Hospital part one

Well last week was eventful, not all pleasant, but on a brighter outlook perhaps now I can be cured.

My health and well being had started a slow decline in September 2008; I at first ignored the stomach pains/cramps and put this down to side effects of my hormone treatment.

However things got worse and I was stating to get tired and by October Breathless” after a walk. (For me this was alarming as I have taken part in 13 mile charity walks and am not part of the unfit disease inflicting most of people in England. And why are so many people “proud” of being out of shape!)

I went to see my Doctor in October and she prescribed tablets saying it was side effects due to my HRT.

Also in September I had started a new six month secondment at work and felt very conscious of taking time of work.

I went to see my Doctor again in December and was given more medication; I did at this time ask was it worth sending me for a blood test, which she said no.

I was getting worse now and taking a lot of time of work, I had to get the union involved and a working from home scheme was set up for me (three days a week at home, two in the office)

I saw my Doctor again in January, by now I was starting to struggle a lot.
When I did go into work I had to take 4 rest stops on a 20 minute walk.
I could not focus and when I got home I was going to bed at 7pm.

At this time Jenny knew, as we were talking online I told her about how I was feeling.

I was starting to worry about things, and by now had heard my secondment would not be extended, so work was up in the air.

A new one was found for me to start in March and also being able to work from home.
By now I was having times where I was vomiting for days, body sores, severe fatigue, and depression and not being able to walk for more then 5 minutes without getting tired.

When I had started my secondment in March, my manager decided to move the goal posts! He now wanted me to work from home 2 days a week.
By now I was starting to have more time of sick, using annual leave and some work, I was struggling.

About 2 weeks ago I had walked to the local shop and nearly fainted and had to get a taxi home, I knew that now work had to go f**k itself and made an appointment to see my Doctor and ask to be signed of for long term sick.
My usual Doctor was on holiday, they suggested a new Doctor, and I said yes, as it turns out this Doctor saved my life.

At this point my friend Jenny had come up from Stoke, I originally had an appointment in London and was nervous about getting on the train and travelling across London with my health the way it was.

I spoke to the Doctor and he asked me questions and what I thought was going on, and he was concerned and sent me for a blood test.

Blood test

In Southend if you are sent for a blood test, you have to phone the nearest clinic to make an appointment; mine was for the next day Thursday 30th April 2:20pm

Thursday 7pm I get a phone call at home from my doctor to say I need to urgently go to the doctor’s surgery the next day.
My Haemoglobin blood count was 5.1 which was very low; the level should be between 11-13.

Friday 1st May – AM
I talk to my doctor and he explained that everything that has been going on for the last six months is linked to this, and my body was getting dangoursly anaemic as it was compensating for some type of internal bleeding and he wrote a letter for me to take to the Acute Medical Unit at southend hospital.


Luckily Jenny was here by now and was kind enough to drive me about.
Well once in the unit and into the dreaded hospital backless gown! Another blood test was taken, my blood count had dropped to 4.1.
3 is critical as it would mean my body goes into shutdown (scary to think about)

I had to be admitted to hospital and have a blood transfusion.

More to come and my photos of the hospital food!