I’m not in good shape. I used to think I was a hypochondriac, but after undergoing multiple tests during my horrendous stay at Frankston Hospital, some of my fears were confirmed while other health worries I’d been convinced would kill me turned out to be nothing. I feel like an old man… well, an older man, as I’m really starting to notice my age. I was pleasantly surprised that my lung ultrasound came back clear, especially after a lifetime of cigarettes, pipes and vapes. All thumbs up for my heart echocardiogram, my liver looked as healthy as it could be, bladder readings weren’t brilliant but not in the danger zone, ECGs were fine and my blood tests — twice a day — were okay. I had a catheter for a week, so my urine bag had to be constantly emptied; it was embarrassing and a real pain, as I couldn’t go anywhere without it. If you want to avoid an unpleasant experience, steer clear of having a tube inserted into your dick and bladder, particularly when it wasn’t actually necessary. The main concern was my kidneys, which are only functioning at about twenty percent — that’s what had everyone worried. Mum even said she wasn’t sure if I’d make it through. It was serious stuff.
I’m getting off track again. I have worries from my feet right up to my head. I’m suffering gout in my left foot, which is truly debilitating. I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow, so hopefully there’s something useful he can do. Physically I feel otherwise fine, and there’s not a lot I can do in the moment. I drink about twelve cups of water a day, so I’m always hydrated, and I’m told that’s good for the kidneys and liver — but this is one thing I’ve done for years, and where has it got me? Once again, all of this comes down to bloody beer. I did it to myself.
In all honesty, I haven’t been overly worried about it until recently. There’s nothing I can do right now. It’s only starting to really hit home for me now. It took a couple of weeks for it to properly sink in. I have a medical review with the doctors at Fston coming up in a little while. I’m not sure exactly what that will involve. Hopefully I’ll get the all clear. I am NOT going back into hospital as an inpatient. I’d rather face a slow decline than find myself in that environment again.