Anaemia

Another interesting weekend! I was very sick at about 05:30 on Thursday morning. This was followed by diarrhoea. As this was still around on the Saturday I gave the emergency doctor a ring. He noted that I seemed to be short of breath and after a few questions about this said I needed to get to A&E and that the safest thing would be to call 999. This I did.

The paramedics did some tests then took me to the hospital. My friend Derek met us there. Further tests - ECG, bloods, BP. The blood tests showed that I am anaemic a count of 79 rather than 100. Not bad enough for a blood transfusion but iron tablets will be appropriate. I think they were about to let me go home but first decided that a standing BP check should be done first. The standing BP level was a good deal lower than that taken lying down so I was admitted for observation. Because of the diarrhoea I was put in a room by myself.

A doctor that came round in the evening told me that I had been anaemic on 31st March. I don't remember anyone telling me this. This would have been after the operation to put the "nail" in my femur. A couple of bowel movements before 07:00 on the Sunday morning were loose but not liquid. The doctor came round at about 10:00. He said that If I was free of diarrhoea by 17:00 I would be free to go home. My son Andy brought in my glasses and a newspaper and my neighbour Frank visited in the afternoon. There were no further bowel movement up to 17:00 and I was free to go. Andy came to collect me.

Wouldn't you just know it that the diarrhoea returned later in the evening! I spoke to a doctor from the local health centre to talk about what I should eat and what I should avoid. It boils down to keeping clear of good diet - fruit, vegetables wholemeal bread, anything with fibre and to eat fish chicken and white bread. So far today I have been clear since about 09:00 this morning.

I want to thank my neighbours Frank and his wife Beryl and Renata for their kind help over the last few weeks along with my friend Derek and his wife Judy.