Adventures in Healthcare: Thyroidectomy, part 4: Ward Life

Let's talk about "ward life" today.

When I booked my surgery, I had an option of staying in a ward (with 4 roommates), a semi-private room (with 2 roomies), or a private room.  Well, I'm poor spinster, schoolteacher-cat lady (yes, I couldn't be more of a stereotype if I tried) so I needed to go with the cheapest option...staying in the ward.  The word "ward" brings up an image of World War II battlefield hospitals (in my mind anyway) and since I had never stayed overnight in a hospital before, was anxiety-inducing in my little introverted self.

Adventures in Healthcare: Thyroidectomy, part 3: Admission

Had to take a few days break from all this writing.  Reliving all this is exhausting.

Anyway, the next stop in the adventure is being admitted to the hospital.

I got an email from the International Clinic that I would be contacted by the hospital on Saturday around noon with instructions for me so I can admit.  So, Saturday morning I had to rush around and get to and home from the market before noon so I am home and not distracted from what the nurse has to say.  I wake up early and run to get the last few things I needed for my recovery time...and proceed to have a small, crying nervous-breakdown in the store because they don't have my flavor mouthwash.  Yes, at this point in my life I am THAT stressed and emotional.

Anyway, I pull myself together, get checked out, and get my stuff home.

Adventures in Healthcare: Thyroidectomy, part 2: Pre-surgery

July 3, I had to go in for pre-surgery testing.  I've never had surgery before, so I was expecting a couple of basics, but it ended up being a ENT visit, blood work, x-ray, urine test, CT scan, ECG, and ANOTHER appointment with the surgeon.

Not to mention, I was already irritated because I had to go into work for an hour and half and THEN go have all these tests done.  I mean, I get it's "my job" but they really could have just given me the whole day off, but apparently that's not how things work here.

Adventures in Health Care: Thyroidectomy, part 1

So, today, I want to talk about my surgery experience here in Korea.  Again, it was another first, although not one I was looking forward to.  This is quite a long experience, so this will be a multi-entry posting.

A few months ago, I told you that I had thyroid cancer...aka, "the best cancer."  And I'm going to do a quick PSA: Ok, NO cancer is good cancer...let's be clear...and although it's not life-threatening and people can live without their thyroid, it's just a $hit thing to say that "it's not serious."  I know...I KNOW...people are just trying to be comforting and supportive when they say things like this, but really, it's unhelpful and comes across as dismissive.  Yes, I knew I wasn't likely to die, but there was always the possibility of it spreading into my throat, vocal cords and lymph nodes.  So, while I was very lucky that this was NOT my case, still...when you are talking to someone about their illness, try hard to not trivialize their thoughts and feelings.  ANY illness takes a mental and emotional toll, not just a physical one, so please use a little sensitivity.

But I digress.

First, of course, there was some drama concerning my surgery date.  SIGH.