OK – today I definitely need to go to the hospital and also change hotels! After breakfast I got a taxi to Lusaka Hotel – found it on the internet and then also spoke to Scott who said a few of the guys were booked in there. I had also researched the local hospitals on the internet and found one which looked really nice – however the taxi driver decided to take me someplace else – but it seemed to be a brand new facility, looked really nice so I decided to go for it!!
After a short chat with the doctor he gave me a proper examination – unlike the previous guy who just did the blood tests. The doctor said my stomach was definitely swollen and recommended that I was admitted for further tests and to get things sorted!! Yes – why not? At least I can be tested for everything!! I returned to the hotel to check out and grab my belongings. The hospital had really wanted 3000000 (local currency) as a deposit but I was only able to withdraw 1000000 – but this they accepted anyway!
Never having stayed in a hospital before it felt kind of strange – but as it turned out was quite nice! I was taken into the nurse’s room for blood tests and to have an IV fitted – unfortunately the nurse did not seem 100% confident in what she was doing – she kept going back and forth, getting stuff ready, calling in the doctor ….. Didn’t really set my mind at ease!! She sat me in a chair and had all sorts of things lined up it seemed – then she poked the IV in my arm – wiggling it around – really painful! It was making me feel really sick and faint! I really thought I was going to be sick all over the floor at one stage! Finally I told her “Look I need to be lying down” “Just let me finish” she kept saying! “No I need to lie down” “Just a minute, just a minute” Finally I just stood up and went over to the bed – fortunately as soon as I lay down I began to feel better! – even though she had to keep poking and pushing in my arm!! After all the blood samples and all the injections they took me off to the ward. It was really nice – there were two beds but I was on my own there! There was a huge flat screen TV on the wall. They sat me down and left me to it – unfortunately there was no internet access and no phone – I really felt I should try to contact Scott and let him know where I was – and really would have liked to contact mum as well. So I asked for a phone and a very kind lady lent me her own mobile phone – I made a quick call to Scott telling him where I was and then the credit ran out – I couldn’t very well ask for more could I? So it was a bit weird being there without any communication!! Very relaxing though and kind of pleasant – I sat and watched some movies. They brought me some dinner which I was able to eat – my drip just dripping away slowly all the time! The only problem was my fingers and arm really hurt from the IV. Later, about 7/8 pm and I was really hungry again. A nurse came and asked me if I needed anything so I asked for some water and was it possible to have a snack? The kitchen apparently was closed but she promised to send the lady from the coffee shop over. This happened and when I asked what they had she replied” Pizza, large cake, little cake and coffee” “Great – one of each please! “Pardon? Sorry that was pizza, large cake, little cake …….” So I answered again “yes please one of each and a cappuccino.” She didn’t believe me at first but eventually saw I was serious and brought me all that – it was really good to be able to eat and enjoy it all! “ Definitely better” I thought to myself – as I wolfed it all down! So I was feeling good – hooked up to the IV – getting plenty of medicine and fluids – which must help a lot as well. However much we try when riding it is very difficult to keep hydrated so it was reassuring that was all being taken care of. The best thing was that I could actually eat without my stomach hurting for the first time in about a month . So there was nothing else left to do but sleep!!
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