A
Visit to See the Doctor
This short
despatch concerns our recent visit to the local hospital, which you should
relate to as being a Doctor*s surgery or clinic. Whilst they are actually more
than this as compared to UK medical services, these small hospitals still refer
major problems to the most appropriate large hospital, with both Western and
Chinese medicinal options available.
The Chinese
sign for hospital, pharmacy or medical provision is a white cross set on a
green chrysanthemum background. Often you will see this same sign but with a
red background. The red colour simply signifies this is a local or private
facility, not one administered directly via central government.
For minor
complaints the local hospitals are fine and we are fortunate to have two such
on our doorstep. From our ground floor entrance they are both literally
1-minutes walk Jim. My great friend Jim Chenoweth does not believe my personal
interpretation of relative time, my &1-minute* = his *10-minutes* or something
similar. I think the truth lies somewhere in between, but it gives us something
to make fun of whilst enjoying the occasional pint or three. Jim is currently
teaching at a Guangzhou University, but has a long break coming up for Chinese
National holidays, so we aim to catch up in a couple of weeks time.
Our other
dear friend over in
Our visit
was because of a minor ailment which our daughter Rhiannon first contracted a
few days earlier. On Saturday evening we noticed one of her eyes was slightly
red, and this got worse by the following morning. Siu Ying wanted Mama to
accompany her to the major hospital for treatment, whilst Mama insisted the
local hospital would be quite adequate. Mama had been staying with us for a few
days, and she generally pops over for three days every 8 or so to give Siu Ying
a lift 每 Babies can be very hard work, and whilst I try and do my share, I am
not really very good with such young things. The row developed overnight, and I
knew from the tone of voices there was a serious dispute in the air. Nonni
recognised it also and would cry as soon as voices were raised. I had to tell
them to keep it down 每 but it was not anything serious, as families in
Siu Ying*s
reluctance was due to the fact she had taken Nonni to the nearest local
hospital a few days earlier, and had needed to wait for several hours to be seen
for a very minor complaint 每 a head cold. Normally she would have brushed this
aside of course, as we all do; but the sensibility of mothers who are still
breast-feeding is quite different with no chances being taken. Quite right too!
Siu Ying returned with some medicine that soon cleared up the malaise.
Eventually the
ongoing disagreement between the girls was resolved when Mama decided she
needed to go home, and Siu Ying was forced to take Nonni to be seen locally at
midday on Sunday. This time she tried the other hospital nearby, which was a lot
quicker. Rhiannon was seen immediately and it was confirmed she had an eye
cold. She had a small injection and eye-wash, and was given folded papers
within which were crushed medicines to be mixed with water and administered as
a medicinal tea. For such a young thing she responded really well and apart
from both eyes being swollen and red, she carried on as if nothing were the
matter.
Come Monday
and Siu Ying awakens to itchy and swollen red eyes, and she decides we both
have to go for treatment immediately. I try to brush her aside saying stupid
things like ※This won*t affect foreigners§ and similar. Ho, ho, ho! However, my
right eye has the fist signs of an irritation so I acquiesce and we all make
the trip together.
Our two
little &cottage hospitals*, for want of better terminology and Western
equivalents, are both very competent. The slightly closer of the two is also
slightly cheaper, meaning it is always full and you may need to wait for an
hour or so to be seen, as happened during Siu Ying*s first visit last week.
Therefore we have taken to using the other one as it offers far better service.
We arrived
on Monday morning at about 10 am, and were immediately greeted by a nurse 每
note: not a receptionist or admin assistant, but a real qualified Nurse. The
Doctor was nearby chatting with another family, but upon our arrival they
quickly said their goodbyes and we were seen immediately. The nurse was also in
attendance so that she knew exactly what was required after our consultation.
Apparently there is a local epidemic of eye flu, so after a cursory examination
we were handed treatment cards and a list for the pharmacy. The Doctor
remembered Nonni from yesterday, and also checked her progress, stating
everything looked fine.
