Thursday 1 November 2007

ZZZZzzzzzzz!

Its been a while since I updated you on Del's medical saga! For those who don't know, he had what was then a suspected heart attack at the beginning of August... After all sorts of tests (during which time he was unable to work) they decided it wasn't a heart attack, but they think he may be suffering from sleep apnea - he's always snored badly, and basically they reckon he stops breathing for a few seconds every little while at night and then wakes himself up. He does make some odd noises during the night and often says he wakes up still tired so we thought it would be great to have that sorted out....... however, it is a condition which is reportable to the DVLA in connection with his bus licence so he was still unable to go back to work, at least as a driver, which has not made things easy! Fortunately his employers have been very good and after ten weeks off on less than full pay (not good during the Summer holidays :-(), during which time he felt like something of a fraud as he felt fine(!), he is now back at work, going out with the Trainee drivers when they first start and teaching them the routes (basically sitting on the bus being driven round all day!

He's been waiting absolutely ages for an appointment where he'll stay at hospital overnight and be monitored whilst he sleeps (personally I'd never get off to sleep (a) in a strange bed and (b) knowing I was being monitored but he does have the ability to sleep anywhere so I guess he'll be OK!)

Then out of the blue this morning he got a phone call from the hospital this morning to say they have had a cancellation and can he go in this afternoon at 4 p.m.!
Not sure how long it'll take them to come up with a "result" (they told him there is a mask he can wear at night which helps alleviates the problem if indeed he is confirmed as suffering from it) and how long after that it'll be before he's signed back on as fit to drive a bus but at least its a step forward!

No comments: