Two weeks until next appointment.

Roller coaster highs
and lows (web image).

SMS: We don't know. We know there is a problem and we will try to help... 2 weeks until next appointment, trialing pain killers. Mri didn't show anything.

Ben's also feeling sick in the stomach after receiving the bill for two appointments and various diagnostic tests, including a costly MRI of upper neck and head. I don't feel too good either but that's what savings (and loans) are for. On a positive note, he's thinking of heading 580km south west to visit some friends in Frieberg and then return to Berlin for the next appointment.

And in other news of the day... The Transport Accident Commission has covered the cost of that expensive Tas Ambulance bill from earlier this year. Roberts Real Estate in St Helens tell me that a number of people have inspected the rental property in Pyengana, the one Ben likes. No doubt they're keen to see an application lodged quickly.

I'm a bit of a mess but I'm still alive!

SMS: He listened to my brief story, asked alot of questions, did a muscle and an emg muscle test. He's taking my films to a conference. "Im a bit of a mess but im still alive!" made him smile. 1pm tmr next app. He said ppl complain abt waiting 1 week in germany... 

Specialist appointment.

Long corridors,
Helios (2010)

Today at 11am Berlin time (9pm our time), Ben has an appointment with Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Georg Hagemann, Chief Physician at HELIOS Hospital Berlin-Buch. The doctor lists many areas of expertise and we trust that he will be able to diagnose the problem(s) and provide treatment options. The best case result would be a clear diagnosis and some form of treatment, available immediately. The worst case would be an "I don't know" (though, in our experience, doctors rarely make that admission). The next to worst would be a referral to someone who wasn't available. Much depends on what happens today.

Late night update: First appointment went well, "Doc was great". Some tests done and another appointment at 1pm tomorrow. Sounds like a positive start.

Except for the kebab.

SMS's: I did too much yesterday and hurt myself! Resting today, bought a kebab, gna eat it so slowly savour each bite... don't worry im trying to spend as little as possible except for the kebab.

im a bit up and down but thats normal. Tell mum im doing well... Btw when is the appointment?

No snow yet. I hope doc helps. I get a bit confused but just meds.

Tryin to do my best.

Hotel Geissler, Berlin
(web image)

SMS's received in the early hours: Hi pa, test msg. Hope your doin well. Im still alive and kickin. Hows the search for accommodation goin? I do okay in the hotel room, painful when i venture out. Tryin to do my best.... hotel geissler only avail till this sat. Ill keep looking will update and check emails.

Late Wednesday update via email: Hotel geissler is available I booked til next wed and I can probably book longer. I'm functioning well , german air is good but food is too tempting.

Potato cake sandwiches.

Myrtle Park, Tasmania

On the way back to Launceston airport I stopped at Myrtle Park for lunch. When asked about vegetarian food options, the shopkeeper wasn't sure what to offer but, after some discussion, was happy to make two toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches for which he charged $5. As I paid, the shopkeeper remembered something. "My mates a vegetarian," he said. "He eats potato cake sandwiches." Next time I'll order one.


Postscript: Sincere thanks to the blog reader from Germany who contacted me through Facebook and offered to help Ben find accommodation.

Ben's in Berlin.

Ben left Launceston yesterday and, after an arduous 33 hour trip via Melbourne and London, arrived in Berlin at about 2pm (their time). He looked pretty tired even before the flight began and travelled with the aid of a recently-prescribed muscle relaxant that relieves symptoms but makes him look drowsy. He's staying at Pension Geissler, a single room bed-sit above a restaurant in Panketal, a suburb of Berlin. It's walking distance from the Helios Hospital in Berlin-Buch where he'll see a specialist in a few weeks time.

Helios Klinikum, Berlin Buch

He doesn't plan to stay in the bed-sit for long because it's expensive compared to other places. It was booked so that, on arrival, he had somewhere definite to go. In terms of the medical problems, the hope is that the specialist can make a definite diagnosis and propose a solution. Maybe it's a long shot but the situation was becoming hopeless and something had to be done. And rather than wait six months till a specialist in Tas could see him, the German specialist told us that he was away next week but could make an appointment for the following week. This is Ben's second visit to Berlin-Buch (pronounced 'book', by the way), having had an operation there in October 2010.

