Health Scare in Thailand: How I got peace of mind for $15

I've had a recent string of very bad luck when it comes to health.  On one hand, ever since I started eating a strict Butterproof/Paleo diet and doing CrossFit six days a week, I've quickly gotten into the best shape of my life. I was well on my way to having six pack abs for the first time in my life.  Then I fell through a wooden deck.  It was completely random, I was walking through an office complex and the distressed wood floor gave way and collapsed.  I fell through down to my knees and sprained my ankle.

All of the office staff of a local start up came out to clean my cut up leg with saline solution, iodine and bandages.  I figured I was fine.  My ankle healed within a few days, mainly due to being strong from barefoot running, and most of my cuts  were healing fine.  But then this past week everything started going wrong, and by everything, I mean everything.  I thought I developed something serious.

Back in the U.S. I would have been screwed.  I don't have health insurance and would have had to wait weeks and pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars to see a doctor.  But here in Thailand it was as easy.  I went to Loi Kroh Clinic here in Chiang Mai and told the doctor that my body was falling apart.  For the first time in my life I had a sun allergy and got burnt from tanning, my cuts weren't healing, and my immune system was going crazy.  I had him check everything, showed him my cuts, allergic reactions, and even had him do a full HIV and STD test.  

Twenty minutes later, my results were done.  No waiting around or coming back a week later.  It was instant!  He confirmed that I didn't have HIV or any STDs, and that I wasn't dying.  My body was just kicking up my immune system into overdrive fighting off the infection on the cut on my leg from falling through the floor.  He suggested I take a break from hard exercise until it heals and offered me a prescription to an anti-histamine and said I could come back in a week to get antibiotics if I needed them.  

Best of all, the entire checkup was only 450 baht which is $15US.  That's insanely affordable!  I even had them check to see what my blood type is, as I never knew.  Turns out I'm Type O+, good to know.  

Type O

Agreeable, social, optimistic. Type Os are warm, and lovely, and will squeeze your hand while you walk down the street and make sweeping romantic gestures and spontaneously make out with you when you least expect it. But they’re also jealous, vain, and arrogant. 

Lessons Learned:

• Good health is so important, I'm never going to take it granted again.
• I'm glad that I always use condoms and will continue to do so.
• I should have gotten stitches on my leg, next time I'm going to see a doctor.
• Don't use non-breathable plasters all day, change them to breathable ones when you're at home.
• Health care in Thailand is amazingly cheap.
• Going to the Doctors or a Clinic in Thailand is much easier than in the U.S.
• Don't take oral antibiotics for minor reasons, save it for when something is really incurable without.
• When traveling and living the 4-hour workweek lifestyle abroad one of the benefits is not having to deal with shitty, overpriced U.S. health care and insurance.  

I wish everyone good health and safe travel,

Warm Regards,

Johnny FD

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