Hosptial Holiday

Thailand is known for its sex industry, its SCUBA diving, and its ecotourism. This Christmas, I unexpectedly learned a secret about

Bangkok

that I’ll bet you never knew. And the worst thing was thatI had to remove my nose ring.

-image by Pirate

Pirate and I were to travel north to the foothills of the

Himalayas

to trek over 13 miles a day and to sleep in rural village huts at night. With special government permission to enter areas that aren’t usually opened to tourists, we were psyched to finally get an area of this country that few tourists are able to see. However, as with many things in life, our trip didn’t turn out as planned.

It began as a routine, annual checkup in

Bangkok

: an ultrasound of my abdomen showed several tumors, and within less than 24 hours, I was in surgery. It was my first operation, and I felt like I was in a movie when I looked up to see the huge, bright lights of the operating room just before they put me under. It was a major procedure that required anesthesia that numbed me from waist down, drugs to knock me out, and my stomach to be slit open (leaving a six-inch scar), and recovery that will take weeks. The worst part is that I had to take my nose ring out- the one I’d had in my nose for years. Fortunately, my Thai surgeon knew English and explained the process. Before the operation I asked, “Can I tap dance after this procedure?”

“Of course!” she replied.

I said, “Funny, I could not tap dance before.”

She didn’t get it. I guess a lame attempt of hospital humor didn’t translate from English to

Thai.

Neither did my phrase, “I hope that’s vodka” when pointing to the IV bag of clear liquid. Just a little chuckle would have sufficed.

How humbling to have a catheter, an IV drip, and the inability to turn over for days! How humbling to have to be sponge-bathed, and incapacitated. Thank god the tumors were benign, and thank god for Pirate, who kept my spirits up by humoring me and making me laugh enough to almost break a few stitches. He slept on my hospital room couch for four days and nights, covered only with a blanket, taking care of everything.

I spent a good portion of my Christmas holidays in

Bumrungrad

Hospital

.

Not only does this world-class hospital have excellent doctors and medical staff, but the accommodations are stellar. If you ever have to have an operation, I suggest that you consider flying to

Thailand

and having it done at Bumrungrad.  Here are a few reasons why:

• A fresh rose delivered to your room everyday
• Room service with menu
• Starbucks coffee delivered to your room
• International Herald Tribune delivered each morning
• Internet hookup option (dial up, so it’s slow, but better than nothing!)
• Top notch care by nurses in those old-fashioned hats
• Full service, private room with couch, TV, fridge
• Room balcony
• One whole wall of windows in your room with a view of the cityscape
• Intelligently designed hospital gowns that don’t show your butt when you walk around
• Outside balcony gardens with orchids, vines, fountains, gazebos, and curved walking paths and patients sitting in the sun and fresh air.
• Option for massage, manicure and pedicure, and hair salon that comes to your room.
• All this, for a fifth of the price you’d have to pay in the

  U.S.

  , and thank god for good medical insurance.

I didn’t do the whole beautician thing, but I did do the internet gig. There’s nothing like Skyping  from post-op! I have  a great photo of me sitting up in my hospital bed wearing my headphones and mike, my laptop on my food tray, fingers on the keyboard, with a silly geeky smile.

Once a tech geek, always a tech geek.

On the mezzanine floor, visitors can visit Macdonald’s,  Starbucks, several restaurants, and stores. The man entrance looks more like a 5 star hotel than a hospital. In the many waiting rooms, hospital staff translated information in Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, German, English, Chinese, and Korean. I sat beside women in burkhas, heavy gold jewelry, designer shoes, bindis and saris and men in turbans: a true international experience. If I ever have to have another major operation, I'm flying to

Thailand

to have it done. I was almost sad to leave!

I’m back home in this country Somewhere in

Asia

, recuperating. I sleep a lot.

I miss my rowing. I miss lifting weights and taking my long, morning walks.

Friends come, bringing me the comfort food of banana bread and bottles of wine.

The operation's over: now the process to recovery, and getting back into shape.

Happy Holidays, everyone! May 2007 be the best year ever!

Comments

[Terry]

So glad you're ok!

[Kristy]

I can't believe how great you are about the positive side to staying in that hospital.

Hope your recovery is quick!

[Jeremy]

Oh my...sorry you had to miss that epic part of your trip...and so glad you're ok. Happy New Year!

[Jeremy]

...and glad to hear you got out of Bangkok before last night's bombings. Ugh.

[tish g]

I've been wondering where you were lately! and glad that the tumors were benign and you're on the mend...

and that both "intelligent design" and "hospital gowns" can be used in the same sentence;-)

so, with all this medial nonsense out of the way this could then be a Happy New Year after all. Hope you get to that trek soon :-)

[the bluest eyes]

Dear Shamash! SO glad to read you´re ok, and moreover that you keep your great mindset, able to see all the positive sides. I am just about to get ready to leave home after some troublesome days. My mum is having chemotherapy at the moment due to a tumor as well, and I wish you could pass a tiny bit of your courage to her! get well soon!

[legend of y]

OH NOOOO! I was so shocked to hear the news and so happy to hear you're okay! Your description of lovely Bumrungrad almost made me want to get operated on too...well, ok, not really. I guess if it had to happen somewhere, you're lucky it happened in Bangkok! Happy new year and take it easy as you're healing!

[pups]

I am envious! Oh to have had my past two surgeries at Bumrungrad rather than a boring and cold out-patient facility in Sacremento! You know how to go first class all the way.

Glad that it all turned out OK and that you are on the mend. Happy New Year!

[Miss Sicily]

ahhhhhhhhh!!!!my dearest shamash!!
I cant believe everything happened so quickly! now take care of yourself, rest, and take it easy!
..I knew it, with all that vegetarian food...
big kisses

[Darth Vader]

Hey there chica - so glad to hear that you are good. In NZ at the moment, will write more when I get to US. So happy to hear you are benign! :)

[Amelia]

Happy New Year! I'm so sorry to hear you had to spend time in hospital, and very relieved to hear that it wasn't too 'serious'. Props for managing to focus on the bright side of life, and I hope you'll be back to lively form soon. Take care of yourself! xx

[Jeff Hess]

Shalom Shamash,

I'm sorry I didn't read this post earlier, but I'm very happy that the tumors were benign.

One of the things I've been wondering about lately is how many of my blog siblings have experienced a bit of a slump at the two-year mark? I did and I want to know if it was just me.

B'shalom,

Jeff

[Bluegrass Poet]

Oh Shamash -- so glad you're okay and the tumors benign. So glad that you had Pirate. And what wonderful care. Certainly takes the scales from my American eyes.

[shamash]

Thanks for your kind words, everyone! The recovery is taking much longer than expected, but I'm working to keep my spirits up. So good to hear from all of you!

[Hyacinth]

Healing thoughts and blessings from Hyacinth. Love always....

[moon]

thank God You are OK

and again i want to tell you, what an amazing woman, and amazing soul you are!

[steven davies]

I am glad that you are OK too.I didn't know that Thailand is known for its scuba diving,I think that computers are their passion (and sex industry ofcourse)