Scout wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:24 pm
Google, what the hell is a "Zimmer Frame" ? Is this a British term ? What does the rest of the world call it ?
A "Zimmer frame" is a British term for a walking frame, a mobility aid used by individuals with limited mobility. It's essentially a metal frame with legs and handles that provides support and stability while walking. The term "Zimmer frame" is a genericized trademark, originally from the Zimmer company. While common in the UK, the rest of the world generally uses the term walker or walking frame.
I also had to break out my English-English to American English dictionary to comprehend much of this.
A&E = emergency room
Nappy = diaper
Bum = butt
Morpheme = Morphine
Nil by mouth =don't eat anything
Wrinklie = elderly person
Zimmer frame - walker
Physiotherapist = Physical Therapist
In the case of Morpheme I think that was a spelling error, we say morphine in UK
Interestingly (or not) a morpheme is the smallest meaningful unit in a word or a language. Learn about free and bound morphemes, derivational and inflectional morphemes, allomorphs, zero-morphemes, and content and function morphemes (or don't).
Warning: Don’t try this at home – it bloody hurts!!!
This is quite a long report, so I have split it up, trip report style.
NB: I have written this report in a light hearted manner. I was in a lot of pain during this process, and I have tried to reflect my emotions as they happened. In reality, I have no complaints whatsoever with any of the treatments I received. In fact, my treatment couldn’t have been better. I’d classify it as brilliant throughout.
Conclusion
Due to a few disagreements with other local hospitals in the area about 10 years ago, Primary Care for my wife and I was firmly established as Hua Hin Hospital. I know many will turn their noses up at just the thought of Hua Hin Hospital, but I could relay stories of other local hospitals that would make anybody think twice. However, Thailand has stringent defamation laws, so I will keep stum.
We have used other local hospitals a couple of times very recently, and the same problems still exist.
This was my first personal inpatient experience at Hua Hin Hospital, and I couldn’t have asked for more. It went well beyond my expectations. Maybe I wouldn’t have been so happy if I had ended up on the ‘still awaiting upgrade’ General Men’s Ward. Even then, I would have tried to upgrade to a private room at about 1,800฿/night, so maybe an extra 10,800฿ added to the bill.
I have no problem whatsoever staying with Hua Hin Hospital as my primary carer indefinitely. That decision is not based purely on cost – it also has many other factors taken into consideration.
The nappy thing has been quite a scary eye opener after living without them for the last 65 years. OK, the nappy technology has advanced a long way in 65 years, but the underlying use hasn’t really changed. What an awful concept, drop a load, and carry it on your back for a couple of hours! It just isn’t natural – simply doing your business in public, regardless of whose company you are in. Yes, it did a job, but not a routine I’d like to return to. Availability of fatboy sized nappies to fit me in every 7-11 in the land is remarkable. Where are all of these other lard arses of similar proportions to me? I just wonder who they sell them all to.
I did not really wear a nappy in the same way as a baby would wear a nappy. 99% of the time, I made it to the toilet anyway. I was a late bed wetter, and dry beds at night were one of my proudest ever achievements. Why would I want to lay in bed having a pee in my nappy? Actually, my first nappy night I had little choice, but just consider how hard that actually is. You wake up needing to pee. You manage to squeeze enough out to give a little relief, but 80% of that pee is still there, waiting. Such a horrible concept.
Unfortunately, the hospital doesn’t want me moving anywhere alone at the moment. I must have 2 strong escorts. There are occasions when only one escort is available, so I have to continue the nappy theme for a while yet.
Zimmer Frames – I’d always considered them as just a walking frame. There is a lot more to them, and what a great bit of kit.
My recovery, or partial recovery will be a very long road. However, until I can recover, I’ve got very little else to do.
This entire episode has certainly knocked my local travel, football tourism and my December Laos River Cruise on the head. I had been planning travel to 4 ASEAN countries later this year. That just cannot happen in 2025 now.
