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Post by stringypoo on Jan 27, 2020 23:40:19 GMT -5
Although my usual nature is to be always optimistic in the face of difficulties and all, the matter of the Coronavirus is not a situation in which I’m feeling as optimisric. It’s not that I believe I will die of it or anything, but I feel it will take a long time to clear up and will certainly take many lives with it. For those who aren’t aware, the Coronavirus is a disease which can be carried by animals, but not typically passed to humans. However, in Wuhan (thankfully quite far from Shanghai), the disease was passed partly due to the area’s culinary interest in bat soup. The bats carried the virus in this case. But also, snakes had eaten those bats too, and people there also like to eat snake. So yeah, some people caught the Coronavirus. Its symptoms are like that if a common flu, so diagnosis by self isn’t really wise. It has already claimed a few lives, as it had advanced into a bad pneumonia stage. The worst part is that there is no known cure. Well, that’s one of the “worst parts.” Along with this bad news, the Wuhan government downplayed the disease and made it seem everything is under control. Because of this mishandling, distressed hospital nurses had to leak a message or to spread the truth, which is that the hospital is overwhelmed in terror and with lack of resources to help patients. Another bad news of this is the fact that Chinese people are literally everywhere. People from Wuhan carrying this virus traveled to so many various places in and outside of China. There are currently at least 30 suspected cases of the virus in Shanghai now. My best friend in Singapore said there are four cases there currently as of yesterday. I know it has spread to many other places. I don’t know if it’s true, but I believe it reached Louisiana according to something I had seen on the tv news. When this disease is frequently brought up in the same sentence as SARS, it’s hard to feel optimistic. Remember, China never beat SARS. Instead, the weather did, because it couldn’t survive under dry conditions. Well, Coronavirus might end up the same way, as its greatest repellent is moisture. Winter is the driest season in China, although it has rained for the last several days without stop here in Shanghai. Perhaps the only positives are that: 1. It makes for excellent tv. Seeing the incredible acts of bravery of soldiers who flew into the quarantined city of Wuhan to provide relief and aid to the nurses and patients was incredible to watch on tv. Brings me to tears seeing those soldiers being interviewed before leaving, saying goodbye to their families, and sharing their dream of a brighter China. 2. It extends my two week break from my job at the international school to a whole month of break. This is a much lesser thing in my mind, but I guess when you’re dealing with a job in a school with 500 kids who likely came from anywhere, who knows what risks you’re running by staying in contact with them... 3. More time with family. My son Ethan just turned 7 months old. Goodness, I’m not a bragger, but he’s so freaking cute! Hahaha Well, I don’t know, maybe I should have made a world news post instead of putting all my news and thoughts here, but whatevs. Like I said, I don’t expect to catch the virus and die or anything. Hell, I haven’t been outside the apartment in 8 days already! But the unknown is a bit scary for sure, and I’m not feeling terribly confident that this will go away anytime soon. I’m not a religious person but I’m praying for you Stringy, I can’t imagine how scary it is right now in China with the threat of this virus spreading. The North American media is blowing it totally out of proportion (currently there is 1 presumptive case in Canada for instance) and its causing hysteria on social media but that’s pretty common for western media. I hope you stay safe and away from the outbreak but I realize you do come in contact with many people being a teacher. Stay safe man. I appreciate that. My network of people I keep in touch with are all foreign teachers in the school, a good 50 or so teachers. The group message chat has been really exploding. They are all in such a different boat from me, even though I’m also a foreigner. They all are here with no family or shelter outside their own apartment and each other. They don’t know what to do, and they’re far for more scared of this situation than I. I am quite lucky to have a home away from my work apartment here, and family to stay with in Shanghai. Thanks to them, I’ve not had to go outside yet and risk anything. While I find most people I work with obnoxious because they don’t really like China and have no interest in exploring it (if you choose to work here, seek out what makes it great experience, don’t just complain all the time about it!), I also feel bad for them having no feeling of safety. As far as I’m aware, there are more than 3,000 cases of the virus now in China. Most are in Wuhan. While it’s comforting to know I’m far from the largest concentration, knowing their situation as truthfully as I do (I’ve heard the voice messages of the horrified hospital workers, seen the video footage from inside the hospitals, seen the infected and how they are dealt with) is also extremely upsetting. It seems like a bad horror movie come to life, like 28 Days (great movie imo) or The Stand (also excellent movie). Anyway, I don’t go back to work until Feb 18th. Until then, I’m staying indoors.
