Misadventures In Bali...

We finished our first day in Bali having Dinner with Taegan, Gareth, Jack & Gina. (Taegan's Dad and wife). It was lovely to meet them and we headed out for dinner at a Restaurant near their hotel. Dinner was good and with lots of people coming and going through the night and 3 roaming musicians it was a happy cheerful night. During the evening full of fun and frivolity my 'misadventures' began. I had a bit of a dizzy spell but once we had applied ice and I filled up on the water I came good again and was able to continue to enjoy the night.

Waking up a little weary the next morning I just assumed that the humidity was taking it's toll but we were still out and about for Banana Pancakes and Watermelon Juice. Meeting Gareth & Taegan after Breakkie we decided we would go and check out the huge new shopping centre, the Discovery Centre just next door to where they were staying. It is a large complex and seems to take away the need for anyone to venture over to Denpassar to find department stores now. We found a tourist counter and decided that the Bali Hai Sunset Cruise looked to be the thing to do that night. All booked and organised and then we headed upstairs for lunch at a lovely cafe looking right across the beach. Lunch was very tasty and if only I had known it would be my last meal for 2 weeks I might have paid it more attention. We both went back to our own hotels for an afternoon of R & R in readiness for the boat trip that night.

Picked up early for the slow drive over to Benoa Harbour we were all looking forward to our big night out. This unfortunately is where the next and last 'misadventure' took place. After another light headed spell, more cold water and ice on the neck I decided that the little girls room was where I needed to visit. One there I discovered that my dizziness probably had another cause. I was bleeding and lots of it. I tried to get back to Bill and the kids but never made it and passed out for a time in the ladies. I think the poor girl I asked for help was a little shocked to find a old lady on the floor but with no English I couldn't get her to help me anyway. I managed to stand and get out to Bill where they immediately saw there was a problem and came to my aid. It was now I knew that we wouldn't be seeing the sunset that night and we advised the cruise that we would need a taxi to take me to the hospital. They were wonderful and took us back there themselves. Gareth & Taegan, while worried, did as we asked and continued with the cruise. They had a lovely night and Gareth's photo's of the sunset are great.

Bill & I went straight to the BIMC, a very modern international facility. I had actually been given a card in Perth many years ago, from a Dr who had been involved with setting it up. Within an hour of my arrival it had been determined that I was in a little bit of trouble and with the bleeding continuing I saw three specialists. They decided as I had lost so much blood my haemoglobin levels were dangerously low and I needed an immediate transfusion. I was transferred to ICU and spent the next 24 hours with 4 blood transfusions and many bags of saline etc being administered. With drips in each arm and the need to monitor the blood levels they started taking blood from my feet for their counts. I can tell you now that hurts much more than the old blood from the arm routine. Of course while all this had been going on Bill had been in touch with the Travel Insurance people who were wonderful and assured him that all would be looked after and we did not need to worry.

While the BIMC is an excellent facility it only had the ability (in my case) to diagnose but not to operate if that was needed. The Insurance company decided that based on the specialist reports that I needed to be in a full hospital and so began phase 2 of our little 'misadventure'. I had to be evacuated to Singapore for immediate consultation and surgery if necessary. So it was all put in place and we said goodbye to Bali on Tuesday night. Transferred by Ambulance to the aircraft where I was loaded, yes loaded onto a 'little jet' for the trip up to Singapore. All very exciting, scary & amazing at how quickly it all came together. The Dr & staff who transported me were wonderful to us both and Bill was looked after as well. Poor man must have been terrified as this all unfolded around him. The thing I most remember about the flight was how cold it was and without another blanket to add someone put a coat over me. I found out later that it was Bill's and he endured the 2 1/2 hours of freezing to keep me warm. What a man!

Once landed we did the unload and Ambulance trip again and arrived at the Raffles Hospital around 3.00am where the Dr was waiting for me. Further tests revealed that I needed another transfusion before we could do anything else so I spent the rest of the night receiving more blood and liquids so they could decide what I needed in the morning.

Check out tomorrow to see what happened next...................