Like all suspicious and budget-conscious Americans we were wary of going to a hospital uninsured...but Jeremy's cold had definitely turned to bronchitis so we had to go a doctor. These are the choices: there are traditional Chinese health clinics on nearly every corner, some neighborhood doctors that practice western medicine and of course the big Hospitals.
My mom took Jeremy to her little neighborhood clinic while I was working. The receptionists didn't speak any English at all but were according to Jeremy 'super cute anyway'. He had about 20 min wait to see the doctor. Not bad considering the typical waiting time at the ER in the states. The doctor himself spoke excellent English and determined in short time that yes Jeremy had bacterial bronchitis. They didn't have the same brand Jeremy usually got in the US but he prescribed an antibiotic equivalent of Azithromyacin, plus like 6 other ‘over the counter’ things like decongestants, vitamins etc. Real western medicine ++. Yey!
The clinics here are the pharmacy as well. Instead of multiple bottles of pills they divvied up the pills into individual does that are packaged together in these long strips. He had to take one packet every 12 hours. So within about an hour Jeremy got to see the doctor and got all of his medication in one spot. Don't you just hate trying to find a pharmacy in the middle of the night when you are sick as a dog? Ugh!
We have no insurance here. Price of total doctor visit plus antibiotics, decongestants and vitamins etc...$36 US. I don't want people talking politics on here, but just give that a moment to sink in. $36. No Joke.
The next week it was my turn to get sick. I avoided the doctor even longer, but I finally let my mom take me. The regular clinic was closed for ‘afternoon siesta time’ so we went to the Hospital at Yaming. Unfortunately they wouldn’t admit me because I had forgot my passport up the mountain. So we went back to Tien Mu and my mom took me to her neighborhood clinic when it opened again at 4pm (midnight my time – wahhh). The doctor determined I had bronchitis and influenza (yey me) and gave me packets of pills to take 3 times daily, plus some extra good ones to help me sleep. For the next 7 days I felt awesome! Well actually I think I described it as “I feel like a brick of butter that has been left on a hot stove top and I fear that any movement may turn me into a liquid that will melt away” or “my head seems to floating above my body in a cloud of pink marshmallow goo.” I did not need the sleeping pills.
So two thumbs up for good doctors here. Chiropractors…I’m not a fan. My mom has been taking us to her chiropractor/massage guy (she’s got a bad knee). He has really helped Jeremy with his back. My mom’s knee is much better when she goes regularly. But I went once and was in so much pain afterwards I could barely lay on my back for two days. And I got sick. The chiropractor visit coincided with me getting really sick. I know it may help me eventually…but I don’t think I can do it. It was worse than the most brutal derby game I’ve been in. No thank you!
I am however a fan of the hot springs. I was working up a healthy migraine one day when we were supposed to meet my mom’s friend Joseph for lunch. It was just serendipity that he wanted to go to the hot springs, and had brought bathing suits for all of us. That was heavenly. Back relaxed, headache cured all for about $1 admission fee. Love it!
This is the train station to Beitou where the hot springs are.
My mom and Joseph on our way to the hot springs. Who packs a bathing suit, and spares for friends 'just in case' of a stop at a hot springs? Awesome
This is the one we went to. There are huge hot springs resorts all over in Beitou, but this one is very cheap and super clean. They kick everyone out every hour to drain and scrub all the pools. They go from scalding hot at the source at the top, to cold pools near the base of the hill. This is just before cleaning time on our way out.
Jeremy being impressed by the cleanliness of public restrooms here...
The school girls seated here were openly staring and giggling at Jeremy as we were leaving the hotsprings. It was so cute!
After Beitou, Joseph wanted to take us out for mango ice cream...all the way to Ximen! It's the 'young people's' district. So we finally discovered where the cool people hang out.
Here's the 'very famous' shaved ice made from milk imported from New Zealand, and mango. The frozen milk was lighter than fresh cotton candy. Joseph is from Japan, and this place is so well known even in Japan that he was pointing out graffiti from Japanese tourists that had been there before us.
If you are looking for it, here's the front of the famous dessert place.
Jeremy's week of pills from the doctor's office. All in neat little packets.
Eating at the Shebaba again.
Here's a close-up of what the pill packets look like. The traditional Chinese doctors use the same system, but just fill them up with whatever herbs or whatever they are giving you. It's very convenient and easy to remember to get the right dose at the right time.
We spent a lot of time at my mom's house. Sweet kittens make staying in bed all day much sweeter.
If you are looking for it, here's the front of the famous dessert place.
Cuteness!
Jeremy's week of pills from the doctor's office. All in neat little packets.
Eating at the Shebaba again.
Here's a close-up of what the pill packets look like. The traditional Chinese doctors use the same system, but just fill them up with whatever herbs or whatever they are giving you. It's very convenient and easy to remember to get the right dose at the right time.
We spent a lot of time at my mom's house. Sweet kittens make staying in bed all day much sweeter.
My mom bought a kumquat tree. Jeremy was just getting over his bronchitis here, but was a good sport and carried it home from the market for her.
And here's me...not being a good sport at all. Go away and let me sleep!
And here's me...not being a good sport at all. Go away and let me sleep!
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