One hell of a scare

As you know, I have been doing my practicals or what the locals call elective posting in the hospital lately. While I was there, I did a full blood test. What I did not prepare myself was when the results came back with me being detected to have Hepatitis B antigen.

A short note on what is Hepatitis B - It is a virus that attacks your liver causing slow degradation to the organ and lastly liver failure which can be fatal. It is transmittable via blood products, sexual intercourse and hence can affect one's sexual life and also career for someone who works as a doctor or nurse (which I am). Hepatitis B antigen detected means that there is a high chance that the virus has invaded into your body. Whether it has started attacking your liver or is remaining as a carrier is not certain.

Hence, when I received the results I was really afraid. Anyway, upon returning home yesterday, I told my mum which as expected freaked out (but worse than how I thought she would) and rushed me to the nearest lab to get my blood retested. That night, I think all 3 of us(me, my dad and mum) did not have a good nights rest due to the shocking news.

The next day, I was still anxious to get the results and was afraid of what the outcome might be. Never in my life have I be so afraid of getting a single lab results. I now understand what those people who were told some serious illness such as HIV or Cancer feel like.

I came back earlier today because my ride had something coming up and had to leave before the time was up. I called my mum and asked her if she has taken the report (it was supposed to be out at 12noon and I called her at 1pm). She said "the report is out but your dad didn't want me to go get the test results by myself, he asked me to wait for you." I told my mum I would go get it myself and if they require the receipt I will ask her to come then.

Throughout the walk to the lab to get my results, my heart rate spiked and my adrenaline was pumping vigorously in order to anticipate the shock I might have to face upon receiving the results.

When I finally got there and the results given to me, a wave of relief washed over me upon seeing the words "NOT DETECTED". I couldn't thank God or whoever is up there more for it.