A diagnosis, it's Parkinson's

Initially suffering from two stiff fingers on my right hand, I put it down to excess keyboard usage relevant to my doctorate and even too many MS Teams meetings in lockdown. At first, I used the private healthcare system in Singapore. I was diagnosed with trapped nerves, spinal nerve damage and also carpal tunnel. In reality it cost me thousands of dollars (as the insurance only covers hospital stays!) and I got nowhere. In hindsight, the scary thing was several doctors were willing to operate very quickly to release trapped nerves. Being somewhat cynical anyway, all these doctors were doing in my eyes was adding fuel to the cynics consensus that in Singapore the private healthcare system is a purely money driven business.

The symptoms worsened, my golf declined rapidly, to the degree that some clubs would actually leave my hand and travel further than the ball! I was frustrated and at my wits end. I was so frustrated that I spoke to Viv and discussed planning to leave Singapore and go back to the UK and use the health service to get an answer.

During what was the last game I played before being diagnosed, a local guy gave me some advice on why I should use the public health system in Singapore. He laughed and told the exact story of my private health debacle. He said you are a permanent resident here, use your CPF and the public health system works! He explained that the public health service wanted to get people well and back to work.

I went to my local hospital at Khoo Teck Puat in Yishun, Singapore. https://www.ktph.com.sg/ I was told within two weeks I would have an appointment with a specialist. Two weeks later I got the appointment. The public health system did work, why had I persisted with the private health chase?

A few weeks later, at the appointment with the spinal neurosurgeon, he ascertained the fingers being stiff was too severe a symptom to be simple nerve damage. He suggested that I come into hospital immediately. I did as he said.

To cut a long story short, after a week in hospital in November 2022, having MRI scans, X-Rays and a final brain scan, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It was a bombshell, but I felt better knowing what the problem was in a funny sort of way.

That very same week in the same week I celebrated 34 years of continuous sobriety. Talk about mixed emotions!

Even thought the neurologist said " don't get depressed. You got this!" I was silent for about one hour and then I started to try and be positive, I was alive and PD would not kill me.

Yes, I do look worried, complete with hospital issue PJ's.

At this juncture, I was confused, worried and a bit light headed getting used to the new drugs (Leva Dopa) and totally new way of life in front of me. At visiting time, I had to tell my wife, she explained "you live a day at a time with your recovery, nothing has changed, we can do this!" I needed that positivity.

I am now officially a PD Warrior, as Parkinson's sufferers are cutely known as. I did not feel like a warrior, I was stunned. What's next?

I want to thank all the staff at Khoo Teck Puat hospital who looked after me with skill, patience, empathy and unbelievable amounts of compassion. Thank you.