I'd been having issues for a week or so prior to the incident, as my body struggled to adjust to a New Zealand diet after a month of eating next to nothing in India. We'd walked for 6 hours on Thursday, down through the National Park to a bay called Anchorage where we'd planned to spend the night on a boat hostel. After dinner, everything came to a head and I went to bed around midnight knowing that I wasn't quite right.
I woke at 2am in pain I'd never experienced before. By 3am I was vomiting and nearly losing consciousness. Alice and Lou sat with me through the whole thing, fetching buckets and meds and people. By 5.30am, there was no improvement and the pain just seemed to be getting worse.
The hardest part was just not knowing what to do. We were in the middle of the sea, in a park with no road access and medical care was over 2 hours drive away. I was in so much pain I could hardly stand and completely unable to make decisions. Usually I know what to do. I know what I need and how to sort out any problems; but this time I had no idea. I'd never been in so much pain.
At 6am the skipper carried me onto his speed boat, closely followed by Alice and Lou. Still wrapped in a duvet, Lou held me up for the whole 25minute ride to stop me knocking myself out on the boat. Drama ensued, in ways that only they can tell you, and the two of them witnessed the first perk of the problem in the shape of one of the best sunrises so far.
The ambulance met us at the beach and after I basically told the guy which vein was the only one that would work if he hoped to get a line in, I got the morphine I needed. As soon as that, and the anti-sickness meds, had kicked in, I asked the girls for a selfie and they knew everything was going to be okay.
I've looked better
The helicopter picked the three of us up from a nearby field and we went on a 10 minute ride over the National Park. Queue perk two of the traumatic episode... The views from the chopper were bloody awesome (...apparently. I was too high to notice.)
Things started to improve after we got to Nelson. More painkillers kept the tummy cramps at bay, the colour returned to my cheeks and after an hour or so I finally warmed up. X-rays showed a huge blockage so I had to bargain with the surgeons and doc to be released (Cum'on it's me after all!)
Arriving in style
The last few days have been pretty shit but I can now (almost) safely say I am back to normal. I'm not entirely sure what caused the problems, but I'll do everything I can to stop it again.
The girls were amazing. They told me afterwards how scared they'd been and how tears had happened once they knew they were allowed in the helicopter with me, though i'd had no idea of the chaos going on around me. They were calm throughout (though their version of events is a little of hectic) and knew what I needed. They sat with me from 3am, sounded the alarm when it was clear we needed help, and made the call when I was unable to. I don't know why it always surprises me how well my friends understand my condition, but I was in awe of how well they both coped with the situation and am inexpressibly grateful that they were there.
A reciprocal agreement with New Zealand and the UK meant the emergency response and all my treatment was free (much to the relief of my father), but I'm just thankful this happened here and not in the middle of the Rajahstany desert.
This wasn't the blog post I thought I'd be writing, but I've had many a concerned message from home so wanted to ensure everyone that I'm doing a-okay and thank all those that have been in touch.
My broken little body soldiers on, just a little more battered and bruised than before.
So much love. L x
No comments:
Post a Comment