In the shit....

The next episode of my trip was not quite as serene and pleasant as the first. But I can still count it as a good experience as I got through it. Besides Ive never been in a hospital before, let alone an Indian hospital so it was a good learning curve and I was suprisingly unfreaked out by it. I feel my companion had more issues about it than I did.

So what happened? The full story........ (not for the faint hearted be warned)

2 days before I was due to leave the teaching project there was a festival called 'Saraswait Poojah' which is dedicated to the goddess of learning. There were celebrations at the school and awards were given to the best students that Kaz and I had donated to the project ( first prize was pencils, copy book and uniform). The children then prepared food for us, only chopped up fruits, but I think there may have been a lack of handwashing that gave me some bad germs!

This didnt actually effect me straight away but I stupidly didn't realise how hot the sun was getting and got a touch of sunstroke that made me puke in the evening after dinner and gave me a thumping headache. The next day I couldn't really eat as I thought I'd throw up and when I went to say bye to the kids, I almost fainted as we were standing in the sun. Its a shame as I literally almost fainted just as they were giving a speech thanking us for our help but I had to run off!
I knew I was due to leave that day and that if I could just get to Kolkata and rest it would be okay as there is no medical attention available at the project. So actually I am really lucky with the timing. I had to face an hour taxi ride to the nearest town (Godda) where there is a so called 'bus station', wait there for 4 hours in the taxi drivers house (who was so lovely) and then get a 10 hours bus at 7pm. This is when i got 'in the shit'....

Got really bad stomach cramps, fever, pain, wasn't drinking water as no one on the bus spoke english and we didnt have a clue when the bus would stop for the toilet. Eventually it did at 1.30pm and i had pretty bad diahorreah (however its spelt) which I had to try and hold, uncomfortably for the rest of the journey. It was pretty horrific, managed just about not too poo my pants. We went straight to a hostel where I pooed liquid about 6 times in an hour and felt so weak so we decided I had to get some medical advice. The project's organiser had recommended a good hospital where we could go see a doctor.I thought they'd give me some advice and some drugs but nooo... they said I should be admitted! I was hooked on to an IV, given injections in my bum, fed medicines! But the nurses were so lovely. What I thought would be 24hrs turned into 3 days which turned into a week. My final diagnosis was 'Acute Gastroenteritis leading to severe dehydration'. 'Patient has frequent episodes of loose motions, severe abdominal cramps, vomiting, feverish and extreme weakness'. Basically i think my immune system was weakened by sunstroke and dehydration so I couldn't handle the Delhi belly.

Amusingly I was treated like a goddess in hospital, I felt so bad everyone doing everything for me. I had my own room, Tv, bathroom with normal toilet and shower (hot water). I got constant attention and a was given a drip for 4 days, meals (bit gross as you'd expect - i never want soup again in my life) and cups of tea were brought to me. It could have been a hostel (almost!). My doctor looks after the England cricket team when they are in Kolkata so I know he must be good and I'm gonna meet with his daughter when I get back to England as she is studying in Liverpool and is really homesick.
I finally got released 1 week after I came in. They gave me enough medicine to start a small pharmacy and I am no longer on antibiotics and feel good again, apart from having a cold - typical! I cant post pics where I am but when I can Il'l put some up, I look pretty scary but I was in good spirits! I lost a bit of weight but Im trying to make up for it now, don't you worry.....