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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 1:07 am Post subject: |
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There wasn't a call button. There was a pull cord that was too high for me to reach.
I had 2 bags and a bottle. Quite frankly, that would have been far too much for someone the same day as their surgery, let alone someone too short to reach them anyway. I'd have had to climb onto my bed to get them off, and I could barely shuffle to the bathroom.
I shouldn't have HAD to ask. I was covered in vomit (and some blood) and extremely dizzy. The nurse tossed the clothes onto my stomach (where I'd had the work done!), turned, and walked out of the room. I called her back and she seemed surprised that I couldn't do it on my own. Really?
Anyway, an update:
I'm home, feeling significantly better after having been bathed and having my neck and shoulders massaged, and am happy that I made it without throwing a fit at the hospital workers. Just be prepared. |
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Koveras
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:08 am Post subject: |
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| You've had a difficult month. Get well soon. |
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fadedgirl
Joined: 26 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:33 am Post subject: |
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NYC Gal, it sounds like you have bad coworkers, just using you for what they can get out of it.
The American embassy website has a list of hospitals that speak English, and perhaps are a bit better?
I went to the International Clinic at the Keimyoung Hospital in Daegu which I found through the embassy website because I broke my foot. They never gave me a shot, were generally nice to me (even kicked the students out that were making my cast because I was making a fuss) and took good care of me. I didn't get painkillers because I didn't need them (so I can't really tell you about that experience).
Sorry you had a bad experience. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 5:43 am Post subject: |
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I'm doing great now. The doctors did speak English, and I speak enough Korean that I was okay. Just be warned that you should have a support system of friends to visit and care for you. I had friends there, but it was at a bad time, as my best 2 were out of country on holiday.
Back to work tomorrow. It's been a **** holiday. As soon as I got better, one of my pets became deathly ill (he developed a respiratory infection from having dirty bedding while I was in hospital that took a week and a half to manifest) and I've been nursing him for days. He seems to be improving after a couple of days of antibiotics. It didn't help that everything was closed for the new year. Let's all hope... |
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fadedgirl
Joined: 26 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 7:15 am Post subject: |
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oh dear! I have my vet's cell phone number in case of emergencies.
I had to explain to my doctor that I was the only one to walk my dog since none of my friends are animal friendly and it was funny to explain to my doctor that my dog didn't just use the bathroom in my apartment... |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I found a vet. They wouldn't give me ether or another gentle inhalant for gentle euthanasia, for just in case it got worse while they were closed. He seemed to be doing better on Sunday, but yesterday, took a turn for the worse. I took him in and begged for inhalants, but they said no. Only an injection to the heart. They said wait another day or two for the antibiotics.
He was really weak and not moving, so I had him in the middle of the bed. He was in that spot for hours. I checked on him every couple of minutes, and nothing. Just hoarse, rapid breathing. At some point, he must have dragged himself to the edge of the bed, because he slipped off and hurt himself. He wasn't moving his front arm, and the wheezing got much worse. I had to put him down myself at home. I wish I'd just done the injection. I feel like a monster. He was so helpless and I know that he was afraid and suffered for his last moments. |
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calicoe
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:11 am Post subject: |
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| I'M really, really sorry to hear that. That had to be a horrible experience for you. I'm glad your little guy is out of his misery now. You gave him a happy life. |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 3:58 am Post subject: |
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OP, sorry you had a bad experience.
Any Korean could have told you that families and friends are responsible for taking care of you in the hospital, and that you should pack a bag with your toothbrush, towel, etc. when you're going to be in the hospital, or get a friend to bring/buy what you need if it's an unplanned hospitalization.
It sounds like you were really miserable, and I understand how hard it is to be sick without the right someone to hold your hand(I just had emergency surgery the day after my husband left to visit his family in January) but your lack of understanding of how things work, your lack of people to clue you in to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. |
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swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 4:41 am Post subject: |
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| Cedar wrote: |
| n to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. [/color] |
Yes I agree - her other posts are completely self-absorbed, but now that she has a sob story to share with the internet, its almost like she is expecting the condolences to start rolling in.
Yes, most people who have ever been abroad now that being admitted to a hospital in a foreign country can be a difficult experience
Before anyone begins labeling my as unsympathetic *beep*. I spent 2 MONTHS in Korean hospital for a fractured leg after getting hit by a car in 2008 and my entire experience was about 10x worse the NYC girl's. However, I didn't feel the need to create a thread on Dave's in order to get compassion from random strangers online. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:10 am Post subject: |
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| swashbuckler wrote: |
| Cedar wrote: |
| n to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. [/color] |
Yes I agree - her other posts are completely self-absorbed, but now that she has a sob story to share with the internet, its almost like she is expecting the condolences to start rolling in.
