Trip to Hospital for an Infected Knee in a Yogyakarta Police SUV
Greetings and salutations, or something like that.
So today I had a most absurdly infected right knee. It reminded me of when I broke my knee it was “that sensitive”. I could not put any pressure on it after it had been relaxed for a bit ~5 minutes or more. You need to slowly put pressure and do a bit of grinning and then you can “walk again” after a few moments. This brief update explains a trip to the local hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for an infected knee courtesy of the local police. Click here to see the knee from the last update…
So I ask the guy at the desk “How do I get to the Hospital?” and he gives me a vague idea. I set out on foot and am about half way there when I ask again, someone says you going wrong way. Try and flag one of those guys driving the bikes with a seat in the front and he’s the only one I have ever seen who didn’t stop or even ask if I wanted a ride. At this point I see the police station and figure “whatever, they’ll know”.
I see a cop hanging out in front of the station, approach him and ask for directions. He says “come with me” and brings me into the station. I see the jail… You do NOT want to go to that jail. There must of been ~15 people in a 10x10ft room. I’m talking very cramped accommodations and no fan, nothing.
I digress.
So the guy asks if I was in a car accident, I reply “no”. He then asks what is wrong, I show him my knees. He then says go with this guy, he will bring you there… So I hop into a police SUV and hit the streets. When you’re riding shotgun in a Police SUV in Indonesia, you get a LOT of really inquisitive looks by local people. It was kinda cool but unnerving as everyone has heard a whole “mixed bag” of stories.
Get to the hospital and it was quite clean and professional. A few nurses come over and a Doctor. I tell them what happened and they start lancing my knee to try and drain it, no dice. At this point I’m like “Are these things sterilized?” I’d rather lose a leg then lose my life to say… I dunno… HIV!? He assures me they are sterilized and whatnot. I’m still not thrilled but “c’est la vie” as the French would say. The infection started in the smallest opening / bug bite but moved into the joint or at least well below the surface so draining it is not possible.
They can’t drain it and they give me some antibiotics… They give me THE SAME STUFF I already had! Some amoxil (already had it), an antibiotic cream to apply after I shower (already had it) and some anti-inflammatory medicine. Everything including the visit came to $19US. (What a deal granted the needles were sterilized). The same Police officer waited through the entire process and then drove me back to the station, what a gentleman! We exchanged pleasantries and I was on my way.
So here I am, laying on a bed in an air conditioned room that costs ~$10US a night. I was told to “stay off it” and that is just what I will do. Am I “choked” that I can’t visit some local scenery? Not really, dare I say, I’m relieved. The more I travel the more I realize I just don’t care about the “sights”. I never have and probably never will. If you want to see them, just search “google images” they’ve all been photographed to death. I’m actually quite content just chilling here, playing on wifi for ~$20US a day. That’s only $600 a month. I could do this forever. If you are looking for sights, culture, history etc… I recommend you visit this blog.
Tips hat,
