So Far So Good

It all started 3 months back when I felt pain in the lower abdomen. I thought, it might be due to some eating disorder and I ignored it. But the pain persisted and I was left with no other option but to see a doctor. Gosh! I just hate to go to hospitals and see doctors (no offence meant to doctor friends of mine). They give me the creeps and scare the hell out of me. Meeting a doctor in Japan involved other apprehensions also like whether he will understand the problem that I am facing and will he be able to solve it? (Please do not forget the language issue with me)

Anyways, went to the hospital and what happened after that is history.

Visit1: My first meeting with the doctor. Luckily, he was able to speak English though I took a friend along with me who could speak good Japanese. He told me that I had an infection and gave me antibiotics accordingly.

I was happy to hear that nothing major was wrong and took that antibiotic course for 5 days. After 5 days, pain was still there and I was still sad. Nevertheless, I still went to see the doctor again.

Visit2: This time it was a different doctor and he said I had a stone. I was a little worried on hearing this but he assured me that it’s no big deal and we will dissolve the stone with medicines and remove it. In any case he asked me to get the basic tests done including sonography.

I obeyed like a good boy. Got all tests done and went to see doctor again

Visit3: A different doctor. “I don’t think you have stone, I think you have appendicitis.” My plain and simple reaction was “WHAT THE FUCK!!! Every time I come here, you scare me more and more. Why don’t you make up your mind first and then tell me what’s the matter with me”. Anyways, I didn’t say any of it to him coz he seemed to be trying to help me. He gave me some medicines and asked me to visit after 2 weeks.

I met him again after 2 weeks. He was not very sure about appendicitis and asked me to wait for some more time. He said, “I think it’s because of some eating disorder.” (Don’t even ask what my reaction was.)

2.5 months passed, spent around 500 USD but the pain was still hanging in there (Made for each other types) and my worries were at their best. At last, I begged my manager to let me go to India a week early than my scheduled trip so that I can see doc as soon as possible. The story with him is a different story altogether and I don’t even want to start with it, for now.

Reached India (Apy very Happy), and went to see the doctor (a General surgeon). I was again asked to go through all the same tests. I obeyed. I was happy to be back in the hands of good old Indian doc. My reports came out to be all normal. He ‘felt’ that I had appendicitis. He asked me if I had insurance, I affirmed. I was asked to get admitted and get a CT scan done. I obeyed. CT scan was also normal but he said he still had a ‘feeling’ that it was appendicitis. He said, “We could do a diagnostic laparoscopy (for those who don’t know, it is drilling a hole in your abdomen, sticking up a telescope in it and finding out what is wrong). In any case we will take out appendix.” I was not very sure about this. My dad was not at all in favor of cutting into, just for diagnosis. So, called another doctor (my friend’s uncle) for second opinion, told him the complete story and he too was not in favor of this diagnosis.

I was still admitted to hospital and nurse had put I.V. in. My parents were with me all the time and all of us were scared like hell. I got a little rude at times to them for which I feel sorry. “Sorry Mom! Sorry Dad!” I didn’t mean to hurt you, was just as scared as you and didn’t know how to react at times.

Even though I had come to hospital on my own, spending a night in that room made me say to myself, “Thakur to giyo!!"
Ah! I totally forgot to mention about the antibiotics that doctor had asked me to take when I met him the first time. The pain seemed to be subsiding.

It was D-day and doctor arrived. I made him talk to my doctor and he explained the complete story to him. After that, decision was left to me. I decided to not go for it. The pain subsided completely in the next few days and for a change I felt good.

I still don’t know whether I took the right decision or not but as per my belief, “Whatever happens, happens for good”; I have left it to God.