Sunday, March 15th:
4pm: Ignoring Icha's advice, Mark decides to stay at "Margo City" (a modern shopping mall about an hour from our house) for an extra 30 minutes. This pushes back dinner time resulting in Mark wofling down basically a 'bowl of meat' and some bread for dinner. This would later prove crucial in the original misdiagnosis.
10pm: Mark wakes up with a very 'acidy' stomach... thinking it was just the 'bowl of meat' going to work, Mark takes a bunch of Mylanta and goes back to bed. He sleeps on and off all night.... getting no more than 2 hours of shut eye as the pain gets worse.
Monday, March 16th:
6am: On the way to school Mark decides to take the day off. He quickly writes out his lesson plans in the car, calls in for a sub, drops Bella off at school and then heads to the "Global Assistance" clinic across the street from Pattimura.
7:45am: Mark meets with a doctor in the clinic. The doctor diagnosis Mark with "acute gastritis.' No doubt the 'bowl of meat' played a part in his thinking. Doc gives Mark an injection of Zantac and some top notch antacids and sends him on his way.
8:30-10:30am: Mark naps in the car while waiting for Bella... feeling better!
11:30am: After a light lunch of chicken noodle soup and bread Mark gets into bed to rest.... the pain worsens.
12:15pm: Pain gets A LOT worse... Mark wonders why the antacids aren't kicking in. Lunch returns.... not pretty.
2:30pm: Pain is really, really bad now.... feels like 'swallowing a pint of acid and then getting punched in the gut' - Mark calls doctor. Clinic stands by original diagnosis. Sends more meds via motor bike courier.
3:30pm: New meds arrive... Mark takes pill.... pill comes back up minutes later! Still confident however that it's just an acid attack... Mark tries to tough it out.
8pm: After putting Bella and Jake to sleep... Icha declares we are going to the hospital. Mark agrees.
8:30pm: Mark and Icha arrive at the emergency room of the nearby SOS clinic. IV administered. Several doctors come take a look.
10:00pm: Pain finally subsides.... blood is tested, stomach x-rayed... doctors consulted. Mark to spend night for observation.
Midnight: Ever the faithful and supportive wife, Icha finally goes home to be with the kids.
Tuesday, March 17th:
9am - 3rd ex-pat doctor visits Mark, declares: "Ok, we have decided it is best to send you to Singapore for a proper diagnosis and possible surgery if needed." -- calls are placed to insurance company.
8pm - after a day resting and visiting with more doctors, Icha, Bella, Jake, and Icha's mom... Mark leaves for the Jakarta airport via SOS ambulance.
10pm - Mark departs Jakarta via Garuda Indonesia flight.
Wednesday, March 18th:
12:30am - Mark arrives Gleneagles Hospital Singapore. Doctor reviews earlier blood tests, checks Mark's stomach and announces "It's an appendicitis, let's get you into surgery right away." Mark says "you mean right now?" Doctor says "Yes."
1:15am - Mark goes under the knife
2:45am - Mark awakens.... one appendix lighter - is wheeled back to his room, put into bed, given an IV full of goodies and is back to sleep
9:00am - Mark wakes up... calls Icha, talks with doctor, nurses etc. All is well. In private hospital room where he stays until Friday.... talking with family on the phone, reading and watching numerous crappy movies on HBO Asia. Ghost Rider was the pick of the lot!
Friday, March 20th:
2pm - Mark checks out of hospital.... heads to Borders on Orchard Road to buy gifts for Icha, Jake & Bella.
5:30pm - Mark departs Singapore via Singapore Airlines for Jakarta
8:30pm - Mark arrives home!
Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes during our little ordeal... your messages of support and love were most appreciated.
