"An Angel walked into my Cubicle"

An Angel walked into my Cubicle at Monklands Hospital Airdrie and I thought she was the Tea Lady. How wrong was I.

I hadn't been feeling well for months and during the nights I was hallucinating but unaware. One Sunday I attended my weekly fishing match in Cumbernauld and at the end had a sneaky plate of chips in the cafe before returning home for my dinner. That was the start of it, I threw half the chips in the bin as I didn't feel like eating.

On my return home I refused my dinner as I was feeling really ill. Now for the last 4 months, there has been a smell of burnt gas fumes in my house due to the installation next door of a new boiler. The fumes come directly in my bedroom window. Had the Gas Board out and all is legal. Monitors fitted in my room and they never have activated. Just left with a horrible smell when the wind blows in a westerly direction. I cannot connect the smell with my illness.

I changed to a bedroom the other side of the house that night. My temperature was thru the roof. Felt nauseous and was retching all night over a toilet pan as that where I felt most comfortable and cooler. My wife phoned and got me an appointment with the doctor and I took a urine sample with me as when urinating I had a burning sensation.

My GP didn't take my blood pressure or temperature he diagnosed me as having a urine infection and gave me a prescription. Collected the prescription returned home and took the first pill and shortly after the burning sensation was gone. My health went downhill and my temperature was out of control. Returned to bed having taken the second pill and a further horrible night. Having never eaten the retching began to produce the green bile. Was a long night. 

Decided to present myself at A and E at Monklands on the Tuesday to see if they could help. I suspected that I had carbon monoxide poisoning. Three hour waiting time but that was an easy option after what I was going through. Blood samples were taken and I was a very happy patient.

The Doctor eventually saw me and confirmed that I didn't have Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.  We spoke about my hallucinations and the decision was that I was on the right treatment and had to sit it out whilst the pills worked. I was despatched home.

That journey home was one of the longest ever, I was sat there in my son's car and never wanted to speak. I knew I was really Ill and was no further forward. Another night in hell. I would doze off for a few minutes every now and then. My family rallied round and saw me thru the night.

Wednesday Morning, back to square one the Doctors once more. Two Options, return home and wait for the medication to work or Doctors referral to Monklands A and E. I opted for the latter looking for a miracle. Was dropped off along with my wife. Just 2 hours waiting as it was a Doctors referral, not to be but hey I was in a place I wanted to be a hospital.

Whilst in the waiting room the Doctor who sent me home Tuesday saw me. That didn't go down well mentally with myself. 3 hours passed before they triaged me and took a blood sample. After some time I was taken through to meet a young Doctor who was very pleasant. I was getting really nervous and at the end of all the questions, we were still awaiting blood results. I hadn't even been offered a bed but was allowed to sit in the chair beside one. I asked what would happen if the blood result was the same as the previous day and would I be sent home. She replied yes.

The scene then was me sat in a chair real depressed as I had failed once more getting medical staff to diagnose me as ill. I was sat there along with the Doctor and my wife. I had better explain at this stage I wear two hearing aids and struggle hearing wise. The screens are pulled back and enter a Medical Angel. Not that that was my first thoughts. I looked up and identified her as what I thought was the Tea Lady offering me tea and toast. Right away I shouted no thanks I haven't eaten since Sunday.

The young Doctor was hurriedly explaining to my wife that the person who had entered was her Boss and one of the most experienced consultants in the Hospital. If Doctor Shilliday heard my remark, she ignored it. She came and spoke to me and showed a great interest in my health. She asked me if I had any concerns and I was right up front in saying I was dreading the journey home when the blood results came back. She reassured me that I was going nowhere and that I was a very ill person. At last, I had been diagnosed and was about to set out on a journey of recovery.

That journey of recovery wasn't easy, was not in the hospital long when my veins began to be hard to find. It was two days prior to getting back to eating. The blood infection was being brought under control but the high temps and hallucinations continued. In the early hours of my 67th Birthday my canula had blocked and they were struggling to get another one in. I started Hallucinating that the other 3 guys in the ward were having a party for me and wouldn't keep quiet.

The weekend saw a vast improvement all round and on Monday I was free to return home. I would like to express my thanks to all Hospital Staff at Monklands Ward 14 for their care but special mention to Dr Shilliday who appeared around a curtain, got my recovery on track, You are my Guardian Angel DR Shilliday.