The big thing this entire episode has brought home to me, is my reliance upon a very strong family bond in Thailand. As an example, I am currently at the beginning of a 6 month recovery period, I’ve been home just over a week, and whilst I’m mobile around the house, I still can’t even wipe my own arse.
Yes, my personal choice is a budget hospital, but even if I had the hottest Insurance in Thailand, who would care for me post discharge if I didn’t have family? If I was living alone in a Condo as many Expats do, I’d be in dire straits. My family support chain is second to none, and I’m proud of every one of them. I, like most Expats in Thailand simply assumed this kind of thing happens to other people.
There are basic domestic tasks, but there are other admin tasks that I couldn’t even consider e.g. Visa renewal was due on 7th July – a task where you would normally be expected to turn up in person. My family just got on with it, and everything was sorted in a day. Who would have managed that with no strong family network? Who do you call, and give authority to be your proxy, and access to financial details?
I think such things could become quite scary here without family.
All in all, not an experience I would wish on anybody, but shit happens. I know I’ve winged a bit during this tale, but I honestly don’t really know what they could have done to make things better. Maybe a bit more pain relief, sooner. Maybe a few tranquilisers for the over zealous porters. Seriously, everybody had a part to play, and they all played that part well. No real complaints.
Scout wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 4:24 pm
Google, what the hell is a "Zimmer Frame" ? Is this a British term ? What does the rest of the world call it ?
A "Zimmer frame" is a British term for a walking frame, a mobility aid used by individuals with limited mobility. It's essentially a metal frame with legs and handles that provides support and stability while walking. The term "Zimmer frame" is a genericized trademark, originally from the Zimmer company. While common in the UK, the rest of the world generally uses the term walker or walking frame.
For those interested:
But the iconic walking frame, as we all know and love today, was invented in the UK by William Cribbes Robb of Stretford in the late 1940s. The frame design used to help people to walk was taken and improved on by an American company called Zimmer Holdings, based in Indiana, USA, where it gets its namesake from.
Big Boy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 10:04 am
Correct regarding cost of room - I have corrected that element in the main body, thank you.
No, the porters could have taken more care - definitely didn't seem to cater for trolley overhangs.
That's interesting. Around three years ago I think I remember was quote 4000 Baht per night for a private room at HHH (but all fully booked). I I think I remember there were three grades available (not available, hah) at different costs?
Big Boy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 28, 2025 9:09 am
... All in all, not an experience I would wish on anybody, but shit happens.
It is unfortunate but, sadly, quite common. Statistics indicate that nearly half of women and a third of men over 65 will experience a geriatric fracture, mostly due to falls. While the risk of falls can be mitigated by various means, accidents do happen.
Recognizing the significant cost and resource burden, many governments now support programs that teach safe falling techniques especially to people over 50. The courses are based on martial arts (is that a hint for you? ), typically involving 12-15 classes over 6 weeks. Short refreshers every six months are also recommended to maintain "muscle memory". Beyond the learned skills, such programs also offer health benefits, like improved body awareness, weight and blood pressure reduction, and social interaction. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, isn't?
His son should be able to provide the training - he’s a black belt in one form (karate I think) of the Marshall arts - but not before 2026 by the look of things!!
Interesting story, I agree on HH hospital and services, nothing wrong with it, although I have not been an inpatient there.
Take care and get well....
Be easy to recognize you now hobbling around HH
LOL - you won't see me anywhere until I've conquered the front steps.
Karate aside, he also holds a black belt in Aikido, which is the perfect art to compliment falling, and had been considering putting just such a course together. In the meantime, there's a lot of good stuff on You Tube.
If the physios in Hua Hin hospitals/clinics are like my other halfs niece, who is a physiotherapist at a major Bkk hospital, then they will probably have elderly clients who they visit at home in a private capacity. They started as regular attendees, who then asked her to visit them at home instead. I got the impression it's quite common.
), typically involving 12-15 classes over 6 weeks. Short refreshers every six months are also recommended to maintain "muscle memory". Beyond the learned skills, such programs also offer health benefits, like improved body awareness, weight and blood pressure reduction, and social interaction. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, isn't?
