A spanner in the 'side' · No Regret Living

A spanner in the 'side'

My title was going to be, 'a spanner in the works'. You know that phrase where things don't go according to plan??

We arrived in Australia early last week to spend Christmas here with the kids, and my Dad and his partner. On Tuesday when I arrived I noticed a slight pain in the LH side of my abdomen. By Friday morning it hadn't gone away and the pain had kept me up for a few hours in the night. I trusted my gut that this was something I needed to investigate before the weekend and before Xmas. It isn't ideal as we are away from home, our company health insurance doesn't cover spouses while out of the country etc, but I trusted my body and just booked my appointment, did some research and figured out our travel insurance should cover some of it.

Long story short, I thought maybe it was a UTI, but the doctor was like, Nope. And then said, ooh, it is very tender. You need an urgent CT scan and ultrasound. My mind started to race. What if I need surgery, (gall bladder, appendicitis) how will that happen? How much will that cost? Christmas will be ruined. Then I calmed my brain, repeated "My body is healthy and strong" and remembered just to take things as they come.

Headed upstairs and discovered the CT scan was one with a dye contrast. Slightly freaky but it was okay, I did it no problem. Had an ultrasound as well just to check ovaries etc. Turns out, I had an attack of diverticulitis. Inflammation/infection in the bowel. So the treatment is antibiotics and then a diet of liquid or very low fibre food to give the intestines a break. Kinda tricky when you are on holiday and heading into a season of yummy food etc, but at least I wasn't having to go have surgery.

What have I learned or noticed through this experience?

I can trust my body to tell me when something isn't 'right' or going to go away.
I have had "get a colonoscopy' on my list to do, for the last 5 years and haven't done it. Now I have to get one done when I get back to Hong Kong. Thank you universe.
I felt almost betrayed by the list of reasons why people get this. They said it was most common in people who don't exercise, eat way too much red meat, who smoke, drink, don't get enough Vitamin D and weirdly, Advil. I do take Advil from time to time. I feel like I am 'not' most of those other things. My brain said, "Hold on, I am pretty healthy, why would I be getting this?"
How I can also stay grateful that it wasn't something worse or requiring surgery.

Thank you for listening to my rather 'long story!".

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