The day before yesterday I underwent a physical examination and a minor surgery at Veterans General Hospital. 

Prior to the D-day, I was ordered to stop eating anything except water and sporting drinks for a whole day long. (Actually, I did it for a day and a half.)  I must also drink purgative twice to completely clean up all of my intestines as to prepare for an endoscope.  When I was finally in the hospital on the day, I was totally "clean" and starving.  To tell you the truth, all I was longing for was a meal provided by the hospital after check-up. 

Unfortunately, or fortunately, the doctor told me during the endoscope she cut off a polyp of 1cm long from somewhere nearing my cecum. That meant I got a wound in my intestines now, and I must continue to carry out strict fasting for another two days, taking only water, sporting drink, or at most some essence of chicken.  Last evening, I couldn’t stand the hunger anymore, so I got to bed much earlier than usual bedtime. 

Today I am allowed to take extremely "light" meal, including white toast, tofu, congee, and some limited meat and vegetables until tomorrow when I can eat as usual.  So, I had not eaten a single grain for exactly three and a half days.  That was an awful experience indeed. 

Free of hunger is truly a lofty aim of humanity!