I'm back! Back from my 2nd admission into hospital.

Was taking my meds for the back pain after being discharged the first time, and 3 days later, my stomach started hurting intensely. Again, it woke me up in the middle of the night. I've been having bouts of the tummy pain quite often ever since I've taken the meds, and I knew it must be because of the diclofenac.

Brought myself into the hospital where I'm working, and in A&E, it wasn't the best experience. Now I know why people rather AOR to go to a private hospital and why the disatisfaction rate is so high. Enough said. And I was glad to discharge myself and get myself properly admitted into Mt E instead.

I was seen by 2 surgeons, one for the tummy and another for my back. Had some scans done and I was told that I tore my back muscle. Had scans done as well for my tummy as well as a scope, and there we've got the answer - a big ulcer in the stomach.

Now that accounts to why I required Pethidine to relieve my pain and put me to sleep, despite me having a high pain threshold.

All likely due to the meds, but will have to wait for the biopsy results to decide if a repeat scope is required.

Oh, by the way, now that I've had a scope done myself. I've now experienced what my patients have experienced, and I must gladly say it's brilliantly done under sedation. The last thing I remembered while being conscious in the scope room was being given the sedation, and the next moment, the nurses patted me to tell me it's all over as I was being wheeled back to the wards.

Had Physio as well. The Physio assessed me, and she commented that my long term back problems (not the acute one) was due to me doing ballet in the past. That came as quite a shock actually because I have always thought that ballet would have strengthened my muscles a lot, and I thought everything's gone haywire because I've stopped doing ballet! She commented that my entire bodyweight has been placed on my toes when I walk, despite the heel being on the ground. That has caused a lot of pressure on my lumbar spine. And I was standing, walking and sitting in too straight a position, and I should learn to slouch a bit more. It felt weird when she was correcting my posture, because it felt as if I was hunching, when I'm actually not. It's gonna take a long while for me to get used to change, but I'll try. :)

Honestly, I'm really pleased to be admitted into Mt E this time. Although there was a few trivial issues which was below my expectations of a private hospital, I was impressed by the service and the doctors had bothered to make sure differentials were properly ruled out. Being a doc myself, I knew what was going on with myself, and I must have got a good reason for getting myself admitted in the first place. I needed someone to truly believe that there is something going on with me, especially when I was already needing Pethidine, rather than thinking at the back of their minds if I was exaggerating the amount of pain by displaying some acting skills to convince people around me that I'm an oscar winner in disguise. Not to mention, that I've stated time and time again that my pain threshold is high. Bah!

Anyway, this experience has really showed me quite a few number of things which will benefit me in my learning as a young doctor, and hopefully, the experience of my patients in future.