Health Scare - What is GERD??

Hello Guys!

Happy New Year! Yes I know its February but as they say; “your morning na when your day break”.

There is always something about the beginning of the year; gratitude, hope, enthusiasm, optimism, newness, believe, faith…

So imagine how I felt when I had a chronic chest pain early this year. The first thing I thought was “is it not too early” “give me a break now”.

The story is that I woke up one Saturday morning with a pain in my chest and it was really painful. Now a chest pain is not like a headache you don’t take seriously. This is my heart area we are talking about here. I tried to ignore it for a while but it persisted. Then I stumbled on my reflection in the mirror and I could literally see my heart pounding in my throat. I know this is strange and I can’t explain it but I later found out that it was heart palpitations. Okay, just look that up. I couldn’t ignore this pain anymore and I picked up my phone and started my research.

I went straight to Google and typed “Causes of chest pain”. The first result that came up had “heart attack” boldly written on it. Heart attack ke. I tried to ignore that to check out other results but I just kept seeing heart attack everywhere. I succumbed and opened one of the pages to see the symptoms. Guess what?  I had similar symptoms. I checked out other causes of chest pain and most of them were considered to be emergency cases; Angina Pectoris, unstable Angina, Arrhythmia etc. I know a lot of you would not understand these medical terms but I mean I just have to show off a bit; not after all my research. Another thing is that most heart attacks occur as a result of coronary heart disease; a terminal disease. 

Immediately, strange thoughts flooded my mind at the same time. “What is going to happen to me” “will my picture be all over social media with me asking for money for treatment” “will I open a go fund me account” and I just said “God Forbid” loudly. Because I am a Christian and I strongly believe what the bible says; I started quoting all the healing and long life scriptures I know and tried to take my mind off the pain I was feeling. Yet, I couldn’t stop my research. I calculated my heart rate and it was 108 beats per minute. Meanwhile the normal heart rate of a healthy person should be between 60-100 BPM. I bet you didn’t know that too.

The next day, I thought I felt better but when I remembered the things I read I thought I felt worse. This whole thing continued till Monday. Then on Tuesday I made up my mind to see a doctor after work.

While I waited for the doctor, those silly thought came again. “I am not even married yet”; “I don’t even have…”  Anyway while I was lost in thoughts I heard the nurse call “Deborah” but there was no response. She repeated the name again this time around including the surname “Deborah Uhe…” She murdered my surname then I realized it was me she was calling. Didn’t she see “Nonye” there? Why didn’t she just say “Nonye”? How did I even forget my other name? Well, she told me it was my turn to see a doctor.

After all my research, I sort of expected the doctor to run some tests, check my heart rate, and possibly carry out a scan after telling her the symptoms I had. So I came dressed ready for all these. But she just touched my stomach area and asked me if I was feeling any pain and I said no. She asked me if I had ulcer and I told her I didn’t. She asked me what I ate the day before I started experiencing the pain and I told her fried yam. No scan, no test, she did not even check my heart beat. She just mumbled some words and told me it is more of gastro… that’s all I heard “gastro”. “Excuse me ma, gastro what? I said my chest hurts and sometimes I feel dizzy, and I feel like I need more air and this pain is affecting my back and you are saying gastro whatever”. I’ve googled this thing already, please carry out some tests”. I didn’t say these things to her but I was very close to doing so. The only thing that came out of my mouth was “what about the dizziness” She said that could be anaemia but I didn’t look pale. She scribbled down some drugs and directed me to wait at the dispensary and said “it’s because of what you ate, don’t worry; you will be fine in a few days”.  

In a way, I felt relieved but at the same time I was scared it was a wrong diagnosis; this is Nigeria now! I have been eating fried yam all my life, why now? I waited to see the drugs they would give me.

I checked; it was Mist Mag antacid suspension, an anti malaria drug and an acid reflux drug. Did I complain of stomach pain or malaria? I took the drugs with good fate and went home to begin another research.