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Post by stringypoo on Jan 28, 2020 4:06:38 GMT -5
My body sure picked an awful time to decide it has appendicitis. I’m not at the hospital yet, but I can’t find any other match for my symptoms, especially the lower right side pain. With the Coronavirus likely to be within any hospital in Shanghai, this is risky. But if this is legit, doing nothing is also risky. Damn.
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Post by Blacksalt on Jan 28, 2020 12:21:12 GMT -5
My body sure picked an awful time to decide it has appendicitis. I’m not at the hospital yet, but I can’t find any other match for my symptoms, especially the lower right side pain. With the Coronavirus likely to be within any hospital in Shanghai, this is risky. But if this is legit, doing nothing is also risky. Damn. Geez, I’m worried about you dude. Is their anything we can do for you?
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Post by tao on Jan 28, 2020 12:44:41 GMT -5
My body sure picked an awful time to decide it has appendicitis. I’m not at the hospital yet, but I can’t find any other match for my symptoms, especially the lower right side pain. With the Coronavirus likely to be within any hospital in Shanghai, this is risky. But if this is legit, doing nothing is also risky. Damn. Geez, I’m worried about you dude. Is their anything we can do for you? Don’t trust WebMD; it’s not cancer!
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Post by v9733xa on Jan 28, 2020 18:56:59 GMT -5
My body sure picked an awful time to decide it has appendicitis. I’m not at the hospital yet, but I can’t find any other match for my symptoms, especially the lower right side pain. With the Coronavirus likely to be within any hospital in Shanghai, this is risky. But if this is legit, doing nothing is also risky. Damn. As least your mom didn't make you go to baseball practice when you were 13 and suffering the same symptoms. Five hours later and excruciating pain where the parents finally believed me, it was out. Rough night.
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Post by stringypoo on Jan 28, 2020 19:27:56 GMT -5
My body sure picked an awful time to decide it has appendicitis. I’m not at the hospital yet, but I can’t find any other match for my symptoms, especially the lower right side pain. With the Coronavirus likely to be within any hospital in Shanghai, this is risky. But if this is legit, doing nothing is also risky. Damn. As least your mom didn't make you go to baseball practice when you were 13 and suffering the same symptoms. Five hours later and excruciating pain where the parents finally believed me, it was out. Rough night. Ouch. Yeah, that sucks pretty bad there. My walking speed has diminished a lot in the last couple of days. Moments of needed speed or general agility are killing me, so I can imagine.
