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Okay, so you know the beginning.
Except it turned out I wasn't picked up in a car but in an ambulance.
Which I though I had never ridden in before, but casting my mind back I did get a lift in one when I was knocked down on a zebra crossing.
This was a transport ambulance though - only pressed into emergency service in direst need, so I wasn't preventing some OAP the chance to be picked up in the midst of a heart attack.
When I arrived I was taken immediately to SAU, the Surgical Assessment Unit. It's a step up from A&E because you've already been assessed/ triaged by a medical professional.
The nurse tried to fit a canula into my left arm, but was unable after much poking about, so tried my hand. I did point out that the last time someone tried the veins blew, but hey what do I know? She got it in and got my bloods, but when she tried to clean it with saline my whole hand blew up. Oops. Canula came out and I was told they'd give me a rest and fit it later.
Five hours later I was called to see the doctor who stroked his chin at my supposed medical history and said (in a very Dr Carlton way) "There's no history of this in your notes..." to which I pointed out I had seen the GP for the first time that morning and he didn't have my notes either.
Palpated my chest cavity and abdomen. No pain. Low oxygen. Heart murmer. Ultra-sound scan recommended. By this time he admitted I was unlikely to get one today so would stay overnight.
So far, so reasonable.
Went back to the seating area and was soon moved to a different seating area, very similar but with no telly. Shame - I'd been enjoying getting the teatime quiz questions right.
Turns out I was considered an infection risk, having had diarrhea earlier that day. So they wheeled a trolley into a side room and suggested I'd be more comfortable there until a room could be found for me. Just as well, another few episodes later I appreciated the privacy.
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