I had enjoyed my day with my family but I could not get sleep that night. As I embraced in the arms of my love, I desired to accumulate all the love that could help me bear the pain going through my body.(I actually amassed quite a handful). Next morning, I had reached the hospital a little late than expected, not for the fear, but for the traffic in Delhi. The day started fine, some diagnosis, a few tests and there I was enjoying the cosy bed of the hospital, with my family.
Little did I realize the suffering of patients alongside my bed. I was dreaming in my own world …thinking sometimes to come out more knowledgeable from the OT. I can (maybe) bug a few doctors to tell me more about our body (I have always been fascinated by the human body). There was some tension in the air and more so, on the face of my family members. I could not understand what that signified. Finally I went through some of the preliminary diagnostic tests (conducted in one of the most unprofessional way) which were fun for me. I was told that these would be used in the OT to help surgeons find the coordinates of the kidney stone. Most people in the hospital were young and energetic but lacked that zing that can bring a smile on a patients face! My turn came and finally (at 1245 hrs) I went to the operation theatre. The lift was bumpy, chair uncomfortable, people staring at me ……. in that short journey to the OT!
The surgeons were ready. Amused, I sat on the bed….curiously looking at the various equipments that assisted them. One of the anesthetist, came from behind, held me and injected into my back. Another one to follow and I was crying with pain….with a smile on my face. The last big one was the one that could bring tears to a beast …. inserted painfully into my spinal cord. And I was no longer amused.
Immediately, I could recall the experiences of people telling me their horrifying tales of operations. A thick fluid of anesthesia had flowed through my body in a matter of seconds and my lower part of the body became numb. There was no feeling, no pain and I could not even realize that my body had been lifted by the surgeons. They had starting operating on me even before I could realize it.
Immediately, I could recall the experiences of people telling me their horrifying tales of operations. A thick fluid of anesthesia had flowed through my body in a matter of seconds and my lower part of the body became numb. There was no feeling, no pain and I could not even realize that my body had been lifted by the surgeons. They had starting operating on me even before I could realize it.
A series of monitors displaying various parts of the body and continuous scans, deliberately moved away from the patient’s vision. I could no longer feel any pain but something piercing through my body was evident. After about 40 mins, they turned me back on my stomach and drilled through my kidney. They were glad that they could reach to the kidney stone and after a few attempts managed to get hold of it. The sensation was there, numbness had declined and I could feel the pain of instruments going through my body. I was feeling drowsy, but my curiosity to know more about my body over powered it and I did not fell asleep, as most surgeons had expected.
After battling for almost 2 hours I came out of the OT(on a stretcher), at 1435, bruised and bandaged for good. All of my closest companions gathered around to see me and asked me to rest and sleep. I wasn’t getting any. The legs were still heavy and I was unable to move or lift them. As time passed, the movement started building and so did the pain…. a different kind of pain! The irony was quite interesting, to control the pain after the surgery pain killer injections needs to be administered, which themselves cause a lot of pain. I was bold and often tried to forget the pain. I got motivation from those soldiers who are fighting for us and often bear the pain for their country with a valour. My pain seemed miniscule in front of them and I could easily overcome that. My mom wanted to stay with me that night and everyone agreed.(...given her unconditional love and strong emotions, no one on this earth could have refused!) The night was difficult, no sleep, lot of pain, poorly administered syringes and above all the inconvenience that I had caused to all the family members.
The next day was worse …. with long stretches of intense pain and a list of relatives and well wishers who came to see me. The combination was lethal. Lots of pain and discomfort had my body screaming and screeching (inside me) and I could no longer hide it …. it began showing on my face. A lot of pain in the kidney and convulsions in my stomach were a little too much for me to bear.
Everyone around was tensed and worried. I could sense those worries in the air and only later did I realize that the uncomfortable feeling was amalgamated in the hospital air. All the patients in the hospital have had their share of suffering and pain and not one had a smile on their face……..…so I decided to keep one!
Everyone around was tensed and worried. I could sense those worries in the air and only later did I realize that the uncomfortable feeling was amalgamated in the hospital air. All the patients in the hospital have had their share of suffering and pain and not one had a smile on their face……..…so I decided to keep one!
As the day progressed, there were moments of intense pain and troubles. But the day ended and I had my beautiful wife beside me to take care of me that night. The condition was improving by the end of the day… had some food and could also get sleep after a brief talk with her. The next morning, I woke up fresh after a good night’s sleep…. sleeping almost after 2 nights. The pain had decreased, but the bandages were making it uncomfortable for me to even sit or move around.
After an initial round of discussion with the doctor and a review of the incision by the panel of doctors, I got discharged from the hospital and was allowed to go back home.
My first stay as a patient in the hospital has fetched a mixed bag of feelings. Doctors are considered next to Gods in our country and they may be right, but among those human Gods are demons hiding too.
A disease brings with it enormous suffering for the patient and family, financial casualty, mental distress, horrifying experiences and a lot of learnings....
13 September 2010
