Ward 10

So... the blood-test results finally came through just after 2.00am, the troponin levels were slightly higher than they should be, and - horror of horrors - they wanted to keep me in for a repeat blood test at 3.00am, and review by a cardiologist in the morning. Illogical, I know, but I feel intensely panicky when in a hospital, even as a visitor, and once over the threshold have an overwhelming urge to get out again ASAP. Deep breaths!

Anyway, they found me a bed in the A&E short-stay unit (all single rooms), and I sent MrM home to bed. After another blood test followed by tea and biscuits just after 3.00am, I tried to sleep, but it didn't happen - just too noisy. Spent the morning waiting for the test results and a bed in Ward 10 (the cardiac ward, fortunately not Emergency Ward 10 if anyone remembers that!) and, towards 1.00pm, was eventually taken through to a very nice room with en-suite bathroom and a TV. Thankfully, not there long enough to use the bed - after a repeat ECG (slight abnormalities, but nothing significant) and seeing the consultant, I was pronounced fit to leave. Almost certainly not angina as they had first suspected and unlikely to have been a heart attack (what a relief!), so a bit of a mystery, but I left with soluble aspirin (as a precaution), and a higher dose of medication for hypertension, with an appointment for a cardiac scan to follow...

Very glad to get home, have a shower, relax in front of the TV for a while with MrM, and have an early night.

The hospital was amazingly good (hadn't expected single-occupancy rooms), and the staff were all wonderful - professional and friendly - but obviously very overstretched and working under a lot of pressure. Our NHS is worth investing in - please think carefully before you vote next month...