Adventures in Healthcare

• Candg's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Phu Quoc

Trip Start Aug 06, 2007 Previous
Entry Trip End Ongoing Next
Entry

  Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Four days before I was due to start work I noticed an angry red spot on my back directly on my spine. A blind pimple? A bite? Who knows but it hurt. And then it grew and grew until it was the size and shape of half an advocado. And it really hurt so that I couldn't sleep or walk much. I had started taking antibiotics but they didn't seem to be doing much and it started getting quite a pus thing going on so we thought a trip to the doctor was in order. I was hoping for some stronger antibiotics or ointment but no such luck. He took one look and said "the hospital for you sunshine" (all in Vietnamese but translated by the girl from the hotel who kindly accompanied us). Bugger. (Never been keen on hospitals after reading somewhere that over 80% of people that die do so in hospital. Obviously dangerous places.)
 
So next day at 8am I presented myself down at Phu Quoc hospital (which, surprise surprise, bore little relationship to any NZ hospital) where they took one look and said "We need to cut that out sunshine". Bugger.
 
So straight onto the stainless steel table and the most excruciating experience of my life as they first jabbed me three times with an antibiotic shot (?) direct into the already pulsating agonizing lump and then proceeded to cut a five cent sized hole in my back through to my spine (or so it felt) with a pair of scissors. It hurt like the most hurtiest thing. I didn't cry but I did make some pretty unusual noises. And the sweat was streaming down my face (maybe they thought I was hot?).
And where was Catherine? Out in the corridor with all the other onlookers (I had attracted quite a crowd) with her hands over her eyes and exchanging grimacing looks with a 6 year old boy and saying owwwww. (actually she wasn't allowed in the room and was quite upset on my behalf but a story of indifference has more pizzaz.)
 
That was 5 days ago and every morning I have to go back down the hospital where they clean out the wound (dip a bit of cloth in iodine, stuff it into the hole, and then twist it about with excessive force) and then replace the dressing. This hurts only slightly less than the main event did. And I still have 5 days to go.
 
So another lesson learnt. Next time anything goes wrong it's a flight straight back to Saigon and a relaxing time at a hospital where they have anaesthetic and scapels. Bliss.
 
As far as the job goes we don't yet know. Rudolphe said to start on the 15th would be ok but I am not sure whether the hole will be healed by then. Can only wait and see. Here's hoping.
 
C - And another lesson - never pick anything, pop anything, excessively scratch anything, look sideways at anything...  While Grant was going through the Phu Quoc equivalent of Dante's rings of hell I was also taking antibiotics for what had originally been one harmless looking pimple on my leg which I squeezed.  (Ew, I hear you all say, but don't tell me you don't squeeze 'em if you've got 'em).  It came back with a vengeance, so I squeezed it again (never been a quick study).  It then turned into an infected oozing wound (OK, now you can say ew).  Antiseptic cream and enough bandaids to sink a small boat were employed to no avail.  Then another one popped up.  And another, and another.  So I started taking antibiotics too.  After the first visit with Grant to the hospital, as we were leaving, he said "Do you want them to look at your leg?"  Having just watched the none too gentle bloodletting he'd just been through, what do you think I said? 
 
Anyway, mine have all healed but one which is definitely on its way out, and I have some lumpy pink looking scars for my troubles. 

Kep hotels Share

Previous Entry Next Entry