My Thai Discovery Journey

You sound like me @soul - crowds and a lot of noise stresses me out. But the sights and food looks amazing. Enjoying watching your journey 😊

@soulIt is lovely to read about and see some of your travels.

The state of most of the pets/strays were pretty desperate 30 years ago when I travelled through the area. I took photos to remind me and keep respect for the different standards of living for humans and animals.

I also had a piano student from Chiang Mai. The blendng of families from East and West are so much more complicated than the good will of the traveller. Cant take anything for granted wrt lifestyles and standards. She remained a friendly face at the supermarket.

I like that you partook of the Floating ceremony @soul but also queried the environmental impact. I think it is softly softly in that area. Eventually people take care of the toll on landscape, but ways of paying homage to the reasons behind ritual and are important.

Lovely to read your thread and catch up.

@soul Enjoy your last week.

As it turned out, my last week in Thailand wasn’t enjoyable after all.

Last Sunday, I set off early on the bike I had hired the previous day to spend some time at the Botanic Gardens.

As I was approaching the Gardens, I came upon a woman on a motorbike with a side car with two dogs in it. As I was passing her the dogs jumped out. I swerved to avoid them and braked. This caused the bike to skid on the gravel road and I came down hard on my right shoulder.

My shoulder was severely dislocated. Fortunately I was across the road from a cafe and an ambulance was called. An hour or so later, it arrived and I was taken to hospital. I had to have X-rays and was eventually given some morphine. After a few hours, they knocked me out and put my shoulder back in it’s socket. I was sent off with lots of pain medication and a suggestion that I go back to Australia as I also had a fracture.

I had taken out travel insurance and whilst trying to negotiate with them was still in severe agony. The next day they sent me back to the hospital for more tests. Just as I was about to get an MRI done, they decided to fly me home. It was either that or go to a hospital in Bangkok.

So I packed up and left on Tuesday evening landing back home Wednesday morning. Off to hospital for more X-rays and a CT scan that afternoon. Sent home with a wait and see approach but then called the next day to tell me that it is more serious than they thought.

Back to the hospital Friday to sort out paperwork and get an MRI because of concerns over nerve damage ( I have no use of my arm or hand) Machine wasn’t working so I had to return this morning. Went to the GP to get more heavy duty pain meds this afternoon.

Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday. It will be an open procedure and a plate needs to be installed due to the extent of the damage. Then recovery and rehab.

I feel so alone and helpless and devastated by what has happened. The staff asked if I had support at home. I told them that I didn’t. Only my daughter who works full time and is out a lot. I have been taking Uber cars to my appointments. No one to sit with me. I can’t even wash myself or do the simplest things.

I know things will improve but I am feeling really crappy right now and am missing my Mum. Still two more days until my operation. The pain is awful. It’s constant even with strong medication. My arm is a swollen bruised mess and I have abrasions on my knees, elbow and face. The moment I take my sling off, I am in agony.

I had a wonderful three weeks and now I am in this situation. Not fun at all 😥

@soul

Sorry things ended so poorly for you 😔

Trust the surgery and recovery goes as smoothly as it can for you, will be thinking of you.

Hi @soul, sooooo good to see you pop up.You've been on my heart, and I can see why, what a sorry end to a beautiful holiday.

A severely dislocated shoulder and fracture 😨 OUCH!!! You poor women. Glad you had travel insurance and as hard as it must have been to travel and navigate processes in so much pain and drug haze - I'm glad you came home early, especially now its turned out more serious than they thought, needing MRI (why not do that in the first place ill never know, accept $). Nerve damage (i have no use of my arm or hand) - this sounds pretty bad Soul 😟 💓 And the machine broking (good grief), having to go back and forth when in pain & so unwell. Not driving yourself with one harm and heavy pain meds I hope?/

Surgery Tuesday (to reduce pressure on nerve's guess) sounds pretty bad. Oh dear 😟 Hoping all that goes wwll for you 🙂 I'm glad they're planning rehab for you - support, and hope it all heals back to normal quickly 👍

I'm sorry this has happened to you and overshadowed your holiday away. I hear you re "I feel so alone and helpless and devastated"

I would come sit with you for your apt's Soul 😀

And it must be so hard not being able to do the " simplest things " - even wash yourself. Years ago they use to put you in hospital for nursing care till you could manage, but the systems broke. Baby wipes make good sponge baths.

Of cause youre "missing Mum" - a good mum, she would know what to do to help. Brings back the grief feelings on top of everything else i guess.

You're officially having a hard time Soul 😞 Lots of self care for you. Feel for you. 💜

Hugzz n hugzz 💓
Just breathe 💜💜💜

Thanks @Former-Member. I’ve taken double the strong pain meds but still my head is full of confusion.

Your words were very much appreciated. My daughter has been away most of the weekend and my son hasn’t been to visit. My friend offered her assistance, I asked her if she could take me back home after the surgery (as the hospital’s suggestions) but I haven’t heard from her since.

I’ve had more concern shown by the Uber drivers than anyone else.

Now I can’t go out walking the dog or go to yoga and there is only more pain and restricted movement to look forward to. Often times, I wish the accident had of been worse,

I remember taking my Mum and Dad to all their hospital appts. I’ll be doing all mine solo. I would have loved your company.

I feel like I have taken a thousand steps backwards. This year has been the pits.