- Why couldn't I have been prescribed this 3 months ago ?

- the enema is like a quarter litre of clear fluid in a plastic tomato sauce bottle which you squeeze up your arse every night. ..Then they said well take enemas for 4-6 weeks and then come back to us. Seems to me that they know alot of peoples complaints will heal in time anyway

- Ideally now I would be in a southern European country doing some work , but I have to take advantage of my parents hospitality until I get this "infection" sorted out. I was hoping that once I saw the specialist he'd give me the medicine and I could be off ... that sounds a bit naive now.
- I wouldn't rule out taking a cheap flight on Christmas day or new Years eve.

- It's difficult to know if the condition is improving, because it's so complex. Before I saw the specialist the diarrhea had gone away. He told me to stop taking the immodium and leave it upto the enemas so I did. After 5 days though the diarrhea has come back, but in other ways the infection has stabilised.
- I can concentrate most of the day and make it through the whole night without running to the toilet. - Why did the diarrhea come back. I had 2 or 3 days without eating rice so maybe it was that. I'd also eaten some liver and bacon, perhaps it caused it. I wonder if I am more susceptible to food poisoning these days so that little things give me diarrhea when before they wouldn't have. I wonder if all that time in the Ukraine when I thought it was the same infection coming back again and again, whether it was a series of infections cropping up, because of my weakened stomach.

- Eventually some idea or opportunity will come up.. I suppose

- There are more lucrative jobs at Christmas , but I didn't go to the job centre as I planned to leave the country as soon as I am cured. Now that's not working I thought about going on Friday, but I didn't ... I should go on Monday cos lets face it I'm not going to be ready to travel in 1 week and in 2 weeks it'll be Christmas and new year. So even if I get magically better soon it'll be mid-January before travel.

- Then my glasses fall apart so I had to repair and then re-repair them. I've still got hours of video to watch