Starting with tingling in the earlobe, ringing in the ears, and recurring dizziness in the same place, namely around the right ear, made my neurologist, Dr Erupsiana, refer me to an ENT doctor, Dr Yan. Three visits later, Dr Yan finally decided to issue a referral letter to the emergency room so that I could undergo a turbinectomy, a medical procedure to remove or reduce the size of enlarged (hypertrophied) nasal turbinates (conchae). The letter was undated, so I could decide when I was ready to receive treatment from Dr Yan.
The considerations were quite tough. My current position involves working and studying. I had to find some truly free time. And I did find that time. And it wasn't by accident. As usual, I don't really remember dates. My students asked me about the lecture process on public holidays, May 14-15, 2026. May 14 is the Ascension of Jesus Christ and May 15 is a joint holiday. Perfect! May 14 is Thursday, and May 15 is Friday, followed by Saturday and Sunday, which are regular holidays. So, I took advantage of the long holiday.
On Thursday afternoon, May 14, 2026, I mustered up the courage to go to the emergency room. My mental state was my primary concern. I would be dealing with needles. An IV, for sure. Yes, there would be blood draws every now and then. Antibiotics and painkillers were administered through a tube, and I still remember the sting. But it was okay. I'd get through it.
After leaving the emergency room, I was taken to the room where I would be staying for three days, Umar bin Khattab A, Class 1, Number 8. This is how it is at PKU Muhammadiyah Surakarta. The rooms are named after Islamic names.
For three days, I wasn't alone; someone accompanied me. My mother and my husband took turns waiting for me.
At least I'm not lonely, even though we're sometimes chatting in our rooms and busy with our own things, each with our own devices. I even carry two gadgets with me: my phone and my laptop. At least I have peace of mind when I have college or work assignments due. Just open one or both devices, retrieve the file, send it, and voilà.
This way, it's like being at home. My entertainment so far has been surfing on the laptop. I can get through a lot of college assignments. I'm the type who does it in installments, not the all-night Wayang. That's tiring. The same goes for work. I also spend time on content; I do everything in installments. I think this is important to avoid getting into the habit of staying up late, which can be detrimental to my health.
The first day, May 14, 2026, was packed in the operating room for the following day at 8 a.m. They were also asked to fast at 2 a.m., so 2 a.m. was the last time to eat and drink before the turbinectomy.
8 a.m. on May 15, 2026, arrived. Half an hour earlier, I was taken to the operating room. The process seemed quick because of the general anaesthesia. Entering the room at 8 a.m., I began to wake up at 10 a.m. and was immediately taken back to the ward. I was still very drowsy from the anaesthesia's effects. The sleepiness completely disappeared around 12 noon. I was able to sit up, drink, eat, and occasionally rub my face because I was starting to see blood spots, remnants of the surgery. The medication also started to arrive and I had to take it. There was no need to write down when to take the medication, like I do at home. Here, just wait for the nurse's signal. Everything was arranged and done.
On the third day, May 16, 2026, I thought I had caught a cold. I've been used to having a stuffy nose for the past few years. After this surgery, it cleared up, allowing more air to flow in, and it even caused a sore throat. So, I wore a mask to keep my nose warm.
It's called adapting from a stuffy nasal cavity to a completely unobstructed one, allowing air to flow in immediately. In the name of God, I hope this adaptation will last a while so I can return to my normal activities.
