A visit to the doctor

It seems that all I write about on this blog are my doctors' visits. This is probably because other daily experiences that I could write about have all begun to feel 'normal', but going to the doctor here is still pretty strange to me.

I have had a cold or something for a few days, especially a sore throat, so I thought I'd better get it checked out in case it was tonsillitis or something. I decided not to bother with finding an English speaking doctor and just go to the closest medical centre (about 5 mins walk from my apartment).

When I got there the nurse asked lots of questions about symptoms and stuff (which I managed to get through in Japanese with no problem), and she took my temperature and I had to give a urine sample. The doctor could speak a little English. He looked down my throat, and listened to my breathing and said that I had an infection or influenza (I'm not sure which he said) and that I should take antibiotics for 5 days. They then sent me into another room and put some kind of inhaler into my mouth for 3 mins and then up my nose for 3 mins. I had no idea what it was, but I think it was just moist warm air. When I asked what it was, the nurses answered 吸入(kyuunyuu) , which means "inhaler", not very helpful. When I got home I looked up on the internet and it appears that no studies have been able to show any benefits of inhaling steam. Oh well.

So I paid about A$15 and got a paper bag full of drugs. They are colour coded for when I have to take them. I have to take them for 5 days, and there are SIX different kinds of tablet. I have to take 2 kinds of tablet twice a day and 4 kinds of tablet 3 times a day. It was just like getting a showbag. Anyway, I am feeling a little better now, so I'll try and go to work tomorrow.

!!!