Second Verse Same as the First

And so I found myself back in the hospital nary a day after I checked out.  My sweet, sweet roomies went on a camel safari and trip to the, "Pink City" and I stayed back to continue my recovery.  It's a good thing I did!  The day after they left I got very ill- again. I developed a high fever and began to vomit over and over again.  It was the day of, Diwali and there were firecrackers going off over and over all night long. Imagine the grand finale of the fireworks show on the 4th of July all night long. It became so intense I thought I was in a war zone!! I continued to get sicker, to the point of dry heaving (ya get the picture?) I was afraid I was having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic I received as Sarah was placed on one by a doctor here and she became ill as well! I didn't know what to do as there is no ambulance service and I knew that it would be impossible to get to Fortis Hospital because of the holiday. I am so grateful that I was able to call my brother Bryan who is a Dr. in Pennsylvania. I called in the morning and my sister-in-law answered my call. Hearing her voice was so reassuring and I could tell she knew something was wrong, thank goodness Bryan was there!!! I told him what happened and that I was taking a bunch of medicine that I thought was making me sicker. It was hard to communicate what I was taking as I was bawling and he couldn't understand the names, I ended up spelling them out- even then Alison had to get on to see if she could here and understand me! Bryan had never heard of these medications, neither did Alison.  Bryan looked them up and it turns out they are only prescribed in India. I then decided to stop taking them and start on the Cipro prescribed by my Dr. in Salt Lake the following morning. It was a horrible night but I eventually was able to fall to sleep with earplugs, a movie playing full blast and the A/C on. It's too bad I couldn't enjoy the festival more as I am sure it was beautiful!

The next morning: First thing, took the Cipro. I then proceeded to my computer and started chatting with Nat on FB.  While chatting I started to itch my arm, suddenly another itch, and another and so on... I looked down at my arms and they were bright red along with my chest and the bottom of my legs!! I quickly called my host, Sonal and she promptly sent over a driver and Anita to take me to the hospital! I arrived at the ER and was taken immediately in an was given 2 injections to stop the spread of the rash. I was in so much pain I could hardly stand it!  After about an hour they referred me to the OPD (Out Patient Department) dermatologist. It is amazing how the healthcare works here. I didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes and was taken directly in to see him. After his evaluation he confirmed that I was having an acute drug rash. I was given several prescriptions as well as some cream to help with the rash. Dear sweet Anita came back to the apartment with me and made sure I was settled and comfortable, made sure I understood my meds and put a movie on to help me relax. I started to feel a little better when her brother came to pick her up for the evening.  After she left however, my rash intensified. To the point of being in such pain I could not fall asleep. Thank goodness my fever was broken but I walked around the house crying until about 4 Am in pain when I finally decided to take a shower. I felt better but was still in so much pain (especially in my hands) that I still could not sleep. I also started to notice that the rash was spreading to the underside of my arms and higher on my legs! I didn't know what to do and didn't want to go back to the hospital. I then decided to call my mom who was able to 'call me off the ledge' as I was sure I was dying. She and I talked for an hour, assuring me that I was getting better and that maybe I should just call the Dr. and see what he suggested. I called the hospital and he suggested I come in to be looked at one more time. I once again called Sonal. I can't even begin to thank her for being there and helping me! She is a busy woman with her own family and I can only imagine what a pain I was!! Once again Anita was again dispatched to pick me up and off to the hospital again! Anita is so wise and she suggested that we try and see the Dr., not go in to the Er. I am so grateful that the Dr. was in and saw me directly!! He decided to scratch everything and start over again as I was in SO MUCH PAIN! He was a very intelligent, kind man that assured me it was an acute drug rash and that it would go away. Leaving once again, Anita stayed with me, making me lunch and making sure I was able to fall asleep before she left. She also wrote down in layman's terms how to take me new meds. She drew pictures to tell me how many tablets to take and when! It's quite complicated. I have to take 2 different types in the morning, with a difference of 2 hours between. 2 more in the morning. 1 after eating and 1 before. Same at night time. I am home now and finally was able to sleep. I woke up this morning with the rash lessened, what a relief!!! I miss the roomies though. We have become close and I miss having them around. We talked on and off this week and it sounds like they are doing well, have to admit though, glad it's them on the 12 hour bus and not me!!

