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So, there I was, reading and contributing comments on my favourite website when - I get hit with an attack of the shakes, and pins and needles in my hands and feet.
Five hours later I was in hospital again. What just happened?
This was last Wednesday 19th March. In the morning I got up as usual, did the usual things, sat down at the workstation to begin a productive day's writing. I've reached a critical and complex part of SEE and it demands full attention so I wanted to get everything else out the way first.
Late morning, uncontrollable shaking and the aforementioned pins and needles. OK, I thought, I've been sitting here too long and my circulation is off. Time for a break. Went and heated a can of soup for lunch and that warmed me up nicely. Had a nap (customary), went back to the computer and resumed where I'd left off.
Two hours after the first session it happens again. Now, I'm already thinking "blood poisoning" and because of my impaired immune system I have to take such events seriously, so I reluctantly shut down and begin the process of getting some help.
It takes time. The NHS system is labyrinthine although it does seem to get there in the end. I'll not detail the process except to say it involves a lot of phone calls, a lot of repeating myself and a lot of waiting. I was finally admitted at about 22:30 that Wednesday evening.
Thursday comes. There are lots and lots of tests (and repeating my story to everyone I met) since they had to find out what it was I had. I had taken my file of notes from the Vasculitus episode so that everyone understood what drugs I was on and that I was immune-suppressed. Went to the bathroom about 17:00 and was met by two nurses wearing masks, pushing my bed with all my stuff piled on top. "Put this on," they said, handing me a mask, "We're moving you to a side room."
As they were unloading me into the side room one of them muttered "Swine Flu". "Wonderful!" I thought. Not.
Friday I'm not allowed out of the room and have to wear a mask whenever anyone comes in. Clearly they think I'm contagious. I have to use bottles and a commode. The cleaning staff and the canteen staff ignore all these restrictions, as do the continual line of doctors who come to inspect me.
Finally a doctor comes who confirms that I do have flu. "Swine flu?" I ask. "No, just ordinary Influenza type A," he replies, puzzled. "Wherever did you get that idea?" I roll my eyes. "Ask the nursing staff."
I'm still not allowed out of the room but restrictions begin to ease. There are still one or two who think I'm a plague carrier and use a mask but most are ignoring that by Saturday afternoon. I'm still not allowed to set foot outside the room though. Eventually, after another set of blood tests I'm cleared to leave on Sunday morning, but it takes the whole day to process me out. I arrived home just before 18:00 Sunday.
I wasn't bored while I was in there. To begin with I mostly slept, although as usual the nights in a hospital ward are problematic. I had a lot of time to think so I put it to good use. The only drawback was that my departure was so sudden that I'd forgotten to pack many things, including anything to write on. I did have my ereader but until the last day didn't feel like reading.
So now I'm home again and I have a lot of catching up to do while I finish recovery. I'm on antibiotics and antivirals until Friday and expect to be more tired than usual during the day. Meanwhile SEE goes on and I should make good progress now that I am back.
Given my condition it would appear that episodes like this are likely to crop up from time to time throughout the rest of my life. Instructions have or will be left with certain parties in that eventuality. The next time, it might not be flu but something more deadly so I'll have to be on my guard in the future.
Penny
Comments
take care of your self
i may be a grumpy old fart but your well being is much more important than my greed for more S E E
Grumpy ol' farts
I wonder who is the oldest grumpy ol' fart? 73
DJ
grumpy old fart
only 60 but feel like 90+
grumpy old fart
I'm actually feeling a tad younger lately. I was out doing yard work yesterday.
DJ
grumpy old fart
heart is only pumping at 17%
cant even get a pacemaker put in
That not good
really sucks to be sick, even worse being in the hospital with all those sick people .FEEL BETTER
Do take care of yourself.
It does not feel acceptable that we should not be able to do as we did when we were two score years old. I hope that you are better soon. As to SEE, I love it, but know that you must see to your health first.
