Milann’s mutterings through retirement

WinterWarrior

I’m sorry to read about your friend. Even when it’s expected it’s hard. 

EssexHebridean

Oh that's sad news about your friend milann, I'm sorry to hear that. We lost a close pal recently too, it's a tough one. 

milann

Thanks everyone. It still doesn’t seem real. I don’t know when the funeral is yet…..something I’m not looking forward to. 

I had a lovely time with the singing group where we sang in the Christmas event at the local village. Very Christmassy.
Ds took me out to an outlook shopping centre. We were there just after 10 when it opened on Monday and it was heaving….by the time we left at midday it wasn’t pleasant. I really don’t want to see it over a weekend 🥴😳😳😳 From there we headed to a walled city not too far from there and had an amazing Christmas dinner in a pub by the river. It was a great day. Money was spent but everything seemed good value. I started with a really chesty cough so dosed up on cold and flu tablets.
I barely slept as I coughed nonstop all night so tried to get through to GP in the morning. It hasn’t fully cleared since October when I had some sort of bug. I started trying to get through on the NHS app at 8 am - no joy. Then I found a link to the actual surgery…..it was 8.30 by this stage. ‘Sorry no appointments atm….the lines open at 6 am tomorrow morning’ 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 I followed the link through to 111 expecting them to send me through to the out of hours doc for antibiotics. After answering all the questions and a phone consultation with one of the out of hours GPs they wanted to send an ambulance out  🤷🏻‍♀️ I refused….apparently they weren’t happy with my breathing patterns when I was speaking and insisted I went to A&E…..either by my own steam or by ambulance. I got a taxi and was rushed straight into urgent care. To be honest I was very wheezy. So I’d had bloods, x-rays and an ecg. And it turned out to be a chest infection so they dosed me up with antibiotics and steroids. I feel much better today. It was just gone 10 when I arrived and 6.30 last night when Dh picked me up. I can’t fault them at all….most of the time was spent waiting for blood results and the pharmacy. I was fed and watered which was a bonus.  It all seemed unnecessary though as a good old fashioned GP appointment would have probably sorted it out…..I did feel I didn’t want to wait until 6 am this morning to try to get through only to be told there were no appointments again. I was in bed at 7..30….and I’ve not done much at all today. 

I should have been on a craft course yesterday too…..not sure if it’s transferable. The friend who booked it was investigating 
I need to get all the presents out to wrap and decide what else I need to get. Ds is the hardest to buy for. I still have no idea what to get him and I always feel bad as he puts loads of thought into getting for people.

Sun_Addict

Oh my goodness! Pleased to hear you were sorted out promptly. Honestly GP services are shockingly bad at the moment, I don't know how they're being allowed to get away with it. They're obviously putting a strain on hospital services having to deal with things the GP should be picking up. 

EssexHebridean

Oh heck milann that's not good - I'm glad 111 took it seriously and got you sorted! Rest up and get yourself better! 

milann

Thanks, I do feel much better - I think the antibiotics are pretty strong. It seems strange only having to take 1 a day though. It was 2 last night then 1 a day for the next week. I felt such a fraud because although I was poorly and needing some treatment and couldn’t have waited on the off chance of an appointment the following day -  to me A&E is for life and death type emergency. I did try 111 though and it was they who sent me there. I’m sure if they sort the GP services out the other NHS services would also improve……Right off me soapbox now 🥴😂. There have been a lot in f changes made to A&E at the hospital since I was last there and it was all very efficient.
No cash spent as I haven’t been anywhere……good job I don’t like t’internet shopping.

EssexHebridean

If your breathing sounded that worrying then they will have been concerned about your oxygen saturations levels - and if those drop too low then that is something which really can't wait! A&E is for accidents and emergencies - nothing about "life or death" in there at all - so you absolutely don't need to feel guilty about being sent there! xx

milann

Thanks EH …that’s exactly what the concern was. I think because every time I’ve been to A&E previously it has literally been life and death surgery that’s been needed (other than when I’ve fractured bones….but that’s covered by the accident part 👍) it’s ‘just’ a chest infection iykwim.

beanielou

Just a chest infection can be pretty serious! 

Glad you got seem & have antibiotics. 

Feel better soon.  

milann

Antibiotics and steroids have finished. I’m still really wheezy though. I don’t feel too bad just wheezy which isn’t me at all.
I have been out a couple of times. I did a bit of Christmas shopping over the weekend and today I went on a big adventure with a friend on a train……way into the county on the opposite side of the Pennines to me. We’ve had it booked since summer. We went to see a show a friend of my friend was in. I had a lovely day. Most of it was spent travelling there and back…and just chatting and chilling…we had lunch out and watched the show before heading home. Unfortunately our direct train was cancelled so we had to make 2 changes. All in the name of adventure though and a good time was had 👍
Im going to see my friend tomorrow. The funeral is next week. I still can’t quite believe it. 

Monies have been spent but everything done as MSE as possible.