My
paperwork was completed in my Chinese name, which roughly translates as &Mo Yur
Han* in Cantonese. Mo or Mao in Mandarin was given to me years ago by a friend
from
The Nurse
then took our paperwork to the adjacent pharmacy, which doubles as the payment
point. My bill was Y72 and my wife*s Y98, which is probably less than current
prescription charges in
The same
Nurse then takes up to the 2nd floor (3rd for Chinese and
Americans) where we were entrusted into the care of two other nurses. They took
our paperwork and medicine packs, whilst I noticed there were a dozen others
here having treatment. No sooner had one nurse shown us to our seats and asked
if we wanted a cup of water, than the other asked me to join her in their
office. The nurse I was with led me through and asked me to sit down. Then she
closed the door and asked me to lower my jeans for an injection in my behind. I
protested of course (Just for the fun of it), miming a jab in the arm which was
greeted by a pair of shaking heads. I then motioned for a drip, and they
tittered and again shock their heads. It also became apparent from their looks
and brief exchange that I was the first foreigner the younger nurse had ever
treated. I was aware that the low window would not hide my modesty from any
onlookers, but checking found this to consist only of my wife and baby 每 so OK
then, here we go!
I think I
managed to bare the appropriate area without giving anyone apoplexy, and was
immediately asked to sit down again. A tad odd me* thinks, even for
Sometimes I
like to reflect on the obverse; such as what would happen in Blighty if a
Chinese speaker attended an NHS hospital or Doctors surgery for treatment? I
could probably do most of it in Cantonese 每 barring any complicated words and
medical terms. I guess in a major city hospital there would be a Chinese Doctor
and nurses, but in an out of the way town? I really do not think so. This is
one reason why I have the greatest of respect for ordinary Chinese people such
as these that I come into contact with during the course of my normal daily
life in China. Remember, the first they knew was when I rocked-up that morning
for treatment.
During my
days I have had a lot of injections for various things, and the most stupid
remains Tetanus. I once broke my right foot one night whilst repairing a truck
tyre on the Motorway. It was a clean break, so I finished the job and drove
myself to the hospital for treatment. I*d only broken a couple of Tarsal*s, so
no big deal whilst the adrenalin was kicking in. Treatment was a formality, but
lasted until mid morning as we waited for consultancy, X-rays, referral, more
consultancy, plastering, etc.
Back in
Siu Ying
was up next, and as soon as she disappeared Nonni started playing up. She
usually cries when she is not being physically held by her mother, something
that is weary on both of us. That said, we have our Father-Daughter times, one
being early mornings when she is happy to be with me for hours of play whilst
her mother sleeps. Another is when we are both tired or in bed, and have
developed our own routines of secret touches and nearness. So I end-up carting
Nonni off to watch her mother being treated, and then she is fine.
Normally
Chinese IV takes between 20 minutes and half an hour, but this one is headed
for the full hour. Don*t get me wrong, I think this method is far more
effective than simply pumping a load of stuff into some unsuspecting muscle.
However, boredom gets the better of me so I head outside for a cigarette. I
take the back exit and find myself opposite the other local hospital. I wander
around for nothing better to do, and returning am soon approached by the wife
of the local hair salon we use. She tries to inveigle me in for a massage, and
whilst this is very tempting, I decline as my family need my support at this
time 每 and also I wonder if she may catch whatever it is that*s about to
inflict me!
Returning I
find we are about done here, so the nurse hands us our medicines for home use, we
say our thanks and are soon on our way. Siu Ying puts on her sunglasses and
states I should go home whilst she will go to the wet market next door for
supplies. I say I will go with her, as I want to buy mushrooms to make my
version of Chinese Tangy mushroom soup. She is horrified, stating people will
see my eyes! This is a &no-no* apparently, so of I go home alone. I look in the
mirror after my return, and must admit that I do look a little like a red-eyed
monster. Ho-hum!
Whatever
this disease it, it is quite nasty regards daily life. It is not
life-threatening and won*t do any permanent damage to eyes etc. It begins with
soreness and itching, which becomes intense. I can liken it to having eyes full
of sty*s, before feeling like they are being bathed in sharp sand. It is very
uncomfortable! This lasts for exactly 48 hours for all of us 每 quite amazing!
