Blogging these days must be done on mobile, most of the time interrupted too. I meant to continue the previous entry but it was getting too long anyway.

And so, I was warded. At 1 am. I saw a sign saying their wards were full & was hoping they’d ask me to return the next day but apparently they had a bed for me. One by the window. I was strangely not creeped out. The patient in front of me was on a nebuliser. I wondered if I had to put up with that every night. But hey this is a hospital after all right? What did I expect?! I went to sleep after changing into the hospital garb, my sleep intermittently disrupted by nursed checking my blood pressure & body temperature.

The next day, doctors came, a few groups actually. I was told I had to go for an ultrasound scan, not an antenatal one though, but one to determine if I had gallstones in the urm, gallbladder. I couldn’t eat or drink at all. All I had was an intravenous drip to keep me hydrated. I didn’t feel that hungry but I felt rather weak. And I felt envious of the other patients who could eat, including my 88-year old neighbour on the next bed! I was just thankful I was used to fasting, so I just persevered.

I had stones alright. Gallstones. When I googled on it, I realized the symptoms I had were spot on! And all the while I thought I had stress-induced reflux.

So what was next? I had to go through an ERCP. Essentially it was a scope placed through your mouth. The doctor will then attempt to fish the stone out, or flush it downwards. This procedure was scheduled for late morning the following day so that meant no food till then. Sigh. But actually I was so worried about the procedure! All I could do was pray for strength. They said I’d feel sleepy so I hoped that’d help.

11 am came & I was sent down for the 30 min procedure. I felt sleepy but I was awake throughout the whole thing. Was spluttering like crazy when the scope was inserted. I felt it going through my gut. The stone had liquified so doc pushed the sludge down. He explained a bit after the procedure and that was when I started getting sleepy. When I reached the ward I told hubby I was sleepy & I also told the surgeon the same thing when he came for a visit. Then I must’ve slept till near magrib.

And when I woke up, I had my first meal! It was just soup & some jelly but those had gotta be one of the best meals of my life after “fasting” for almost 48 hours. Adam came later & he said the soup was nice. (??!)

By the next day my blood test results had become better, alhamdulillah. Showed my liver was returning to normal.

I also had my first proper food in 2 days. Been having clear feeds as they wanted to see how my tummy could take the scope.

I was told I could go home & rest if my blood test results continued to get better.

I prayed hard and by late morning, I was told I could be discharged since the liver test was getting better. So thankful! I felt like a kid who had just been given permission to go to the playground. I knew then how chaotic it was to gain access to the visitors cards at the entrance of the lift to wards! Collected my medicine, my dad & Adam came to fetch me. I was going home!