Hey Breeps!
Greetings from the Motherland. As my “Back to My Roots” tour comes to its conclusion, I am very much looking forward to stepping back into a warmer climate.
So firstly I will talk about the weather – it would simply be rude not to. This was my first summer back for a while. And needless to say was very disappointed of the lack of consistently nice weather. It really couldn’t make up its mind – sunny mornings, scattered showers in the afternoon, winds, grey skies and, oh wait, perhaps some more sun? No chance! Poor British residents, I now feel their pain over weather for which I need to pack a coat and umbrella…just in case.
And speaking of dismal…I was one of the fortunate ones to secure tickets to see “Banksy’s Dismaland” in Weston-Super-Mare, however, I didn’t get to go, as I ended up somewhere equally, if not more dismal than that….the hospital, a place where people didn’t pretend to be miserable, they genuinely were. And rightfully so. Truly rhw unhappiest place on earth. Now for the US readers, who have never had to experience the NHS (National Health Service) before, I’m going to break it down for you….
BONUS
It’s free, 100% free. Well, sort of, as we do pay for it through our taxes and National Insurance contributions. And the doctors and nurses work really hard, I mean REALLY hard. They work in 12 hour shifts. The nighttime nurses are overly tired but try to keep up their kind demeanor. My nurses in particular, were rushed off their feet during the bank holiday weekend, fast-walking from ward to ward, with the constant beeping reminders of IV’s needing changing. They really are angels. And my hat goes off to them, They deserve much more money than the striking tube drivers (just replace them with machines already).
THOROUGH
On a very busy bank holiday weekend I was rushed into the ER (or Accident & Emergency in NHS-speak), by an ambulance that was at my place within five minutes of calling them, with symptoms of acute pain in the abdomen and an extremely high fever. I had to wait in A&E for six hours before being transferred to the acute medical ward. I had heard some horror stories of patients being let out of the hospital too early, because of shortage of beds. They were determined to find out what was wrong with me and wouldn’t let me go home until they found out. I was in a lot of pain, yes and was frustrated about how long it was taking to get a diagnosis, so I could get treated and still have time to see a distorted sculpture of the little mermaid at Banky’s Dismaland.
OVERNIGHT
So, after not being able to regulate my temperature and not finding anything through blood samples and the x-ray on the first day, they kept me in overnight, and more tests followed, a CT-Scan and stool samples. Then a catheter (This was something that took the pain away from my abdomen!!! – extremely painful and uncomfortable) but although the food in the hospital lived up to it’s reputation, the cups of tea softened the blows!
DISMALAND
On the third day they had been successful in controlling my temperature but still had no idea what had caused this terrible episode. Time for an endoscopy – at this point I knew I was experiencing my own private dismaland and Banksy has nothing on me. I had thought the catheter was uncomfortable – it was nothing compared to the CCTV camera up my rear end. But before I overshare any further let me compare this with US medical practices, where they do all the tests shortly after arrive, with no process of elimination.
DIAGNOSIS
To cut a long story short I had a food-borne virus that gave me a bug and took me down in a bad way. They eventually found the cause and administered the right cure and I’m now well on my way to recovery. I want to thank the hospital staff and paramedics at the Royal Sussex in Brighton, One of my besties, Mel Brown, for getting me the best care and allowing me to recouperate at her lovely home. My fiancé for the late night calls of encouragement and last but by no means least, my sister Julie and my lovely caring mum, who drove from Nottingham to be with me, as most of you know there is nothing more wonderful than a family’s love when you are feeling at your worst. Thanks also to Eileen for covering for me last week and for the many messages from members who sent me well wishes, it cheered me up to know end, reading them all. – I am now 100% better but will be being very careful about what I put in my mouth from now on.
A few days later mum and I took a stroll along the Eastbourne pier and came across this elderly gentleman with bright union jack socks on (pictured. He smiled. I asked if I could take his picture, because he seemed so content, healthy and happy and I wanted to be just like him when I get older. He replied “As You wish…”
My takeaway? Don’t take your health for granted people!
Cheers and much love,
Craig
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