I get to the doctor's office, a 3 minute walk from my school. The nurse checks me in and then hands me a plastic drinking cup. She points me to the bathroom and explains the drill- in German. Thank goodness I know the drill. Next, I wait about five minutes and the doctor calls me back. I start to explain my symptoms and she says that doesn't sound right. She has me lay down and starts pressing on my stomach. Starting on the left and moving to the right... OUCH! My right side is so tender and painful when she pushes. She explains to me that she thinks it's my appendix. I immediately break into tears. One, I'm to go on this trip and one teacher is already sick. Second, I have never been in the hospital other than visiting someone else. No surgeries, no broken bones, no scares. I can only imagine them putting the mask over my face and everything turns black.
She gets me off the table and calls the on-call doctor at the hospital she recommends. While she is waiting, the doctor asks me is there a friend you can call. I reply through snuffles, "Yes, I'll call a friend." She goes to ask boyfriend? partner? I thought, "Stop! You are making it worse!" HA!
My phone battery was low so I stopped at the school before finding my way to the hospital. I thought if I'm having surgery I need to call my dad. Of course, I'm still a mess because at this point I'm still going alone to the hospital. My colleagues are still in a meeting but one stops by my room while I try to gather my stuff. She offers to drive me to the hospital. I am so beyond thankful! I was thinking drop me off and I'll be OK. But she stayed the whole time!
So the hospital is a six minute drive away. We get there and I forgot about paperwork and answering questions... Thankfully, my colleague and friend, A. is bilingual and she helped me translate everything! I was really trying to stay calm so as I do when I'm really nervous- I make jokes. A and I joked about how we work so hard and now look - we are in a hospital. She took a photo for me to remember my first trip to the hospital.
So I got in and they made me again take a urine sample. Then they informed me that they would take "some" blood. Ha! Six to seven tubes later he was done. I thought it would never end. They left the needle in my arm in case I would need to be given medicine. This way they only would stick me once.
Now it came time to wait. We had to wait for my tests before really moving forward. While we waited, I called my dad and was texting about four people in Berlin; one being Carlie. Carlie said she would come around 7. In the waiting room, I noticed a Bible versus on the wall. I don't see that very often in Berlin and I asked A about it. She said this a Christian hospital. How cool! Maybe my doctor saw my cross or maybe she is a Christian too or maybe it's just the hospital she feels safe with. I don't know but I felt so much peace when I learned that.
To make sure every possible avenue was considered, the doc also had me see the gynaecologist. So I'm in with the gynaecologist when Carlie arrives. I was surprised when I saw her because she didn't call or text me to find out where I was. (This is the best part!) I saw how did you know- she responds with, "I asked." Oh obviously! She goes on to tell me, "I gave your name and he was about to look you up but then I said you don't speak very much German. He responded immediately that you were on the 2nd floor!" HAHAHA! Everyone knew where the English speaking girl was in the hospital.
So A left and Carlie stayed. Carlie and I waited about five minutes before my tests must have come back. Through this whole process A was allowed to be with me but when I was called back Carlie had to wait. It was strange but OK. I felt pretty certain they weren't going to take out my appendix because the gynaecologist showed me all my test were fine, perfect even. But as I turn the corner, there is a surgeon in all green. I thought oh no! She checked me out without saying yes or no until the very end. Finally, she said no I don't think so but if it gets worse come back. She thought it could be a virus. No other explanation.
They removed the needle, gave me a letter, and sent me on my way with the strong reminder if it feels worse at all- come back! Don't wait.
The next day I went to see the doctor. She said she wasn't convinced that it isn't my appendix because when she checked out my stomach again I jumped out of my skin. I wasn't expecting so much pain. Also, she stated you don't look like you have a virus. She told me that she'll give me until Monday and if I'm still hurting then I need to have it removed.
It's now Thursday afternoon and I'm feeling better. The pressure seems to be gone and I have a bit of a headache but that's about it. I'll keep you posted. For now, I'll stay in bed until Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment