Sickness Strikes Again

Its true.
I am sick again.
Boo.

For those of you who read my blog entry about my first go around with the flu, I will spare you from having to hear the symptoms a second time (no one needs to hear about those horrific issues EVER again). Sadly let's just say I was dealing with the same issues I experienced 2 weeks ago - minus the whole crapping of the bed part, thank God!

Anyway, after a very fun New Years celebration I was left in bed for 3 days straight. Then, just when I thought I was getting better, wham, the sickness continued on.

Being stubborn for long enough, I finally decided to go to the hospital (don't freak out, everyone goes to hospitals here: a kid goes home from school w/ a runny nose and their parents say "don't worry, we'll take them to the hospital - a little extreme if you ask me, but it's what they do here, very odd).

This was my second run-in with a Thai hospital. My first was for a physical for my work visa. All the other teachers at my school went together, didn't have pay, nor did they have to pee in a cup or get x-rays. Me on the other hand, well, I had to do it all. I was poked, prodded, x-rayed and more. And on top of it all, I had to pay for it, lucky me.

I wish I could say my second hospital experience went better, but it didn't. After protesting for 4 days, I finally gave in and went. I got on my work out clothes and headed on bike to the mooban's hospital - don't worry, by the time I got there I was covered in sweat and looking mighty fine - now the Thais are really going to stare at me. Since this was my second visit I figured the hospital had all my paperwork on file, so all I brought with me was my issued hospital card from last time and my insurance card from school - that should be enough right? Wrong. Apparently I needed my passport as well. Back on the bike I go.

By the time I reached home I was beyond sweaty and exhausted and refused to go back. This lasted only a few hours. Thanks to Kes' persistence and a newly discovered issue, I headed back on bike to the hospital once again, passport in hand of course.

There I sat waiting for Miss Salah Ealp (Thais pronounce "r's" like "l's") to be called. Finally I was called in and the first thing to doctor asked me was "Do you speak Thai"? Uh-oh, we're in trouble now I thought. Do I look like someone who speaks Thai? Unfortunately not. I wish I did, but all I can say to you doc is hi, bye, turn left, turn right, here, ask how much and count from 1 to 100 - none of which will help explain how I'm feeling. Well, here goes nothing I think to myself.

I explain to the cute, old, fragile man that I have had the same flu like symptoms twice in the span of 3 weeks and that this time around I am getting much worse stomach cramping and bowel issues. Awkward I know. Out of nowhere, he asks me to lift my shirt and tells me "your liver is fine" - great, I never thought it wasn't. Then he tells me "and your intestines and stomach seem inflamed" - well duh, that's why I am here isn't it? He also told me I still have a fever - something I thought I had kicked, but I guess not. That was the extent to what he told me was wrong then handed me a list of prescriptions I was to take to the pharmacy.

I didn't get answers, but I now have in hand a number of drugs that I have no idea what they are for or what they do. All I know is I hope they work!

I started this vacation with the flu and I am now ending it with the flu. School starts tomorrow and I would REALLY like to feel like myself again.
I am giving the meds 3-5 days and if after that I still do not feel 100% looks like I'll be heading downtown to find a better doctor.

Here's to better health in 2010!