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Published: December 15th 2007
I know the blog has been pretty quiet this week. Last Sunday I was getting things all organized to write about a wonderful rendez-vous with a friend from Keating (the lovely Sandra Perdeaux) in San Juan and I was getting the ship's address for you and I was going to post everything Monday. But then drama hit.
Monday I was in ridiculous pain. Abdominal pain so bad I couldn't walk without pain. I stopped in the infirmary but the nurse didn't have any suggestions besides continue taking my ibuprofen and come see the doctor later that night. So I got off the ship in St. Thomas and started my scuba training. Terri, one of the social hosts, is doing the training with me. We went to Coki Beach on the north side of the island and started with the Coki Beach Dive club. The dive was great. For an intro dive we saw so much. All these fish, so many different kinds and colours. Terri and I were saying we need to get a book about different types of fish so we can say what we see, rather than just list colours. But there were lots of coral too and even an octopus! However, I must admit that I am a nervous diver. It's such a mental mess-up for me. I just could not get my brain to accept that it's okay to breathe under water. I just felt really on edge the whole time. I'm determined to get over this fear and to continue my training. But I need to do another intro dive before I continue with the under water training. Meanwhile, we got our books and videos and booked in to continue training next week.
Back to the ship we went, me still in pain. In the water, I didn't really feel it, or I was just too distracted. But every bloody bump in the road hurt. Monday night I went into the infirmary and the doctor gave me antibiotics and painkillers, took me off work, sent me to bed and said to call him in the middle of the night if I got worse, otherwise come in the morning. Lots of "running" (painful walking) around the ship as I tried my best to explain to a social host in 10 minutes how the run my program and the ins & outs of the club itself. To bed and I crashed.
Tuesday morning, I went back to the infirmary. Not as bad of shape, but still hurting. I spent all day Tuesday in the ship's infirmary being pumped with painkillers and antibiotics on an IV. By Tuesday evening, they were most worried it was appendicitis because the pain was most focused on my lower right side, though it was almost completely gone. Other theories were some sort of infection or possibly extreme digestive problems. I spent Tuesday night in the infirmary and did my best to sleep.
Wednesday morning, though the pain was nearly entirely gone, I was taken to the hospital in Barbados for testing about what was going on. I was admitted to the hospital and the ship left without me. I spent Wednesday and Thursday nights in the hospital in Barbados, as the ship went on without me. Lots of tests, finally a diagnoses and then lots more antibiotics and fluid through the IV. I don't have anything life threatening, just an irritation that antibiotics are clearing up and a condition I'll need to follow up on and keep a watch on. No surjury was needed.
The whole time in the hospital, I didn't have any pain. Except for what was induced by the testing itself! I was poked and prodded every which way possible. I have bruises all over my hands and arms from all the IVs and needles. The staff were great and did their job very well, but they didn't have the most gentlest of touches. I always hurt when they came in the room. The worst of it all was just the mental stuff. I was alone, scared, tired, in pain and without distraction from any of that. Other than my book. A trilogy which in two days I read the frist two books and a good chunk of the third. All I could do is sleep and think about the worst case of everything and then try to read to distract myself. I felt like everything was mocking me. Across the hall from my room was the nurses station and the nursery. Whether it was the nurses laughing, the babies crying or the constant Christmas music, it all just made me think of things that further upset me. It was awful. Sorry to be negative, but it really was.
Thankfully though, I can say it's over. I was released from the hospital this afternoon and now I'm at a hotel in Barbados. This afternoon I got clearance to return to the ship. I cried with joy at that news. I was afraid they were going to send me home and my travels would be cut short when they'd barely begun. Tonight I learned that on Sunday they're flying me out to meet up with the ship in San Juan. I physically feel fine and am just relieved to be out of the hospital and going back to the ship. I have an intense determination to get everything possible out of being there. Not only is the time limited, but the opportunity could suddenly be taken away at any time.
So that's why I've been silent on the blog all week. Sorry to be silent and then just show up with a medical drama! But that my friends, is the story.
Looking forward to more exciting adventures to tell . . .
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Julia C.
non-member comment
GEEZ!
holy hannah! what a story! i'm relieved to hear that you are alright, but that must have been terrifying to go through alone :( Keep on keepin' on my friend, you are one tough cookie!