Please do not worry. All is ok.

Just to explain the way it is.

A week ago I realised bladder infection was back. That is normal.

For me.

This is how it goes.

Symptoms start:

Its always a Friday. Hopeless

Daniel took sample to GP as we are still in our country rental, whoever is going into town does the chores. Unfortunately I did not clarify the instructions.

My record shows that the sample must go to lab. do not dipstick do not contaminate do not leave out of the fridge. Send to lab. I have a letter. Daniel took the letter.

Just in case …because historically this all goes wrong I also organised a private test. That involves me going to London and taking it to the lab myself. That is ok. On this occasion I added in a blood test at NHS-land .

A phone call on Wednesday whilst I was in my car…with my brother. A really nice urgent care nurse rang. The usual crap. Kidneys ? No. One. Symptoms? Left side. Disposable catheter…. ….God you could not make it up. She gave up. Your sample is contaminated. It has mixed growth.

It is often mixed growth and unless YOU have contaminated it do not accuse me. Do not make me feel like I have deliberately done it wrong. With a catheter it is difficult to contaminate.

A GP will call you she finally decided.

Thursday. nothing.

Friday. After a chaotic start to the day…I got home , Joined a meeting. Because actually I do have a bit of a life. Saw a message. You have a GP appointment at 12.00 Like what on earth was I supposed to do. The o another message. I have tried to call you please stay by your phone. Make sure it is

on loud. Hey. I did not agree to this appointment. Eventually the phone did indeed ring. The line was terrible. Signal here is awful. Some GP man told me I had contaminated the sample. i established I had not. He acknowledged the sample should be extended tested.

He told me it should be red top not white top. DOH.

I have to re do the sample.

How on earth would Daniel know. Why is that not on my record. Why does it take a whole week to establish the error. It’s not Daniel ‘s error it is their error.

Into the rescue flies Jerome. He is not meant to be at work. He has the private result. We have the sensitivities. I have switched antibiotics and hope this will work. There is no point in doing another GP sample…I have started the antibiotics so the sample would be useless.

Its not just me. I know lots of others who dont have the support of a Jerome. We will change this., We will. I’ve just been invited to an event at Westminster next week …all about urinary tract infections…UTI…watch this space. I will tell them how it, is.