I found out that what she actually said was Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).  But why couldn’t she say the words clearly or explain better. I read the symptoms and other people’s story and it was the exact way I felt. Forget the ambiguous term; GERD is also known as acid reflux a.k.a heart burn. Imagine, I was fussing about a heart burn? A heart burn!!! The pain was quite intense but fear amplified it and Google did not help. What can I say? Thank God it was just that, a heart burn.

I felt better the next day. Now I believe the pain was more of fear than the actual heart burn. Fear is evil!

I learnt a few lessons from this experience. One is never to take good health for granted. Right now, I’m consciously grateful for good health and I would keep confessing good health. You don’t want to know how people who are sick feel; pain, hopelessness, fear of tomorrow, etc. Not just them but also their loved ones; thank God for good health. The second lesson is Google is not the answer...Jesus is! lol.

I hope to be here more often…

Cheers!

The struggle of a fine girl living in Lagos…

So I’m speaking on behalf of the association of fine girls that reside in Lagos (Is there even anything like that?). I sort of think I’m qualified to do so.

What do you think?

Especially if you do not have a car yet, it is literally a lot of work to walk on the busy streets of Lagos. Guys, you don’t know what you enjoy when you just walk comfortably on the street. Well, except girls also disturb fine guys which I doubt because most of us would not be so unruly. Okay, some girls are but whatever the case, our struggle is realer than yours. lol. From my observation, here is a nit bit of what we have to go through every day.

People think they have the license to touch you

If you have to go to Yaba or Lagos Island market, then you don’t only have to be prepared financially but mentally and emotionally as well because those boys can drive you crRaZy. As you walk in their midst, different people touch you at the same time (some of them might have just peed without washing their hands for crying out loud!). ‘Fine girl’, ‘nne imaka’ ‘Baby oku’ and if you dare tell them to stop, then you have just invited insults; ‘you think say na only you fine’, ‘comot make I see road jor’ ‘artificial yellow pawpaw’. Sometimes, they can be very vulgar. Now, imagine if you have to pass Yaba market on your way to work every day.

They expect you to show appreciation to them

First let me ask you, are you God that created me? (If only they will read this post) If we say thank you to every single person that shouts ‘fine girl’ on the road then we will still be saying thank you in our sleep. Someone shouts form nowhere ‘Baby you too fine’. How do I know you are talking to me?  Are there not a lot of fine girls on the street? Even if I know nko is it by force to say thank you. Why can't just a smile do? The next thing you will hear is ‘you cannot even say thank you, someone is appreciating your beauty, bla bla bla’.

Constant stares/ People don’t know when to walk up to you

I think we are all used to this one by now but it can still be embarrassing when you are walking with someone or a group of people you have high regard for and people just keep looking at you.

Some people can really be insensitive and unreasonable. How can you walk up to me to say ‘I would like us to be friends’ when you see me with another dude? Come on, this is unacceptable and highly disrespectful. If you see any girl you are attracted to having a conversation with another guy, please, please it is rude for you to walk up to her and say ‘I will like to know you more’ or what do they say sef.  It’s so bad that sometimes, when you are walking with someone, one oga will stop his car and want to start talking to you.  Ah ah bros! The worst is when you are taking a stroll with your mum and a guy tries to start a conversation with you. You just want to scream and say’ ‘This is my mum for goodness sake! Show some respect’

Perhaps I should start a campaign called ‘The fight against the mistreatment of fine girls, enough is enough!’ lol.  I guess this is the price we have to pay and we can’t complain abi? The price is far better than saying ‘hello form the other side’ lol. In my next life I absolutely want to come out as a finer girl biko mistreatment or no mistreatment. Yes, there are perks a fine girl living in Lagos enjoys as well. I might consider sharing. If you have had any funny experience, please feel free to share at the comment section.

I would have loved to write about the challenges fine boys living in Lagos face but I don’t really know much. I guess I will find a fine boy who could do that.

Hmm…nice idea! Fine boy + fine girl toh bad. 

Let the search begin!

Do you wanna be happy?

 I just recently stumbled into Kirk Franklin’s ‘Wanna Be Happy’ song and I’ve been wondering where I have been all this while because the song was released sometime in September, 2015. I guess I’ve been listening to Justin Beiber lol. We have to admit that the guy is dope!

