MJ: This is the first time I've written here for a long time - life seemed to catch up with us for a few months! Visa applications, then two lots of visitors, birthdays argh!
But... One thing that hasn't changed though is the fact that I seem to have a weak immune system in Japan! For the first time though, it was Nico who caught the cold and gave it to me. And it was a doozey. So bad, in fact, that I ended up with a very painful ear infection - the doctor's visits I had to make in the process.
I was at work, and ended up leaving early to go to an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) doctor. One thing in the Japanese health system is that there are no GPs or Family Doctors. For every problem, you have to go to a specialist. It confuses me a bit - what if you don't know what the symptoms mean? But it seems to work here. Another thing that surprises me is that most clinics don't require appointments. They have hours they are open, and you just turn up and wait your turn. If it is a busy clinic then it may mean you have to wait a long time, but hey, what doctor runs on time in Australia?
So off I go to the doctor feeling sore and sorry myself and a little bit nervous because I'm not so confident in my ability to tell the doctor what's wrong.
So off I go to the doctor feeling sore and sorry myself and a little bit nervous because I'm not so confident in my ability to tell the doctor what's wrong.
The doctor was nice, if a little brisk. He used a picture to explain to me what was wrong, and prescribed some medicines for me. I thought it was all over in a matter of fifteen minutes.
But no...
I get guided over to the edge of the large consult room, and am seated on a stool in front of what looks to be an ancient torture device. It is a glass bulb, with two plastic nozzles to place near your nose, and then attached to a long hose that goes into the world. I look to the left and right of me, and everyone else seems OK - the 3 year old boy and the 75 year old grandma. I press the button to start the machine and hold it close to my nose as directed. And this warm mist with apparent medicine is being sprayed up my nose - how the hell am I supposed to breathe normally like directed if water is going all up my nose. Trying not to be embarrassed by the stuff running down my nose I battle on and then I'm finished and I try to walk out the door quickly but...
I get guided over to the edge of the large consult room, and am seated on a stool in front of what looks to be an ancient torture device. It is a glass bulb, with two plastic nozzles to place near your nose, and then attached to a long hose that goes into the world. I look to the left and right of me, and everyone else seems OK - the 3 year old boy and the 75 year old grandma. I press the button to start the machine and hold it close to my nose as directed. And this warm mist with apparent medicine is being sprayed up my nose - how the hell am I supposed to breathe normally like directed if water is going all up my nose. Trying not to be embarrassed by the stuff running down my nose I battle on and then I'm finished and I try to walk out the door quickly but...
I get led to another seat, which has a throat nebuliser. So as I'm opening my mouth next to the nozzle and more warm medicine steam is going down my throat I try not to cough and splutter up all this extra water in my mouth but it doesn't quite work. The whole time I'm coughing onto the bench I'm getting all these weird looks from the Japanese people around me - why can't I just use the machines and be quiet?!?!
The Japanese health system is very good - and it always seems to me that Japanese people go to the doctor far too often, and for such small things. But as I go out and pay I realise. I have to pay health insurance each month, and it is compulsory for all residents of Japan. It can be quite (!) expensive sometimes, but the price of the consultation is very cheap - the equivalent of about $15 at the ENT doctor, and the prescription medicines I received were only about $7 for one course. So why wouldn't you go all the time? And using those crazy torture devices from when you are a toddler!
The Japanese health system is very good - and it always seems to me that Japanese people go to the doctor far too often, and for such small things. But as I go out and pay I realise. I have to pay health insurance each month, and it is compulsory for all residents of Japan. It can be quite (!) expensive sometimes, but the price of the consultation is very cheap - the equivalent of about $15 at the ENT doctor, and the prescription medicines I received were only about $7 for one course. So why wouldn't you go all the time? And using those crazy torture devices from when you are a toddler!
And you know what? Going back three days later to get checked - I submitted myself to the torture a second time!!!
