I got really sick this week. I think I mentioned when we Skyped that I'm considering surrendering Second back to the rescue because my allergies are making my life needlessly difficult. Well, Monday afternoon sometime things got worse. Tuesday I was in rather bad shape, but still went in to work. After my classes I couldn't even get my eyes to focus. Fever, worse-than-usual cough, sinus crap, and fatigue. Wednesday I took sick leave. Thursday I went in for a little bit to get a handle on my weekend, was only in for about two hours or so. Friday I only had my one class, but I went in early to plan my weekend classes (which, of 7, only two got any work done...which was enough, hopefully). After that one class, I couldn't even stand up for a while. Boss called me a taxi and I went home and passed out. Today I got up, had one class, did a brief rehearsal with some kids for the christmas play, and went to the hospital.
[infomercial voice] But wait, there's more!
Harbin stepped up coal burning this week, starting around Tuesday mid-day, late evening. Hard to tell really, I've been wearing my mask outside at all times for a week or so anyway. I learned the unfortunate way that my apartment's main room windows leak really, really badly. So I came home to a bit of a coal smell in my apartment. Passed out anyway. But by Wednesday, it had gotten so bad that I was wearing my mask inside, and was unable to sleep (either in the mask, or without it). Thursday after my little bit of weekend prep, I got one of the admin folks, Molly, to take me to get an air filter, which has worked splendidly.
However, Thursday night I got some orange juice. Drank some pretty late at night, just before I went to bed. Was not very tasty. Woke up 30 minutes later absolutely drenched in sweat that smelled like bad orange juice. My sweat has smelled like orange juice for the two days since, though I think it's mostly getting better. The result was that despite being utterly exhausted, I had to go down on Friday night and buy a new blanket because I had to wash the one I had, and my washer wasn't big enough, and there certainly wasn't anywhere to effectively dry it.
Hospital was an interesting experience. We went to a desk to pay to see a doctor (13y, really nothing terrible). We waited in a line (not on chairs) to talk to a doctor who listened to Molly's explanation and ordered a chest x-ray. So we went back to the desk to pay for that. Went to get the x-ray, waited about an hour for processing, and back to the doc. He looked for about three seconds, pointed at something on my right lung, and said I needed medicine, preferably from an IV drip. So we went to a clinic with an Rx, where we paid 1y to see the clinician, who ordered a blood test as well. The doc had asked if we needed a blood test, to which I'd said "I don't think so." Internally, I thought "um. Aren't YOU the doctor?"
Went back to pay for the blood test. Went upstairs for a quick blood draw, 10 minutes for results. Then they took me over to a row of chairs with IV stands, inserted the needle, and let the medicine drip in for probably an hour and a half or so. I have to go back tomorrow and Monday to repeat the IV.
Harbin stepped up coal burning this week, starting around Tuesday mid-day, late evening. Hard to tell really, I've been wearing my mask outside at all times for a week or so anyway. I learned the unfortunate way that my apartment's main room windows leak really, really badly. So I came home to a bit of a coal smell in my apartment. Passed out anyway. But by Wednesday, it had gotten so bad that I was wearing my mask inside, and was unable to sleep (either in the mask, or without it). Thursday after my little bit of weekend prep, I got one of the admin folks, Molly, to take me to get an air filter, which has worked splendidly.
However, Thursday night I got some orange juice. Drank some pretty late at night, just before I went to bed. Was not very tasty. Woke up 30 minutes later absolutely drenched in sweat that smelled like bad orange juice. My sweat has smelled like orange juice for the two days since, though I think it's mostly getting better. The result was that despite being utterly exhausted, I had to go down on Friday night and buy a new blanket because I had to wash the one I had, and my washer wasn't big enough, and there certainly wasn't anywhere to effectively dry it.
Hospital was an interesting experience. We went to a desk to pay to see a doctor (13y, really nothing terrible). We waited in a line (not on chairs) to talk to a doctor who listened to Molly's explanation and ordered a chest x-ray. So we went back to the desk to pay for that. Went to get the x-ray, waited about an hour for processing, and back to the doc. He looked for about three seconds, pointed at something on my right lung, and said I needed medicine, preferably from an IV drip. So we went to a clinic with an Rx, where we paid 1y to see the clinician, who ordered a blood test as well. The doc had asked if we needed a blood test, to which I'd said "I don't think so." Internally, I thought "um. Aren't YOU the doctor?"
Went back to pay for the blood test. Went upstairs for a quick blood draw, 10 minutes for results. Then they took me over to a row of chairs with IV stands, inserted the needle, and let the medicine drip in for probably an hour and a half or so. I have to go back tomorrow and Monday to repeat the IV.
I still don't actually know what's wrong, of course, since Molly wouldn't know the medical terms even if the doctor told her, and I can't read x-rays. But I have them with me. Maybe I'll take a picture and post them on Reddit where you can get basic medical advice, see if anyone can guess what is up. It's not cancer, it's naht a tumoh, seems to be pretty easily treatable. But I'd still like to know.
As if all that weren't enough.
My coworker Jo tells me that culture shock can actually manifest in more complex ways than I thought. Depression is a fairly common symptom. Well whether prodded forward by getting sick or just by being here two months, I think that hit this week too. Though of course a marked lack of sleep, perpetual exhaustion, and a maddeningly persistent cough and schnoodlenose will all lead to a bout as well, so it's hard to be certain.
So. Very, very difficult week. I'm not quite through it all yet, but after tomorrow I have a day off and a fair bit of medicine working on the problem. Hopefully I'll be at least able to finish a day without feeling dead by Wednesday.
So. Very, very difficult week. I'm not quite through it all yet, but after tomorrow I have a day off and a fair bit of medicine working on the problem. Hopefully I'll be at least able to finish a day without feeling dead by Wednesday.
Zaijian,
-L
Hey Luke, heard from Tricia Wright that you were in CN along with a link to your blog! Warmly welcome you��. Just spent the last hour or so getting caught up on your journey. So sorry you have been sick! Hope you are feeling better now! Keri, Molly and I are in the middle of our fifth year here (Taiyuan). We will actually be in Harbin in the spring for some meetings and would love to see you! Send us your phone/email/wechat. Merry Christmas buddy! (This is the third time I’ve tried to reply, CN! ��)
ReplyDeleteYep, China sure makes it interesting! I am feeling better, I can almost breathe without it hurting anymore haha.
DeleteMy primary email is lastnamefirstname at gmail (not literally that, obviously). I'm trying to maintain some anonymity on here. That doesn't work, I'm sure Tricia can put you in touch with the folks and they can pass my info along!