365 + 339: Going Home . . .

   After nearly eight hours at the Victoria Hospital, waiting for a decision.

Woke up Sunday feeling like crap, pains in the stomach - hurting when coughing (anything like that) Massive pain between ribs and the kidney area. Generally feeling like crap.

Struggled though Sunday on paracetamol. Early Monday morning - massive shivering attack, puking for Britain.

Got some sleep in and got an appointment with GP at local health centre. Was sent sent right away to the Victoria Hospital. Booked in and then it started - an interminable round of blood pressure/temperature checks and the questions . . . From then on it it was a history of my symptoms. Everyone I saw wanted to know what was going on but no one seemed to read the notes made by the previous inquisitor.

Then it was off for a chest X-ray. Bloods were taken when I got back, then someone decided a CT scan might be more appropriate.

Two consultants (but not together) have now decided that I might have a chest infection. A dose of antibiotics and paracetamol were prescribed and I was out the door - sharpish.

It's Thursday evening as I post this and am feeling a lot better thanks to our National Health Service. I'd hate to think just how much this would have cost had I been abroad, without some form of health insurance.