The Diary of Miss J

This week hasn't been the greatest for me.

On Monday night, I ended up at the hospital thinking that I had heat stroke, but instead I had been diagnosed with Vertigo.

I finished work earlier than planned on Monday as I said that I wasn't feeling great and if possible could I finish work earlier - so I swapped with Joy.

All Monday, I felt slightly dizzy but it escalated when I went to bed and laid down.  I was fine laying flat on my back but when I went to my side, I felt so out of balance that I felt like toppling over onto my back.

I had been thinking of phoning for an ambulance for the day but of course I thought that it was all caused from the heat and keep drinking plenty of water for the day as well as stayed inside all day but once night fell and it was starting to affect my sleep, I knew I had to do something.

I had a headache on Sunday and slept for about four hours in the afternoon and after that I was fine - until about 8:30, Monday morning when it was time to head out for the day.

Around 11:00, an ambulance was called and when they arrrived, I was checked over for blood pressure and after talking it sounded as though I had an inner ear infection.  I was told that I could either put up with it for the night and see a Doctor in the morning or go with them to the hospital.  I decided on the hospital as I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep.

When I arrived at the hospital, I was taken straight to triage and signed in.  Already in the waiting area was one person and when I sat down in the same area, I spoke to him and I found out he had been waiting for about 15 minutes.  To me this wasn't too bad.

As I took my seat, another couple walked in and so it was a rather quiet night in the triage waiting room.

I had no idea how long I had been waiting to be seen to but I managed to get through the doors.  I was told to take a seat in one of the four curtained off suites and this is when it became a waiting game.

A Nurse can in and took details and left, saying "a Doctor will see you shortly".  I waited and waited and eventually a Doctor did see me.

He spoke to me, examined me and came to the conclusion that I had Vertigo.

The whole time I was being treated, I had no idea who was treating me and it got to me.  Eventually, I asked the Doctor his name. 

As for stopping the dizziness, I was told that I could either have a needle or have a tablet.  I said, "I don't like needles" and so he opted for the tablets.

Eventually the tablet was brought to me and I took it and then I was left alone for what felt like for ever.  The Nurse left me after taking the tablet and I assumed that he would be back almost straight away but this was not the case.  Infact, it was the story of the night, of staff coming in to see me for five minutes and then walking out without letting me know when they would be back.  You would think they would say, "I'll be back in 15 minutes" or whatever, but of course this never happened and so I was sitting in the closed off suite wondering when will someone would return and explain what was going on.  I wasn't even given details on how the drug was suppose to work or how long it would take.

Finally, the Doctor returned and he asked about the effects I was having and I said I still felt dizzy and light headed and he suggested to try to the drip as the tablet didn't seem to be working.  I wasn't too happy in having a needle embedded but if it was necessary I wasn't going to turn it down - this time.  As I was laying down on the bed, I turned my head away as he prepared my arm for the stint and I was waiting for what seemed like for ever for the prick to be felt.  Finally it went in and another Nurse came in and completed the set up of having the bag running into my arm.

The most annoying thing for the whole time being there was that I seemed to be in a desperate need to piddle every half an hour or a bit more.  With so many runs  to the bathroom while I was there, the Nurse who seemed to be incharge asked me to give a urine sample so he could have it checked out.  I was happy to be told that there was nothing wrong.  I put it down to the fact that I had been drinking all day and that I was way past my bed time and the fact that I wasn't the warmest person in the room didn't help either. 

With the hot weather, I went up to the hospital in 3/4 pants, shirt and sand shoes and slowly as the night progressed and the air conditioner was running the temperature dropped. 

As I laid down and allowed the drip to work, I could only close my eyes and try to relax.  It was absolutely impossible to fall asleep as the noise level was endless.  If it wasn't staff chatting, it was people walking around or it was house keeping being busy. 

Finally, by 4:00am, I was checked over and I told the Nurse that I was feeling fine and so he got the Doctor who said that it was okay to leave - if I wanted to.  I could either spend the night or go home and I decided on going home as I knew that I would get sleep at home.

