I'm back!
Posted: 24 Oct 2012, 12:15
I am back! A month ago, my daughter, son-in-law and grandson went to Panama City, Florida for a family event (on a Southwest Boeing 737-300.) The trip was supposed to last four days but I experienced a slight detour before returning. To make a long story short, I wound up in hospital for two and a half weeks. I had shortness of breath and they found a plethora of things wrong with me. That included COPD, high blood pressure and high blood sugar, diabetes and stage 2 kidney failure. Needless to say, I was not amused, but I do remember singing “Always look on the bright side of life” after I was stabilized in the emergency room. 
I had not seen a doctor in years and had no symptoms one usually associates with my condition until I had the shortness of breath. I have an excuse, but not a good reason for my neglect. My wife was ill for several years and finally succumbed to a brain tumor in 2002. I had enough of doctors and hospitals to last a lifetime, even though I had never been an inpatient since my birth. Ok, I was a complete fool!
I am happy to say, other than taking multiple pills and insulin every day, I am feeling very good. It was great to finally get some sleep because you cannot really sleep in a hospital with them waking you every few hours for one thing or another. I hope this story will urge everyone to visit a doctor at least occasionally especially when you get to the chronologically challenged years like me.
Anyway, after spending some time at my daughters and follow-up visits to doctors here, catching up on emails, paying bills and so on......I am back!
Nigel²
I had not seen a doctor in years and had no symptoms one usually associates with my condition until I had the shortness of breath. I have an excuse, but not a good reason for my neglect. My wife was ill for several years and finally succumbed to a brain tumor in 2002. I had enough of doctors and hospitals to last a lifetime, even though I had never been an inpatient since my birth. Ok, I was a complete fool!
I am happy to say, other than taking multiple pills and insulin every day, I am feeling very good. It was great to finally get some sleep because you cannot really sleep in a hospital with them waking you every few hours for one thing or another. I hope this story will urge everyone to visit a doctor at least occasionally especially when you get to the chronologically challenged years like me.
Anyway, after spending some time at my daughters and follow-up visits to doctors here, catching up on emails, paying bills and so on......I am back!
Nigel²
, but good that it all showed itself whilst there was something that can be done about it 
If you're ill you can either phone a helpline or go to the hospital emergency department and die waiting to be seen. On the plus side, if you are sick enough to be admitted you'll be well looked after. But at least it doesn't cost any more than you've already paid in national insurance.