I Admit It

I think I’m depressed. No normal person would call a gastroenterologist, be told they can’t make an appointment now, they should try at the end of April as no new patients are being booked, then cry.

That is seriously nothing to cry about. On the other hand, they did answer the phone in Afrikaans and I’ve had bad experiences with practices where it’s so obvious that they cater to White Afrikaners (or Coloureds.)

For the sake of overseas people who don’t know our history. You have the White folk who referred to themselves as Europeans. Which they were, given they’d come and invaded us from Europe-be they the Dutch who became the Afrikaners, or the English. Then you have Indians. (Many came as indentured labour from India.) And you have Coloureds who also tend to speak Afrikaans more than English. Some are a direct mix of White and Black, but most are mixed Malay slaves, Indian, Khoi-San. Like the photo below. These were deemed as superior to us Black Africans. They had better schools, were out in better neighbourhoods and were allowed to have more education than us Black folk, who were only meant to work as gardeners and domestic servants.

Image from Quora

Sadly, though they weren’t treated as well as White folk so did also suffer, too many believed the White lie that they were superior to Black people. I’ve had racial abuse from Indians, Coloureds and Whites. And the last surgeon I went to was like this person who answered the Gastroenterologist’s call -Afrikaner. And do racist that a White friend of mine wanted to go yell at them.

I’ve been warned. I will NOT be phoning them back. Also, most doctors here in my part of the country are NOT Black. And most specialists are Afrikaner. Most Black professionals and doctors move to Johannesburg where we are the majority and don’t get as abused as here in my province. Even my daughter once asked why none of the therapists she’s seen look like her. My province isn’t kind to people like me.

Anyway! The fact that they answered in Afrikaans when most of us speak English when answering the phone so we cater to every person, says a lot. Tears are gone. I don’t know why it felt like such a punch in the gut.

And for reference, this is what Black people in my country might look like. (Minus the White, Indian and olive skinned guys in the back.🙂)

Why was I calling the gastroenterologist anyway? I don’t know how to proceed. My most recent colonoscopy and gastroscopy was in 2021 and I was told I had chronic gastritis. That doctor has gone to the UK. I wanted to find out what the current medication I’m on has done to me. I wanted to know if my lining is ok or still suffering. Last time, I felt no pain at all, only for them to find extensive damage in my stomach lining. So, what if I’m relaxed now and I’m still in a bad state? What does chronic mean? Is my lining always inflamed and damaged? Or does it flare up and then go into remission? And how often should I be tested? Especially as it can lead to a higher risk of cancer, and Ankylosing spondylitis itself also leads to a higher chance of colon cancer. That’s the question I had. How often should I be tested? (He was Afrikaner but they answered in both languages and he was very kind! He even charged only what my medical aid would pay even though his fees are higher.)

I wish I had a gastroenterologist friend to ask so I’d save the consultation fee!