A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Medical Bulletin

Just a lengthier explanation of why I'm not blogging much lately.

I'm 4 weeks into a 3 or possibly 4 month stay in the National Hospital for Neurology, with severe problems with my nerves meaning I can't stand or walk and have some loss of arm/hand co-ordination and strength too.

Diagnosis is not 100% confirmed but the medics here and at UCH have found a lesion on a bone in my pelvis. They will do a biopsy on this at start of next week and suspect it is a solitary bundle of cancerous cells - a plasma cytoma I think it is called - which is generating proteins into my blood which are attacking my nervous systems amongst other effects. Left untreated this would have proved fatal within under 3 years.

If it is this, it's called POEMS syndrome and can be put into remission by radiotherapy and/or surgical excision. Then my nerves would start to regenerate - a few months for the myelin sheath to regrow (i.e. about same timeframe as my rehab in hospital) but any damage to actual nerve axons may take up to 2 years to repair, so I may be returning to work and political life with some residual walking problems - we won't know until time shows basically.

I'll try to do some political blog posts in due course.

26 Comments:

Blogger Dave Cole said...

I hope you have as speedy and full a recovery as possible, Luke.

5:31 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Blogger Ravi Gopaul said...

On a political note first, the Gurkha vote in the house was the right result; it is only proper we grant residency to those individuals from the commonwealth and beyond who are willing to die fighting for this country. The bravery of the Gurkhas are legendy and as a nation we owe them a lot.

Now to the important issue of your health. Just concentrate on getting better, and I for one hope you'll be back to your usual self soon as I really do enjoy reading your (new labour nonsensical)thoughts!! All the best; get well soon.

6:00 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Blogger Guido Fawkes said...

Good luck.

6:02 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hope you have a speedy recovery. The interweb is not the same without your abrasive, yet correct, analysis of the internal goings-on within the party.

Take care
Matt

7:47 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Anonymous tim f said...

Hope you have a speedy recovery. The interweb is not the same without your abrasive, ludicrously sectarian, analysis of the internal goings-on within the party.

Take care

Tim

8:51 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Blogger Duncan Hall said...

Yes, get better soon, Luke. Good that they've spotted it; it's amazing what they can do these days (my Dad is into his 5th week of radiotherapy and is having no ill effects) - thank God for the NHS. Look forward to the return your thought-provoking (if generaly wrong!!) contributions to the political blogosphere in the near future.

Duncan

9:11 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Anonymous James Thurston said...

That sounds very serious Luke....

Its very good that your doctors have identified what the problem is and I hope you make a full and speedy recovery....

Personally I have been extremely lucky to have received treatment from the NHS which has resulted in me making a very good recovery from a severe mental illness which has lasted about 8 years.

10:00 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Anonymous Rich said...

Good luck Luke and concentrate on getting better. Ravi spot on ....the Gurkhas are very brave and very loyal.

If they want to come to the UK well let them. Also It would make a lot of sense to give them a full British army pension..this would make them very wealthy in Nepal.....

Those that serve our Queen and Country should be rewarded.

10:37 pm, April 29, 2009

 
Anonymous jdc said...

It's something about Labour bloggers this year, I think they may be jinxed! Anyway all the best for it - never pleasant to have that kind of health scare so get well soon.

10:09 am, April 30, 2009

 
Anonymous Julian Ware-Lane said...

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I know that everyone in the Castle Point Labour Party would also want me to pass on their best wishes.

10:36 am, April 30, 2009

 
Anonymous Matthew said...

Get better soon Luke - really missed your entertaining (if incorrect) analysis over the last few weeks. Good luck with the recovery.

11:06 am, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger Mark Still News said...

Good luck!

12:08 pm, April 30, 2009

 
Blogger Unknown said...

Hope youre back on form soon, after a full, speedy and complete recovery.

1:09 pm, April 30, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Best of luck Luke

1:48 pm, April 30, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hope you get better soon. Enjoy reading the blog.

9:36 pm, April 30, 2009

 
Anonymous Andrea said...

Good Luck and get well soon! All the best

12:43 am, May 01, 2009

 
Anonymous Sunny H said...

Hope you get better soon - echoing what tim f said above.

12:48 am, May 02, 2009

 
Blogger Martin Meenagh said...

Very Good luck to you, and God bless

1:56 pm, May 02, 2009

 
Anonymous Well Street Commoner said...

Very best of luck Luke. Will miss your thoughts on the up coming Euro elections. Get well soon

p.s
Will there be a by-election in Homerton for your council seat?

9:24 pm, May 02, 2009

 
Blogger Luke Akehurst said...

No, I intend to return to council duties as soon as I can.

7:41 pm, May 03, 2009

 
Anonymous Dirty Euro said...

Good luck

9:16 pm, May 03, 2009

 
Blogger Paul E. said...

Best wishes Luke.

Sorry to hear about it all - the world's a little bit quieter in your absence.

Hurry back mate.

PE

10:16 pm, May 03, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We will miss your informative and interesting blogging for a while, and hope you return soon.... Get well!

7:16 am, May 04, 2009

 
Anonymous Teresa Pearce said...

Luke I am truly sorry to hear about your illness. I wish you well.

11:07 pm, May 04, 2009

 
Blogger Hopi Sen said...

All the best Luke, the party needs you back ASAP (and sorely needs your wisdom

12:27 am, May 05, 2009

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hope you get better soon - A Compass member

10:56 pm, May 05, 2009

 

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