A week ago today (Thursday) I was discharged from the local hospital here in Bradford, the Bradford Royal Infirmary. I left with three stapled holes in my tummy and a pack of paracetamol. It started with tummy pains I was feeling all Monday, finally localising to my right side. The pain was pretty close to unbearable by late evening so I asked two of my flatmates, Danielle and Ahmed, to get a taxi with me to the hospital.
After an hour and a half of waiting patiently in pain, I twice went to the nurse's desk, nearly lying on her desk, initially pleasant later more aggressive, asking (demanding?) what time I'm to see the doctor. Finally, after a dramatic but completely true to life episode in front of the nurse's desk, they took me to the back to a bed where I could be checked and pumped with some morphine.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up being completely doped up with painkillers in the hospital until Thursday. I was told at first it might be appendicitis, then I was told it was not, then I was told it probably was and that they needed to do some keyhole surgery (laparoscopy or something like that). As it turns out it was not appendicitis but a ruptured cyst that caused some problems. On Wednesday night, they performed the surgery and a week later I'm healing well.
My flatmate Danielle spent everyday with me at the hospital, although I was hardly conscious of her or anything going on around me. I also had a few other friends who kept me company and took care of me even after I was discharged. My mom flew in from Vancouver on Saturday and stayed until Wednesday to nurse me back to health. And now, I'm pretty much functioning at regular capacity, although the staples on the three holes of my tummy won't be coming out until Monday.
I'm glad I didn't have to stay much longer in that hospital although the nurses and others were kind to me. It's not a happy place at the best of times.
November 24, 2005
November 18, 2005
Bradford and the NHS
I was discharged from the Bradford Royal Infirmary yesterday afternoon after a few days of pain, morphine and finally laparoscopy (?). But more on that later.
Bradford, the city I now live in, is in the front news of the BBC. One cop was shot and killed, another seriously injured. Check out the news. Bradford gets some bad press and a lot of bad jibes. And unfortunately this episode is another one of those bad press reports that will stick in the minds people's minds in relation to Bradford. Condolences to the families of the victims.
I also do want to note that there are also some positives in Bradford this week. It is the Bradford Peace Festival, where today and tomorrow (among other things these past two weeks) there will be a stall, with activities in the Rawson Old Market between 11am-4pm. If I feel able to wander around the city, I will head over there and see what's going on.
Bradford, the city I now live in, is in the front news of the BBC. One cop was shot and killed, another seriously injured. Check out the news. Bradford gets some bad press and a lot of bad jibes. And unfortunately this episode is another one of those bad press reports that will stick in the minds people's minds in relation to Bradford. Condolences to the families of the victims.
I also do want to note that there are also some positives in Bradford this week. It is the Bradford Peace Festival, where today and tomorrow (among other things these past two weeks) there will be a stall, with activities in the Rawson Old Market between 11am-4pm. If I feel able to wander around the city, I will head over there and see what's going on.
November 07, 2005
time to read??
It's reading break and in order for me to make the most academic use of the reading break (as probably what it was intended for), I created a schedule for myself. Day one of reading break and I'm already a few chapters behind...
Nonetheless it's been a productive day. I ran a few errands, some of which I procrastinated to do until today. Also, I went to the first planning meeting with a few colleagues to begin discussing our trip to Kosovo. The department is offering two study trips this year - one to Sri Lanka and one to Northern Ireland. The trip to Sri Lanka is open for about 10 people and all those interested had their names in a hat and unfortunately, I was not picked. I am thrilled though that those of us who were disappointed about being the Sri Lankan rejects decided to plan a trip to Kosovo at the initiation of one of my colleagues. I am in fact, more interested in going to Kosovo than to Sri Lanka. We are at the very preliminary stages of planning but I have high hopes that this trip will be an educational, cultural and FUN experience.
Now back to reading break. I will accomplish the goals I set out for this week. I hope I am able to focus because it's my opportunity to do some of the reading on my reading list and to finally be able to go to lectures prepared.
Nonetheless it's been a productive day. I ran a few errands, some of which I procrastinated to do until today. Also, I went to the first planning meeting with a few colleagues to begin discussing our trip to Kosovo. The department is offering two study trips this year - one to Sri Lanka and one to Northern Ireland. The trip to Sri Lanka is open for about 10 people and all those interested had their names in a hat and unfortunately, I was not picked. I am thrilled though that those of us who were disappointed about being the Sri Lankan rejects decided to plan a trip to Kosovo at the initiation of one of my colleagues. I am in fact, more interested in going to Kosovo than to Sri Lanka. We are at the very preliminary stages of planning but I have high hopes that this trip will be an educational, cultural and FUN experience.
Now back to reading break. I will accomplish the goals I set out for this week. I hope I am able to focus because it's my opportunity to do some of the reading on my reading list and to finally be able to go to lectures prepared.
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