Pregnancy week 9: hyperemesIs gravidarum

I haven't had anything to eat since yesterday morning. The reason is, i vomit everything..even water. The meds i got never really helped. Yesterday was my week-9 appointment with my midwife at 11am. She took my blood after struggling to find my hard-to-see thin vessel on the 3rd shot with the needle. Everything looked fine until she checked my pressure (90/60) and found Ketones in my urine sample. Oh and to add on to that, i lost 3kg.  She looked concerned and immediately sent me to the hospital to get me treated by the gynecologist. My journey to Huddinge sjukhus began.

Unlucky me...

Unfortunately I'm part of that tiny 2% of pregnant women who go through hyperemesis gravidarum.  I vomit violently to the point where my body becomes so dehydrated that I lose a lot of electrolites and sugars and stuff.  Drastic change of weight in a short period of time. Feel like fainting half the time. Yup, I'm the victim.

As soon as i got there, the nurses did a blood test again. And AGAIN they couldn't find my vessel, so they stuck needles on me and took them out until they found the right place. I was a freakin pin cushion!

Doctor said I'm not in good shape and that i needed to stay in the hospital for a few days.  FEW DAYS????My body was completely dehydrated. They injected my other arm with a bag of IV and here i am now laying in the hospital with my 4th bag of IV.  What a pain it is to take a huge equipement with you wherever you go...especially the bathroom.  I have been admitted to the hospital yesterday noon and ever since then, my body hasn't taken in anything (no food) except vitamin B6 shots, IV fluid, and a whole bunch of medicine (antacids).  I had NO sleep last night because my right arm (the one with the IV injected) stung and hurt horribly.  Nurse lady at night duty did NOT want to change my arm cz she was too damn lazy! All she said at 3am was "the pain is normal..it's because the drop is running fast," and left with a freakin annoying smile! Finally got it changed to my left arm at 8am! Much better!

I will be staying in huddinge sjukhus one more night (let's hope i recover fast). So boring! Can't even eat anything.  I think I got so depressed at one point that I started watching Cinderella on my ipad.

The Baby...

Oh! I left out one very important news.  In the middle of all this chaos something took me to another world.  First ultrasound! Right before that stiffness when they stuck that thing inside me, my attention went to the small screen beside me. A miracle inside me...moving, growing, wiggling....it was incredible.  It wasn't like last time, where I saw an empty womb.  No....I never felt so thankful in my life. I saw my baby....

I got an ultrasound done yesterday. I saw my little grape! Finally a fetus and it sure looked like one! I had never seen something as cute as that! It was moving so fast!  The body was almost clear with the ittybitty fingers,limbs and head. Just amazing! That was truely the highlight of my day!  I almost cried! I have no idea how I will react when I see the real ultrasound at 4 months????  Or is it 5????

Anyways....being hospitalized sucks big time.

Pregnancy Week 8

It's hard to act like you're completely normal when you have all these hormones going crazy, giving your body gradual change. I can't act like i'm fine when i'm actually vomiting every day even after being on meds.

It's extremely difficult to keep such a big secret inside of you for weeks from your family and friends but this time, my husband and i have decided to keep it in the down low, since our first pregnancy ended up with an early miscarriage.  We are praying that our little one can make it through this time.

What's going on with me

This week, i did progress a bit, thanks to the unexpected trip to Huddinge sjukhuset. I was getting a bit worried and thought i needed an ultrasound just to see if  the embryo is fine. Well, my previous gynecologist told me after the miscarriage that if i get pregnant next time, she recommends that i get an ultrasound done by week 6 just to make sure that the embryo is continuing to grow. The gynecologist I ended up with this time around told me that im only 8 weeks, with no pain or bleeding, so an uncomfortable ultrasound would be unneccessary. Throwing up just means there's a lesser chance of a miscarriage.

So since i lost 4 kg in a week from vomiting just about everything, i finally got some meds. Lergigan comp and Lergigan.  They seem to help a bit. At least i can keep certain Foods down. Vomiting however will not go away. I wonder how long it will be this way. Let's hope it doesn't continue the entire 9 months.

Baby's progress

Looking on the bright side....my buddy inside, now the side of a kidney bean, is doing great. At least someone feels good! Now her/ his fingers are forming...how amazing is that....i cant believe theres someone inside of me going through so many changes so fast!

