So, musical food, failed catheter episodes and a real desire to escape from an uncomfortable hospital bed…. What is the result? Still going through recovery and trying to figure out what all is expected and what might be some unexpected symptoms or effects, I am (Yoda English). Going back to a great place to recover, comfortable bed, back yard, free dogs, pool (can’t yet go in) and many kinds of food, has all been something to look forward to.
Would Steve McQueen forgive my 50cc motorcycle?
Looking at the Japan Embassy site they seem to be so magnanimous by letting residents of Japan come back if they are accepted by special application. So, I say, “pick your nose!”. To go back now to doctors who will just complain about the surgery I had (typical arrogance), or have to find some place to recover…NO! Not interested. Japanese bureaucrats will just have to wait until I am ready to fill out papers they might want for me to completely dislodge myself from residence there.
And, so the unexpected travel itinerary continues to be a day by day jar of jelly, wiggling every morning with no substantial change in form.
Some Open countries are seeing more Covid 19 infections. Those countries will go back to more strict regulations for health concerns. Let’s just hope our friends and family stay safe and healthy.
At sometime the ether wears off. In my case it was about 2 am. People around me asking this, that and the other (a phrase my grandfather used). You can imagine what they were. One was whether or not I wanted to urinate, which I did. It was very painful and bloody. but after the second round, somewhat successful, a young (maybe 19) nurse’s assistant determined I needed a catheter. Not knowing when a catheter is necessary I was just the stupid recipient.
Well, it was one of the most painful experiences of my life. As I tried to muffle the screams she kept the progress up as blood kept bloodying (not that much). A more senior (30 or so) nurse came in and assisted. Again, torture and foreboding! Would this just be a small sample of the painful immediate future? They finally gave up and pulled out the catheter. Thirty minutes later the doctor came in and asked them why they were using a catheter when fluids were coming out. Well, my Thai isn’t good enough to understand the medical conversation so I just egged on the doctor, hoping he would nix the inquisition and punishment. He explained the catheter was not necessary and let me go on living. Later on the explanation was some prostate issue. To make a long story not as long, the urologist was consulted and medications were put in my daily diet. That took care of everything.
Inserting the CATHETER
My friend Bob, who, with Chris, forced me to wear just a bottle of Johnny Walker Red on the way back from the Cornell Dorm showers on my birthday (18th) while lining up girls to view the live exhibit walking back to his room (me). Oops, no main verb there. Ok, well, anyway, Bob asked I explain what food was provided. Actually I was originally given the pale face food, tasty scrambled eggs, potatoes and something. Since my mother cured me from eating greasy eggs I just ate the potatoes. It was ok, I was not really hungry, getting used to my restricted intake in my diet routine. I requested the Thai meal after which was a variety of stuff with a bowl of rice, very filling and a little too much for me but much more palatable than eggs. The food was not bad. But then I was not being regular (all you old fogies will know what I mean) and was having some slight pains so the doctor recommended the fruit and salad courses. That was ok except the salad was served with a “dressing” with the English and Thai label “EGG”. I dipped my spoon in expecting the usual way too sweet dressing and, as expected, it tasted like half sugar and half other stuff. Since it would have made me feel unwell I just ate the vegetables without any dressing, healthy and OK but not particularly tasty but that didn’t really bother me since I am used to eating most anything.
THAI SALAD DRESSING
The doctor came in later and asked me about the new diet, along with other more pressing questions, and I explained fruit alone would be nice and that is what came for the next meal.
Ok, now I get to coffee but I will let that wait for Part 3.
As the world turns and we all are stuck in unexpected situations and environments a few of us have had to use hospital facilities, myself included.
While in Khanom, southern Thailand, my 64 year old hernia surgery broke open. It was not that the lower abdomen bulge was too worry-some at first but digestive problems and pains forced me to seek medical attention in Bangkok. Fortunately I have a good friend from Norway who founded our Bubbles Dive Training Center with me in the early 90’s living in Bangkok in a very large “spread” complete with big yard, swimming pool, large house, maid, gardener and cook and free dogs, one a Pincer and the other a Jack Russel Terrier (the one who attacks my face with her tongue several times a day). The living situation could have turned out worse.
As soon as I could I made an appointment to get the hernia checked out and a week later I met with the surgeon and decided to go ahead with the repair that evening. There were several reasons for the rush. Digestive issues accompanied increasing pains, laparoscopic surgery could again be banned if Covid in Thailand took a bad turn (gas coming from the process, entering a Covid positive patient and then being let out in the operating room could infect operating room personnel). Also, there was no reason to wait. I guess I could have checked out more hospitals and surgeons but waiting might make the physical problems worse and I very much believe in luck. No matter how much care you take on an issue things could turn out very different from the plan.
The surgeon was to do the operation at 9 pm so at 5 pm, after consultation, I changed into hospital garb, lay down on the slab and prepared to just let whatever———- happen, totally out of my control anyway.
THE SLAB!
The young (20 or so) assistant stuck a needle between my finger tendons (the preferred spot) for the semi-permanent tube for medications, etc. It was very painful and she never found the vein. An older nurse came by and showed her the alternate spot, just behind the thumb knuckle. That vein was good. I didn’t sign up for torture but soon found that was not the only torture I was to endure. My painful winces didn’t stop the young attendant from casing more pain with that damn needle. Don’t people know that needles hurt?!
