Hospitals in Developing Countries...

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So.....one slight detail I forgot to mention in my last blog was that after all that diving (I'm ASSUMING this was the cause), I did...something...to my left ear, an ear infection! And the fact that I was just getting over a cold yet still decided to dive, did not help either. ALTHOUGH the dive shop did say it was fine as long as I can equalize my ears (notice me trying to save face)!

Anyway, I'm feeling much better now but that's probably only because I spent the weekend (Sat night - Monday morning) in the hospital! I'm fine now, well starting to get better, but was feeling pretty bad. So here's what happend: As you know, Boracay was AWESOME - became an advanced diver, did 7 dives in 3 days, one of which was down to 37m/123ft! On Wednesday, however, after my (last) night dive, my ear started to really hurt. Long story short, the doctor came that evening, checked it out, said I just had a "tense ear" and gave me some pain killers and anti-inflammatories. I flew Thursday (to Manila) and Friday (to Chiang Mai, Thailand), but my ear wasn't feeling better. So Saturday I bought some eardrops. Put them in in the morning which was fine; I put them in in the evening and all of a sudden I started to loose my balance, became totally disoriented and later that night, after dinner, threw up everything I ate. It was so weird, it was like I was drunk but didn't have anything to drink. I was wobbling all over the place (it was kind of funny actually haha well now it's funny)!! So with the help of a friend, I went to the emergency room at 0:30, where some doctor checked me out after they put me in a wheelchair. He did a couple tests which were much like a sobriety test (or so I've heard...haha)! He made me touch my nose and then touch his finger, which was a couple feet away; then I had to speed up. I think I passed that one. Then (for balance) I had to just stand there, feet together, eyes open. Passed that. Then he made me close my eyes. Not good. Definitely failed! I fell backwards.

His synopsis: I needed to see the specialist but he wouldn't be in until the morning. I could stay there or come back in the morning. Since it already was 1/1:15 and I really wasn't feeling well, I just stayed there. The nurse gave me an IV drip and medicine to stop throwing up, then wheeled me up to my own, private room.

Next morning they took me in an ambulance to the other hospital to see the ear doctor. Turns out I have an outer and inner ear infection. Started with an outer ear but then became an inner one as well, hence the loss of balance! The doctor kept me in the hospital the rest of the day just to keep an eye on me; checked out Monday morning. So now I'm on antibotics and couple other meds, which I'm not the biggest fan of - I don't like putting things into my body which don't belong there, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And I'm feeling so much better!!

This Saturday I go back for a check-up. How fun! Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of my hospital experience, but I here are some of Chiang Mai (and some at the airport, leaving the Philippines). I arrived Friday afternoon and just started my volunteer work on Tuesday. This time I'll be working with Women's Education for Advancement and Empowerment (WEAVE) . WEAVE teaches and supports basic human rights/needs of women and children, especially refugees from Burma. More details about this amazing organization to come!

Alright...dinner time! Have to catch up on food since I didn't eat much in the hospital. The food there consisted of rice, rice and some more rice. Oh and rice porridge. And some tofu and veggies after they found out that I don't eat meat or fish. As Rachel Ray would say "....hmmmm DE-LISH!"

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Comments

[Emil]

hmm .. so I really did have to jump in my intercontinental Jetta and come rescue you. How are you feeling now? Pictures of the hospital would have been awesome.. maybe once you regain your balance you can go back and to a post-disease report

[Aaron Roan]

Feel better!
Aww nikki, I hope you are doing okay now. I got my Advanced Water Diver certification the last trip I went and I know what its like to do a deep dive for the first time. What optional dives did you take (night, wreck, etc.)? Your trip sounds really amazing and the best part of this update was it really exposed how un-third world, third world hospitals are. I tell people all the time its not so bad there but they get freaked out thinking if you get a cut there, you will die cuz of bad health care. One love, -Aaron

[Amar]

another 180 degree change
wo0o0o0w, you are so into the 180 turn around, last week having a great time, swimming and diving, and BOOM, you go to the hospital and you were in pain........... but, i am glad to hear you are feeling better, and i am really sorry to hear that you had to go through all that, but its another interesting adventure you experienced........ OH, what happen to quote of the week......... :(