Anyway, while I listened to the song, in my mind I said of course I want to be happy but these circumstances of life won’t let someone be great lol.  A part of the song said ‘…cry yourself to sleep, shout and raise your hand, it won’t change a thing child until you understand…’

See, something you might not know about me is that I can worry for Africa. It might not show but I worry a lot and Kirk Franklin is now telling me that my tears and worry don’t matter, Imagine! Not like I’ve not heard it before but sometimes, no matter how many times you’ve heard a thing, it doesn’t completely sink in until you advice yourself. Abi?

So I started thinking; I really have nothing to lose by not disturbing myself o. I don’t mean one should be lazy or anything but for situations that are totally beyond my control, I have decided not to be bothered. For example, what can I possibly do about the depreciation of the Naira which is affecting virtually everything? Nothing, well except to support the #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira campaign. But you get what I mean.

If I worry, it doesn’t change what is on ground, if I don’t worry at least even if nothing changes, I’m happy and that state of happiness is just so cool. I realised that if I continue this way, I will live most of my youthful life worrying over one thing or the other then deal with hypertension when I’m older. God forbid! Remember JAMB was once our problem in life. Haha. It shows that this too shall pass.

Yes, I want to be happy and I will be happy. Happiness is a choice finally finally. Omo, this life is just one; we need to make the most of it. All these gra gra will take us nowhere.

My new philosophy is to take one day at a time, laugh more, do my best and leave the rest to God. Shikena!

This song has been on repeat since I discovered it. God bless you, Kirk.

So I also ask you…do you wanna be happy?

No one would take the decisions of life for you; decide to be happy no matter what. Don’t let the circumstances of life control you, be the one to call the shots. Choose happiness!

Much love!

Uncertainties...

Hi People!

So I decided that I have to resurrect my blog. Mehn, it’s been years. It feels like I don’t own this blog anymore. Well, it’s still mine and I’m happy I can pop in once in a while. I’m hoping to be more consistent here but then again I’m not making any promises (Is someone trying to run away from commitments? lol)

So let’s talk about uncertainties. 

Recently, a lot of things have been happening around me. A lady, who woke up happy, and probably updated ‘rise and grind’ on one of her social media pages went to work but unexpectedly returned home early. Why? She lost her job the same day. Very sad.  But such unfortunate events happen to people very often. Like they say; ‘life happens’.

Funny thing is when things like this happen, that’s when those of us not affected remember to put up a picture on Instagram and caption it “God, forgive me if I asked more than I thanked you”. 

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good thing to be thankful but I ask; what if you were the person affected? What if ‘life happens’ to you? What would your reaction be like? Would you still thank God, would you feel like the whole world has crumbled, would you be suicidal? Right now, I hear some of my sprit filled brothers and sisters saying: “I cannot be fired” “I am a child of God”. Lol, I really admire your faith but does it mean that everyone who loses something precious to them are not children of God?

We face challenges every day. A lot of people more spiritual than you are have lost things very precious to them and it’s not about how spiritual or close to God anyone is. Losing one’s job is not something anyone prays for. When I thought about how my reaction would be like if I lost my job, hmm I realized that I would have been mad. Mad at myself, mad at God especially and just feel terrible for daaayyyss. Then I thought about it again. God has a purpose for everyone and as we say; God works in mysterious ways. It might just be what you need to take the next major step in your life. I admit it is not an easy thing to handle but again, just like my mum will say; “Sometimes, if you do not lose something, you might not know something better is ahead”.

A lot of people have tied their happiness to material things. Most of us have more faith in these things than we have faith in God. This is the reason why when we lose them we get depressed. I’m glad I realised this now.

So this article is dedicated to those who have lost something precious recently. You probably think the year started awfully. Yes, the world we live in is not perfect, but then again, we have a perfect God. Take one day at a time. Worry less. Pray more. Hope for the best. This might just be a stepping stone for better things to come. Who knows, by the end of the year, you might be thankful you lost that thing.

Happy New Year people! It’s your turn for good things!

Babe or maid?

