My husband developed pneumonia and after a series of doctor's visits and tests, the consulting doctor in the United States decided to send him to an international hospital in Korea. It is difficult to know whether or not this is normal in Japan or if this is specific to our situation and expat status.
Of course navigating any medical system is interesting to say the least, so you can imagine that navigating a foreign system is fraught with challenges. Of course, the normal language barriers come into play complicating otherwise easy tasks. This occurs mostly with support staff, nurses, and pharmacies as the doctors we consulted have a decent command of the English language. A very frustrating element we encountered is that time seems to function quite differently in Japan. I do not know how to explain this or even if it will be an accurate description, but it is my description. Things are s-l-o-w. I hear many people talk about the slowness in a variety of areas, but in our situation the slowness relates to getting tests completed and test results processed.
On an up note the cost of all that was done in Japan was incredibly reasonable. We have health insurance but had to pay for all services up front and wait for reimbursement. A series of tests and consultation with a specialist cost only approximately 350 American dollars. In the states it would have been thousands.
Psychologically the health problems are adding stress to an already stressful situation. Moving to another country, making a home, going through the culture shock is taxing in itself. The addition of this complication is weighing heavy. Hopefully a resolution is around the corner.
Sorry it has been a while since I posted but such is life. I assume from time to time this blog will get neglected.
3 comments:
i need you to know that i need you to close this account. i check it every day to see if maybe you've decided to raise it from the dead (every day. seriously. you haven't posted since thanksgiving) and clearly you've let it go. i, however, am OCD and cannot escape the possibility that as soon as i stop checking it, you will add new stuff. i see your new blog has a japan tab. perhaps we could put chop stick thoughts there and delete this? please? i have so much to cram into a day. this would be one thing off my plate. can ya help a sister out? thanks.
respectfully submitted,
OCD girl
yeah, i know you know who it is.
it will be ok. it will be revived someday. right now it waits for me.
you toy with me.
k
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