Sick Note

I thought my work with my Special Needs pupil would end at Christmas, but I did the first week of term with him as well. I struggled with the early morning starts, and I seemed to have busy afternoons/evenings too, my sleep patterns were all over the place. I even got out a library book called Learn to Sleep Well.
I finished my teaching on Jan 11th and spent the weekend being very busy, at home and church - I never actually talked to Steph on the phone - just a text  'looking forward to seeing you soon'. [Rosie and co were visiting, so they were all very busy too] Monday 14th, I sent another text "On train, be with you shortly" - and she instantly replied "I thought you were coming on 28th!". We'd been talking at cross-purposes about the date of my visit! [note to self- don't just say "Arriving Monday afternoon @..." specify which Monday!] 
It seemed the best thing would be to continue my journey [with nesting tables etc] stay overnight, and  come back Tuesday [on my open return ticket] We had a great evening, and next day she went into work late, after  breakfast together at The Anthologist. I got back to Salisbury early afternoon. 

On Wednesday I was up early, did some admin, dealt with emails, did photocopying at Church, helped with Register at Tiddlers Group, and went off to Sainsburys. Then around 11.45am it all went pear-shaped. As I went to get my trolley, I suddenly had this terrible head pain- as if I'd been hit with a hammer. I staggered into the store, and collapsed on the bench in the entrance. Two staff members asked if I was OK. "I feel dreadful, my head is exploding!" I said. [Thank you Ann, Sadie, and FirstAider Sarah] Bob was fetched and I ended up in Bournemouth A&E [thank you Clinician at NHS 111, and Mim who helped with retrieval of my Toyota from store car park]
The acute pains had subsided relatively quickly, but they suspected a brain bleed. I had a CT scan and a Lumbar Puncture, and other tests. [Thank you A&E, AMU, Rosie the Radiologist, and lovely Dr Rahul who did a painless and fast LP] The night was somewhat disturbed- there were some very sick people in my Bay, at midnight, I was moved to another Bay. As my bed was wheeled out, we passed another patient coming in "There we are Christine, you won't have to spend the remainder of the night on this trolley, we have a proper bed for you now" I heard them say to her. On Thursday at 6.30am, the nurse told me all results were clear, they could find nothing wrong and I could leave. So Bob fetched me home, where I spent the rest of the day, and much of Friday doing nothing.And in the week since, I have felt better with every passing day [and night]. Thank you to all of you who have sent kind messages, both on and off the blog. I really appreciate your love and concern.[Thank you Bob, you've been amazing throughout]
Conclusions

• Gratitude to God that there was nothing seriously wrong
• I was much more tired than I realised, and this was a rather knockout 'wake-up call'
• So grateful I was at home, and not away in Manchester, or on a train when it happened.
• I do need to be more careful about sleep, and not overdoing things.
• I no longer have the stamina I had 40 years ago, I need to listen to my body
• Grateful to be surrounded by loving family and friends who have supported me, and prayed for me through all this rather scary experience.

Actions

• I've told the Teaching Agency I am not available for supply work till after half term
• Manchester trip to be rescheduled [Steph will be at Cornerstones with me in 4 weeks time anyway] 
• I'm saying "No" much more when people ask me to do things.
• The alarm clock is not set, so I sleep till I wake naturally [currently around 7.30am]
• I'm cutting down on late night screen-time, and avoid caffeine after 6pm

Results

• Less activity, more rest
• Less stress
• Better sleep
• Peace of mind

So now you know!