Hey Guys, I'm Loretta!
This is impossible to hear through!
As the title says, I'm sick!
So I may sound a little off, but I have a crazy story
that I just had to share with you guys!
I haven't been sick in about 10 years
AND it's my first time being sick in Japan.
I've had a cough or a sore throat before
but this time I really caught a bad one.
I asked my friend Taylor B
and she said I should go to a doctor.
But like, I didn't know how to do that in Japan.
So I checked my other friend, Emma, she posted a video
about what to do when you're sick in Japan.
As she mentioned, there's an app you can use.
It's called "Japan Hospital Guide" but it only covers the Tokyo area!
I don't live in Tokyo, I live in a cute little suburb in Kanagawa
so there aren't English-speaking doctors nearby.
I got nervous like "but I feel so terrible, what do I do now..."
I had medicine but it wasn't doing anything
so I finally just decided to go to the doctor.
So, when I searched ISHA (doctor) in google maps
at least 5 popped up in my area, all within walking distance.
I was confused, because I couldn't tell the difference or where I should go
so I finally just texted my landlady.
SO! Here area the 3 funny things I learned at the Japanese doctor's office!!
1: The appointment/perscriptions are SO CHEAP in Japan!
Before going I had asked Boomer to buy me some over-the-counter drugs. Here they are:
"contact" and "precol"
Also, when I first told my landlady I was sick she ran down and gave me this:
an antiseptic throat spray
and these Nitori... roach?? Troche? Roach?
This like cough drop thing I guess.
So all of these together I'm sure were a lot.
Just these 2 were ¥3000 (approx. $30), but together with the spray and everything
it was almost $50 for these OTC medicines!
Thing is, the doctors here are SO MUCH CHEAPER!
The appointment itself only cost $12
and the medicine was $6.70 !!!
Here's what I got with it:
A decongestant,
a fever & pain suppressant
a cough suppresant
and some antibiotics.
There's enough for a week in here
and it had me wondering, why did I waste my money when the doctor's closer AND cheaper?!
Even without insurance its 3x this price, which is still pretty cheap for everything.
The nurse was like "Its great that you get insurance on a student visa!"
And am like, I know right?!
In the states its a lot more expensive to get good insurance.
The second thing I noticed is that Americans seem to have an oral fixation.
We seem to do everything in our mouths.
Let me explain.
So, I realized I had a fever at one point
and the doctor gave me a thermometer to take my temperature.
Immediately put it in my mouth, under my tongue.
Everyone was like: "IN YOUR MOUTH?!"
they all seemed so shocked, and I'm just like
well yeah, where else do I put it...
WAIT.. in THERE?!?!?
I'M NOT PUTTING IT IN THERE!!! I'M GOING HOME!
Landlady: Not your butt, your armpit!
Ohh, is that all?
In the states I always put it under my tongue, but what about you guys?
where do you put your thermometer?
My fever was low that day, just 38.8 celsius
because I had already been sick, had a fever, and now
3 days later finally went to a doctor
so the fever was getting better from where it was over the weekend.
Still, I was surprised I had a fever?
and then! and THEN!
Forget the armpit, what REALLY shocked me was the flu exam!
They realllyyyy got me!
I had no idea this was coming so Iwas caught off guard.
Doc: "You have a fever so I'd like to check for the flu."
"Is that ok?"
Me: " A SHOT?!" Doc: "No shot."
"We test you with this"
and he pulled out, like a super-long
ear swab looking thing.
Me: "OK anything's better than a shot! *opens mouth*"
Doc: "Loretta, I need your nose, not your mouth."
So I put a mask over my mouth, confused, and he puts it in my nose.
Like ew, uh, ok. That's uncomfortable.
When this nurse suddenly appears from behind teling me to "RELAX"
Me: " Relax for WHAT?!"
and BAM he shoves it in!
Me: " OW!!"
and BAM BAM BAM he shoves it in all the way!
Omg OUCH?!
My head already hurt. DON'T TOUCH MY SWOLLEN SINUS?! But he go up there!
I wasn't emotionally prepared
and it really hurt up there
so by reflex I actually slapped it out of my nose!
The doctor was like " GUESS WE'RE DONE!!!"
and I guess that's it
but... WHAT WAS THAT?!
If you need nose fluids, I'm PLENTY sniffly
just use what's here, why go all the way UP?!
That's not my nose, that's my BRAIN
Are you taking it? Are you turning me into a mummy??
What's going to happen to me... what did you just take from me...
It was.............a shock.
In the states we often do cheek swabs
er, no, actually its the throat right?
In the back by your dancing dude right?
Either way, that's all in your mouth right?
My mom's not a doctor but she knows a lot of medical stuff
and eldest my brother is a doctor
but they both said the crawlspace up behind your nose and throat
(BY YOUR BRAIN, mind you)
apparently that has the best....juices for investigating stuff.
I don't care, I won't believe it!
If you look it up on google image search
some cruel images really show up!
I came home and told Boomer what happened
and he's like: omg never. Stay away. I'll never go to a doctor now.
So yeah, I realized that in the states we use our mouth for a lot of tests
but in Japan they use armpits, your nosebrain and whatnot.
Ohhh Japan. What WILL you come up with next?!
The 3rd thing I realized
If you want English-speaking doctors Tokyo is your best bet
but for those of us who don't live there
or don't wanna go to Tokyo when you're sick
and you just want a doctor close at hand
here's what you need to do:
When you learn Japanese BYOUIN (hospital) is a common word
but my landlady told me this:
Since about 3 years ago things changed in Japan
Now if you go to a hospital, they probably will turn you away.
Big hospitals are usually filled with appointments
and you need to become a member of the hospital before you join
so don't even search for a "BYOUIN"(hospital) because they probably can't see you.
As your take home Japanese lesson for today, here's a new word: KAKARITSUKEI, meaning a local GP.
This is your nice, neighborhood general doctor who knows you and your history closely.
To find THEM you want to google "i-in"
The same "i" from "isha" (doctor) plus "in" from "byouin".
These are more like local, family doctors.
If you have a bad illness or need more
Then FIRST go to your local GP, who will refer you to the right hospital.
He'll write like a letter, allowing you to go to the hospital there.
So you take that and THEN get referred to a hospital.
In Tokyo you can use the Japan Hospital Guide app easily
and find someone to see you in English
but yeah, it's scary if you don't know how to find a doctor when you're sick.
I hope my swab-story didn't scare you xD.
But I'm so grateful to my landlady
and surprised how much I got for so cheap.
I should be on the mend soon!
Today, I just wanted to tell you those 3 things.
So, have you guys gone to a doctor while abroad?
Where do you guys put your thermometers???
OK, i'm done.
Enough about colds.
I'm off to go rest.
Thank you for watching until the end!
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