I'm sorry to have ben absent for so long

. Thanks so much, KC, for the valuable advice about the 111 NHS phoneline which you gave on Sunday


. Thanks to for your good wishes , and yours too, beanielou. What special people post on this diary
Needless to say I didn't phone as I didn't see the message until very late and I knew I could try for a GP appointment the very next morning. After a fair amount of speed-dialling I eventually got through and was given an appointment late the same afternoon. The receptionist asked me who I'd like to see so she could check if there was anything available and the 2 I mentioned have both been retired at least 2 years

. Shows what a regular customer I am
The Doc I saw was wonderful, nothing too much trouble. I started hurrying things along as there was still a waiting room full of people and it was stiflingly hot but she told me not to bother about them, I could have as much time as I needed but I knew they were rushed off their feet and my appointment was already 45 minutes late by the time I was called as it was. Reassuring to know that she is the second most senior partner in the practice and she was very thorough

. I'll encourage OH to see her in future, he'd never met her either. I'd already prepared a urine sample to take (massive still water bottle though but it was all I could find that was lidded and transparent

) which she tested and said I had an infection which she prescribed antibiotics for. Picked them up at the in-house Pharmacy (a blessing with rural practices) and brought them home with me . No waiting or having to go out again to collect them. She didn't mention diabetes which I assumed they test for with a urine sample? Maybe they do that via bloods, I was beyond caring to be honest, just so relieved that someone was in control now. She also arranged and appointment for first thing Tuesday with the Practice Nurse to take some bloods which was a boon as there's normally a wait of days to get an appointment to get them done. No wonder I'm feeling washed out, the amount of blood she took

. The Doc said she could tell I am very anaemic (not sure why that should be as we eat a very healthy and balanced diet). The blood results may throw something up which could or couldn't lead to more tests by a haematologist or some other specialist
I've to phone back on Monday afternoon for the blood test results unless anything untoward shows up when the Doc checks them as soon as they come in on Monday morning. The antibiotics are making me very sleepy and I had a lovely long nap in the recliner this afternoon only to be woken by a call on the landline, the only number the surgery has on file for us.

. Of course, as soon as got myself to it it stopped but they left no message, not even asking me to call back

so I'm assuming it wasn't anything to do with the surgery and I doubt they'd have the results by now anyway. It was a mobile number not the usual surgery ones which I know
Anyway, I've rambled enough

. I feel more like food now although still don't want much. Had a cup of tea this afternoon, my first in about 10 days (which is saying something, me being a real tea-addict)

and I really enjoyed it

. Not going to go mad, taking this one day at a time, but not stumbling around, feeling permanently dizzy and slightly nauseous is a lovely feeling for someone who's never had any experience of any of the illnesses that beset so many people I know. What's more, it's been raining all afternoon

which surprised me as it looked from all the forecasts I saw that it would completely skirt our patch. Stopped now though
Have a good weekend, KC and everyone, and thanks again for always being there with such valuable and caring advice

