Reflections from my hospital bed!

So.., if you follow me on social media, you're already aware I had been hospitalized for about 4 days last week. From simple tonsillitis symptoms to being admitted with Grade 4 Tonsillitis! I didn't even know they had grades! But, all I know is they were so huge that I couldn't eat, talk or swallow anything! 

A photo of me holding a bouquet of flowers in bed.

After 4 days of over the counter medication, I kept getting worse by day until that last night when I was weak, freezing, and fever was up the roof! I gathered everything in me to get up, get dressed warm enough including hoodie and a trench coat, and called an Uber! I knew I had to be in hospital or something bad would happen in 20 minutes or less! I was so weak, and remember, I couldn't speak so at the hospital, I just pointed to the Tonsillitis, signed I couldn't speak, tossed my health insurance on the table, and the nurse helped me to a Doctor's office where I was immediately admitted in the casualty ward. I was there for about 3 hours as they managed my fever, pain, and inflammation of the tonsiltis.

The Doctor later came to tell me I'll have to be admitted given the fever (40°) and how inflamed the tonsillitis were. That's how I ended up admitted for 4 days in the hospital. 

I cannot emphasize further the importance of family and the miles your family would go for you, at least for me, they were all I saw for the entire period while in the hospital. 

My siz and parents kept calling that night so many times just to know the progress. The next day, my Uncle checked in at 6am, and was later followed by my Aunt, his wife and my cousin Gracy who's currently her dad's caregiver. Bless her heart!

The extrovert in me was checking in on other patients on day 2 as I could speak a little better. That second night, someone was wheeled in the next bed to mine, and I could immediately tell  she was a happygolucky, all jolly with the nurses, and I knew I had to make a friend in her.

Next morning, I pushed the curtain away with her permission and we started talking. Her right leg was raised, and I later found out she had had a knee surgery. But damn, wasn't she vibrant! A good storyteller too. Hours later we are taking selfies with Mary and we're the loudest in the room. By Day 3 evening, everyone I had checked in with had been discharged including Mary, so loneliness started kicking in, and I really just wanted out of there. My Doctor came in and told me he'll discharge me the next day if I responded well to the medication. That same evening, my boss sends me a really beautiful bouquet of flowers and it made it up for everything then. Flowers make me so happy.

A photo of Mary and I in our beds.

You should have seen me proving to nurses and everyone I was okay, incase they needed to tell the Doctor. God bless Dr. Mwangi, my namesake, he a cutie! I was totally checking him out by day 3. Didn't see a ring either, leave me alone! 😂 Not that I was looking!🙈

Day 4, I woke up early, showered, had breakfast immediately after it was brought to me and I started watching a movie on Netflix as I waited for Dr. Cutie to come and discharge me.  He comes in two hours later, and assures me all is well and that I've been discharged. Yipeeeee!  I call my Aunt to come help me with the discharge process but I ended up staying at the hospital till 4pm, I even had lunch! Aunty Mso comes, I dress up, and off we went. I reported to work on Monday, albeit weak, I really needed to do something immediately and get off the hospital vibe! I must admit, I'm a workaholic! 😅

So many thoughts came to mind as I laid there, for hours and hours, days upon days... staring at the same ceiling and listening to other people's pain. Here are some....

1. Family first, always, and forever! Can't emphasize this enough! Take care of them!

2. You're dispensable, even when you're really key, the office will still function without you. Don't kill yourself over work!

3. Friends... Have lives to live. Can't be mad at them. People are busy. Know your place!

4. Flowers make any day brighter!

5. Be nice to people, especially those who you don't think of as important - cleaners, drivers, guards, they'd go a like for a stranger. Thanks to the cab guy and guards that fateful night, I made it to the hospital safe and sound. 

6. Accessibility is important, everybody needs to learn sign language.

7. Medical insurance. Take one. Now. 

8. Take a break when you need to. I have neglected my health over work a lot. 

9. Call people up when you cannot be there for them. One call makes a huge difference.

10. Make friends. Anywhere. Anytime.

11. Hospital beds are not comfortable! 

12. Private rooms in hospital are lonely when you're sick! Only take them if you're having a baby!

13. Again! Take that medical insurance!

14. Listen to your body!

15. Learn to ask for help!

Love,

Essy