I have very little sleep overnight: partly due to the constant noise of the ward and in part because of the vast feeling of emptiness that’s been gnawing at me since my break-up with Matt. I’m also very worried about how long it’s going to take me to get back on my feet and how I’m going to manage on my own once I’m discharged from hospital.

I’m taken for my MRI scan around nine a.m. and then delivered back to the ward. The exhaustion finally overcomes me, and I sleep into the early afternoon. I’m not long awake and am picking at my lunch when a petite middle-aged woman with long dark hair pulled into a ponytail enters the room.

‘Alex? Good afternoon, I’m Dr Kasani. How are you feeling today?’

‘Much the same, unfortunately,’ I reply.

‘Can you tell me what happened yesterday? And a bit more about what symptoms you’ve been experiencing?’

I give her a comprehensive run-down, which she listens to intently. She’s very focused. There’s no peripheral chat.

‘Do you mind if I do some physical checks?’ she asks once I’m done.

‘Of course.’

She performs the same tests I experienced while in hospital in Glasgow and several times after that during my outpatient appointments. Some of it is painfully difficult given my current predicament.

‘OK, Alex,’ she says eventually. ‘I think I’ve put you through enough for now. I have good news for you.’

‘Oh?’

‘From reviewing your MRI scan and listening to your description of your symptoms, I do not think that this is a relapse.’

‘What?’ I look at her in confusion. ‘If it’s not a relapse, what is wrong with me? Because this is not normal.’

‘You have a viral infection – probably one of the winter bugs that’s doing the rounds – which, I believe, has exacerbated your existing symptoms.’

‘Are… you sure? I can’t get out of bed. I can barely move. And I don’t really have a sore throat or anything.’

‘I am quite sure. These viruses come in many guises. You are running a fever, so my guess is a flu-like illness. Your MRI scan also shows no change from the last one. All this suggests to me this is not a relapse.’

‘So, once the virus runs its course, I’ll be OK?’

‘I expect you will be back to how you are normally. But it might take a couple of weeks. You must also contact your doctor if you do not recover in this timeframe, but I would be very surprised if this were the case.’

As I take all this in, it’s like I’ve been handed my life back. ‘Thank you, Doctor. You’ve no idea how good this news is.’

‘I have delivered this message many times over, so I have a fair idea.’ She gives me a warm smile. ‘We are going to keep you in for two to three nights to monitor your progress. I would also like you to see our occupational therapy department while you are here. My understanding is that you do not have a care plan in place. Creating one will help you cope better when a similar situation arises in the future.’