Comments on: Spam From Japan: Going To The Doctor In Japan

By: Yoko

Yoko — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:44:41 +0000

Oh God, i can’t even imagine what you’d gone through even though the description was pretty detailed. :))
At my work place, me and my co-workers always joke around saying that the only way we could skip work hours would be if we were in a coma or dead. And even so, we would have to give a 15 days notice letting our boss know that we would die. :)) Well it’s not that bad, but pretty close. There’s no way a flu could be a reason for us not showing up for work.

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:35:42 +0000

I welcome comments at any time. :)

The wooden stick *is* that long, but I’m fairly sure not all of it goes up your nose. Presumably the poor nurse has to hold onto something. I don’t know for sure since the one time they did it, my hands were clasped tightly in my lap and my eyes were screwed shut.

It seems people in both Japan and Britain elevate the position of doctor to a higher level than in Romania, Japan more than Britain. If I’m ill, even if I’m well enough to work, my bosses always insist I go to the doctor regardless of usefulness. I’d rather cure myself at home, if it’s possible!

By: Yoko

Yoko — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:32:33 +0000

Ok, even if it’s late to post a comment here (i’ve started reading all your posts now that i’ve found your blog), i have to say, i actually thought you were kidding about that doctor sticking that thing up your nose. I mean… seriously? Well anywayz, there’s no way i could ever make a comparison between Japan’s or Britain’s health system and Romania’s. Over here, people usually treat themselves rather than go to a doctor. That’s why we have many traditional “cures” that have been passed on from previous generations. :D There are at least a dozen “cures” of this sort for the flu and they do work. I’m the living proof. :))

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:25:02 +0000

It really does depend on what you’re used to. Even on my first trip to the doctor, the language barrier wasn’t a huge problem compared to the difference in methodology. Maybe because I was a foreigner, or maybe because they’re not expected to explain what’s going on with the patient, I was not given any technical vocab to deal with, just lots of pills.

I have to admit though, I don’t have the first clue about the health system in Jamaica. I’m sure there are many American-style clinics though, since there’s a British one.

By: Jamaipanese

Jamaipanese — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:17:32 +0000

I am not in Japan but one of my fears is getting sick when I get there. The whole language thing and very different health system makes me paranoid.

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 08:03:12 +0000

Well, I’ve been to Japanese doctors twice now — the first stuck the stick up my nose and the second wanted to do so. I guess it’s fairly accurate then? But I’ve never been offered suppositories.

I’m actually British and have no experience with the US system. In Britain, you have a long wait for the doctor and you need a referral if you have a specific problem. At my university, the doctor would happily write sick notes for lecturers two weeks after you actually missed the seminar. But it was free.

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:58:52 +0000

When it comes down to a cold that takes away my energy and leaves me unable to speak, it basically means I can’t work. And I can’t get any paid leave without a doctor’s note (which I didn’t get anyway…). So I pretty much have to go to the doctors and take whatever they suggest!

By: spamfromjapan

spamfromjapan — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:53:38 +0000

No, I’m fine now. It was mainly because I was suffering from a bad fever that I was unable to forage for food. I gained most of it back in any case!

Thanks for reading.

By: AstroNerdBoy

AstroNerdBoy — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:45:52 +0000

There was a blog that I used to read of an American who used to live in Japan and one of his blog entries was how the Japanese doctors were obsessed with ramming things into one’s orifices. He claimed doctors in Japan especially loved suppositories. I half expected you to say that here.

So otherwise, which medical system is better in you opinion — Japan or the U.S.?

By: xs

xs — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:43:45 +0000

The current British attitude to colds – at least in my experience – is take a day off work and don’t infect your coworkers!

I’m a rather firm believer in not medicating common colds with antibiotics, although when I had a really bad cold in Oita, was also advised to avoid the local meds by a colleague working in the prefectural office (I just looked for Contac).