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Post by stringypoo on Jan 28, 2020 19:40:32 GMT -5
My body sure picked an awful time to decide it has appendicitis. I’m not at the hospital yet, but I can’t find any other match for my symptoms, especially the lower right side pain. With the Coronavirus likely to be within any hospital in Shanghai, this is risky. But if this is legit, doing nothing is also risky. Damn. Geez, I’m worried about you dude. Is their anything we can do for you? Nah, I have plenty of family help here. It’s just I hate that going to the hospital basically means I’m putting my family at higher risk of getting the virus while I’m trying to deal with appendicitis. Last night we went to a local hospital. The main part of the hospital had already closed since it was evening, so only could go to the emergency room area. Going inside, there were like 50 really sick people lying on stretchers in the lobby, coughing, moaning, crying, and seemingly dying. It seems the hospital had a lot of new patients last night awaiting care. Kind of a scary scene to see. All the hospital workers were wearing full body suit protection, looking like astronauts or something. I went for intial testng for appendicitis, so I did a pee and blood test. Pee test showed normal, but a couple of blood test values were abnormally high, which meant a possibility for appendicitis. Considering I have all of the classic symptoms outlined for Appendicitis on any given page, I have no doubt about it. But they gave me medicine for today and tomorrow. They said if it stays the same or gets worse I’ll come in for a Cat scan and then surgery if they deem necessary. I was always raised to believe appendicitis is a major deal that needs to be dealt with in a timely manner, but their attitude is more observant and optimistic about it. I took the medicine last night and went to bed. I’m still in great pain but there’s a lot of medicine left. I guess I’ll just play it by ear and see what happens. Hospitals here are very different. They seem like breeding grounds for diseases. The hospital system is set up differently in that it’s kind of like a free-roaming affair where you walk around until you find the care service you want and then you pay for that and stand in line to see that specialist. Then you go pay again for medicine and go get it. It becomes a lot of lines action, and because sick people end up everywhere in the hospital with this system, you don’t ever feel quite safe. I do like some elements of the way hospitals are organized here though. It can definitely be way more efficient and quick than when I went to the hospital in the US. But it also feels less sanitary.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2020 21:19:15 GMT -5
Geez, I’m worried about you dude. Is their anything we can do for you? Nah, I have plenty of family help here. It’s just I hate that going to the hospital basically means I’m putting my family at higher risk of getting the virus while I’m trying to deal with appendicitis. Last night we went to a local hospital. The main part of the hospital had already closed since it was evening, so only could go to the emergency room area. Going inside, there were like 50 really sick people lying on stretchers in the lobby, coughing, moaning, crying, and seemingly dying. It seems the hospital had a lot of new patients last night awaiting care. Kind of a scary scene to see. All the hospital workers were wearing full body suit protection, looking like astronauts or something. I went for intial testng for appendicitis, so I did a pee and blood test. Pee test showed normal, but a couple of blood test values were abnormally high, which meant a possibility for appendicitis. Considering I have all of the classic symptoms outlined for Appendicitis on any given page, I have no doubt about it. But they gave me medicine for today and tomorrow. They said if it stays the same or gets worse I’ll come in for a Cat scan and then surgery if they deem necessary. I was always raised to believe appendicitis is a major deal that needs to be dealt with in a timely manner, but their attitude is more observant and optimistic about it. I took the medicine last night and went to bed. I’m still in great pain but there’s a lot of medicine left. I guess I’ll just play it by ear and see what happens. Hospitals here are very different. They seem like breeding grounds for diseases. The hospital system is set up differently in that it’s kind of like a free-roaming affair where you walk around until you find the care service you want and then you pay for that and stand in line to see that specialist. Then you go pay again for medicine and go get it. It becomes a lot of lines action, and because sick people end up everywhere in the hospital with this system, you don’t ever feel quite safe. I do like some elements of the way hospitals are organized here though. It can definitely be way more efficient and quick than when I went to the hospital in the US. But it also feels less sanitary. Jesus, I get the observant approach, but for fuck's sake they should remove your damn appendix if its appendicitis. Otherwise, I do hope it works out for you man and it is crazy hearing firsthand perspective about the coronavirus over in China. Ironically, I work at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (the research hospital) here in MD and the NIH just sent out a organization wide news blast regarding precautions about it this week.
