MNEMONICS, HYMNS, OMNIPRESENCE AND AMNESIA . . .

What do these words have in common?

Nothing at all, other than the consecutive letters ‘MN’, but such trivial observations can seem important to a mind beset by health problems, as recent experience has demonstrated.

A hymn sung by a large and lusty invisible choir recently began following me around, day and night (as I mentioned here on 6th May) without pausing for breath, reminiscent of an old 78 rpm gramophone record with the needle stuck in the groove. It seemed to be ‘always there’ although nobody else could hear it, and I could not remember where or even if had heard it before, so it demanded investigation.

My doctor pointed to medication prescribed a few weeks earlier, which in its “Read This First” notes included the words “Seeing or hearing things that are not there”. She advised me to stop taking the medicine immediately and referred me back to the Parkinsons specialist who had prescribed it. That was two months ago, since when the choir has gradually softened its voic(es) and now resides only in the background, and on my hospital visit this week I was seen by two doctors, who reviewed my case and after further questions told me “Oh yes, it happens” and noted that my medication list, which had grown under successive doctors over the last decade or so, to an impressive but worrying 19 pills a day, included some items now far beyond their useful life but cannot be stopped suddenly because my system has become accustomed to them . . .

So I am now on a long slow withdrawal process, hoping eventually to get back to square one and start again, and in the meantime can only sit back and enjoy the music until the choir runs out of breath, the only question being whose breath will run out first, theirs or mine?

Okay, so that explains my reference to hymns, omnipresence and amnesia, but what about Mnemonics?

Simply that the Dossette box containing my daily medication brings to mind another mnemonic, “Richard Of York Gained Battles In Vain” which I was taught at school to help remember the colours in the rainbow, and whether it helps or confuses, it gives me something to think (and write) about.

I feel better now I've go that off my chest. Thank you for your patience!)