Winters here are much like in the south of the UK, and this one has been dark, dreary, dank, cold and moldy. I'm in the worst condition I've ever experienced, and yesterday with the Sun shining, I went out on my bike and the thing cast me off onto the pavement like some ungrateful steed.
Much peace to you. Get well soon. :)
Gwendolyn
I love the story
But the mind that created it and all those other stories of yours, I value more. Please take care and heal.
Big gentle hugs
Grover
Penny's Flu...
Bless your little heart hon! I however know exactly what you mean about the quarantine stuff though. I went to the Philippines in 1985 to marry my present spouse and somehow picked up a 'nice' case of Typhoid while there. *sigh* Our State Department in all their wisdom had told me I needed no vaccines, it was an open country. lol Anyway, 3 days after coming back to the US I was up writing a letter to my spouse who didn't get to come back with me right then and started seeing yellow spots before my eyes!!! Wow, I thought that only happened in cartoons. So I had my momma take me to the local emergency room and they took me straight up to a room due to my high temp. later after sending my blood work to the CDC they quietly moved me out of a ward and into a quarantine room. That was the nicest stay I'd had in a hospital, well other than the typhoid that is. There was no waking me up in the middle of the night out of a sound sleep to give me a sleeping pill and such, they came in, did what they absolutely had to do and left in a hurry!
As others have said Penny, your health is the most important thing. We'll still be here when you feel up to writing again. Just take good care of yourself!!
Typhoid
I was lucky (?), when we first started traveling the company required that we all get vaxcinated for everything. That alone took weeks since some inoculations couldn't be done at the time. Lot's of the more off-the-wall vaxinations were not pleasent. But the typhoid and scarlet fever vaxs I'll never forget. This was not the killed viruses that most vaxs use today, these were somewhat weakened viruses, you actually had to get the disease to get the immunity going. And that really kicked my butt! That gives me a clue and some insight into what you went through. I kept those immunizations up for years after I quit traveling, just to avoid the possibility of having to go through it all again. You certainly have my sympathy and understanding for what you went through! :-O
I went outside once. The graphics weren' that great.
Typhoid..
I have to say that was the WORST thing that I've ever gone through in my life bar none! I'd never had pain like that before or since and never wish to experience it again either!! I made sure my spouse had her vaccinations a month before she went back to visit her family in 1997 and this past year!
Flue.
Look after yourself girl and take care, stay warm, stay active, stay alive!
XX
The crazy bitch from Wales.
This year's flu
My state has had around 15 or so deaths from the flu this year, so the hospital's precautions actually sound pretty reasonable. Cross-infection is a very real problem in hospitals. I read somewhere (NOT on the Internet) that a lot of hospital deaths are caused by something other than the reason the patient was originally admitted, something they caught at the hospital. Like the flu.
This year's strain is hitting a group not normally so susceptible. Usually it's the young and the old, due to less than robust immune systems. This year it's the twentyish to fortyish that are getting sick. I think it was the CDC that it was because the young had acquired some immunity from their parent, the older ones were better off due to the required innoculations to attend school, and old people still have some immunity since they were alive the last time this strain of flu virus appeared. So they have some immunity built up from that outbreak. But the middle age group is made up of people who don't get their recommended innoculations for one reason or another.
Wishing you a speedy recovery.
I went outside once. The graphics weren' that great.
Various flus
The variety I got was not the one they vaccinated everyone against this winter (UK). My partner is a type II diabetic and was offered the shot as a routine precaution; I had to explain very slowly and patiently to the nurse why giving me the shot would be pointless ("You do know how a flu shot works, don't you?" "Why, of course! It stimulates the immune system to... Oh.")
I got it from my sister, who got it from the place she is currently working. I've passed it on to partner and son and I know of others who have had it. There doesn't seem to be any age bias, although I do know what you are saying.
I must admit to being concerned at what might happen at the hospital, but then I can't affect that. I can't take responsibility for their poor isolation protocols. I'm sure I won't be the only patient in there who will have this particular strain.
My job now is to take it careful and easy, recover my strength. There's a lot to do.
Penny