This is my first time in hospital as an adult. I have been here in isolation for over two weeks as the doctors discovered tuberculosis in my body. They reckon the TB could have been in my body for quite a while.
About 8 weeks ago I suddenly felt drained of all energy in the day, in the morning I felt fine. I drank a couple of beers between 8 and 10am as usual. Later that day around 2pm I was heading back to the Off Licence which is less than 5 minutes away when I suddenly felt drained and had to sit down. This happened again before I reached the Off Licence. I concluded that I had probably caught a virus although when I sat down with a couple of beers I felt fine. For 6 weeks after that walking just a short distance was an effort. I had realised weeks beforehand that I was ill but thought I could shrug it off. Finally I phoned an ambulance one evening and was admitted to hospital where they discovered the TB.
For 8 years now I have been drinking heavily, on average of 8 strong cans of Lager every day (I must ask the doctor how my liver looked) and drink with quite a few people either in their flat or basically anywhere as several people I know have no homes of their own including myself. As to how I caught TB I can only assume that I either caught it in the Day Centre which I frequent for a wash and cheap food or sitting with the several drinkers I know in the Marleybone area, one of which might have TB and not even know it.
I have been on medication for TB for 10 days now. I still do not feel 100 percent. My temperature is high virtually every morning so I have to take paracetamol which makes me sweat something terrible. After 10 days they are still taking blood samples most days as well as other samples so I can only presume I am still ill and the medication for the TB has not worked as hoped just yet, but I am sure it will be as the doctors and nurses know their stuff.
Almost 7 weeks now in an isolated room. My TB is still infectious due to the poor state of my left lung. My health at the moment varies from day to day but I certainly feel better than when I was first admitted. The doctors are happy that the drugs are working but as I am still infectious they cannot give me a date as to when I can leave the hospital.
Last week I went out on my own for a walk on the Monday and the Friday. On Monday I felt really fine and enjoyed being out in the fresh air. My leg was a bit stiff as I have a blood clot in my left leg. Apparently it is quite common for patients laid up in hospital to develop clots due to lack of activity. On the Friday however I made the same trip but felt tired and I realised I was not as fit as I thought I was so resigned myself to being in hospital for a while yet.
The hardest part of being in hospital is the boredom. The days seem interminable although I cannot believe how quickly the seven weeks have passed. It is harder still to look out of the window and see the sun shining and wishing I was in the park listening to my radio. Normally I would take a carry-out to the park but that will not be possible for a long time as my medication will continue long after I am released from hospital.
When I am finally released from hospital it will be hard to avoid drinking. I tend to drink out of boredom rather than necessity. The days seem much shorter while drinking even if I begin at 8am through till evening although obviously my health suffers as a result. It is not uncommon for me to go days without eating. As a result I feel really week and am often sick. What a life.
Reproduced with kind permission of the UK Coalition of PLW HIV/AIDS
