29 December 2024
We were on our way back to Miri after spending Christmas at my kampung (village) with my family. We’d planned to continue to Sabah the next day, my husband’s hometown, to celebrate New Year’s.
The morning started fine—no signs of what was coming. The trouble began during the road trip when I really needed to pee, but there was no proper toilet in sight. (Classic Pan Borneo Highway, right?) I held it in as long as I could until we found a secluded(semak-semak) spot. After that, I started feeling pain in my lower abdomen, but I brushed it off.
Thinking I might just be dehydrated, I drank more water. Big mistake! By the time we reached Miri, traffic was bad nearby our hotel, and I was in serious discomfort.
When we finally arrived at the hotel, I rushed to the bathroom, but I couldn’t pee properly. Worse, the pain spread to my lower back. I tried lying down, sitting, standing—nothing worked.
I told my husband I needed to see a doctor. At the nearby clinic, the doctor thought I was just tired from traveling. My urine test came back normal, so they just gave me Panadol. I insisted on getting antibiotics “just in case,” but honestly, I wasn’t convinced.
That night, I barely slept. I kept praying the pain would go away because we needed to drive to Sabah the next day.
30 December 2024
The next morning, I felt a bit better after taking Panadol Activfast. I told my husband I was okay to continue our journey. (Biggest lie of the year—I wasn’t.)
The drive to Tenom started off fine, and again, I have no choice to hold my pee due to no RnR along the way and as we got closer, the pain hit me like a truck. By the time we arrived at my in-laws’ place around 2 PM, I was completely drained.
My mother-in-law thought it might be kidney stones(batu). As former nurse, she also asked if I’d been constipated, and that’s when I realized: I hadn’t had a proper bowel movement in days. (Yup, Christmas overindulgence strikes again.) She gave me some laxatives(ubat lawas buang air besar), but the night was horrible. I was curled up in pain, counting down the hours until morning.
31 December 2024
I couldn’t take it anymore. First thing in the morning, I told my husband we had to see a doctor. The thought of being hospitalized terrified me—not because of the hospital, but because my son had a concert on 5 January, and I didn’t want to miss it.
At the clinic, the doctor confirmed what I was already dreading: severe constipation and dysuria (painful urination). I was given meds and strict instructions to rest.
So there I was on New Year’s Eve, lying in bed while everyone else celebrated. It wasn’t exactly the festive vibe I’d hoped for, but at least I was on the mend.
Lessons Learned
Looking back, I realize I brought this on myself. Here’s what I learned from the experience:
Take Care of Your Gut
I overdid it with durian,alim and fatty foods like babui and more during Christmas. Meanwhile, fruits and veggies barely made it to my plate. Big mistake. Balance is everything.Listen to Your Body
I ignored the early warning signs—dehydration, the need to pee—and it cost me. Next time, I’ll pay attention and act sooner.
This whole ordeal was a painful (literally) reminder of how important it is to take care of our health, especially during the holidays. I hope my story helps you avoid a similar situation.
Take care of yourself, and here’s to a healthier year ahead! 💛
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