September 13th, 2006, 23:36
I've posted a couple of partial updates on my boyfriend's condition in other threads but I'll add a bit more detail here.
Following two days in hospital in Bangkok caused by his continuing meningitis and, so it turned out, a bronchial infection that had led to pneumonia he returned home to Ratchaburi with his condition stabilised but still suffering from fairly severe symptoms. The added complication of his gastric ulcer has again caused problems and he now promises that he will stick to his bland, non spicy diet.
A scheduled visit last Wednesday to Bangkok had to be cancelled when the doctor spoke to him on the phone and it was agreed he was not well enough to travel. However he did make to Bangkok on Friday when the results of tests were reviewed and new blood samples taken.
My boyfriend doesn't understand anything about T-cells or CD4 etc and if I tried to introduce the subject it would just cause confusion. I have to try and use the language that he uses with his doctor but filtered through the dual translations of my Thai and his English and with some help from his electronic translator the "Talking Dict". He also sends me text messages with the names of the drugs he's on. So I know his has meningitis but he refers to it as "the fungi in my head" and his blood count is expressed in terms of "up" or "down" without figures.
The most recent results where not encouraging as his blood count was "down, down" for the first time for ages. The "fungi in my head" was "nit noi" (a little bit). The gastric ulcer seems to be controlled at the moment so that is an improvement. He's also clear of the TB and two other infections that affected his skin and his nervous system.
His anti-virals were changed recently and it would appear that the new regime was not proving as effective so he is now back on his original pills. He's still on the Fluconazole for the meningitis which has been a recurring problem for over a year, it would be really good news if the tests one day show he's clear of that.
For a brief period last week his normally indomitable spirit was slightly depressed and he cried as we spoke on the phone. He was upset that he'd missed some of his college course but amazingly he's managed two mornings this week and is sounding stronger.
He lives on his own with some limited support from his extended family but he is very independent and determined to finish his college course and, hopefully, support himself again. His next visit to Bangkok and the doctor is the middle of next week so I'm hoping for better news on the blood count and also hoping that the bronchial infection will improve. He gets very fed up with visits to Bangkok every two weeks but attempts in the past to extend the length of time between trips proved to be a mistake and from my point of view I like to know that he's being monitored even if as he says it's "Nah beua" (boring).
I spoke to him earlier today and his sense of humour was as lively as ever. I'm looking forward to seeing him in December.
Following two days in hospital in Bangkok caused by his continuing meningitis and, so it turned out, a bronchial infection that had led to pneumonia he returned home to Ratchaburi with his condition stabilised but still suffering from fairly severe symptoms. The added complication of his gastric ulcer has again caused problems and he now promises that he will stick to his bland, non spicy diet.
A scheduled visit last Wednesday to Bangkok had to be cancelled when the doctor spoke to him on the phone and it was agreed he was not well enough to travel. However he did make to Bangkok on Friday when the results of tests were reviewed and new blood samples taken.
My boyfriend doesn't understand anything about T-cells or CD4 etc and if I tried to introduce the subject it would just cause confusion. I have to try and use the language that he uses with his doctor but filtered through the dual translations of my Thai and his English and with some help from his electronic translator the "Talking Dict". He also sends me text messages with the names of the drugs he's on. So I know his has meningitis but he refers to it as "the fungi in my head" and his blood count is expressed in terms of "up" or "down" without figures.
The most recent results where not encouraging as his blood count was "down, down" for the first time for ages. The "fungi in my head" was "nit noi" (a little bit). The gastric ulcer seems to be controlled at the moment so that is an improvement. He's also clear of the TB and two other infections that affected his skin and his nervous system.
His anti-virals were changed recently and it would appear that the new regime was not proving as effective so he is now back on his original pills. He's still on the Fluconazole for the meningitis which has been a recurring problem for over a year, it would be really good news if the tests one day show he's clear of that.
For a brief period last week his normally indomitable spirit was slightly depressed and he cried as we spoke on the phone. He was upset that he'd missed some of his college course but amazingly he's managed two mornings this week and is sounding stronger.
He lives on his own with some limited support from his extended family but he is very independent and determined to finish his college course and, hopefully, support himself again. His next visit to Bangkok and the doctor is the middle of next week so I'm hoping for better news on the blood count and also hoping that the bronchial infection will improve. He gets very fed up with visits to Bangkok every two weeks but attempts in the past to extend the length of time between trips proved to be a mistake and from my point of view I like to know that he's being monitored even if as he says it's "Nah beua" (boring).
I spoke to him earlier today and his sense of humour was as lively as ever. I'm looking forward to seeing him in December.