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Sometimes in our eagerness to lose weight and stay healthy we enthusiastically embrace an apparently harmless regime. I mean what could possible be bad about snacking on nuts n fruits right? It certainly is a lot healthier than crisps, biscuits? Well as I was to experience myself, nothing could be further from the truth.
Although a trained family physician, I am now a stay at home mum. My life as an expatriate wife in Jeddah lends itself to a lot of gatherings with fellow expat wives, families..ultimately culminating in eating. The intense heat puts me off from exercising. With 2 fussy kids at home, I used to finish up after them as I loathe wastage..but that obviously had an effect on my waistline..I decided this wasn’t good for health.
In the last year, I was fortunate to enlist the service of fitness instructor. And I also started snacking in a healthier manner, mixed fruits and nuts, breakfasting on muesli. My arthritic knee prompted me to take calcium supplements. What I neglected was to drink sufficiently. Although I would have my coffee, tea and juices..it apparently wasn’t enough.
My wake up call came on the eve of Eid. A bathroom visit halted my Eid preparations and tempered my festive spirit. My urine was bloody..it was so dark and concentrated. I couldn’t brush it off like I did the day before. This scene repeated itself throughout the evening. It was 4 30 pm. My mind was whirling. Clinics will be closed for next 2 days. Fortunately my best friend responded to my whatsapp and furnished me with name of Urologist in private practice. I couldn’t possibly wait to see a specialist in government hospitals..it would take weeks.
As Maghrib of the last Ramadhan day approached, I fervently prayed it wasnt something sinister, the big C, Cancer. I prayed for strength of Iman to see me through any calamity.For a while ( 6 months) I had dismissed the on and off aches over my right kidney. A year before my husband pointed to some blood spots on bathroom floor, but I wasnt having my menses then.For the following 2 days, I went through the motions of celebrating Eid. The appointment day dawned, as expected the Urologist did a bedside ultrasound scan, which was thankfully normal. A contrast CT was done which revealed 2 tiny stones on the left kidney. 5 days later I underwent shockwave lithotripsy.
A follow up visit and scan 1 week later showed the stones were gone. Blood test had showed normal kidney function and calcium levels. I agreed to cut back on calcium rich foods, such as nuts, beans, green leafy veg and drink more fluids.
