Seriously? Seriously?!?!
August 4, 2009
If this doesn’t feel like death and dying, then I don’t know what does.
I have officially been diagnosed with gastroenteritis. Thanks Vietnam!!!! It’s basically a bacteria/toxic/parasitic overgrowth in my intestines.
It all started last night after my swimming session when I started shivering on the inside but felt hot on the outside. I felt little punches in my stomach. The next morning I woke up and I started to feel teeth and claws. I rushed to Family Medical Practice and the best part is, the taxi tried to take the wrong way. What a jerk. People like this ruin Vietnam, I’m sorry. If I had a very serious emergency and some asshole decided to take a wrong turn, I would seriously punch him in the face (ok, maybe not, cos you don’t wanna get into fights with Vietnamese people. Ever). I started SCREAMING at him to turn the proper direction because *every single* taxi driver in Saigon knows where this place is – it’s attached to the gigantic Diamond Plaza Korean shopping mall. I asked for a receipt and he scurried fearfully. Good, he should be afraid of my intense yelling skills. I didn’t listen to Saetia for five years for nothing.
I get into the doctor’s office and I am just bawling my face off because the stomach pains are brutal beyond belief. Imagine something clawing inside of your stomach and sucking up your juices. That’s an understatement. I stayed at the doctor’s office for a few hours, not knowing that each hour would cost me money. Better to be safe than sorry, though.
Am I the only one who finds it *incredibly weird* paying for medical services? As a Canadian, it is the most foreign thing ever. Last week when I had a cold, I went to the doctor’s office. Thanks for insurance because to see the doctor for 15 minutes was $56 USD. Pardon me? God, I love Canada (and Scandinavia). I guess you have to pay for private treatment and naturopaths and stuff, but to see a doctor – it should be free. No questions asked!
Anyways, I have to take the next 1-2 days off work again. Being in an underdeveloped country past the 2-month mark is leading to some (fairly common) health problems. I guess it is expected. I am gonna go get ripped on Cipro now.
Ah jeez! Enough with this getting sick stuff. Just kidding. Hope you are feeling better. Getting sick anywhere sucks but it is worse when you are away from your support network. Hang in there.
I promise you, what we pay in healthcare in Ontario is WAY more than $56 for 15 minutes. If you go see your doctor here, regardless the length of the visit, the government gets billed hundreds of dollars. Where does that money come from? Check your payslip.
Aww, I’m sorry Pea!
Allah Hallah,
I really hope you get better soon. hang in there!!!