Well, there ya have it. This morning I was able to Skype with my friends whom were at Melissa's house for  a Halloween party. It lifted my spirits even more and I am grateful as I think that has enhanced my recovery even more. Thank you all for your prayers!! xoxoxoxo

Quick! Call 91-11-42776444

It's a good thing that as interns we have access to the Maitri drivers if there is an emergency.  And thus a good thing when on Thursday night I was rushed to the hospital.  I haven't been feeling well the last week with an upset stomach, sore throat and low grade fever.  I was trying to sleep it off and had started taking the antibiotic I brought with me.  Thursday night as I was ready to fall asleep I was suddenly awakened by a fierce pain on the upper right side of my abdomen.  Crawling into my roommates room, bawling, they quickly called our hosts and a car was sent over directly to pick us up.  There is no real ambulance service here, at least not like in the States so we waited for the Singh's driver.  I continued to cry and vomit as my fever intensified when Ajay (pronounced ah-jay) arrived and we were on our way.  Beyond being ill I was very afraid of going to the hospital.  In preparation to coming to India I met with a nurse at the travel clinic in Salt Lake that told me to NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL if a serious medical situation arose to evacuate to Singapore.  I'm not sure exactly how that would have worked exactly as there was no time to get to Singapore!  It turns out, that as many things in India I had nothing to worry about.

There are 2 types of hospitals in India.  The government and privately funded ones.  I was taken to the later, a beautiful hospital called, Fortis.  The best way to describe it is imagine if the Grand America Hotel was a hospital.  And when I say that, I mean it!  I would even go as far as saying nicer-if not cleaner.  After being in the ER- in which I was taken to a bed immediately and given prompt care by the Doctor no less!  I was taken to a room on the second floor where I would spend the next 4 days.  My suite was gorgeous, comfortable and immaculate, my roomies commented that it was nicer that the University Hospital at home.     My preliminary diagnosis was that I was having a gallbladder attack but upon further investigation it appeared I had an inflamed liver from an infection in my ascending bowel.  The first few hours were quite frightening but thank goodness Liz and Sarah were there.  The first night they slept head to foot on a tiny  couch, just like cats in a basket!

The nursing staff was amazing and SO gentle.  Every time I received an injection they would softly rub my arm and were always inquiring as to what I needed or how I was feeling.  The highest my fever ever got was 103 and I was kept on pain killers that helped me sleep most of the time.  I didn't eat anything my first 3 days, only juice and water eventually working up to liquid soup and on my last day...

Yogurt, cous-cous, rice, flat bread, a potato with cheese, some sort of butterscotch like pudding and stewed tomatoes with eggplant. I have been struggling with the food in India and have to say the hospital food was AMAZING and the apple juice to die for!!!!  

Being in the hospital in India was not what I expected.  My western thinking really played into what I thought I was getting into, even that of the nurse in the travel clinic.  It has been amazing seeing the truth behind what we think India is in America and what India really is.

 I really can't stress enough the cleanliness of this hospital.  I would scarcely be out of bed to use the bathroom and upon returning, fresh water and new bedding!  We had to tell the housekeepers not to come in so much!  Check out these pictures of the bathroom!!!

Pictures don't really do it justice

I was finally able to discharge on Monday evening and was sent home with a packet with a copy of all my lab results, discharge summary and prescription summary.  What a weekend!  I am glad to be at home and resting comfortably thanks to the staff of Fortis Hospital, the Maitri staff and my sweet, sweet roomies.  

Dussehra Festival

Happy Dussehra!  The Dussehra festival celebrates the God, Rama killing the evil God, Ravana with a  flaming arrow.  Here is the set-up, think, Burning Man. 

Our housekeeper, Laxmi suggested we go to the festival by our apartment in Sector 1.  The auto dropped us off at a distance and we walked to the main square where the burning of the effigy was to take place.

At the entrance we saw the end of a parade entering the square.  These 3 little boys were on one of the last decorated busses.  They insisted I take their picture!

  

Children headed to Dussehra

The crowd headed in

The crowd because so intense that Sarah and I decided to duck into a rickshaw for our own safety.  It was a bit much.  The above picture is taken from inside the rickshaw.  Same below.

Indian festival goers 

This little girl is one of the street children that is regularly begging for food, water, money etc...  They are especially drawn to the rickshaws as they are open with no windows to shut them out.  This little girl was outside of the festival.

I am SOOO glad we were in a rickshaw.  This picture was taken after the effigy had been lit on fire.  The fire was intense and was not the safest distance from the crowd...!

More pictures from the rickshaw

We had a good time but I'll tell you I was never more relieved to be out of the chaos!  

Spicy!

I opted out of the Rishikesh trip this weekend as I was having tummy trouble x 2 but staying behind still had its perks!  Liz left with Anita <3 around 10 to take a 12 hour bus ride.  Sarah and I cracked open the Nutella and veged in front of our computers late into the night (her watching conference live and I reruns of Red Dwarf on YouTube.)  It was nice knowing we had the whole weekend to do a whole lotta nuthin'.

