Testimonies

E-coli O157 is an extremely silent, nasty but deadly bacteria. It lies dormant in your bowels for at least 1 week. Here is the diary of my illness:

Mon 1/8/11 - Woke up not feeling too good. Went about my usual routine, including going to work, not very hungry. Came home managed a little tea.

Tues 2/8/11 - Feeling sick and weak.

Wed 3/8/11 - Had the runs, small amounts. Came home from work early not feeling well at all. Couldnt face food.

Thur 4/8/11 - Feeling very rough. Went to work but every half an hour needed to go to the toilet. First it was the runs then just blood and clots. Home early. Every half hour through the night was up going to toilet, filling the loo with lots of blood and clots. Fed up now and extremely drained. Crawled back in bed and waited for the next bout. In a lot of pain.

Fri 5/8/11 - Midday still losing lots of blood so went to casualty where I was admitted. The problem with E.coli is its diagnosed too late. I have been near ALL the people youre not supposed to babies, Mum and my pregnant daughter ate from my fork. Sent home

Sat 6/8/11-Sun 7/8/11 - Mum came to see me.

Monday 8/8/11 - Phoned doctors at lunchtime for results. BOMBSHELL!!!! You have E.coli O157. Sorry theres nothing we can give you as you have the most deadly one of all. Antibiotics out of the question due to toxins the infection lets out. We need to keep an eye on your internal organs - kidneys in particular. One hour later the hospital called: Hi Karen this is A6 here we need you to come back to hospital for some bloods, shouldnt take more than 5 mins. 3.40 pm off i go. Passed from A & E to A6, then to a ward upstairs. Nine hours later Im still there. I confront a nurse who tells me Ive been re-admitted? At 9.00 pm bloods were taken. At 10.20 pm the doctor comes round: all is ok with your kidneys you can go home. I think: What, at this time of night? Absolutely disgusting the treatment I was given by the hospital. Why didnt A & E put me on an isolation ward instead of treating me the way they did??

Im recovering at home now a slow painful process.

I arranged an appointment with my GP for more blood tests on 19/8/11. On Saturday 13/8/11 received a bombshell letter from doctors: Due to unforeseen circumstances your appt has been cancelled. Whats going on??? This is my health and Im not happy with the lack of care. I feel no-one cares in the NHS and Im expected to suffer in silence.