Introduction
This week has definitely been an outlier. I was confined to my room (or at least a room) for the majority of the week. As a result, I don’t have as many pictures and adventures to share as the previous weeks. I’ve outlined three major topics that had a significant impact on my week, so I hope you’re able to understand the transition from adventure to sickness to recovery.
Sunday Escapades
Sunday was a day filled with preparations for Pa Lam’s birthday celebration. I started off my day by meeting a group of ladies from the village. They were preparing a dish called Khao tom. It’s a desert consisting of bananas and sticky rice that is wrapped and cooked in banana leaves. The whole process involved cutting the banana leaves, filling them with rice and fruit, wrapping them, and then finally tying two together with bamboo strands. They graciously showed me how to make them and gladly helped me fix my incorrectly wrapped food.
After that, I was asked to assist Eye collect wild flowers. Being the 6'3 discount giant, it was obviously my job to reach the flowers hanging from the trees. After we gathered our bounty, we had to pluck the pedals off, which was about as monotonous as you’d expect.
A large group of monks arrived at TBA for tomorrow’s celebration. They wanted to visit a temple in the forest along with Pa Lam, and some others. I was asked if I wanted to go and I emphatically said yes. I hopped into the bed of of a truck with Mae Nuch and started on the mini voyage. Riding by the Thai countryside with fresh wind in my hair was nothing but surreal. The temple itself was smaller and more modest than the ones I visited in Bangkok, but it was still beautiful in its own right.
My Illness
On Sunday evening, I started to feel a little under the weather. At the time, I had just figured that running around all day with minimal water consumption had finally caught up to me. I decided to go to bed early, drink some water, and took some Tylenol. I was under the assumption that I was going to wake up feeling better again; I guess it’s a good thing I have no interest in becoming a doctor.
I woke up Monday feeling way worse than the night before. I was extremely hot, physically drained, and just felt terrible overall. I was confined to my room all morning due to Pa Lam’s large birthday celebration. Upon coming downstairs, I instantly felt uneasy and the world started to spin. I felt my strength leave me and knew that I was moments away from passing out. I quickly called for help and managed to sit down as the delirium came. I sat and drank water for about ten minutes until I regained my composure. I was brought to Mae Nuch’s house where she cared for me until I recovered that evening. I went to bed feeling weaker than normal, but better than this morning.
On Tuesday, I woke up with a rash over my hands, feet, and face. My feet were also more sensitive than normal. I was brought to the local clinic and after what felt like a lifetime, I was informed that I had to stay in the infectious disease ward at the hospital due to a government mandated quarantine. Apparently some of my symptoms overlapped with the dreaded Monkeypox.
For the sake of brevity, I’ll some up my three days in the hospital as frustrating. I didn’t receive any real care until my Monkeypox test came back negative (I suppose that’s understandable). Even then, my treatment consisted of OTC medicine and haphazard examinations. I was eventually discharged and referred to a skin specialist at a private hospital in a near province. My experience here was much better and the doctor said I likely have extreme dermatitis with a bacterial infection. I was prescribed an antibiotic and a pill to help with the inflammation.
Barring the obvious physical discomfort and initial emotional shock, I think this week was ultimately good for me. My time in the hospital allowed me to get some much needed rest from the hustle and bustle I’ve been involved in for the past couple of weeks. It also gave me a quiet space to reflect and decompress. As my body is on the mend, my mind has been refreshed and I can say I’m in a better head space.
Thai Herbal Treatments
Pa Lam and Mae Nuch really wanted to treat me with some traditional Thai medicine. Once I understood what that would entail, I happily agreed. I figured the best case scenario is that I’m miraculous healed of all my ailments, gain an additional ten years on my life, and open my third eye. Compared to the worst case scenario of having a bad day at the spa, I figured it was worth the risk.
The first thing that happened was that I was given a turmeric skin treatment. I helped Mae Nuch peel and chop the turmeric while she ground it in the mortar and pestle. She put a spa headband on me and had me lie down on a mat. She then mixed the herb into water in order to form a paste and then applied to my skin. I closed my eyes, relaxed, and let the turmeric do its thing. After some time passed, I was able to rinse it all off (the paste, not the color).
The next day, I underwent a Thai sauna. First the sauna was filled with herbal steam by boiling water with freshly cut herbs. I then had to take a shower in rinse in order to prepare my body. I sat in the sauna for two forty minute sessions with a small water break in between. Once done, both my mind and my skin felt refreshed and renewed. It was a very calming experience that gave me time to heal and think.
All in all, my experience with Thai herbal treatments was a very enjoyable one and I hope to be able to do it again. My skin has improved and I had a very relaxing time. It was well worth being stained yellow for the week.
Wrapping Up
Although I didn’t have to navigate a big city alone or try to my hand at new Thai skills, this was still a challenging week for me. I had to deal with an illness alone, which would’ve already been a challenge, but I also had to navigate a language barrier and different healthcare system than I’m used to. I tried to be more accepting of the things that I can’t change, but I still have a long ways to go. I did however realize that I’m never really alone. I may have been quarantined, but my support system back home, my new Thai family, and my faith caused me to never feel it.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have a question that you’d like to have answered, then feel free to either leave a comment below or send me an email at contact@thetravelgap.com and I will try my best to get back to you shortly.
How are you feeling?
The medicine appears to be working as my infection appears to be gone and my rash is subsiding. Physically, I feel great; my energy is back to normal. This week was a little scary, but I feel like I’m in a great place now and am excited to move onto my next adventure.
What is the cost of healthcare?
The entire cost for my week of care totaled to around 5,000 baht (around $132 at the time of conversion). This cost includes two nights in the hospital, my blood work, all my medications, and the consultation with the skin specialist. Needless to say, healthcare is a little more affordable than back home.
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