Well, I'm back and recovering from a collapsed lung! On Monday, I collapsed from excruciating chest pain, but being a guy i tried to sleep it off. After a night of no sleep because of the pain, I went and saw my GP, who did the usual check up then said I have to get to casualty quickly. So while my mum rushed me into casualty, he phoned ahead so i would be seen to.

They hooked me up to the usual machines and did blood tests. The blood tests made me pass out (not fun) because it hurt alot, I hadn't eaten for 6 hours and by then ahd lost a third of my oxygen intake for the last 24 hours. Then they did an X-ray of my chest and identified that I had pneumothorax - a collapsed lung. My left lung had 2/3 collapsed. So the doctor told me my options, and the best was to stick a needly into my chest and use a syringe to remove the air. So thats what they did, removing almost 2 litres of air from m chest cavity which reflated my lung. Then another x-ray to show if things improved, then they kept me in over night. Fortunately, I was able to go home the next day.

I wentfor a follow up x-ray today. There is still air around my left lung, but that should clear itself up, but i have to go for an x-ray in 10 days to see if it is better or worse. I will never be able to scuba dive, but fortunately that wasn't on one of my to-do lists for life as I hate water anyway. I also can't fly anywhere or do any strenuous activity for a month (oh no! An excuse to be lazy!!!! ) Luckily it shouldn't interfere with my plans to go to the USA this summer I was shocked to realise that had I not seen a doctor, I could have ended up in a coma from hypoxia (basically lack of oxygen in the blood) or even have died! =S

So now I shall take it easy for a bit. I won't be going into uni for a week or so, and it gives me a chance to do some layed back art work when I'm not sleeping! When I get my strength back properly (my chest still aches from having my lungs reflated) I want to try and be a bit more positive about my life and do a few things I wanted to do. it didn't take a near medical emergancy to make me realise I was wasting my life being unhappy, but hopefully it'll encourage me to do something about it!

Much love to you all! xXx Hope you're all doing alright!