Pregnancy week 7 - long way to go

I've decided to start a little diary of my own which I will soon publish after spreading the big news. I waited till week 7 because I was all paranoid about whether this pregnancy will be successful or not, but hey, anything can go wrong at any time of the whole 9 months right? So what the heck.  Here goes nothin....

What's happening to me?

I'm pregnant! When did I find out? A few weeks after we came back from that tiring London trip.  Out of nowhere I felt like gagging until I threw up! Went to the doctor the next day and my feelings were right...the test came out positive and I was 5 weeks!

Now its week 7 ONLY.  I have been throwing up every day since week 5. Not fun! I am so used to putting my head facing the toilet and throwing up 3 times a day! Oh help me God. I feel weak and sleepy all day. I can not stand the smell of anything, especially meat and curry!  I have more food aversions than cravings, and if I do get cravings, Sweden usually doesn't have that kind of food available! Like crunchy dill pickles. They don't have it here! Or real mac n cheese...chicken biscuits n fried chicken....qeusadillas....hot wings! Oh please help!

All I can take in are fresh cold fruits and milk. Crunchy apple slices, sweet peaches, oh and cold freshly riped tomatoes with salt. The rest make me vomit.

I lost weight. About 4 kg. I just hope i don't lose anymore. Who knows how long it will be this way! I am so sick of throwing up!

What's the little one up to?

Baby is just getting started! It's the size of a blueberry, how cute!  All that throwing up just means baby is doing A ok.  At least I don't have to worry THAT much about the risk of miscarriage.  This is a sign that, unlike the first time, my baby is growing just on time.

Looking forward to 2013

First of all, I want to wish everybody a very happy and prosperous new year!

Last year wasn't the best year for me, but I can't complain much about it.  Although I've been through some tough times (not getting to drive in Sweden, miscarriage, not able to start school or get a job, staying in the hospital, just to name a few), I have never learned so much in my life!

I've learned to be a very patient and optimistic woman.  I've learned that one must go through disastrous events in order to grasp the true value of happiness. Even when it was about time for me to realize that I might have a hopeless dark future in this country I still had faith in God.  I prayed for patients and positivity.  I knew I had many things that I should be greatful for but I was somehow blinded by all the negativity and I kept praying for a clear bright path.  All my prayers from last year were miraculously answered.  They were all answered at the right time.  Sometimes we want things in the wrong time but we hardly think about timing when it comes to "wants".  It's all about patients!

I want to share some good news this new year.  I finally got some experience working in Sweden.  I worked some hours at the post office and loved the atmosphere.  Got paid while I sorted christmas cards and made new friends and accquaintances.  Now I can finally add on to my resume that I HAVE worked in this country.  I had also registered for nursing school for the spring semester which I have finally gotten the answer to.  My school starts in the middle of this month and it is a distance learning program which makes it so convinient for me!  Why did I choose distant-learning? One big thing I left out. My hubby and I are going to be parents! I'm 4 months pregnant!  Yes, first trimester was so horrible to me that I had to stay in the hospital several days for drops.  Yeah, it was pretty bad...I got it bad..but I made huge progress and hopefully I will get to know how the baby is doing on our ultrasound on the 14th!  So excited!  Also, we will be moving to a new place around April.  Something else to look forward to.  Oh so many changes already!  I'm both excited and nervous!

USA should learn from Sweden

This is a very insightful video I found from a family member who also lives in Stockholm.  It made me feel pretty good about living in this country.  It's going to be 3 years of my residence in Sweden next March.  I've seen enough to wholeheartedly say that you have more chance of being stress-free, happy, healthy, secure, and classy all at the same time here...once you start opening your mind, that is.

Enjoy!

Sweden: A Supermodel for America?

Bangladeshi Rickshaw puller Helps the Poor

Bangladesh is one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world, and with that put in our mind; most of us look down upon our own kind.  Admit it or not, that is the plane ugly truth.  

We have this division of class in our own language.  There are 3 different ways of addressing a person based on their status of respect.   The most highly respected person is addressed by “apne” (translates to “you”).  The average person who is around your age or class would be addressed by “tumi” (translates to “you”).  The most informal and lowest class for mostly uneducated people is addressed by “tui” (also translates to you”).  Yea, they all mean “you”. 

The Rickshaw Puller builds a clinic

Quite ironic how we go around the world working among foreigners and complain about being discriminated, yet here we are taking a vacation to our motherland and calling out the rickshaw man across the street by “tui”.  No respect.  Even though that tired person might be your father’s age, and you are just half his age, it’s still “tui”.  “Tui jabi?” (You goin’?) “JABI?!” Sadly, this has generally been South Asia’s social norm.

