Stuart’s Blog

In November last year I attended the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) to the Department of Nuclear Medicine for a head (DAT) scan. This involved the injection of iodine to help display things in the brain. It was a long day of just hanging around before the actual scan.

In mid-December I went to GP practice to give blood for another HbA1c test. It cam back worse the previously with a count of 100. The GP in review didn’t know what to do and sent a letter to the Diabetic Team at the RIE. At end of December I was back at the RIE for a CT scan.

On 13th January I attended the Edington Cottage Hospital for a physiotherapy appointment to deal with my “dropped foot”. The  nurse recommended I do a couple of simple exercises and but a dropped foot brace. I have done that and apart from difficulty in getting one strand of Velcro through my laces it appears to be working as I haven’t stumbled or tripped since.

on 29th January I attended a diabetes clinic at the Community Hospital in Haddington. Various readings were taken and I was given a glucose monitor to wear. I didn’t put it on straight away as it only last 15 days and I wasn’t given a prescription to get more. They cost £15 per unit and I’m not paying that every 2 weeks. I put it on on the 2nd Feb, the 15 days run to 17th Feb, the date of my next appointment with that clinic.

I had a telephone consultation with the Neurologist on the 2nd February and he advised I had ‘fluid on the brain’ and would require further tests/scans to work out the correct treatment. Am I anxious about this, yes of course I am. I believe my high glucose level may be behind this.

I have been experiencing various health treatments recently. It all started about September 2025 when my dentist wasn’t happy with my high blood glucose levels amongst other things  I  and insisted I have a face to face with a my GP. One was arranged and he wasn’t too happy with a few little movements when I walked in. After a few tests of my motor skills he said he thought I may be starting to suffer from Parkinson’s. He would arrange an appointment over at the Community Hospital to have me properly checked out. That was the start of a  journey that is ongoing.

On 24th October I was introduced to the Department of Medicine of the Elderly at East Lothian Community Hospital. Initially to Dr Hawksworth’s Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Clinic. After a variety of questions and tests she said I probably did not Parkinson’s but would arrange for a brain scan (or 2 a CT head and DAT) for peace of mind, hers and mine. She also said I had a dropped foot hence my slight imbalance and occasional tripping. She recommended a session with a physiotherapist. These were all to be arranged in due course. In theory I could blame my dentist for showing care but, blame is the wrong word, concern is the better one.