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Post by Blacksalt on Jan 28, 2020 23:27:40 GMT -5
Geez, I’m worried about you dude. Is their anything we can do for you? Nah, I have plenty of family help here. It’s just I hate that going to the hospital basically means I’m putting my family at higher risk of getting the virus while I’m trying to deal with appendicitis. Last night we went to a local hospital. The main part of the hospital had already closed since it was evening, so only could go to the emergency room area. Going inside, there were like 50 really sick people lying on stretchers in the lobby, coughing, moaning, crying, and seemingly dying. It seems the hospital had a lot of new patients last night awaiting care. Kind of a scary scene to see. All the hospital workers were wearing full body suit protection, looking like astronauts or something. I went for intial testng for appendicitis, so I did a pee and blood test. Pee test showed normal, but a couple of blood test values were abnormally high, which meant a possibility for appendicitis. Considering I have all of the classic symptoms outlined for Appendicitis on any given page, I have no doubt about it. But they gave me medicine for today and tomorrow. They said if it stays the same or gets worse I’ll come in for a Cat scan and then surgery if they deem necessary. I was always raised to believe appendicitis is a major deal that needs to be dealt with in a timely manner, but their attitude is more observant and optimistic about it. I took the medicine last night and went to bed. I’m still in great pain but there’s a lot of medicine left. I guess I’ll just play it by ear and see what happens. Hospitals here are very different. They seem like breeding grounds for diseases. The hospital system is set up differently in that it’s kind of like a free-roaming affair where you walk around until you find the care service you want and then you pay for that and stand in line to see that specialist. Then you go pay again for medicine and go get it. It becomes a lot of lines action, and because sick people end up everywhere in the hospital with this system, you don’t ever feel quite safe. I do like some elements of the way hospitals are organized here though. It can definitely be way more efficient and quick than when I went to the hospital in the US. But it also feels less sanitary. It’s crazy how different medical care can be from country to country. I live in Canada and you basically get everything for free (we pay high taxes) and I never ever worry about treatment. Dude, don’t sleep on that appendix. If it is still causing you severe pain you need to get it out, that shit could kill you if it bursts and get an infection.
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Post by stringypoo on Jan 29, 2020 0:36:54 GMT -5
Nah, I have plenty of family help here. It’s just I hate that going to the hospital basically means I’m putting my family at higher risk of getting the virus while I’m trying to deal with appendicitis. Last night we went to a local hospital. The main part of the hospital had already closed since it was evening, so only could go to the emergency room area. Going inside, there were like 50 really sick people lying on stretchers in the lobby, coughing, moaning, crying, and seemingly dying. It seems the hospital had a lot of new patients last night awaiting care. Kind of a scary scene to see. All the hospital workers were wearing full body suit protection, looking like astronauts or something. I went for intial testng for appendicitis, so I did a pee and blood test. Pee test showed normal, but a couple of blood test values were abnormally high, which meant a possibility for appendicitis. Considering I have all of the classic symptoms outlined for Appendicitis on any given page, I have no doubt about it. But they gave me medicine for today and tomorrow. They said if it stays the same or gets worse I’ll come in for a Cat scan and then surgery if they deem necessary. I was always raised to believe appendicitis is a major deal that needs to be dealt with in a timely manner, but their attitude is more observant and optimistic about it. I took the medicine last night and went to bed. I’m still in great pain but there’s a lot of medicine left. I guess I’ll just play it by ear and see what happens. Hospitals here are very different. They seem like breeding grounds for diseases. The hospital system is set up differently in that it’s kind of like a free-roaming affair where you walk around until you find the care service you want and then you pay for that and stand in line to see that specialist. Then you go pay again for medicine and go get it. It becomes a lot of lines action, and because sick people end up everywhere in the hospital with this system, you don’t ever feel quite safe. I do like some elements of the way hospitals are organized here though. It can definitely be way more efficient and quick than when I went to the hospital in the US. But it also feels less sanitary. It’s crazy how different medical care can be from country to country. I live in Canada and you basically get everything for free (we pay high taxes) and I never ever worry about treatment. Dude, don’t sleep on that appendix. If it is still causing you severe pain you need to get it out, that shit could kill you if it bursts and get an infection. Yes, I do believe a few US presidential campaigns in past elections had hoped of achieving a similar healthcare design as Canada’s. It’s hard to see it through, but it