Today I have an eye-opener story for people around the world, but most specifically for Bangladeshis and other desis of all ages to reflect upon.   I want to share one of the most inspirational stories of our times that awestruck me, about a rickshaw puller in Bangladesh.  A man who earned barely $6 on his “good days” for 14 tough years as a rickshaw puller in the insanely busy city of Dhaka, who made a free clinic that now treats hundreds of patients each day.  In addition, he provided a coaching center to educate underprivileged children.  He is Joynal Abedin, the loyal rickshaw puller.

Stop and think for a moment.  An old man who falls among the lowest and poorest level of class in one of the poorest countries in the world has accomplished a “world leader’s” task from scratch.  As Bangladeshi lawyer Nilufar Yesmin Biswas says, “Joynal Abedin is not only a man of golden heart, but also a slap on the faces of the greedy wealthy people of the country.”  I could not have expressed it any better!

The Story behind Joynal Abedin’s Dream

At age 30, Joynal Abedin’s doom’s day was marked on a dark rainy afternoon in his hometown called Taan Hashadia, Mymensingh, a northern village quite far away from Dhaka.  Joynal’s father had become extremely ill, so sick that he needed a doctor’s attention.  The big problem was, no nearby hospital or clinic existed where they lived.  The nearest medical center was 12 miles away, a 2-day’s walk.  He was a farm worker at the time with very little money and no source of transportation.  With the current circumstances in his life, he was unable to cure his father and so he passed away in his arms. 

The grief that followed his death kept haunting him.  He wanted to prove to others, but most importantly to himself, that he was not letting this go.  He didn’t want another individual to be in his place, seeing his/her loved one suffering and dying due to helplessness.  This was the beginning of his quest to providing a nearby free medical care center for the helpless.  Nothing was going to stop him now.

The Struggle behind Joynal Abedin’s Dream

Joynal Abedin and his wife, Lal Banu, left the village in Mymensingh after the devastating incident and came to the busy capital city of Dhaka.  With hardly any money in his pocket, no education, and cold sweaty hands, the man was overwhelmed by Dhaka’s lifestyle.

"When I landed in Dhaka it was a new experience for us. We were amazed by the size and energy of the city. Initially, we were not sure how we could survive there," remembered Mr. Abedin.

The couple struggled.  In search of employment, his wife finally was given the chance to work at a clinic.

Mr. Abedin was not qualified enough for any job and like many others in the country, he earned his living by becoming a rickshaw puller, “a job of shame” as most Bangladeshis would put it, and probably the hardest job especially in the capital city with its deadly street and air pollution, horrific unregulated traffic, road violence, and natural disasters.  Being honked, bullied, and verbally (sometimes even physically) abused by other road travelers and passengers while transporting passengers, heavy goods, sometimes animals,  even in the hot sweaty noon or dirty flash-flooded muddy roads were an every-day ritual Mr. Abedin went through for 14 long years.   A rickshaw puller’s one day worth of constant peddling gives no more than $6 a day, and that’s if he has luck.  There is no fixed rate when we travel in rickshaws, we always bargain.

Year after year, the family struggled, but even during their darkest times when money was most in need, the couple still managed to put aside a portion for savings.  Mr. Abedin says himself, "Sometimes my wife used to argue with me for not bringing enough money to run the family. But I always saved some money. Even during difficult times, I never touched my savings."

After 14 years of hard work, Mr. Abedin and his wife decided to go back to their village with their 2 young children and their life-long savings they had made in Dhaka,  a total of 2.84 lakh Taka, approximately $4,000. 

Joynal Abedin’s Big Move

It takes a lot of guts and a big heart to make “the move”.  The move that you had always clearly pictured in your dreams but the same one that society laughs at…until you ACTUALLY do it.  This is exactly what happened to Mr. Abedin. 

In 2001, Mr. Abedin took his family back to their old village in Mymensingh with their total savings of $4,000.  They bought 23 decimals of land where he constructed their tin-roof house.  With the money that he had left, he arranged to have 4 beds in the house hoping to make the place a hospital which provides free treatment for patients living in the village, considering there is no nearby clinic where any sick patient can be treated. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Abedin tried to contact many healthcare providers, doctors, and local paramedics.  Many doctors rejected his offer and so many took his idea as a joke.  He finally found a local paramedic to give patients first aid treatment.  The clinic provided pain killers, oral saline, paracetamol, metronidazol, antacid and de-wormers.

