big_dad

It has been a relatively quiet holiday.

With only a few exceptions, I was really light on the partying as I was on meds most of the time. According to the doctor, if I am careful the ulcers should be gone and I don't need to go back for an overly intrusive test.

Saw a few movies - Dark Shadows (really sucked - no pun intended), American Pie (much better than I expected), Avengers (amazing), Lockout (one of the worst Luc Besson movies ever - basically Escape from New York in space but even below the quality of Escape from LA).

Lazy most of the trip - went out every night - went for walks - only worked out twice - hung out with a few friends - my upstairs neighbour seems to have moved to Patts for the duration of construction.

Some stuff with Jacob seems to have resolved and hopefully seeing him in a month and a half.

Am having huge Op Smile issues - I have been spinning for the last couple of weeks - I love this stuff and get a lot of pleasure out of helping these kids - I actually think I have been at least somewhat useful - unfortunately I have come to grips with the idea that OSC is more important to me than I am to it. However, I am very worried about where things are going. I really don't want to bail on this - I am not certain how I could possibly replace it. I need to make a decision soon - we have a mission coming up which actually brings to the fore many of the problems I am struggling with. I know I can't win this so my options seem to be shutting up and letting things go or bailing - all my options suck.

Anyway - good holiday - miss PP but not looking forward to having to decide about OSC - maybe I should extend my holiday...

Another day - another trip to the hospital - this has been so much fun so far. I arranged a late check out at my hotel and told them I may have to extend depending on the results of the tests.

Details of the pre-test procedures are not to be published here but were somewhat funny and unpleasant - still impressed by how professional and efficient the hospital is though. Last thing I remember is someone putting a mouth guard in to keep my mouth open and I woke up in recovery.

Doctor showed me the results but I was still pretty groggy - I pretended I was in better shape than I was so that I could be released but it was all a bit of a blur. They gave me a slick report with photos though - yuck - and noted some ulcers and took a bunch of biopsies. Mostly a good report but a few concerns - he thinks a lot of antibiotics should clear up the ulcers and my symptoms given that he did not see anything too nasty in there.

Decided to ignore some of the advice to take it easy - got on the bus and made it to Pattaya. Checked into my hotel, rested up and arranged to meet a friend. She took one look at me, said I looked terrible and that I was not allowed to go out that night.

In the meantime, I have had a friend who has changed his mind a few times about coming here. He last told me that he had decided not to come. I was eating breakfast at a street restaurant and he drove by on his way to my hotel to check in :) Have been hanging with him a bit - checked out some apartments with him (I may still move here for a month or so), shopped for a laptop, etc.

Hung out with another friend who lives here a bit. Worked out (once), had some McD (3 times) and discovered their wasabi dipping sauce (which rocks!!!!), tried the mocha cookie frappachino at starbucks (twice) - VERY YUMMY!!!, met up with an old friend and went on a tour of the gay district with her for her article.

Went out each night but nothing too severe - on antibiotics and trying to get cured. Stomach does seem to be improving considerably. Actually hungry for first time in ages. Got the results of the biopsies and samples - I don't understand it all but doctor says it is good.

Woke up early and headed off to the hospital for my CT scan. I was on pills to lower my heart rate as the scan only works if your heart stays under 65 beats. Turns out I was too fast so they had me wait an extra couple of hours while new meds went to work.

Finally they decided it was ok and got me hooked up. The scan was pretty quick but I am not certain the frequent calls to relax were helping - particularly when the contrast was injected - really did warm me up as per the nurses warning.

I was done by mid afternoon but feeling a bit nervous. I had a very quiet afternoon and met a friend for a couple of drinks at night - we were both home early although I was still off booze so it was even more boring for me.

Start Sunday with my GI doctor - he listened to my symptoms, read my physical report and told me I need to be spitted - cameras in both ends - not only fun but expensive too - not sure if the insurance is covering this one. But he said it was necessary as there were some particularly nasty things that could be triggering these symptoms (I had already read that on the internet and had successfully freaked myself out days earlier). We scheduled that for the morning and they are going to check with the insurance company.

Had an hour off - but more dietary restrictions and pills to "cleanse" myself that will make this night no fun at all. Then back to the hospital - the foot surgeon seemed pleased but warned me I will need another operation at some time to fuse the joints and/or hack off more bone growth.

