Pneumonia & Bronchitis

A few days before the Port Dickson races I was well under the weather and piled straight to the doctors (because I'm dead sensible). I had a chest infection and he prescribed antibiotics. I asked him if I'd be well enough to race at the weekend and the doc said absolutely no problem!

I took all the medication and on the Friday before the race I felt just as bad. John Harrison (See England vs France - 11th March 2007 - he's the guy that gave me all the guns) suggested that if I still felt bad I should cancel the two races this weekend and focus on the following race in Singapore (especially as that was my focus race).

I made some witterings about yes I probably would cancel them and he was absolutely right, but just in case I'll go and see how I feel on the day anyway! Roughly translated, anyone that knows me knows that what I was actually saying was "Yeah, whatever, I'm doing the races alright!"

I think John understood what was going to happen so he mentioned that he'd tried to train through a chest infection once and ended up in hospital with Pneumonia! Wow I thought, a strapping guy like that with Pneumonia, I thought it was only old age pensioners and wimps that caught it! I then promptly dismissed it without another thought.

So to cut a long story short I did the Sprint distance race and came 3rd, below par and I could barely breath on the run. I also started the Olympic distance race the next day and pulled out on the run as I couldn't breath any longer.

Back to the doctors and another course of stronger antibiotics, canceled Singapore but still missed a few days off work over the next three weeks. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and went to the hospital for a chest X-ray. The doctor in emergency said it's either TB or Pneumonia - Aggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

I burst out into a cold sweat and nearly passed out (not quite but I felt weak at the knees and was suddenly sweating profusely). She said we have to admit you now and get a specialist to look at you and get some super strong antibiotics into you. "OK I said" in my little pathetic squeaky mousy voice that I only reserve for special occasions like this and proposing marriage (true - ask Shilpa).

Anyway, I've been here 24 hours now, my body has already rejected one type of antibiotic but I'm been pumped with no end of others intravenously. I had a CT scan this morning that confirmed the Pneumonia and Bronchitis plus I had the pleasure of an endoscopy where they stick a long rod down your nose and inspect you airways. I have a DVD of what they saw but my Mum suggested I didn't post that here - I've watched it and I can say it's fascinating albeit there's a lot of green flying around.

Looks like I'm going to be here for a few days but once it's sorted I should be right as rain and doing light training soon.

Oh Yeah - Yes John - YOU TOLD ME SO!