DR._________
EYE SPECIALIST
PTY LTD FAX/PH:
M.B.,B.S.,D.O.,F.RA.C.O.
PROVIDER NO:

21st December, 1998
Dr._________, Rheumatologist,

Royal Newcastle Hospital,

NEWCASTLE. N.S.W. 2300

Dear Dr.,

RE: Mr. Keith John KENNY ref:

Many thanks for referring the above patient whom I saw today for the first time.

Evidently he had been having a lot of `joint trouble' for some time. A presumptive diagnosis of Marfan's Syndrome had been made.

The patient came to see me today evidently mainly to determine if there was any sign of any eye involvement, ie: as part of a Marfan's Syndrome. The patient had no eye complaints apart from experiencing eye strain when he worked with a computer for long periods.

In summary I could find no sign of anything sinister. There was no significant refractive error. His unaided vision was 6/6 in each eye. Both optic media were clear and both optic fimdi within normal limits. There was no sign of any spherophakia and neither were there any signs of any retinal `holes'.

I have ordered some simple eye exercises which could help to make computer work less tiring for the patient. I need not see him again unless there is any apparent deterioration.

Kind regards,

DR.

18th January, 1999.

Dr
Dear Dr.,

Re: Keith KENNY

Keith was back to see me today. Investigations do not reveal any surprises; full blood count and biochemical profile were normal. He is rheumatoid factor negative, his ANA is of borderline significant at 180 and his B27 was not detected. A bone scan showed no arthritic change. It does, however, document an un-united fracture at the left rib.

He has been seen by. an eye specialist in Inverell, Dr. , who can find no problems with his eyes.

I think we should consider the diagnosis of Marfan's syndrome as possible, rather than definitive.

His ongoing musculoskeletal pains, I believe, are of soft tissue origin and are best treated symptomatically using local heat, as well as a commitment to ongoing range of movement and strengthening exercises. I think it is more than coincidental that his musculoskeletal pains seem to have worsened since stopping his martial arts.

I have not made arrangements to see him routinely but I would be happy to be involved should there be a need.

Yours sincerely,


STAFF RHEUMATOLOGIST.

The above letters amuse me... My eye specialist is one of the best in Australia so I do believe him of course... My Rheumatologist is also damn good and helpful... But he said that I need to exercise more... I have a little toy called a Grip master which applies 9 pounds of pressure to each finger... Great way to exercise my hands... I can use this continuously for anywhere up to 8 hours... Yes my hands are strong enough to give people compress fractures if I squeeze hard enough but I look like I'm weak as water... I'm a second degree black belt and I have no fitness problems as such... But I do any form of Martial Arts now I get more pain than it's worth... Tai Chi although wonderful and flowing and can be a fantastic weapon when done quickly is fine for a while but gets bad eventually... Muscle wise I'm fine it's just my frigging joints... Since using the Grip master even more than I used to I NOW hear my wrists crack and they never did before... They are getting stronger but they are getting worse joint wise... So if by strengthening my muscles my joints get more fucked up how the hell is that going to help??? Weird... they may have PHD's but sometimes they just don't think... You can have all the knowledge in the world but if you don't know how to apply it to the real world then what's the point... You know a lot but your still stupid and ignorant... *shrugs* I'm just sick of it all... Excuse my swearing but you try being in my frigging shoes for a day... For the Marfs reading this you know where I'm coming from and I can sympathise with your heart and eye problems even though I don't have them... F@#K...