Pneumonia

Yes, that's right; I somehow got Pneumonia in Thailand.  Think Kayaking Krabi in torrential rain day.  At first I thought it was a slight cold, but it escalated to the point where I felt like I had run a marathon just after taking a few steps.  Oh and the fever!  The body aches!  I was shivering in the Thai heat.  For the first time since arriving in Thailand, I put on the one pair of sweatpants I brought, and a sweater.  I wrapped myself up in bed, tried to watch some streamed t.v. online, but could not focus.  Even my ankles hurt.  Every part of my body was screaming with pain.  Finally, I came to my senses, and enough was enough.

Friday night, a few hours after school, I limped up to Jacqueline's room.  Every step killed.  And I was pouring sweat and shivering like I was in Antarctica.  "I think I need to go to the hospital."  Jacqueline immediately took me on her motorbike to Samitivej Hospital, the private hospital just beyond our school.  There was a doctor that spoke fluent English, and took me in almost right away.  The nurses, dressed like cruise flight attendants, took my temperature - 104 degrees!!  They gave me pain shots, took blood tests, did chest X-rays and painful nose swabs (that went way far up) to test for H1N1!  They gave me a mask, and the doctor advised me to stay in the hospital - at first, for one night.  I.V., cupfuls of medication, more shots, and lots of nurses in and out of the room.  The following day, I went for an ultra-sound to test for tumors.  Everything was perfect - good to know.  Eventually the nose swabs came back negative.

X-rays came back, turns out I have pneumonia.  The pneumonia broke down my immune system, allowing for other viral and bacterial infections to enter, causing other parts of my body to break down.

After the first night, and being on the antiobiotics and pain meds, I got much better.  My temperature slowly decreased.  They did however advise me to stay for another two nights, and said I could be released on Monday.  Jacqueline stayed with me the whole weekend.  It wasn't a bad setup at all.  The hospital room was quite deluxe and was more comfortable than our own apartments!  There was an L-shaped couch for Jacqueline, a reading chair by the balcony with the most amazing view, and a flat screen t.v. with HBO, CD/DVD player and internet above the bed.  I vaguely remember the nurse coming to me with the list of room choices while I was lying in the 'shots' room, getting a pain med/ fever reducer in the butt!  I was freezing and in lots of pain at the time, so told her the "standard".  Who knows if my room was actually the standard or not, but it worked out perfectly - and more importantly, my health improved dramatically.  The staff was extremely professional and kind, and the food choices were quite fantastic to say the least.. if only my diet hadn't been restricted on day 2.  Ah well. 

I even had visitors.  Of course Jacqueline and Rachel.  But also Madam came to say hi, drop off some food and walked around inspecting the room for me.  Ms. Boon and Ms. Mon also stopped in for about an hour on Sunday - bearing bags and bags of groceries and drink items!!  They were really cute about it.  It was perfect timing too, because it was just after I had been denied everything I wanted on the menu - due to doctor's diet restrictions (the bacteria infection...).  But Ms. Boon and Ms. Mon came with delicious food, including waffles!!  Just as I was about to take a bit, the nurse walked in and explained to Boon and Mon my diet restrictions.  Dammit!  I was so close.  When the nurse left, I made a sad face and said one bit wouldn't hurt.  They smiled.  I ate the whole waffle. 

They also came to pick me up and take me back to the apartment on Monday afternoon.  While I was packing up, they searched the room for any left behind items - that is, items provided by the hospital for a more enjoyable stay.  Examples of item I left with: hospital slippers, hospital toiletrie bag, talcum powder, toothpaste, toothbrush, 3 in 1 coffee, soup mix, juice packets, a comb, ear buds, shampoo and soap bottles, and water.  The best find were the slippers.  The whole 'shakedown' of the room made me think of Margot Head - Elizabeth's mom.  :o)

It took me about a week out of the hospital to fully recover.  I was still pretty weak the following few days, and while feeling better overall, I still could not walk a few steps without feeling like I just did a triathalon. 

Below are some photos Jacqueline took of the 'deluxe/ standard' hospital room:

Jacqueline's spot for the weekend

The view from my hospital room balcony

Who wouldn't take advantage of the food??  It's all included in the overnight stay anyway...