Ear doctors and such

My beard count is up to 14, for those of you who are following that.

If you want a true adventure I suggest moving to Korea, getting an ear infection and then trying to find the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, alone. (no translator)

This is what I did on Monday. I first asked my Korean teacher, Marianne, if she knew of one. She said, yes, right on the corner, in the Brownstone building. So after teaching I set off to find this ENT. The Brownstone is a confusing building regardless of the language barrier. There is no real main entrance, and then once you actually get inside there are two sections, one for renters, I guess and one for businesses. Of course I went in the wrong one at first. It was pretty obvious that I was not in the right place so I quickly exited and stood out on the sidewalk to survey the situation. Which is really code for, I stood on the sidewalk and squinted at the building, trying to read Korean. And then I saw another door. Big, huge glass doors, of course. So I went in and there was a front office, thank goodness. I really like the part where I go into places and they start talking to me in Korean. Like I have any idea what they are saying. Anyway, through some sign language and charades I managed to ask the guy where the ear, nose and throat dr was. He laughed at me. Imagine that. He shook his head and "told" me it was across the road. OK

So I headed off across the road. I saw a sign that looked like an ear so I figured I was on the right track. After climbing SEVEN flights of stairs I arrived in what appeared to be an abandoned office building. I was confused. So of course I decided to go in. It's really the only thing to do after you have climbed that many stairs. I headed down the dimly lit hallway, trying not to think about robbers and kidnappers, and then I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Literally. A woman sitting at a desk through some glass doors. Wheeee. I burst in on her, sweating, panting and coughing. Did I mention I also have a cold? So I do my charade and she keeps telling me something in Korean and then telling me to sit... there weren't any chairs... so I just stood there. Trying not to look anxious. Then a man appeared and he could speak English. YAY. Turns out I was in a language academy, not the Dr's office. The friendly man drew me a map. I needed to walk down the road to this other building, across the road. Of course. I left. I headed back to my regular Dr. Right beside my institute. I got in very quickly and he looked in my ear and told me I needed to go to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. No way! So I told him, YES. where? So he also drew me a map, to the same place the last guy had shown me. Back across the road.... When I say across the road its not really, just across the road. Much more complicated than that. I have to cross the turning lane first, which can be sketchy. There are no real rules for crossing the turning lane... traffic does as is pleases. Then I have to walk a little further to the crosswalk and wait. Forever. With a whole bunch of people who are in various stages of impatience and using various methods of transportation. The most important thing to do when crossing the street is wait half a second after the light changes before dashing. Buses are known to run red lights, also scooters use a red light as an opportunity to make a U-Turn, or go straight through, or turn, or do whatever they want. So make sure no buses are coming, watch for scooters, stay in the center of the crowd and you will be fine.

Ok so I made it across the road, to the building but of course I have no idea what floor this dr is on. So I ask, using my perfected charade again and find out he is on the 9th floor. The Elevator doesn't appear to be moving. So I decide to run up the stairs. NINE FLIGHTS. What is wrong with me? I get to the ninth floor, gasping and panting, sweating... choking... a whole slew of awesome respiratory issues. They look at me like I have lost my mind... and tell me that this is not the right place, its tenth floor. Ok, up another flight. I get to the tenth and they say, haha, nope, 7th is really where you want to be. For real?

I finally get there. Literally about to pass out. They check me in and within minutes I am seeing the Doctor. He was very nice and spoke excellent English. He noticed I was fanning myself and turned the fan on me, such a nice man! He looked in my ear, then took a picture of my eardrum, which was really cool. Then he sent me for a hearing test. Like the beeping kind. Push the button when you hear the sound, etc. After that back to his chair. He told me I have a middle ear infection. I could have told him that. I can't hear... I just wanted some drugs! So he told me all about tubes and sinus's and drainage and such. Quite informative. Then he said, let me check your nostrils.. lol. He takes some plier looking things, shoves it up my nose, pries my nose open and shoots something up it. Medicine to open my airways... it ran down my throat and tasted like metal. Gross. Then he swabbed out my ear and told me not to clean my ears so much. He said they were too clean... Heh, go figure. Wax actually stops infection. I thought I was done but no no, then his nurse put me at this table thing with these things that looked like hairdryers. But not... they were infrared heaters? You hold them over your ears and sit there for one minute... it promotes health and wellbeing, according to the label on it. Whatever, it felt nice.

Seeing a specialist in Korea will cost you $13. I am not upset by this. Seeing the regular Dr, $2.00. I am huge fan of Korean health care =)

I got some antibiotics for the ear, which is full of fluid, according to my new favorite ENT. I had to go back today to get rechecked and back on Tuesday again. Hopefully by then it is all cured. Anyway. That was my Monday adventure!

Michelle