Here we go again

At the risk of this blog turning into a chronicle of my ill health, I'm here to report that I am sick -- again. After my recent upper respiratory tract infection and conjunctivitis, I experienced a week of good health and then, on Tuesday night, I could feel myself coming down with something.

Initially, I thought it might have been hayfever, but then I developed a barking, chesty cough and I knew I needed to get it sorted.

I took yesterday off work and this morning made an emergency appointment to see my doctor. He has diagnosed a chest infection, but he also believes that I have asthma. He has prescribed some antibiotics and an inhaler. I'm to go back in 8 weeks for a proper asthma test, as he's not sure whether it's simply linked to the infection or whether it's a separate, ongoing problem I need to deal with.

The only good thing to come out of all this shenanigans is that I seem to have finally cured my long-term caffeine addiction: I have gone right off coffee this past month or so. I might have a morning coffee on a weekend but then go for an entire week before having another. This, I think, is positive.

Comments

[Mr D]

Oh gosh. I hope you'll be OK.

I wonder if it could be connected to pollution - and maybe even cycling in all that London traffic. Buses are poisonous.

Get well soon, anyway.

[Julie]

... mmm ... does stress play a part, do you think?

[Melody]

Woe is you...

[Trevor Cook]

Julie and I gave up caffeine about a month ago. Julie gave up before me and then I did too. It was crap for a week or so but now I feel much better. I drink some tea (often green) and have a morning coffee very rarely. I used to drink soo much coffee it was way out of control.
Hope you feel better soon

[kimbofo]

Mr D, thanks for your good wishes. I think the pollution is but one factor. I haven't ridden my bike enough this year to really blame that horrible black smoke that pours out the back of London buses, although I am keen to invest in a face mask before I next get back in the saddle. I'm not sure how I will handle wearing one though -- I tend to breathe through my mouth, so it might make me feel claustrophobic. Will see...

Julie, yes, stress is certainly a factor, although I do manage stress much better than I used to do...

Melody, woe indeed. Do you realise I have been pretty much sick ever since you left the country!!

Trevor, about 6 years ago I used to drink upwards of 12 cups a day, not helped by the fact my desk was within a few metres of a coffee machine! Then one day I drank so much coffee I made myself sick. I cut back my intake drastically -- and over the years I've managed to knock it down to just one cup a day (a few more on the weekends). Since cutting it out of my diet completely I really haven't noticed much change other than my wallet is a lot healthier!! No longer am I forking out £10 a week on Americanos (that's £40 a month!!). I am now drinking tea (for free from work) and the occasional herbal tea.

[meli]

hope you feel better soon! feeling unwell is awful. i've been almost diagnosed with asthma several times, but i don't think it was ever accurate. hope the antibiotics take care of it.

[Little Miss Moi]

Yeah, I've heard a lot of people this season who are being told they have athsma... rather than what they suspect to be a bad allergic reaction to all that fluff that falls of chestnut trees! Eat lots of yoghurt.

[Cherry Ripe]

Time to come home to sunny old Oz, eh ? Frosty mornings right now, but warm sunny days. Yes, thats what you need. Hope you are onto some good treatment by now, and beating this thing. So hard to push on day after day when you've got a demanding job and you're not up to scratch.