Better, Thank You

Sweeping up on Soi Pratuchai - preparing to open in a few hours

As we've covered in a couple of other posts, there are some things you can do to stay healthy such as staying hydrated, cleaning common items, washing your hands frequently and being aware of what you're putting into your body (on several levels) - but sometimes it's just the luck of the draw.

It might have been my noodles at the Taipei airport, it might have been a meal the first day in Pattaya, it might have been any number of things; the point is I picked up a bacterial infection that set up housekeeping in my intestinal tract. After a week of trying to be positive and saying "oh, it'll pass - just wait it out" while being miserable off and on throughout the day and dealing with the ominous, unpredictable rumblings that usually signaled another pressing problem I conceded defeat and once again walked into the brightly lit lobby of Bangkok Nursing Hospital yesterday.

Just as efficient and gracious as they'd been on my first visit I was seen promptly, and this time was out of there in 34 minutes flat, with a total charge of 1,026 baht - about $30US. I'll be taking antibiotics for five days, but am already this morning (Friday, 14 January here) feeling more like myself - as the doctor predicted yesterday.

A couple of folks have asked how to avoid this and the short answer is: you can't. It's just something that's everywhere, and the Thai - having been exposed to it since birth - pass it right along through them, probably on a regular basis. Mine passed through as well, but it took everything along the way with it.

IF you think you've come down with something similar I can pass along what the doctor told me yesterday, though: stay away from caffeine, colas, coffee (that just irritates the lower intestinal tract) stay hydrated and only eat small meals. I had trouble with my appetite, so when I did feel like eating I ate full meals, and that turns out to be one of the worst things to do; it triggers the intestines to prepare to move things through, ready or not.

After leaving the hospital I decided I'd find simple fried rice for dinner so went along to Dick's in Soi Twilight to watch the folks start cleaning the soi and again watch it wake up from its day-long sleep. The massage guys were out and folks in a couple of clubs that had doors open before 18:00 were puttering around, sweeping up and beginning to put tables and chairs out. As suggested, I ate about half of the order and went to bed hungry, but all was calm!

I was in bed by 20:00, and slept well most of the night. Thanks to all who sent the kind wishes for a speedy recovery. I'll let you know how it goes.