I wanted to get all this in last post but, as always, it ran
rather long. So I start a new post, mercifully short.
The most obvious benefit of this accident of mine is
firsthand knowledge of China’s heath care systems. Paying in advance for
treatments, patients being custodians of their own medical records, affordable
and expedient care are all things I experienced firsthand and can now report on
with authority.
The second miracle: I did not ruin my support hose. Being as
I spend my Tuesday mornings standing on concrete and my classrooms are on the 4th
floor support hose are essential, otherwise my feet and legs are too achy to do
anything else that day. The hose are a valuable commodity made more so because
they are unavailable over here. I brought 5 pair while stateside last time and
I have to be very careful with them lest I ruin them. Much to my surprise, even
though I suffered scrapes on both knees and substantial bruising my hose did
not run. Thus I am comfortable
endorsing L’eggs Active Support hose for anyone who does a lot of walking or
standing.
Beyond that, what good was this accident?
It seems the Chinese only go to the doctor if they have a
specific complaint. Preventive care is apparently unknown here. If I wanted a well-woman
exam or a stress test on my heart, or any of the tests doctors in America
recommend when a patient turns fifty I would either have to request it or go to
America to have it done. Therefore I’ve not had a checkup in 2 years. With the
terrible way I’ve been feeling virtually since I got here going on 3 years ago,
you might understand that I had some serious doubts about my health.
As a result of this accident I now know:
·
I have strong bones. Not once in all of my falls have I
broken anything, including hitting my head on a piece of angle iron. X-rays
show good bone density.
·
I do not have a brain tumor. Two MRIs are proof of
that.
·
I do not suffer from diabetes. My wounded head healed
quickly and the bruises disappeared within a week. One symptom of diabetes is slow healing of scrapes, bruises or serious
wounds.
·
I do not have heart problems. During all of these
procedures not once did any doctor express concern over high blood pressure or
irregular heart activity. Indeed the readings were well within the norm.
·
I do not have any serious or life threatening diseases,
including any blood cancers.
In trying to figure out what was wrong with me during this
past year I have speculated on all of the above listed health concerns. High
blood pressure, a brain tumor and diabetes could have been causing the
lingering dizziness and outright dizzy spells I’ve been hiding from everyone.
They could also explain why I was so fatigued.
Diabetes and heart disease could also account for the
numbness in my hands and feet. Not a constant numbness, just enough of one to
be scary.
Besides that…
I’ve long despaired over my
thinning hair. I do believe another winter here, with the air as dry as it is
will result in the rest of my hair falling out. With my head partially shaved I
now have an excuse to wear a hat all the time… but why stop there? Remember I
had bought a wig last time I was in the states? It must have been serendipity
again.
I had no use for the wig till
now. Now that I am partially bald and especially because I’m letting my gray
grow out I now have an excuse to wear my wig all the time. How nice it is to
have a glorious head of hair, even if it is fake! And, because circumstances
demand I wear a hat anyway, nobody is any wiser to my vain wig deception. An
added bonus is that the wig and hat are keeping my head nice and warm as the
weather dips down into the 50 degree Fahrenheit range overnight.
My hair is growing back where Doc
shaved my head to stitch me up. It feels weird having stubble. I will wait till
the stubble grows to a respectable length and then cut the rest of my hair to
match. It will be a long process.
I have decided that I will no
longer take chances with Benadryl. During that first long night in the
‘injection chair’ I conceded that I have allergies and will most likely be
plagued by them for the rest of my time here, if not the rest of my life. I now
take Benadryl every 4 hours whether I have allergy symptoms or not.
As a result I have come to feel
better than I have since I’ve moved here 3 years ago. I sleep undisturbed
through the night. I breathe with no wheezing or gasping, and there is no
tightness in my chest. My energy levels are back to normal and with that my
zest for adventure and desire for activity.
Most importantly, that which has
been affecting my balance has been reversed. The pressure on my ears, at one
time so strong it caused near deafness is now in proper ratio. My balance is
still not completely restored but I’ve not had a dizzy spell or lost my balance
since I started my rigorous allergy regimen. Of course, if I don’t take my
medicine on schedule I feel it, almost immediately. The first symptom is
increasing pressure in my ears.
Friends, it feels wonderful to
get out of bed and not have to hold on to the walls for my first few steps of
the day. It is amazing that I can do squats again and get off the couch without
having to hold on to something. I can now go out walking with full confidence
that I will not trip or fall. Or that a trip does not guarantee a fall.
I feel like I am back to my old
self. What a great return, and just in time for my half-century celebration!
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