post-procedure, the shock

the eswl procedure went as planned. i had wanted to experience it and i did. in life, it is always good to experience things at least once. that thought kept me going. and certainly, it is not something i would want to go through again if i have a choice. for what came next was something i didn't expect. 

i was wheeled back to the day surgery ward by the nurse after the procedure. i was asked if i felt giddy. frankly, no. but i felt something that i couldn't describe. my whole body felt like it had been through something major. i felt very uneasy. and i closed my eyes as i was wheeled into the ward. i lied onto the bed and the nurse promptly brought me a sandwich, hot milo (a chocolate beverage) and a whole flask of water. drink up, the nurse advised. you need to rest for at least 2 hours and pass urine before we can discharge you. kinda weird i thought. but i just nodded my head as i proceeded to eat the sandwich and drink away.

it was about an hour and a half later when i started to feel an urge to empty my bowels. it felt really uneasy. and for that matter, i had felt the same for the whole morning, and i even had a major dump this morning! must have been the laxative, i thought. after clearing my bowels, i noted quite interestingly that i didn't have any urine. and i waited and made the conscious effort to relax myself. and after a while, the urge came. and...

i peed blood! it was not bloodied urine. it was pure blood! red globs of blood for that matter! coagulated blood, bright red, thick and in globs! it was one helluva scary! my heart raced as i saw it ooze out. and then it stopped. there was no piss coming out. i continued sitting on the toilet bowl as i waited and soon again, the urge came. this time round, it felt like it was gonna be a good piss... and the urine flow. it was not thick blood. rather, it was bright red watery liquid. urine mixed with lots of blood. not difference from a red rose syrup drink. except that it was urine and it smelt like fresh blood. and before i knew it, the whole toilet bowl was filled with red bloodied urine.

i felt a little scared as i hurriedly cleaned myself up and returned to my bed. i drank and drank and drank... and i finished the whole flask of water. by this time, my female colleague had texted me and i shared the experience with her. and she said something that hit me. she said, oh, i supposed to us girls, this will not be as scary cos we are kinda used to it. and i knew what she was saying immediately. although totally not related, it kinda calmed me down a bit, knowing that passing out blood from the body is not something "unnatural". and especially for me, someone who had just gone through the shock wave procedure.

i got discharged not long after. the colour of my urine lightened through the day. and by evening, it was clear again. 

whew!