So some of you may remember how I have been one of the lucky ones having a very experienced and practical Neurosurgeon - A Chiari and Syringomyelia expert.

Well, unfortunately I had an appointment with him today that I brought forward from late December. I have known for some time that he is retiring in October of this year, but I didn't realise that in his mind......he already is retired.

He started the appointment off with a computer that would not access the Intranet - so he cursed and swore and we moved to another room - this took about 5 minutes of my appointment time up.

As my wife and I got to the other room, he started off by saying "Well I am retiring in 4 weeks and I can't bloody wait!"

I didn't really understand how important this statement would be until the end of the appointment, when half way through trying to discuss my current worsening symptoms, he tapped his watch, told me that he had to crack on and said that he would write to the rehabilitation people at Warrington Hospital and put me in touch with them.

So........... he wasn't listening to the fact that I have localised head pain near to the operation scar, I have limited movement in my neck and that the area where I have had part of my skull removed feels swollen and enlarged. Nor did he properly answer my question about how much residual nerve damage would there be as a result of my Syrinx and how can it be measured? He did say that my Syrinx had shrunk - which it seems to have from the MRI Results. But there is still a Syrinx there and was there for 6 months previous to my decompression surgery, and has been for 5.5 months since. How much damage can a Syrinx do in twelve months?

I told him about all of the other physical symptoms that I have - and all he can suggest is that I look at Physiotherapy and rehabilitation to gauge what my limitations are? Wow! I guess I have joined the plethora of other people with Chiari and Syringomyelia who have a doctor or consultant that doesn't give a shit? The problem is, is that mine has the knowledge - he just flat refused to give me the correct help today.

I think that its time for a second opinion. Firstly I need to get a copy of my medical records and MRI scans.....just in case they get lost in transit as so many do.

Superb............ yet another kick in the teeth.