Listen To Your Body She knows
what she’s talking about
“Yeah, I think you’re going to need to take her to the ER,” my doctor instructed my mother. This was a routine check up for what I thought was a simple virus that was going around. “These are textbook symptoms of Meningitis.” From what began as a small discomfort in my abdomen and spread into an infection of the kidneys. I was in need of emergency care. Looking back now, I realize that all of this could have been prevented had I simply paid attention to what my body had been trying to tell me weeks before.
Some people do not begin to realize the limits of their bodies until they find themselves wheeling down the retirement home hallway heading for the activity center. For me, I realized that I’m not as invincible as I thought I was-- but at only seventeen.
My symptoms began in December during winter-break of my junior year. I had a sharp pain when I would go to the bathroom. I stayed quiet about it, after all my bathroom events were not something I wanted to discuss with my Dad. -- talk about embarrassing! Five days later, my Mom took me to the doctor and after one test, my doctor found that I had a urinary tract infection (UTI), which is quite common in girls for anatomical reasons. I picked up a prescribed antibiotic from the nearest pharmacy, and any indication of my infection disappeared within a few days.
Exactly six months later, I felt the same sharp pain again, which lead to the next three days in bed. When I went to the doctor, he advised I go straight Emergency Room at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
The next few days seemed like a blurred memory. It was hard to distinguish one day from the next. After five days in the hospital, I had a final test. We waited for a long time, but received the good news that I was able to go home. I am so grateful for the good care I received in the hospital and the support I received from my family and friends. It was a relief to go home. I realized one incredibly important thing: whenever dealing with your health. You need to overreact. I knew there was something wrong early on, but decided to ignore it for a while and “tough it out,” which turned out to be almost fatal. Whenever something feels unusual or painful, your body is trying to tell you something. As long as you catch the signs early, you can take care of any symptom you feel and stay healthy. Listen to your body, she knows what she’s talking about.
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This page was last modified on 7 February 2007 at 14:00