While I patiently waited for the closing time in the school I teach, I got into a conversation with my female colleague mainly to while away time. We were discussing relationships (yes! Girls like to talk about it a lot). I was telling her a story about a girl I know. This girl went to visit her boyfriend and caught him red handed in the act of cheating. Funny thing is that till today that I write, the guy hasn’t called the girl to apologise or mention anything about it plus he sees her regularly because they live close by and this happened about 4 months ago. I’m serious. While they were supposedly dating because I am really sure the guy didn’t value her from day one; she kept bugging me about how she needs to go cook for him and do all the wifey things. My colleague also knew someone who had similar experience. We both concluded that doing all the washing, cooking, etc before marriage was a no-no. While we were still talking, another of my male colleague who could hear our conversation just sprang up and looked at me and shouted:

“Debby if you like the guy, you go do am”.

 

See me see quanta o.

He said it with such conviction like he knew me so well in a former world. Somehow we got into an argument. I told him I cannot wash or pound yam for any guy until we get married o. He went on to ask me what else the girl had to offer if she couldn’t wash, clean and cook for him. Please don’t tell me you think that way too. It’s sad to know that some guys think the only thing a woman can offer is just household tasks. I mean if she does all these things for you and you give her money (which most guys think is their major responsibility in the relationship) then you are just paying for her services right?

In a way, I don’t blame him or any other guy who has such mindset because it’s the girls that offer to do these things in the first place all in the name of winning a man’s heart. Sisters, don’t reduce your self-worth because you think men are scarce. If he is so hungry, prepare the meal in your house and invite him to eat it there. If he cannot wash his clothes then he should pay someone to do so. You are not his maid. No matter how you want to see it, these things devalue you. There are certain things reserved for marriage alone. I mean you have your life time together to do his laundry, have sex and cook so why start now when your bride price hasn’t been paid yet. The truth is that you are not his property.

My colleague promised to change my mind set before I leave the school. Well, I intend to change his and as many others that think like him.

This is tough love but someone (me) has to let you know these things. Just thank me later.

Kisses!

Calabar love...

 

It’s just a few days to valentine. The truth is that even though a lot of us don’t know the history of valentine (err who really cares?), we like to celebrate it. In Nigeria valentine is mainly about spending time and exchanging gifts with people you love or sometimes people you pretend to love just for the gifts. Hehehe. I mean who doesn’t like receiving gifts? (That’s NOT an excuse to pretend to love somebody though) Even those who say they don’t care about valentine wouldn’t mind spending time and receiving a gift from someone special. I’m not so into valentine but I seriously wouldn’t mind at all if I got a gift from a special somborri which could be you so for this singular reason…

 

 *winks* *joking*

In calabar where I am; there’s a lot of buzz going on about valentine. In the place I work, we talk about it every day now. The guys are looking for cheap places to take their babes to. Some are thinking about what to tell their babe(s) on that day. In fact one has organised a job interview for himself in Enugu so he will tell his girlfriend he has an interview to attend and then dodge. But there’s this peculiar case I would like us to talk about. This guy has two girlfriends. I asked him who he will be taking out among them and what excuse he will give the other and then he said it’s not a problem at all as the girls involved know he has two of them. And am like “what???” Then he tried justifying himself by saying that he was better than guys who had ten girls and pretended to each girl she was the only one. He said something that fascinated me. He said he started dating the second girl because his original babe was misbehaving so he wanted her to sit up. Funny thing is after 8 months she still hasn’t sat up to his expectations so the three of them are doing their thing.

 After I heard this, I felt holy anger. I couldn’t help but wonder how cheating on his girlfriend can actually make her sit up and how the substitute babe feels knowing she is being used. Then I asked myself what three of them where doing in that relationship. I guess they all have substitutes. But please respond to this: guys, will you date another girl because your babe is misbehaving? This is a weird question but ladies can you be a substitute babe? Finally, will you still continue in a relationship knowing your girlfriend/boyfriend is cheating because they say they want you to sit up?

Don’t get it twisted, love is a beautiful thing. This is coming from someone experienced.lol.

 

Note: I captioned this “calabar love” because it sounded good to me not because my dear calabar folks all behave like this. Peace!