Good to be back !

@Anniedup (3651)
Richards Bay, South Africa
January 12, 2008 2:28am CST
Just to let you all know I am back from my holiday. It was wonderful to see my daughter, and we enjoyed it tremendously. It was just way too short. I landed up in hospital with Meningitis. It was 8 days of my vacation that I would rather forget. I started feeling ill 2 days before Christmas, but thought it was just a cold , after all we left Richardsbay with temperatures of 36 C and when we got to the UK it was bitterly cold, and I assumed I just had a bad case of the flu. We went to Monkey World in Dorset, and while we were there I started feeling very ill, on our way back to London we stopped at the Hospital so a doctor could check me out. I had a fever of a 104 and my head wanted to explode, long story short I was diagnosed with Meningitis and had to receive a CT scan and lumbar puncture (spinal tap) what a scary business ! I was hospitalized for 6 days and had to receive a truck load of antibiotics. I am still a bit wobbly but will live. I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. I wish you a prosperous and profitable New Year. Thank you for your continued support while I was away. As soon as things are back to normal I will upload some pictures that I took while on vacation. Love Annie
2 people like this
10 responses
@jerryn (819)
• United States
16 Jan 08
Hi Annie, Glad you are back and doing well. The human body is good at springing surprises on us. My older brother had a bout with Meningitis a year ago and he's doing fine now. Looking forward to seeing the pictures. May 2008 be a fruitful one for you. All my best, Jerryann
1 person likes this
@jerryn (819)
• United States
3 Feb 08
Better late than never Annie. Glad to know your alert is back up and you're doing much better. I'm doing well, I've been busy getting things organized around the house because I'm returning to work on 2-4-08. It's been 2 years that I couldn't work because of my cancer journey. I give all praises to God for bringing me through the whole ordeal.
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@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
Hi there Jerryn, I am sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. I hope you are fine, I am much better now, and will upload the pictures today, hopefully, time is my enemy these days. Will speak soon now that my alerts are back on. Love Annie xx
• United States
15 Jan 08
Annie! You are back! I cannot believe what I just read. Six days in the hospital? I am so glad you are back and doing better. I have been sick since December 27th. At first, I thought it was allergies. Then last Friday, I could not take anymore...the headache was continuous and coughing. I finally went to the doctor. She said I had bronchitis and wanted me to get an x-ray for pnemonia. The x-ray is back and it indicates that I do not have either. The nurse said it must be a viral infection. I am on meds and getting better. I lost 10 pounds in one week. Hard to keep food in. Welcome home, sweetie!
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
Hi there Yessie,I am sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. It was a scary business, but I am fine now. Yessie I am so sorry to hear you aren't well, Joep and I also have this persistent cough, we are going to see a nose and throat specialist next week because since we came back from the UK we have been coughing. I miss something to terrible at yuwie, please try and visit there more often it is very exciting now. Lots of hugs and kisses, speak soon and take care of yourself ! Love Annie xxxxxx
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Feb 08
Hi Annie, that is how is started for me...the persistent cough...get to the doctor, you never know what it is. Let me know what he or she says. The sooner you start taking the meds, the sooner it will be over. Will be over at Yuwvie on Tuesday night. Hugs! Yessie
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jan 08
Goodness Annie! I would say welcome back but I think that would be gross anticlimax. Well golly welcome back anyway. Can you pack more drama into one vacation. Wow! Wonderful to hear your time with your daughter was fulfilling though short as you say. I'm sure every moment was precious and cherished. So sorry to hear of your unwanted Christmas presents. Meningitis, CT scan, spinal tap and truck load of antibiotics. I thought I got crappy gifts. I will surely count my blessings now. To bad you can make a film with Frank Capra and call it. "It's a Wonderful Recovery." I wish your family all the best in this new year. No more visits to Monkey World. It sounds like it may be the culprit. Good thing you caught the infectious form of Meningitis. LOL ‹(°¿°)›
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
I am sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work.It was a scary business, and a terrible sickness. You made me laugh I couldn't have summed it up better. You are right it was one of those cliche's I can count myself lucky it was the viral one and not the bacterial one. But I am my old self again, and received a nice bill last week to remind me of the whole ordeal. 2120 British pound $4,165.5860, in ZAR R29680.00 which is a helluva lot of money because our rand is so much weaker against the pound. Anyway they treated me just fine so I will have to cough up. Nice chatting to you again Keep well Love Annie xx
• United States
3 Feb 08
Thanks for the vote Annie. See you, I mean talk to, no wait, chat with you soon. Oh whatever. I fear but yet am compelled to come back to the dark side. ‹(°¿°)›
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 08
(((((((((((((annie))))))))))))))))) Welcome home Sweetie. I got so excited to see this post then nearly had tears in my eyes for you. What a horrible way to spend your vacation. so serious an infection. I am so glad to see you are home again. I hope to enjoy your company once again as my time seems to be lightening up some. I have missed you. Again hon I am so glad you are doing alright. Christmas at my home was wonderful. Talk soon Tammi
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@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
7 Feb 08
Talk about tears, you had me in tears now, I was quite worried. I visited your page at yuwie and there was no-one home :( I hope to see you there more often, I am back here because of a few stubborn friends lol ! Who just don't want to join me at yuwie sigh.... They are tiring me out !!! Speak soon ((hugz))
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
17 Jan 08
How awful for you Annie dear. That must have been a very disconcerting experience. At least you had your family close by and that must have been a comfort. I so hope you are feeling more the thing now and I look forward to your photos.