THE NEEDLES! OUCH!
As I was wheeled around the facilities on the slab I had this strange feeling of helplessness and fate. It was a little embarrassing laying down while being wheeled around when I could have made it on my own two feet. But hospitals have their procedures so it was up to me to just shut up and chill out!
After a few hours sleeping in my private room they came to put me back on the slab for transport to the operating room. Once there people went in and out, fixing a tube of electrolytes to the semi-permanent hole in my thumb. After about 20 minutes the anesthetist stood behind me and with no explanation put a mask on my face and said “oxygen”. Tasted fresh! After 20 seconds the taste changed to a slightly dirtier, rougher flavor. That taste increased and in 3 seconds I saw one trillion pin holes in the ceiling. LIGHTS OUT!
While there are so many kinds of food in Thailand some stand out as almost stereotypical. In foreign countries many people know these foods. These are extremely popular in the Northeast part of the country, IISAN. Along with Horse Piss Eggs you get these pictured here. Lab is minced meat, often pork and sometimes chicken, cooked with peppers, lime juice, fish sauces and some coriander. It is semi spicy which means it is suited for westerners who can tolerate what they consider VERY spicy food.
SOMTAM, LAAB, grilled chicken and wine
The second one is Somtam also lovingly called “papaya Pok Pok”. Slices of green papaya are mixed with smashed (the sound is “pok pok”) pepper, lime juice, garlic and some fish sauce and a few other things. In the end the papaya is also pok poked with the smashed ingredients. Some will add shrimp meat or whole tiny river crabs, shell and all. The level of spiciness of Somtam can often be considered a serious stomach burner even for Thai feasters. Try the Thai original only if you are prepared for stomach issues.
The 3rd one is grilled chicken but this time it was done in an air fryer. And of course a tasty white wine like a Gewurztraminer adds to the tastes.
Of course rice is always beside the rest of the food and dogs waiting for scraps might linger nearby. Enjoy typical thai food.
Oh, just after i finished proofing this post my Yam Plamuk (spicy squid salad) arrived. Here it is with my bottle of Singha Beer.
While there are so many kinds of food in Thailand some stand out as almost stereotypical. In foreign countries many people know these foods. These are extremely popular in the Northeast part of the country, IISAN. Along with Horse Piss Eggs you get these pictured here. Lab is minced meat, often pork and sometimes chicken, cooked with peppers, lime juice, fish sauces and some coriander. It is semi spicy which means it is suited for westerners who can tolerate what they consider VERY spicy food.
The second one is Somtam also lovingly called “papaya Pok Pok”. Slices of green papaya are mixed with smashed (the sound is “pok pok”) pepper, lime juice, garlic and some fish sauce and a few other things. In the end the papaya is also pok poked with the smashed ingredients. Some will add shrimp meat or whole tiny river crabs, shell and all. The level of spiciness of Somtam can often be considered a serious stomach burner even for Thai feasters. Try the Thai original only if you are prepared for stomach issues.
The 3rd one is grilled chicken but this time it was done in an air fryer. And of course a tasty white wine like a Gewurztraminer adds to the tastes.
Of course rice is always beside the rest of the food and dogs waiting for scraps might linger nearby. Enjoy typical thai food.
Oh, just after i finished proofing this post my Yam Plamuk (spicy squid salad) arrived. Here it is with my bottle of Singha Beer.
Yesterday was my first weekday in Bangkok staying with my old buddy, fellow Bubbles, Bjørn. Below is a photo of his backyard. There were several reasons to move up to Bangkok. Some countries signaled their interest to get tourists back so might let me enter. Thailand, so far, has only given us tourists amnesty through July and Japan still won’t let me return.
Bjørn’s backyard in Bangkok
The other important reason for leaving beautiful Khanom for the big crowded city was to get the possible hernia checked. So yesterday i went to Mission Hospital, established by the Adventists, a very reputable hospital. After a train and taxi ride i arrived for temperature check at the entrance. Almost no one was inside. Most people are still probably wary of visiting hospitals. After registering i waited 10 minutes for the blood pressure, weight and height measurements and then waited 5 minutes to see the general practitioner.
He said it was best to talk to the specialist so the nurse directed me to another chair outside another room. 5 minutes later the specialist was ready to check me out. Yes, it turned out to be a “recurrent hernia” right where i had the original hernia operation when i was 2. Ok, so the verdict is, make a Sunday appointment with the surgeon to see what next steps might be.
Then direction to another chair and 2 minutes. The assistant, dressed as a nurse, explained today there was no charge. What? I brought all this US$150 equivalent in Baht to pay for the diagnosis. Ok. Well, zero is better than the alternative. Good thing i am not in the US. I would be out a few hundred dollars just to say “Hello” to a doctor.
On the way out, by the entrance, a few tables were set up with a few girls (younger than 30 so i say, “girls”) selling some confection along with rice crackers which “didn’t have much sugar” for 100 Baht (32 Baht=US$1). This would make a nice snack to take back to my friends. They are a very nice snack, and, “not much sugar”. So i was saved what would have been a bank busting hospital bill in the US by a few rice crackers. Oh, when i paid the girls directed me to put the 100 Baht note in the hospital contribution box. I suspect they were made as a charity project to provide funds for some hospital project to keep others healthy.
