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Some Unpleasant News
Entry 23 of 135 | show all | print this entry |
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After more xrays to ensure the left lung had re inflated properly and an early morning CT scan I received the complete lowdown on how, what, where and why. Whatever they injected me with during my scan as a comparison against the norm gave me the strangest sensation all over as I felt my veins flood with the hot sticky compound, thankfully this nauseas atmosphere dissipated as quickly as it had taken a hold of me. My condition "Pneumothorax" is common to tall, skinny westerners and is a congenital problem you get born with. Simply put I have kind of blister things on my lungs (yes both!) and it was one of these which, exploded leaving the hole responsible for all my woes. The most likely cause is my months travel between sea level and greatly elevated altitudes, the return to 2800m from the low level jungle must have been the last straw and boom to where I am now. A lot of people have the same problem but may never know as may never reach the higher altitudes. A scary thought is that this could have happened to me while diving (an equally hazardous pursuit).
Of the many questions I had in my mind involving how long etc... The most cutting answers revolved around me never being able to go to Machu Pitchu, Cuzco, La Paz or do any of the Volcano Ice treks I so desired to partake in and worst of all not being able to see the Moreno Glacier in Argentina. I actually started to think maybe its time to throw in the towel and come home (not for a while as flying is also out of the question for the time being). I left any more questions that may have caused more disappointment for later. This was down by a surgeon; Dr. Sergio Poveda with the assistance of resident Dr. Juan Pablo Zumarraga, who explained to me that the hole should close in its own good time with no future problems (on that side only) however if not he would operate. The "blips" as he put it on the other lung still meant the issues I mentioned previously would unfortunately stand firm.
I had my first Spanish lesson and enjoyed it immensely. Mariana is a fucking legend, she doesn´t know me except from the few emails we exchanged concerning the forthcoming Spanish lessons but has come to me out of the darkness as a rescuer in my hour of need. She would continue to visit almost everyday to school me further and we´d sit (I´d lie) and chat in Spanish for hours when my various meals of soup, rice, chicken and one veg were brought in. I have learnt an awful lot from her to the point where I can understand almost everything being said to me by the various nurses and docs tending to my needs. Saying this is still had difficulty replying with anything other Thañ a Sie or No comprendo until the final days of my incarceration when I managed to become quite vocal.
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