So, Ben's not in Tassie but I am... and that feels very strange.

If any blog readers in Germany can help with finding suitable accommodation, please let me know by posting a comment. (Comments are moderated and won't appear on the blog).

Little Plains Drifter.

(web image)

There's been plenty of behind-the-scenes activity these last few days which, among other things, has resulted in your blog author making a hastily planned fly/drive trip to Tasmania. Today I captured this remarkable footage of an impressive high-altitude camp site and its sole occupant. If you watch carefully, you can see the clothes line. And if you're wondering what he's holding, it's a tasty egg and salad sandwich from the Scottsdale Bakery. The campsite was packed up today because Ben's moving elsewhere for a while.

A leap of faith?

SMS received 4:33pm: Late Jan. One way would be good but price isn't much different. I should be OK on clothes. Here it comes dad, the final frontier. Let's see how our story concludes...

Place to stay?

Campsites have become increasingly remote with fewer and now no facilities at all. It's a long ride to a shower or a laundry and there's always a risk when leaving expensive camping gear on site. The room at Weldborough has been useful but mostly for storage. The house itself, while comfortable, doesn't have basic facilities like a shower or proper toilet and the owner smokes quite alot. Ben's spotted a place near Pyengana that he could rent. The timber house is sited a few hundred metres off the main highway and on a southerly slope, above the valley floor where the cold air and smoke usually sits. It's in the state forest with just one house nearby. The pics look reasonable but most rooms have carpet which could be a concern and there are no photos of bedrooms, bathroom or laundry. It's still worth considering and Ben will make an appointment to inspect the property next week.
Ben's in St Helen's today and buying some prescription medicine to help relieve his symptoms. Only six weeks ago he was feeling invincible; running along bush tracks and attending taekwondo training. And before that he was sailing, fossicking and fishing. Let's hope the problems can be sorted out soon and he can become invincible again.

Air is fresher after rain.



(web image)

Ben spent the night camped in persistent rain near Little Plains lookout. It's fair to say that he's been feeling 'pretty ordinary' (euphamism for 'miserable') for a while. Recurrent headaches and neckpain are wearing him down. We're even contemplating jumping back onto the 'doctor–referral–specialist–diagnostic imaging–pathology–specialist again–don't like specialist–ask around and research–back to doctor–another specialist–more investigation–eventually something good might happen' merry-go-round. Looks promising from a distance but it's not all that 'merry' when you're on it!

Postscript: ABC news story a few days later, Man with cancer waits over a year for a test. That merry-go-round is well and truly broken!

Ambulance bill.

Unexpectedly a bill just arrived in the mail. It's for Ambulance Services used on 7th March when Ben was transported less than 1km from the accident scene in Quail St to St Helen's District Hospital. The amount due is $765!  A phone call to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), who issued the bill, was referred to Ambulance Tasmania who would have referred us to the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB) except for the fact that the bike was registered in Victoria so we were referred instead to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) where an initial claim was lodged. Ben will not have to pay anything because, eventually, after paperwork is completed and certified, TAC will pay DHHS who will pay Ambulance Tasmania.

Spiral creations.

Two items of jewelry arrived in the post today; a gold ring with a topaz gemstone and a silver pendant also featuring a topaz gemstone. The stones were found by Ben in the rivers of the north east, cut by Lambert Industries in Thailand and then crafted into jewelry by Spiral Creations in St Helens on the east coast. The pieces are now proudly worn by their new owners. (The photo is a bit fuzzy, it's surprisingly difficult to photograph jewelry.)

Health is such a puzzle.

Berlin, October 2010.

Ben's back in the north-east and settling in gradually. Health is such a puzzle because there are so many possibilities and it's difficult to find conclusive evidence. Experts work within their specialty and it's rare that any admit that they simply don't know. Thus far, the expected gains of each medical intervention have always been accompanied by unexpected consequences. He lost faith in experts some time ago and managed as well as possible. The trip to the mainland was a setback in some ways, now he's looking for experts again.

It's warm today, 28°C in Derby and 29°C in St Helens.