All’s well that…
[Synopsis]
I’m back, I’m fine, I’m busy getting things all sorted out, don’t have internet where I’m staying (with friends) but I’ve found a flat and should be moved in and hooked up by the weekend.
[Summary]
I’ve made it back to Bristol – in one piece!
One piece, minus my appendix and a litre of mysterious unidentified pus that had been in my abdomen, the last remnant of an infection that I’d probably had for weeks if not months. We’re still not certainly what exactly happened – typhoid fever? bacterial infection? – but appendicitis was only a secondary infection to the peritonitis. It was the last straw to finally get me to admit I was ill. I’d put the fatigue, cramps, and nauseia that I’d had on and off for weeks down to the price you pay for traveling in Africa and mistook my distended abdomen – I couldn’t get into my blue jeans – for a weight gain from all the chapatis and ugali. When it got intense I tried to crawl into bed and sleep it off. I kept begging my brother for bottles of water and he kept insisting that I really wasn’t ok. We went to the hospital, were told to go home and take antibiotics; 48 hrs later I was worse a was admitted.
The hospital in Tanzania was a nightmere. Msdiagnosis after misdiagnosis to the dooctors disapearing out of confusion (and panic, not knowing how to treat me?). I had to go chase down nurses to get my IV refilled when it ran out bcause after the first 36 hours in the hospital anyone stopped coming to my room. I was flown to the Nairobi Hospital in Kenya where things got much better. Surgery last week – not even a scar to show for it – and, after the first few days of body-less pain, surprisingly quick recovery. They let me out of the hospital the morning that my insurance flew me from Nairobi to Heathrow – where they put me in a cab to Bristol that dropped me at my friends’ doorstep. They made me dinner while I confusedly tried to explain the entire summer in a few breaths; I was tucked into bed and slept, beautifully.
That was two days ago.
Since, I’ve bought a phone, begun an extensive battle with the bank, looked at two flats and found a decent one in a wonderful neighborhood – bakery on one side, yoga studio on the other. It’s quite close to where I lived last year and just over half an hours slow walk to campus. And two good friends of mine live just upstairs – although I didnt know when I went for the viewing. I’ll be moving in this weekend, hopefully.
[The actual story]
Coming later.
