Last Thursday night, right after work, I started to have that achy, weak feeling all over my body and my throat started to feel sore. Blame it on the pollen, the pollution, the kids, the sanitation – or lack thereof, or on the increased stress on my vocal chords as a result of teaching but I often get a sore throat in Korea so I usually don’t worry too much. Usually, a decent serving of garlic with a Korean dish or a Tylenol or two after dinner will make it go away no problems …
That seemed to be the case until midway through Friday as my last Tylenol dosage’s life ended when it started falling apart. Had I known this were to happen two hours earlier at lunch with the workmates, I would have devoured that side dish of garlic and quite likely averted – or delayed – the problem somewhat but, I just didn’t feel like garlic at that time. My mistake.
As the day drew on, I got weaker and weaker and my will to stand - well, live really got weaker and weaker, too. I like to think of myself as a bit of a ‘tough guy’ when it comes to injuries. Thanks to lactose intolerance resulting in weak bones, I’ve broken ten-plus bones in my life, and sustained numerous sprains, twists and contortions on my body and joints – I’m currently wearing a half-cast on my right ankle due to injuring two ligaments the other week in soccer. But, when it comes to illness, I am .. well, frankly, a bit of a pussy.
I may take the man’s approach and resist the doctor’s office, hospital and common sense with every itch on my being, but deep down I’m in pain, whimpering, crying and calling for Mummy, thinking I am going to die.
This latest bout of tonsillitis is no exception. Sick as a dog Friday night, I grab a handful of pills from a chemist and head straight to bed, determined to make it up to a good friend’s wedding up in Gwangju the next day. Saturday rolls around and it becomes apparent that I won’t be able to make the wedding which really frustrates me, I go back to a chemist and get more pills (I really should have gone straight to the hospital at this stage though didn’t the mood or strength to endure any waiting period).
Sunday rolls around and I feel no better, I think ‘ok, today’s the day to go to hospital. I missed last Monday due to my ankle, I think work’s gonna be pissed if I’m away again tomorrow.’ That’s all and good until I rock up to the local hospital and see it’s closed – save for some kids playing with IV drips attached to their arms. In Korea, hospitals often seem to closed for lunch, halfway through Saturday, and to my knowledge no much more than emergency is open on a Sunday.
Today, I wake up a bit feeling better but thinking I really need to see a doctor as now my tongue has also turned kinda funky – a condition called Geographic tongue. After a work meeting, I head to hospital see a ENT doctor, who assesses my condition, I receive medicine and walk out of the hospital and chemist only 10,000 won (about $US9, $$A11) lighter. I love the Korean health care system!
Today was a great day, having been bed-ridden for the best part for the last three days it’s so good to feel somewhat normal again. My tonsillitis is improving – which by the way is the second time I’ve had it in Korea and is a really nasty illness – and my tongue is slowly getting back to normal, which is a relief indeed.
It’s times like this I wish was with my Mummy!
