Days 492 to 501

You will have noticed dear reader up until now my health reports have all sounded positive. Over the last week however things could have been a lot better.

I have had a minor amount of coughing these last few weeks. I tended to dismiss it as part of the reflux acid. We flew up to Edinburgh to stay with Gillian's parents Ian and Lorna. Overnight I had a really bad bout of acid which caused much coughing. Now normally when this does happen after sitting up for an hour or so everything settles down. Sadly though the acid went down the coughing didn't. It has basically persisted virtually non stop for 5 days. The cough has been accompanied by a rattling sound. I have tried Gavescon, water, honey, honey and hoe water, inhaling steam with crystals all to little avail.

I went to see my GP. He checked me out and was clearly concerned about the noise from the chest. I have been given a week's supply of Penicillin but he is also sending me for an xray on my chest in view of my past history. I am likely to go to the Hospital tomorrow(I do pick the best places for my Birthday. Te GP will get the results next week and we shall see where we go from there.

The GP also enquired why I was still on the stronger type of tablet. I said this followed my visit to the Consultant Mr. Byrne. Dr. Hudson said it was too strong and then came the killer point it's too expensive. He wanted to put me on a more minor dose straight away but after discussion we agreed to reduce the dosage to one a day. If I start to get more attacks I shall go back to two a day. Hmm.

Apart from that we had a great long weekend. For the first time we had a chat with Ian and Lorna's neighbours Bob and Ann. I also flew for the first time since the bad experience I had on a flight from Hong Kong in January last year. Both flights were uneventful but my dislike of the whole thing remains. I know sometimes it is what you have to do though.

I shall post again next week once I know the results of the xray.