Yes, most people who have ever been abroad now that being admitted to a hospital in a foreign country can be a difficult experience
Before anyone begins labeling my as unsympathetic *beep*. I spent 2 MONTHS in Korean hospital for a fractured leg after getting hit by a car in 2008 and my entire experience was about 10x worse the NYC girl's. However, I didn't feel the need to create a thread on Dave's in order to get compassion from random strangers online. |
It wasn't to get compassion. It was to let others know things that I wish I'd known before going in. This is for information. I'm fine. I just hope that nobody else has to go through it. The fact that yours was 10x worse is crappy, but doesn't mean that you shouldn't have tried to inform others about the state of hospital care here.
The majority of my posts aren't braggy at all.
Be well. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:05 am Post subject: |
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10 times worse? Did you puke on yourself 10 times? Or puke, piss, and shite on yourself? What could be 10 times worse than what she explained??
| swashbuckler wrote: |
| Cedar wrote: |
| n to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. [/color] |
Yes I agree - her other posts are completely self-absorbed, but now that she has a sob story to share with the internet, its almost like she is expecting the condolences to start rolling in.
Yes, most people who have ever been abroad now that being admitted to a hospital in a foreign country can be a difficult experience
Before anyone begins labeling my as unsympathetic *beep*. I spent 2 MONTHS in Korean hospital for a fractured leg after getting hit by a car in 2008 and my entire experience was about 10x worse the NYC girl's. However, I didn't feel the need to create a thread on Dave's in order to get compassion from random strangers online. |
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swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| BoholDiver wrote: |
10 times worse? Did you puke on yourself 10 times? Or puke, piss, and shite on yourself? What could be 10 times worse than what she explained??
| swashbuckler wrote: |
| Cedar wrote: |
| n to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. [/color] |
Yes I agree - her other posts are completely self-absorbed, but now that she has a sob story to share with the internet, its almost like she is expecting the condolences to start rolling in.
Yes, most people who have ever been abroad now that being admitted to a hospital in a foreign country can be a difficult experience
Before anyone begins labeling my as unsympathetic *beep*. I spent 2 MONTHS in Korean hospital for a fractured leg after getting hit by a car in 2008 and my entire experience was about 10x worse the NYC girl's. However, I didn't feel the need to create a thread on Dave's in order to get compassion from random strangers online. |
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Ummm..
Screaming in agony because your tuberous is in two pieces and the idiots in the hospital didn't administer painkillers first before wrapping it up in a brace?
Having to wait for days in extreme pain for a doctor who can perform surgery?
Sitting on a surgical bed in summer weather with just a fan to keep you cool, while doped up and listening to some guy pound a pin your leg with a hammer and drill?
Being almost completely immobile for WEEKS, stuck in room with 6 people and no bed curtain, pissing through a catheter, getting shots, eating shitty Korean hospital food everyday?
Having to go through the whole legal process of getting an insurance settlement/blood money from the bitch in question who was responsible for all of this in a second language? (Thank GOD for my gf at the time)
Being stuck in the hospital for months on end during the recovery phase? Physical therapy?
Getting harassed to return to your job as soon as possible?
Going to work on crutches for six months?
I could write MUCH more, but I'm not going to, because I don't care and I don't know you. However, it goes without saying that what I experienced for those 3-4 months was A LOT more traumatizing than a relatively simple surgery such as appendix removal (or whatever it was). You would have to be a fool not to realize that. |
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BoholDiver
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:39 am Post subject: |
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I'd have to be a psychic to know that before you told me.
But I'll take your word for it and say it was indeed an awful experience. As was the OP's. As was mine, as I posted in the first page of this thread.
| swashbuckler wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
10 times worse? Did you puke on yourself 10 times? Or puke, piss, and shite on yourself? What could be 10 times worse than what she explained??
| swashbuckler wrote: |
| Cedar wrote: |
| n to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. [/color] |
Yes I agree - her other posts are completely self-absorbed, but now that she has a sob story to share with the internet, its almost like she is expecting the condolences to start rolling in.
Yes, most people who have ever been abroad now that being admitted to a hospital in a foreign country can be a difficult experience
Before anyone begins labeling my as unsympathetic *beep*. I spent 2 MONTHS in Korean hospital for a fractured leg after getting hit by a car in 2008 and my entire experience was about 10x worse the NYC girl's. However, I didn't feel the need to create a thread on Dave's in order to get compassion from random strangers online. |
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Ummm..