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
Hi there my friend, I am sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. It was an ordeal and a half, but I am fine now. I am going to try and upload some of them today. We only took a few with the still camera and mainly used the video camera. I will still select some off there to post. I just love London and all the old buildings they are masterpieces ! Keep well and speak soon !
• Saudi Arabia
16 Jan 08
Hi there Annie, nice to see you back... Sorry for what you had to pass thru' I mean going back and forth 2 doctors and hospitals is never a pleasant thing to do, hope things are getting better with you now. We missed your presence here very much. Lately I haven't been online as much as I used to be, I did pass thru' some personal circumstances, I was sick and moreover my brother passed away. I mean it wasn't easy at all. Anyway, I am glad you saw your daughter, and looking forward to hear from you, regards to hubby. Thank you xxxxx
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
Hi there my friend, I am sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. I am so sorry to hear about your brother. It is a terrible thing to loose a loved one. And I am sorry to hear you wear ill, hope it is going better now. I will try and upload some of the pic's today. Have a wonderful week, speak soon ! Your friend Annie xxx
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
12 Jan 08
Good Morning from Kansas, Annie. Thank goodness you were willing to stop by at the Hospital! I am such a stubborn person, I can see where I would be reluctant to do so on a trip. Do they have any idea where you contracted Meningitis? I am looking forward to your pictures, and I am glad to see you posting here because with my limited time this is where I tend to post and be more so than other sites. I am interested, what is Monkey World? It sounds interesting. My daughter was here from Minnesota for Christmas, and I enjoyed the grandbaby a lot. Hope you continue to recover and soon are feeling one hundred percent again.
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
Hi there my friend sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. I am just a stubborn, but in fact I left it to late, because of the severe climate change (we left SA in 38 degrees Celsius 100f and it was -3 degrees in London) I thought I was getting the flu. The symptoms can be similar to those of the common flu. I promise you at one stage I thought my head was going to explode. Thank heavens it was the viral one and not the bacterial one. I think I caught it on one of the tour buses. It was jam packed with tourist from every nook and cranny over the world, from Ghana to Italy :) Monkey world is a Ape Rescue Center and they assist governments to stop the smuggling of primates from the wild. At the Center the refugees of this barbaric trade are rehabilitated into natural living groups. Their program is called 'Monkey Business’ which airs on the Animal Planet channel. It was suppose to have been the highlight of my trip, as I have donated and supported them for so long and was going to meet Dr. Alison Cronin and Jeremy. But because of my illness we had to leave earlier, but I did get to meet Jeremy ! He is operations manager and a fantastic human being. I am glad you had a good time with your daughter and the baby. I will have to scoot, there is just not enough time in my day ! :) Take care and will speak soon. Love Annie xx
@maxsee212 (799)
• United States
13 Jan 08
i am happy that you are well. last christmas i went to visit my family for a week. it was the greatest thing that happened to me within 12 months. i have not seen my family for a year since i joined the armed forces. i was so happy to see them and they to see me. i missed my sister for she was very supportive and helpful on whatever i wanted to do in life. missed my brother for he was supportive too in a way that he always reminds me the things that were important in life and what i could do to make life more entertaining. i missed my dad because he reminds me of be myself because of his hardheadedness. i enjoyed christmas with family and just being with them made my christmas great. we ate goat cooked in different kinds of cooking.
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
I am sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. I am so glad you enjoyed your time with your family. Take care.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
12 Jan 08
Welcome back Annie. Oh, my it must have been so scary to get Meningitis but you have lived through this. Wow! Well done for fighting this terrible illness and winning. It must have been lovely to see your daughter and begin your vacation. Of course with the chilly weather you thought that you had a cold. What an awful Christmas present you must have thought! But it was a lot more serious than that. I wish you a very Happy New Year. Take care. It would be lovely to see some of the pictures you took on your vacation.
1 person likes this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
2 Feb 08
Hi there my friend sorry for responding so late but for some reason my email alert didn't work. You are so right I thought I had the flu because of the severe climate change, and normally when I am anxious and looking forward to something I get the darn flu, maybe just a coincidence but I get ill nevertheless. It was so wonderful to see my daughter and she is coming down to see me in April. This time I will stock up on all sorts to prevent my psychological illness lol !
@enbrown (282)
• United States
13 Jan 08
You are very lucky to be ok!
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