"A May Day Marred by Health Woes: My Battle with Kidney Stones and a Relentless Cold"

Before the May Day holiday, my plans took a sharp turn when I was diagnosed with kidney stones—an ordeal that left me grappling with unexpected challenges. Let’s rewind to April 28th. After enduring agonizing cramps in my lower abdomen through two classes, I realized I couldn’t continue teaching. I took immediate leave and rushed to the hospital.

The hospital visit was a whirlwind of confusion. As a first-time visitor to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, I wandered aimlessly for nearly 30 minutes, desperately trying to locate the urology department. After a brief consultation, the doctor ordered a urine test. Unfortunately, fate had other plans: I spent a harrowing 30 minutes in the restroom, unable to produce even a drop of urine. By 11 a.m., the doctor’s shift was winding down, and I was left stranded until after 12 p.m., when I finally received my test results—only to discover the doctor had already left for the day.

Little did I know, the worst was yet to come. My left lower abdomen felt as though a knife was twisting and slicing inside me. I hunched over like a shrimp, clutching my side in vain, knowing full well that the posture offered little relief. After two hours of excruciating pain, I took the subway back to the hospital. The doctor, after a cursory glance at my lab results, ordered an ultrasound. The verdict? Kidney stones.

Even on April 30th—the day of my midterm exams—the pain in my left flank remained unbearable. As if to add insult to injury, misery truly loves company: during the entire May Day holiday, the kidney stones weren’t my only nemesis. A cold soon followed, compounding my misery. It felt like I had barely resolved one health issue before another took its place.

So there I was, spending the entire May Day holiday convalescing on campus, confined to my dorm instead of exploring the world as I had eagerly hoped.