Mar 13 2012
Off to Bangkok a bit longer than expected…
So, I decided to take 24 hours to fly to BKK and see a number of medical professionals about my back and hip pain and to try and get a diagnosis so that I can move forward in my life and start to feel better. I had already seen a doctor, had an MRI and seen a physio and osteopath, consulted with a OT in the USA and still have a chiro to talk to in NZ but was not seeing a way forward with pain with each step and having to stop the things I love like running, teaching and mostly picking up the kids! So, I flew out to BKK on Friday 9/3 to see several Doctor’s in 3 of BKK’s main hospitals. I found the hospitals to be very glamorous and impressive and the staff to be very positive and engaging, on time and really keen to assist. These are all private hospitals, and so they are out to assist but also to make the experience positive so that you will retrun and spend your and your insurances hard earned cash. But they super clean, efficient and well staffed and make the experience certainly very amazing and stress free. So after seeing specialists on Friday night and Saturday morning I went to lunch with friends using the voucher that I won last time I was here racing – excellent! and then made my way by train to the airport, unzipped my bag to get out my travel docs and found that they weren’t there. Bugger! I am still totally dumbfounded about where they could be. I frantically back tracked my steps, rang the hotel and hospital and then searched the local area but to no avail. I have then spent the last few days back tracking to every hotel/station/taxi/hopsital to review CCTV and to see into every space I have entered. I have filled out police reports/rung each lost and found and then failing all of that have now had to apply for emergency documents (and pay a fortune) to try and fly out this week. Along the way I have had more Doctor’s appointments and further imagery done since I am here, and so far we think we are back to a psoas hip flexor tendon issue that needs NSAID’s and love/physio/ice/rest for healing. If this does not work in the next 6 weeks we go back for further invasive testing to see if the cartliage is damaged (often this does not show on an MRI).
I would like to thank everyone who has assisted and aided me in my time here in BKK whether it be for medical or help with finding my passport (and wallet with all stuff inside). The Golden Tulip staff were amazing and courteous; the Banyan tree management were very accomodating and friendly and the BNH Hospital were very caring and professional. I have had great service from the Aus Embassy here and have enjoyed emails, time and love from a lot of friends and colleagues. Mostly I would like to say thank you to Kim, Michelle N, Brian B, Meg, Liz and Christina and my parents and mostly to Clint who has had to hold the fort while I am stranded with his own million things going on. I am looking forward to moving onwards and upwards when I get home tomorrow. Right now, off to the embassy for my new emergency passport.
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