Spent last week in hospital, following a horrendous bout of increasingly unbearable dyskinesia – a PD symptom where one has too much dopamine in the system and just cant stop flailing about.

‘Dyskinesias are involuntary, erratic, writhing movements of the face, arms, legs or trunk. They are often fluid and dance-like, but they may also cause rapid jerking or slow and extended muscle spasms’. There was nothing dance-like about my movements and in the end my support worker called for an ambulance.

This is often an enjoyable experience as there’s something about ambos I like, and I often hit if off with them. The two blonde angels who turned up at 1.15am on Wednesday were charming and gorgeous, a duo of female ambulance paramedics looking amazing in their NSW Health uniforms.

The night and day following this, in Emergency, were not easy. Par for the course I know but once you have been promised a bed you just can’t wait to get away from the screaming druggos. But there were also some funny moments, with doctors asking confused patients things like,‘Do you know what year it is, love?’ ‘The year? uhm..one,two,three, four ..’

Another instant classic was,‘Have you had any chest pains at all?’ ‘Yes, in my lower back.’

>I was still able to glimpse my beautiful Pacific ocean<

Got back home yesterday. Onwards and upwards.

I am not aware of the latest news on the future of the Northern Beaches hospital, and some of the staff were expressing real concern as negotiations continue. As an end-user I can only say I had a good overall experience.