When I left by ambulance, I my mother said to call her when I am ready to come home and so around 4:00, I phoned. 

Prior to leaving I was given medication and was told to see my Doctor within the week and that was it. 

I ended up making an appointment with a Duty Doctor at my clinic for Tuesday afternoon and I was given a little bit more information about Vertigo and a script for more medication if I needed it and I filled the script yesterday afternoon after having a bad experience when I woke up in the morning.  I even called the ambulance once again around 7:00am and they came around but said to me that the hospital won't be able to do anything for me and it would be best to stay home and just relax.  It seems as though the worse experience I get is when I wake up.  I was so dizzy when I woke up yesterday morning that I couldn't read the clock and when I walked from my room to the bathroom I had to hang onto the walls and furniture as I was so out of balance.  With all this going on, I called in sick for work and said that I will play everything day by day.

This morning was the best morning I had so far since Monday morning.  I was slightly dizzy when I woke up but I had no problem getting out of bed and I wasn't feeling nausea unlike yesterday.  I was happy about this as it meant that I could go to work instead of having another day off.  I was a bit unsteady on occasions through out the day but I was fine apart from that. I had hoped that I would be back at work sometime this week and so I was happy that I got this far so quickly as I honestly thought I would be off for the week. 

My big test is on Saturday night when I have my nightfill job with a lot more movement involved.  I am sure if I take it easy, I should haven't have any problems.  This afternoon I had to fill the fridge and so it meant moving my head from being down to up and I was fine - no dizzy sensation and this is what I am worried about with the nightfill role with a lot of head movement.

With such a good day health wise, I accepted to work another four hour shift for the late afternoon and so things are back to normal ... for the time being.

Bridget J

What a relaxing week it has been ...

I spent the start of the week home and then Wednesday afternoon with such a nice day upon this town, I suggested that we head down to the beach town of Port MacDonnell for a look-see but ended up going to Penola instead.

By the time I was picked up from work, it was about 3:00 and I thought that we could drive down to the beach and have a look around since I had no work planned for the night, but the moment I was changed and seated in the car, I changed the destination to Penola as I thought that the drive would be about the same distance and I really wanted to have a look in some of their shops and especially go to their lolly shop TOFFEE AND TREATS.

I thought that by the time we got there we would of had enough time to look around but in all honesty we only browsed in one shop as well as go to the lolly shop.

I had never been in there before but I knew they had a large selection of lollies and chocolates to choose from.

I even text message Katarina to ask her if she wanted anything and she text back to tell me to get her some fudge.

As I stepped inside the shop all I could see was a wall of glass containers holding various lollies - some I hadn't seen in the local shops because they only hold a select few to choose from.

I have always heard how in the "old days" kids would go into the shops and say that they want this and they want that and I felt like doing the same thing but I didn't know what to choose ...

While I was deciding on what to buy for me, I walked around the shop and looked at various stands and looked what goodies they held.  I saw a lot of lollies that my mother eats - hard boiled lollies, licorice to name a few.

I asked about the fudge and I was told where to look for them and I couldn't believe the selection they had and because Katarina said she wanted fudge I had to decide on which one to buy her.  I saw Kaluha and Mint and I saw one that I knew Kat would want - Caramel - so I found her choice but didn't find anything for me.

In the meantime I kept picking up packets of gift wrapped lollies and chocolates and adding some to the shopping bag, not really caring what price I was going to be paying (as we don't have a store like it in town).

By the time I came to pay, I didn't add anything to the shopping list for myself.  My mother got most of the lollies apart from a giant frog and a bag of jubes (for John) and two fudge bars for Katarina.  My mother ended up with licorice, caramelised popcorn and fairy floss (two bags). 

After walking out and buying a cool drink at another shop, we had just enough time to browse through one shop and that was it as the clock was nearing 4:45 and most shops close their doors at 5:00.  We also had to travel back home and so it was a very short stay and I only wished I had a bit longer there.  People complain that the town is more about antiques and wines but it is nice to step out your own front yard on occasions as I am always seeing the same shops every time I go out.

Bridget J