Thanks so much for the understanding and advice everyone. I have learnt a lot in these last few weeks about being more patient. I'm beginning to realise that some people, probably myself included, may never get to the heart of what is causing what, never get a diagnosis for their weird and often terrible symptoms.

I've perhaps underplayed what has happened to me recently because a lot of it relates to a very straightened UK health service. I had this infected tissue scooped out of my belly with no anaesthesia or entinox like something out of the First World War! I had an abusive nurse to refused to help me to the toilet at 4am because she thought it was just a cholecystectomy I'd had and I was making a fuss. No concept of the huge flare of nerve pain that was immobilising me or concession to the fact that I have a diagnosed disease, RA. This despite the fact is been an inpatient twice recently, once for pancreatitis caused by Azathioprine and once for possible Vasculitis. Or the more obvious fact that one of her colleagues had given me Oramorph an hour earlier. I only asked politely if she could help me get to the toilet for a pee!

But at least seronegative AI diseases in all their varying forms are recognised here for the most part. At least I don't live in a hugely litigative society so not thinking all the time that I should sue - which would just add stress for me and cause doctors to be even more guarded about recognising and treating things that don't show up in the obvious ways.

However I'm of the view that my operation was very badly managed because the size of my gallstone (like a medium sized egg) and the unusual position of my gallbladder should have been spotted from two ultrasound scans done a few months ago when I had pancreatitis. However the deep wound remaining and the blood poisoning I suffered are as nothing to all the peripheral neuro symptoms plus what I firmly believe is a kind of autonomic neuropathy. Acute pain is a decoy for chronic pain just now as you are all saying I think.

No one ever mentions my hashimoto's because the bloods are just about within normal range with 100mcg Levothyroxine. Ironically the surgeon I was under is new to our small hospital and is a thyroid consultant as well as a bowel surgeon. I would have asked him more about this but he was so busy on his charm offensive re my infected keyhole wound that I never had the opportunity to mention my other issues.

It's all about giving these people enough time. If the system is badly under pressure and doctors fear being sued for malpractice then the chronic problems and complexities of the brain and nervous system are bound to be forgotten - even by me! If this surgeon had done his job properly and not being rushed to do the op at the end of a long day under laperoscopy - when at his own admission it should have been done by the old fashioned method.

So I am resting because I have no choice just now and I won't expect my parasthesia to have disappeared. I am still having these overwhelming sweats and don't believe that this or other longstanding symptoms are post menopausal or that they are a figment of my mind. I'm learning to trust the messages my body gives me and take them seriously - even if no one else on my medical team or my friends with proper RA do.
Mat xx