KasiaTravels: Surfing in Costa Rica. #4: The brain scan, disappointment, overcoming the obstacles and... the insurance ;)

Here I was, in the minivan, on my way to the local hospital located 2 hours away. I felt weak, but I was constantly replying that I was okay. I didn’t want to worry anyone. Including myself.

As I have written in my previous post, it was windy that late afternoon and unfortunately the beginner surfers didn’t pay attention to their boards. They were literally flying in the air.
I was hit by the surfboard at the back of my head. Twice. Within maximum 30 minutes. After the second hit, I lost consciousness and was lying with my head in the water for around 15-20 seconds before I was “rescued”.

When we reached the hospital it was already late, around or past 10 pm. I had a brain scanned and then X rays taken. Thank I had a consultation with a doctor, who couldn’t say much without seeing the results. But as I was doing good, walking and feeling rather okay, we decided that I am coming back home. For my question concerning surfing, I got an answer that I might be lucky this time, but I should be careful and avoid the third hit, cause this time it will probably be damaging.

The next day, the second day of the camp was difficult because I was really disappointed. I came this far, from Poland to Costa Rica, to surf. And I get this? An accident so serious that I couldn’t even tell my family about it because they would be too worried about me. I remember eating my breakfast, answering “I’m feeling good, thank you!” with my smile number 25, to people who were asking me the same questions.

That day the doctor from the hospital said that the results looked good and not disturbing. I sent the scans to Poland to my friend because I wanted to make sure that he agreed. My surf buddy, the one whose board hit me the second time the day before was also consulting my case with his sister, a sports doctor. Poor Johnny, he felt really guilty, although I was reassuring him that I knew it was an accident!

I was feeling good. I didn’t have headaches, I didn’t want to vomit, I didn’t feel dizzy. So… the next morning I wake up in the early morning, just like I would if I were to surf, and I went for a run alongside the beach.

I continued to feel good during the next day. I decided it was the time to speak with the manager of my surf camp. I really I wanted to continue my surf lessons! I knew it was not the smartest thing to do, but I rarely do smart decisions (well, I did some, like to get a law degree; but, I in the end, I didn’t want to work as a lawyer… so you get my point ;) ).
We agreed that I would have the lessons one-on-one instead of in the group of 3 people, far from other beginners, so I could be calm that nothing would happen. And that I can catch up those 3 days that I couldn’t surf. The only thing was for me to move out from the room that I occupied during the camp time. But that was something super obvious. I was really happy that it ended this way. That he was sympathetic.

The insurance

In a meanwhile, I had to do the paperwork for the insurance company.
I was cautious enough, which in general is definitely not my trait ;), to buy insurance (covering as well more extreme activities, like surfing). I chose Endsleigh Insurance from the “Travel Nation” offer (£200 for 5 months). I did it just in case, as I was persuaded I will never! need it. And you see, here I was, sending a request to reimburse the cost of my hospital examinations a week after the purchase!

The problem with insurance is that you have to pay for everything. Then, if the insurance company approve the expenses, it will pay you back. I was travelling on a tight budget so this kind of unexpected situation was devastating to my budget. That one visit to the (private) hospital cost £530! Therefore I needed a refund as soon as possible. Fortunately, the company didn’t create problems, all went smoothly and they quickly sent me the money to my account. The only problem was their policy - they refund the cost above a certain amount, in my case that was £100. That means that in the end the medical treatment bill was paid by me and the remaining amount by the insurance company. £100 was a huge unexpected expense, but in the end, even after adding the cost of the insurance itself, it still was worth buying.

This is why I urge you, my fellow travellers and adventurers, to always buy insurance for your more exotic destinations, where the cost of a proper health care may be more expensive than we expect!

Pura vida to all of you, my Steemit friends!
Kasia

• More about me here :)
  and here: You can travel without being wealthy aka a girl from a "struggling" family chasing her dreams!

• Some of my recent stories from South America:
  KasiaTravels: Surfing in Costa Rica. Part 2: Wich’s Rock Surf Camp
  KasiaTravels: Surfing in Costa Rica. Part 3: The accident
  Kasia and the death road - la ruta de la muerte - Bolivia (part 1)
  Kasia and the death road - la ruta de la muerte - Bolivia (part 2)