does sound great, even with higher taxes. In the US before I came to China, I paid $400 a month for a plan that not only sucked but barely covered me because of my work and money status. When you work as an independent contractor, you often get screwed this way. As a result, I always tried my best to never have a reason to go to the doctor because of the fear of how much I’d have to pay. Everyone here is calling appendicitis a no big deal surgery situation, but that’s not how I currently or ever had felt about it. I know it as a potentially life threatening situation. Today I will probably go in for the CT scan. That will help them to know for sure if it is appendicitis. Then I can finally schedule a surgery. I want it done. It has bearable moments and incredibly unbearable moments. I haven’t walked or sat straight for at least two whole days now, so my back is also starting to kill me. China’s hospital system is fascinating to a westerner like myself. I almost love it, but not completely. I definitely appreciate how much cheaper it is, but it also seems like there’s a potential to not get enough checks out of a visit to find out what’s wrong. For example, if you’ve got a problem like mine, you go to the hospital, pay to see the stomach specialist, then go to his office door (door 5 yesterday), and wait until it’s your turn. There is often an electronic cueue screen in front of the door letting you know it’s your turn to go in. You hand them your medical records if you have them, they ask you what’s up, and then they will either do some in room checks or precribe medicines or something. The thing is, maybe I think it’s a problem in one area, but what if I’m wrong? Would he, the stomach guy, point me to the right person? This is a question I wonder...lol
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Post by stringypoo on Jan 30, 2020 0:24:10 GMT -5
Well, I went for the CT scan last night but before that I had to see the stomach specialist at door 5 again. Different doctor since it wasn’t the night time staff. After he asked me to get on the table he pressed around in my body asking me if it’s hurt. I was in so much pain and getting off the table was incredibly difficult. The doctor said he was shocked we didn’t get a CT scan the night before when we were there. CT confirmed appendicitis, and apparently a very brutal issuance of it, because it was much more inflamed than the usual case that goes in. Got my surgery scheduled for midnight and already had it. The wounds incredibly inflamed from after the surgery, so I am having great difficulty doing anything. Peeing took me four or five long attempts for a one result. Wish I could just sleep off this recoverynstage but it seems I can’t.
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Post by theblackpage on Jan 30, 2020 10:40:47 GMT -5
Damn stringypoo take care! *Sends over a virtual fruit basket*.
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Post by tao on Jan 30, 2020 12:34:14 GMT -5
Well, I went for the CT scan last night but before that I had to see the stomach specialist at door 5 again. Different doctor since it wasn’t the night time staff. After he asked me to get on the table he pressed around in my body asking me if it’s hurt. I was in so much pain and getting off the table was incredibly difficult. The doctor said he was shocked we didn’t get a CT scan the night before when we were there. CT confirmed appendicitis, and apparently a very brutal issuance of it, because it was much more inflamed than the usual case that goes in. Got my surgery scheduled for midnight and already had it. The wounds incredibly inflamed from after the surgery, so I am having great difficulty doing anything. Peeing took me four or five long attempts for a one result. Wish I could just sleep off this recoverynstage but it seems I can’t. Glad you got it taken care of! Get well soon!!!
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Post by v9733xa on Jan 30, 2020 18:15:12 GMT -5
Yeah man, I don't know what it is about such a tiny thing being taken out and such a small scar, but it hurts like a motherfucker afterwards. They forced me to walk around by the next morning and it was just awful.
You'll be well soon. Glad you got that taken care of. Let's compare scars.
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Post by stringypoo on Jan 30, 2020 18:55:56 GMT -5
Yeah man, I don't know what it is about such a tiny thing being taken out and such a small scar, but it hurts like a motherfucker afterwards. They forced me to walk around by the next morning and it was just awful. You'll be well soon. Glad you got that taken care of. Let's compare scars. I still haven’t walked and this is my second day after the surgery technically. You’re right, hurts like hell. I have yet to see the scars, but I have three incisions apparently. They did the three hole method, if my understanding is right. So I may not have a line, but they said I’ll have three small holes. My wife’s dad got to see the removed appendix yesterday. They were saying mine was unique because inflammation caused a lot of tissue to join together with the appendix, so it was a larger than expected removal. I’m still experiencing some waves of inflammation that are absolutely killing me, but I believe it’s getting better. Can sit up if I work hard at it for five or more minutes. I can stand from sitting position if you give me 3 more minutes. I’ve never felt so weak or sore in my life.
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