Then the eye problem and related swelling disappear, whilst we have a minor
head cold and slight symptoms of fever shared between us all. In all the
disease takes 5-days to run its course, I am pretty sure there is an extra
2-days incubation period. This is all detailed on a page in my Health Section,
which offers practicable advice to anyone who contracts this mellifluence. You
can find it here:
http://www.china-expats.com/Health_CnEyeFlu.htm
Siu Ying
returns home from the market with a couple of bunches of things that look like
vine leaves. I have had these before as a soup which was simmered for 10
minutes. This time she adds a lot more water than normal, and cooks the leaves
for over an hour. We imbibe the resultant fluid that seems to help. It is actually
very tasty and one of my favourite soups.
I have had
to stop using the computer, and have taken to smoking outside as the astringent
properties of cigarette smoke only exacerbate the itching. Even watching
television can be a problem, so we all slumber for most of the next 36 hours.
The next day Siu Ying goes out, complete with sun glasses of course. She
returns with bags of twigs and berries that I want to photograph, but leave
till later. She dumps these into our jam-kettle and soon cooks up a goo that
looks something like what you would expect to find in a brackish puddle along
some forest trail just after it has been raining heavily. I am given a pint of
the brown stuff to drink, and am delighted to discover it tastes just like real
liquorice, only sweeter. 每 You know the twigs of the aniseed plant as used to
be sold in sweet shops &When I were a Staffordshire lad*. They*re probably
banned now by
Ahha! I
must write about being a Staffordshire lad sometime. There are certain
linguistic gems that I worry will be lost to the modern world. ※Thee dost*ner
dost thee?§ from ※Up-&onley§; and their equal cousins from Dudley and Great
Worley ※Costner thee grob em rot§. Staffordshire is a very unusual County, and
whilst I was born in the County Town of Stafford, notable for not having a
discernable accent of any sort; this is surrounded my many very strong dialects
all within the same old county boundaries. In ancient times this was the
melting pot where all invaders tarried and
Back home
in Toisan I find one of the excellent side-effects from Siu Ying*s home-made &brackish
pond water with woodland attributes* comes in the form of an excess of
flatulence 每 something both boys and babies adore apparently. Unfortunately my
wife is less impressed 每 but that*s girls for you! My mind wanders, and then
wonders what would be the effective and combined output if I were to have baked
beans and capsicums for dinner tonight? But upon reflection, I do love my wife
so refrain # this time. As the effects wear off I recommence teaching my
daughter how to blow raspberries instead, something that has her in fits and
giggles. Her mother hides her mirth under a sever frown. Then she delights in
expounding upon the fact she now has two children to look after. Suitably
chastened I immediately set about mollifying her and my hard work soon
provender*s results # well, up until the point I involuntarily let off a total
&Aussie ripper*, and running for cover manage to avoid most missiles
immediately hurled in my direction. Rhiannon loves this game and wants more,
whilst I really didn*t know it was coming. Honest!
However,
all our eyes are seriously suffering and this brief humour only serves to
dampen our discomfiture for a few moments. I write this two days after these
events, by which time things are still not right, but a lot less problematic.
Rhiannon is now clear, whilst Siu Ying has a minor chest infection, but her
eyes are fine. I am suffering a cold as the infestations come out, but at least
I can now see again with certainty and the great relief from itchy eyeballs.
If you ever
contract this disease then please take immediate action 每 it really is a most
evil and debilitating infection.
Time I
wrapped this missive up and let you get back to more profitable pursuits. My
next in the general series of missives should be the long awaited &Toisan
Times*, which got put on the back-burner for a while. I have also made great insights
and writings concerning my political discourse, which is nothing remotely as
you would imagine 每 even those of you who know me very well. My autobiography
is still a work in progress, as attested by taking out the &Boys and
Motorbikes* missive as a stand-alone. I am thinking of writing it all in this
fashion - as diverse and subjective chapters, linked by a common theme or
commentary.
We look
forward to Denis and his description of a hospital stay in
Best wishes
Jonno