I’ve had allergies since high school. Our building was a converted warehouse and the ventilation was very poor, which caused me to develop allergies to dust. I’ve spent the rest of my life somewhere near tissues or toilet paper.
Eternally blowing my nose has cause a few major problems for me. The first time was summer before senior year in high school when I went to the doctor for some allergy medication, my allergies were quit serious that summer. It turns out my allergies weren’t at all the problem, I was just too used to always having a runny nose. the diagnosis: sinus infection, 1 viral ear infection, 1 bacterioviral ear infection, a cold and pneumonia. Yes, pneumonia. I was given lots of pills and told to stay in bed for 3 days, problem solved.
Now, in Russia, it seems I’ve have had a similar, but less serious situation. I self-diagnosed my sinus infection and dared to venture to a Russian hospital and see a doctor. I’m not usually against doctors, but I’ve heard more than a few stories about Russian health care.
Galina Petrovna, the director of the American Home, took me to the students’ clinic and we went straight to the ears, nose, and throat doctor, cutting in front of about 7 students. I got sat down, checked and she decided I needed antibiotics (thank goodness!) and cold medication. This was exactly what I thought, and I only went for the prescription. She then decided that I needed shots too.
Shots. and not just any shots, 10ml once a day for 5 days. 10ml is a lot to get injected at one time, its no MMR shot. While they were talking I kept hearing the word ‘popa’ (попа) which means butt in Russian. Panic! The plan was for Galina Petrovna to administer the shots for me, in the popa! How would you like it to hear that your boss had to give you shots… in the ass.
Yeah… So I told them I was deathly afraid of shots and she let me get away with just the pills on the condition that by Wednesday, if I didn’t feel better – shots.
Next we went to the Drug Store, still known as an Apothecary to get the drugs. I buy my own syringe and vial of evil ‘ass’ potion (just in case, said my boss), and amoxicillin. Turns out I could’ve gotten the drugs without a prescription for 20 bucks. I’m never going to a doctor in Russia again!
By the way, I feel better now.
Good to see things are going well for you (and your unpunctured backside) on the other side of the world. Don’t worry, life here at Cornell is still the same. Although we have discovered a most wonderful new board game you should check out. Well, I’m not sure what the board game demand is over there, but you should still try to find it anyway. It’s called Betrayal at House on the Hill. It’s wonderful. We’ve pretty much played it non-stop since we got it for Christmas. Yeah, that’s about it for updates here. But seriously, you should find that game.
I have seen this article completely casually and I have decided to read, because I see that you tormente with a nose.
The first time I was in student’s hospital is this May. And I was at an otolaryngologist an ear, a throat, a nose on the second floor too. Then I was sick with a strong flu and i could not recover during 3 weeks, i have have decided to go to a doctor. A doctor came to me. By third week a strong cold began which was not during a flu.
The doctor told it is a sinusitis, which is on ground of a small antritis. They made a picture of a nose and told to drink antibiotics. I did not begin. And suddenly will it cause an allergy?
Sometimes yes, which is why i decided not.
I cured the sinusitis – I even did not feel smells – with a sea salt. I washed out a nose the dissolved solution of salt and water. It is one teaspoon on a glass. For 3 days I have recovered from a cold. It is an advice of my grandfather.
I am afraid of hospitals, shots, making the analysis of blood is awfully for me. But after 7 times which I came in this hospital in May, I have got used already, and for me it was not so terribly. In a result for 1,5 weeks I have made the analysis of blood 2 times, the electrocardiogram – because of differences of a blood pressure, a picture of a nose – all was under the full program. And in a result – all analyses are ideal.
Health is the most important.
Ps i stumble on this article.
I have seen this article completely casually – is not correctly.