Sarah and I woke up late and decided to visit Kan Market in which traditional Indian art, clothes and jewelry are sold.  I'm not sure why but you have to pay Rs/ 15 to get in and to our disappointment they were closed.  Just outside the gate however were women offering to do henna.  I have wanted to do this for  awhile and decided to do it while Sarah got a ribbon braided into her hair.  The girl was beautiful and had me pick from a book of really complicated designs.  With her help I picked...

No, I am NOT going to tell you how much I paid for it!  But it took about 15 minutes to do.

Later that evening Sarah and I though it might be fun to check out, The Spice Route Restaurant for dinner. Apparently it's one of the 10 best restaurants in the World, how could we say no??  The restaurant is located in the prestigious Imperial Hotel, about a 20 minute rickshaw ride from our apartment.  Sarah and I called another co-worker of ours, Ameen and asked if he would like to go.  Reservations were set for 7 and the 3 of us were on our way!

The ambiance and decor of the Spice Route was amazing, not to mention the service.  Grand America? humph! 

I am wearing a kurta draped with a beautiful shawl purchased in Kausali 

Ameen received his MSW in Mumbai!  GREAT GUY!

We each had 3 dishes.  I started with the papaya salad followed by an amazing thai soup with prawns and finished with lobster as my main dish!  I have been struggling with the food here so it was SO NICE to eat something besides rice and potatoes.  We totally had a 'can't talk, eating' moment as the food was just amazing!!!  Such a great night!  I'm looking forward to getting together again this weekend as Liz is off to Nepal to visit some friends.  Nothing like good sleep, amazing culture and fantastic friends!

Dharamshala

"It's all part of the experience", words of wisdom imparted by the all wise Liz (roomie #1)  this being said of the 12 hour bus ride in which the a/c didn't work, worked too well and then fell on my head while in a deep sleep.  All part of the experience indeed.  

Finally, after jolting around on a bus for 12 hours we made it to our final destination, Dharmashala.  We were about 2 hours late and our hotel called to make sure we were OK!  What a relief it was knowing we had a safe, comfortable place to land before we were off again!  We headed to the Tourist Office to get info on the areas of interest and were pleasantly surprised to find a guide that for a small fee take us to any areas we wanted to go.  Deciding on the tea gardens, hot springs, a temple and an ancient fort we were on our way!  Before we left however, I purchase a North Face backpack for Rs/ 300 (6 bucks)!!!!!!!

Dharamshala is a tiny mountain town yet everyone with a car drives a huge, decked out SUV, including our driver.  I don't know how he got us down the steep mountain to our first stop, the tea gardens.  

Purchasing tea in the garden

Waking through the tea tree trail

Hiking in the tea

Our next stop was a temple built out of one big rock!  The Rock Temple was amazing!  With the best part being we were the ONLY people there!  

The shrine room

I loved this little hidden stairwell

Our poor driver was so great, he just hung out while we ran about taking millions of pictures!!  

Now, reader beware... Our next stop were natural hot springs down a long hiking trail.  I was looking forward to this as I am getting healthier and stronger and was looking forward to the hike.  So, we started down.  I felt great, the view was beautiful then...oops... I slipped!  Sarah (roomie #2) heard me fall and turned back to check if I was ok.  I had actually fallen off a cliff and was hanging on to a bunch of shrubbery to keep from falling.  The guide and Liz were ahead of us so Sarah had to lay down on the trail and help me up so she wouldn't fall!!!!!!!!  When I was finally back on the trail we both realized just how bad that could have been.  Yikes.  I then told the others to go on without me as I am known for falling!  The tour guide took me back to the SUV and waited for the others.  I was disappointed to have to stay back but really, who else do you know that has broken their tush more than once?  The girls were sweet and cam back early even though I was fine listening to music in the car.  Next stop...

This fort is absolutely incredible, its size, age and structure are breathtaking!  There are passageways, staircases and tunnels throughout to navigate and hike.

Cute girls!!

Dharamshala is where the Dalai Lama was exiled from China.  I can't believe I had the opportunity to visit his temple!  We were especially lucky as monks from all over the region were coming to a conference.  The temple is usually closed off to visitors but because of this special conference, the public was allowed in!!!!!

This is interesting. I didn't know this but apparently the Pancheen Lama or the next chosen Dalai Lama was kidnapped as a child and taken back to China.  He is now an adolescent and has not been able to train with the Dalai Lama or monks.  He is the youngest ever political prisoner. 

I can't believe I am turning the prayer scrolls at the Dalai Lama's temple.  Even now as I write this I am getting chills.

This lovely monk let us use his bathroom when we walked into his room thinking it was the bathroom. 

A scared lake by the temple used for bathing (think, holy water)

After the temple we started a hike to a waterfall.  On the trail we came across a....

On the trail

There are never any women swimming or joining in recreation

 

Fantastic trip, fantastic girls!!