“With rest of the savings I opened a four-bed hospital in my house and named it after my daughter Momtaz,” said Joynal Abedin.

The Momtaz Hospital quickly caught the villagers’ attention and more and more patients showed up each day.

Mr. Abedin later found an MBBS doctor who had agreed to visit the hospital occasionally, as long as he got paid 500Taka each day he visited.  With a doctor, a paramedic, and a basic first aid kit, about a hundred patients visit each day.  All in need of care.  The patients that are under more serious conditions are directed to the main hospital which is 12miles away. 

With the urge to help his fellow villagers, Mr. Abedin went even further to open a free coaching class right beside the hospital for underprivileged children (about 50).  The classes are taught by 2 teachers who are being paid 3,500Taka monthly.  The subjects taught are basic Bangla, Arabic, English, and Math.

The news about Joynal Abedin’s successful clinic started spreading immediately and in 2004, Bangali social icon Abdullah Abu Sayeed donated  10,000 Taka and some medicines.  A year later, World Vision International provided the hospital with some medicines.  In the same year, 2005, a woman from the USA donated 70,000 taka ($1,000) to Mr. Abedin.  Finally in 2006, the social welfare and local administration in Bangladesh donated 30,000 taka ($430) to Momtaz hospital.

Where his hospital stands today

At a tiring age of 55, Joynal Abedin has not been in the healthy condition of being able to continue as a rickshaw puller anymore.  He spends most of his time close to his family and working hard trying to keep his charitable hospital and education center running.  Unfortunately, he has been running short in finance due to the monthly wages he provides to the two teachers giving them $100 a month.  Furthermore, the cost of medicine and other equipement have been a challenge.  In the past 5 years he hasn’t been getting much help.

Still optimistic and strong, Mr. Abedin says, “I want to cling to my goal till I breathe the last and seek nothing more for me and my family.”

"My dream is to convert this clinic into a full-fledged hospital with the help of the government and other donors."

The most unfortunate part about this hearty man is that he has been betrayed by several people who initially promised him help but later turned things against him trying to give him the image of a “greedy fraud” and even tried reporting him to the police as a “criminal”. Due to this reason, the idea of even asking for help haunts him. 

What can you do to help?

First and foremost, try remembering this man.  Spread good words that will inspire others to be like him.  News of accomplishment was first marked by “The Daily Star” and “Prothom Alo” in the year 2011.  If you want to help Mr. Abedin in any way financially or just by spreading good words about this man,  go ahead and “like” the group “Let’s Help Zainul Abedin” on Facebook to be updated and get information on where you can donate or maybe even visit Momtaz Hospital.  Prothom Alo takes care of the donations.  For more information contact me or the facebook group.

Let’s not make Joynul Abedin’s dream incomplete.  Let’s help Joynul Abedin!

Personal Note

I found news of this Bangladeshi icon while randomly surfing, yesterday.  What a SHAME.  Before I taunt others I want to remind MYSELF.  I never hear a single good news coming from this country.  Whenever I turn the tv on, or read the newspaper even facebook, I hear 99% devastating news.   Politics takes over half the damn news, which is why I refuse to READ or LISTEN.  I find talking about an issue with no beginning or end absolutely pointless! 

I don’t give a rat’s ass about what a political leader did to Bangladesh or what he/she plans on doing in the god damn future.  I don’t want to hear about educated decent once-known-to-be-generous people suddenly “betraying” Bangladesh.  We are really good at pointing out flaws aren’t we?

The last thing I wanna hear is that Joynul Abedin the rickshaw puller invested his entire savings on a charitable hospital and school, BUT later fooled his patients and students by giving them false sources, making them more corrupt, and eventually becoming a fraud who feeds off of good people’s money.  God forbid this ever became any level of a news, but this is what I fear the most! 

Joynul Abedin won the Sada Moner Manush (Man of Golden Heart) award in 2008.  Even if he didn’t win this award, my respect for this man would not move an inch.  During his decades of hardship pedaling the rickshaw in the heat and in the rain, not once did Mr. Abedin think of fame.  His intention was always pure.  I salute this humble man for even being the most modest individual up till now.  A selfless humble man in Bangladesh.

I am honored to even know about him.

Reference:

http://www.aljazeera.com/video/asia/2012/02/2012219114012469822.html

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/rickshaw-puller-sets-an-example-in/

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=175693

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18195227

http://www.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2011-07-04/news/167626