Sadly, at end of May 2008 I fell seriously unwell. Shocking bouts of heavy chest pain and lots of vomiting, for some 4 or 5 days. Bad enough to visit doctor, as it did not seem to be a temporary state.
It was diagnosed as liver, and I was jaundiced - colour of skin amazingly yellow. doctor thought it might be hepatitis. Blood sample testing suggested it was in fact the glaabladder, a stone stuck in wrong place.
Outcome was that I was sent to local hospital for ultrasound scan. There, they found the details they wanted regarding the gallbladder, but also found something near my groin - something they didn't like the look of.
So, I was scheduled for a CAT scan - and that took place in October. Result was an immediate dash by ambulance from Whakatane Hospital to Tauranga, because it turned out I had a large aneurysm. Good luck for it to be discovered at ultrasound stage - because there are no ways of detecting aneurysms otherwise apparently, and they are life-threatening.
At Tauranga, they kept me for 5 days, testing everything - and sent me home because my blood pressure was too high for surgery - 219 over 100-plus. I was given pills to get it down, and my local GP soon doubled the dosage of that pill.
Surgery was done on 4 November 2008 at Tauranga - most successfully. I suffered very bad hallucinations - due to being under anaesthetic for nearly 9 hours. It seems it was what some call "morphine poisoning". I can tell you that I would not wish it on anyone. Horrific. And my wife sat by my bedside for 3 or 4 days/nights to keep a close eye on me. She tried to talk me out of or through it, but I was in a world all of my own. Light and shadows were transformed by my drugged mind into "end of world" scenes, and were very realistic. Enough of that - it's all over.
Then, on christmas Day 2008, I developed "sea-sickness". Local doctor suggested it was most likely an inner ear infection, and sent me to the Emergency Dept. of Whakatane Hospital for checking. They could not rule out either ear infection or aftermath of the surgery or anything else, but told me these were definitely the symtoms of inner ear infection, and that it was most likely that. Here I am in April 2009, and the dizziness has become infrequent short bouts of "wobbles". All in all, I'm pretty much recovered.
However, I am scheduled for more ultrasound scanning to check for any more aneurysms. Apparently, having had a large one, I'm susceptible to aneurysms. Behind the knees is the most likely place to find them, and at Tauranga Hospital last Monday, a doctor felt behind my knees and considered that there were none there. But, better safe than sorry . . . . .so, I'm awaiting an appointment at Whakatane Hospital.
Also, I'm awaiting another outpatient appointment at Whakatane Hospital for a check on when I'll have my gallbladder removed.
All of this has meant I've had to cancel all thoughts of charity walking, unfortunately. Will I be able to do some after this is all over, eventually? I'll have to wait and see.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
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