Can I cry now? a medical story

Thank you Di - Chris - Laurel........these ladies have kept the shop going for me in the last few weeks while I am at home "resting" and coughing my heart out due to pneumonia.
It seems that I have had pneumonia for something like a month and was putting all my tiredness down to a touch of flu and working too much.
Then I only went to the doctor because I was due to have an ultra-sound and my doctors office is besides the hospital.
Well I thought I might as well see if I can get some cough medicine for this flu while I am in the area or I guess I could have been in hospital now.
Had to have an ultra-sound due to the periods I shouldn't be having AND when was the last time YOU had a PAP SMEAR?........not knowing the the full extent of why I was sick I had myself dead and buried before the results were available....not a nice feeling.
Ten out of ten to Cessnock Hospital...my various tests x-rays etc went like clock work and also thank you to "Debbie" you made my ultra-sound plus very easy.

So doctor is asking me 50 questions as I sit there trying to breathe. He checks my breathing and then sends me for an x-ray and blood test.
I go back for the x-ray results....pneumonia!!! I nearly fell of the chair. I don't get sick!!
A dear friend told me that pneumonia is known as a silent killer as you can have it and not be aware of how sick you really are.
I have to agree....the weeks before seeing my doctor I was having major problems getting out of bed....nearly in tears sometimes as I felt sooo tired.
I would walk around the shop avoiding anything to do that looked like it would be the slightest bit difficult.......end of day go home and fall into bed.
My blood test showed up anemia - which I was aware off and also showed up a very low Vitamin B12 count which I was not aware off.
This does explain my excessive tiredness. I now have to have something like a dozen injections of Vitamin B12 to build up my system.

I have spent the last two weeks so sick and never want to go through this again. I used to visit the doctors about once every two years........I had better things to do.
After this experience - if I even sneeze I am going to the doctor.
Why am I telling you this?? I put my symptoms down to flu and work....it could have killed me. I knew it wasn't normal but I still didn't go to the doctor!!

So this evening I have managed to sit in front of my computer and put this tale together.
I have coughed till every bone in my body aches and still more to come.
I rattle when I move because of the amount of tabs I am taking - have never been a lover of tabs.
As I have never been this sick before I didn't know what sick is.
I look back and I was stupid playing Russian Roulette with my health. Not worth it. And I have had a few crying moments because of feeling so so unwell for so long.
And by the way when did YOU last have a PAP SMEAR.


You can find heaps of pictures of sickness at www123rf.com