Chickvic Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Get well soon Jackie. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Good to hear you are getting back on track - take care. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Hello everyone Two weeks ago today I was terrified I wouldn't be back on the Forum........however........... with 'Heart'felt thanks to my friend Mimi who called the pompiers (firemen who also act as paramedics in the first instance) and our nearest hospital who sent a team of a doctor and two nurses from 20 miles away.....I am here to tell the tale Now, this bit might be boring, I promise I won't be offended if you switch to the latest 'Omlet must have' Sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin..... Some of you might remember that we came to the UK to see the kids before Christmas and I ended up in Coventry Hospital with supposedly chronic bronchitis, ? asthma, ? emphysema (this is what is written on my discharge summary) with a discharge plan from the hospital to 'escalate medication'. This included steroids and several asthma related inhalers. They also sent me home to my sons', where there are two littleuns, with the Norvirus (?sp) bug having closed the ward I was on Not nice Anyway, finally got back home at the beginning of Jan., religiously took my medication as prescribed (even bought a portable nebuliser) and steadily got worse and worse and worse. I was finding it almost impossible to walk even a few steps without getting totally breathless, couldn't even walk downstairs, had to plan in advance if I wanted to get to the loo and certainly couldn't go out and collect the eggs Remember, at this time I was still under the impression I was suffering from a broncitis/asthma problem as diagnosed by the hospital and was still religiously taking the medication thinking that 'This has got to get better soon ' Did it heck Two weeks ago today I was so frightened at my inability to breathe I phoned my friend for help. She arrived within a couple of minutes, took one look at me, said 'Pompiers, oxygen' and that is almost all I remember of that day The rest is a bit of a blur, but it involved several firemen and one firewoman, a doctor and two nurses, the OH and Mimi in the house (so I have been told) for around two hours while they stabilised me...apparently my heart was doing well over twice its' normal rate.... until they carted me off in the ambulance with the blue light and the wah wah At the hospital in Vichy they immediately took a chest x-ray, found an enlarged heart, fluid on the lungs and in addition to that, I had legs that resembled tree trunks Anyway, to cut a long boring story a bit shorter, had medication to slow heart, saw cardiologist daily, saw my appointed general doctor who told me the medication I had been so vigilant in taking had caused my heart to speed up to the extent where it couldn't cope Told me with my heart condition (didn't know I had one ) I should never have been prescribed steroids, ventolin or briconyl AND on top of that I DID NOT HAVE BRONCHITIS Couldn't eat for a few days but when I could, the food was excellent. Daily, personal choice of 4 courses for lunch and 3 for dinner. Now on heart tablets, diuretics....my legs don't look like tree trunks anymore and I can wear normal shoes which I haven't done for ages, only crocs , I can walk up and downstairs etc. etc. and I haven't felt so well in a long, long time. On oxygen all night, every night, (machine delivered the day I came out of hospital) and have the phone number for my cardiologist and my hospital doctor to ring at any time day or night if I'm worried about anything NO...I am not a privaate patient I cannot fault the French health care system and given the choice if I am going to be ill, I want to be ill here THE END Very many thanks for all your good wishes, they are appreciated so much. Jackiex Edited to say I will now be quiet.....I've got 5 pages of red stars to catch up on and the hospital DID say don't do too much too physical too soon.....so I shall take their advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Gosh you have been through the mill....sounds like you are in excellent care now - good job though isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 thank goodness they diagnosed you in time! I'm not going to comment about the NHS as I'll start ranting. Keep well and take it easy, it's no wonder they honour the firemen/women during the celebratons on the 14th July is it? xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Jackie, its so good to hear from you and that you are finally on the road to recovery. Keep resting and look after yourself and thank goodness for the French! (You know my daughter wouldn't agree with you and me ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Glad to see you back Jackiepoppies What fantastic service you received from the French health care system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 take care, thank goodness you are OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 I'm sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well. What a shock to hear you have had a heart attack. Thank goodness you had the forethought to call your friend Mimi. Wishing you a speedy recovery and sending BIG hugs across the pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Very glad you are back What a scary story, I have heard that the French have an amazing health service, certainly sounds better than the good old NHS. May you continue to recover fully. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Glad you are OK - sounds like the French health system has done you proud! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 wow Jackie, what an episode you have had.. and thank goodness they are looking after you over there. Take it easy and wishing you best wishes for a speedy recovery. xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicki9 Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Glad to hear you are feeling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Sorry to hear that you've been ill but glad to hear that you are on the mend Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 good grief Jackie you don't do things by half do you Glad to hear you are on the mend, take it easy and get yourself fully recovered :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Take care and get strong. Glad you are on the up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joojoo Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Crikey you've had a dreadful time of it. Glad to hear you are on the mend now. Make sure you take things a bit easier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Blimey Jackie, take care of yourself and glad to hear you are diagnose properly now after such a scare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Eek, what a fright. I'm so glad you are on the mend now. Well done Mimi for spotting how poorly you really were. Feet up, forum online - I expect to see a lot more of you from now on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Zut alors! thank goodness you are sorted and are on the mend. The Pompiers in france are amazing they can do just about everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Oh dear Jackie, I thought you must be having a holiday. I do hope you have a speedy recovery and you are back on the forum soon. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Just caught up with this... Wow, you have had a time of it; but I'll bet hard cash that French Hospital food is somewhat superior to ours here Glad to hear you're fighting back, and on the way to good form and Spring(in step, and in the air, soon, we hope!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Oh Jackie, poor you. What a time you have had. All our love and best wishes for a speedy recovery. Glad that they took care of you so well in hospital. Take it easy. Get your feet up and spend your recovery on here and we will cheer you along.xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 9, 2009 Share Posted February 9, 2009 Golly Jackie, what can I say except thank goodness for Mimi & the pompiers Welcome back honey & have fun catching up with all the posts you've missed - you'll be bossed-eyed by the time you get to the end! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 I thought it had gone quiet across the Channel. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Jackiepoppies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