Then I met the cardiologist - have not been looking forward to this one - of course it turns out that everything is fine - he suggested I deal with some of my risk factors but it seems my arteries are in good shape right now with no restrictions.

Back home - not able to eat but since I have not really been hungry in a week or two that is not an issue. Not a fun night - no details to be provided.

I try to have one of these every couple of years. Turns out it has been 3 years since my last one. It is not cheap but they check quite a bit. It is pretty much a full day at the hospital though.

This year I got some extra value when they explained that I was not just overweight - although they did point that out for me. Actually, while I need to lose some weight, overall most things were pretty good. However I had an abnormal stress test so they recommended I see a cardiologist. Also my GI symptoms and loss of appetite raised some flags so they recommended I see a GI guy.

The cardiologist was pretty straightforward - nothing freaky in my results but they were not positive either - given that i had a number of complicating factors, he strongly recommended I get either an echo stress test or a CT scan of my arteries with contrast. While the latter was twice the price, he recommended it as it would be much more revealing than the stress test. Luckily my insurance guys seemed to agree so they will cover it.

I lined up appointment for the scan on saturday and doctors appointments with my GI guy, cardiologist and my foot surgeon for sunday :)

Met a friend for dinner (had a funny moment when we both realized we were reading the same books on our kindles) and then went home - on severe restrictions for my test and not really in the mood to enjoy the city.

It has been a very loud and crazy couple of days.

The construction noise has been insane - I can not even conduct a phone call in my apartment. I had a funny moment when my neighbour and I were both on the balcony trying to make phone calls over the noise while trying not to wreck each other's chances of hearing our respective phone conversations.

Work has been crazy stupid. Not a lot of hours but I wish I could get paid by the stress level.

Woke up extra early to get to the airport - flight was a bit late but still loving the bangkok airways lounge. Smooth flight but the immigration lines in the Bangkok airport have reached stupid levels. Train to the hotel, picked up some McD and groceries on the way. Time for a nap.

Have a busy day tomorrow with my long overdue physical.

Another crazy week...

Work has been beyond stupidly stressful. Project was basically done on friday but aspects carried over the weekend and til now - not fully resolved yet. Was lovely to be woken up by my client - who has never called me directly - and trying to remember how rude I was in the first part of the conversation before I fully woke.

Some follow up work from my last project and that might be in for a while.

Made it to the gym ONCE... wow ...

Gut has been wonky - spent a lot of time not hungry - started forcing myself to eat as I was losing weight at an unhealthy rate - now just have basic GI issues - have a full medical scheduled for Friday so hopefully that will discover anything that is wrong.

Phip has been back - she tried some emotional blackmail to get some cash out of me - not much but she had been lying to me about the purpose of her visit so I told her i was not helping her this time - and now I am leaving the country so I don't have to see her spinning around trying to raise cash on her own. I will probably never stop feeling guilty with her though.

Looks like I will see my boy this summer in TO - that is cool.

Saw Hunger Games and John Carter (2nd time) in the theater - kewl!!!!

Had some Op Smile drama - have a huge difference of opinion on how things should go here both with our people and the main organization - am quite concerned - we had a board meeting and tonight i met with our regional medical director and regional mission coordinator - but i am going to lose this and am wondering if I should be around if I am proven correct.

Been a bit of a nasty week.

Work has been crazy stressful. Long periods of having to sit by my computer doing absolutely nothing waiting for emails interspersed with crazy rushes of intense and stressful work and the occasional emergency (actual or perceived) to clear up. Almost over now.

Op Smile - if I said the word frustrating that might start to cover it. Its all for the kids.

Health - something is up - not sure what - since I am going to be in BKK next week, I have scheduled the full checkup at bumrungrad - they will figure it out.

construction started two days ago - have not left my place yet - they start at 8 am and so far this week I am up before then working. I am glad I am leaving soon though.

Nothing really exciting happening though. Phip came back - she says she is here only a couple of days so am not certain how much I will see her - I already had plans for next two days.

Looks like I will see Jacob this summer - have to call him soon to confirm details.

At least the trip seems booked - flight, both my hotels and now my check up :)

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