Screaming in agony because your tuberous is in two pieces and the idiots in the hospital didn't administer painkillers first before wrapping it up in a brace?
Having to wait for days in extreme pain for a doctor who can perform surgery?
Sitting on a surgical bed in summer weather with just a fan to keep you cool, while doped up and listening to some guy pound a pin your leg with a hammer and drill?
Being almost completely immobile for WEEKS, stuck in room with 6 people and no bed curtain, pissing through a catheter, getting shots, eating shitty Korean hospital food everyday?
Having to go through the whole legal process of getting an insurance settlement/blood money from the bitch in question who was responsible for all of this in a second language? (Thank GOD for my gf at the time)
Being stuck in the hospital for months on end during the recovery phase? Physical therapy?
Getting harassed to return to your job as soon as possible?
Going to work on crutches for six months?
I could write MUCH more, but I'm not going to, because I don't care and I don't know you. However, it goes without saying that what I experienced for those 3-4 months was A LOT more traumatizing than a relatively simple surgery such as appendix removal (or whatever it was). You would have to be a fool not to realize that. |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:50 am Post subject: |
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| swashbuckler wrote: |
| BoholDiver wrote: |
10 times worse? Did you puke on yourself 10 times? Or puke, piss, and shite on yourself? What could be 10 times worse than what she explained??
| swashbuckler wrote: |
| Cedar wrote: |
| n to how things work, the lack of helping hands, etc. just really makes me wonder about all the bragging you've been doing in your previous posts. [/color] |
Yes I agree - her other posts are completely self-absorbed, but now that she has a sob story to share with the internet, its almost like she is expecting the condolences to start rolling in.
Yes, most people who have ever been abroad now that being admitted to a hospital in a foreign country can be a difficult experience
Before anyone begins labeling my as unsympathetic *beep*. I spent 2 MONTHS in Korean hospital for a fractured leg after getting hit by a car in 2008 and my entire experience was about 10x worse the NYC girl's. However, I didn't feel the need to create a thread on Dave's in order to get compassion from random strangers online. |
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Ummm..
Screaming in agony because your tuberous is in two pieces and the idiots in the hospital didn't administer painkillers first before wrapping it up in a brace?
Having to wait for days in extreme pain for a doctor who can perform surgery?
Sitting on a surgical bed in summer weather with just a fan to keep you cool, while doped up and listening to some guy pound a pin your leg with a hammer and drill?
Being almost completely immobile for WEEKS, stuck in room with 6 people and no bed curtain, pissing through a catheter, getting shots, eating shitty Korean hospital food everyday?
Having to go through the whole legal process of getting an insurance settlement/blood money from the bitch in question who was responsible for all of this in a second language? (Thank GOD for my gf at the time)
Being stuck in the hospital for months on end during the recovery phase? Physical therapy?
Getting harassed to return to your job as soon as possible?
Going to work on crutches for six months?
I could write MUCH more, but I'm not going to, because I don't care and I don't know you. However, it goes without saying that what I experienced for those 3-4 months was A LOT more traumatizing than a relatively simple surgery such as appendix removal (or whatever it was). You would have to be a fool not to realize that. |
That sounds horrible, but wouldn't it have been nice if you'd told other foreigners about the treatment? Perhaps on a public forum, rather than only your friends, so that people would KNOW about the treatment here?
My story wasn't meant to garner any sympathy, though that was a nice side effect. It was so that foreigners here would know that nurses don't have the same job description as back home. That there aren't orderlies that bathe you. That you really do have to either have a great support system (that isn't out of country on vacation. What timing!) or be able to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.
This isn't a case of "my pain was worse than yours so yours doesn't count." It's just letting other people know that they shouldn't expect the same level of care. By the way, why did you have to wait for days for a doctor that could fix your leg? Were you in a city or out in the countryside? I'm surprised. I had to wait overnight, but that was only because I'd caught it before it burst and it wasn't deemed an emergency.
I do hope that you don't have any permanent damage caused by your horrible hospital stay. Stay well. |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 10:26 am Post subject: |
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The important information that everyone should get from this thread is this: your care in a Korean hospital is on you and your friends/family. Bring your own toiletries and etc. when you check in, or if it's sudden, have someone bring them to you (buy them for you). If you don't have someone to help with things like sponge baths if they're needed, you can hire someone. Nurses responsibilities in Korea are not like in America.
All clear now? |
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