Medicine, China style

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So the last few days I have been indulging in medicine, China style. It's not Chinese medicine, which is generally dried herbs which smell really, really awful but rather the Chinese take on Western medicine.

The doctor has been wanting to reduce the infection on my face for ages by poking the acne with a needle, but that is waaaay too sore so after the first time (and the tears!) I have been steadfastly refusing. Then last time we went he suggested that an IV might do the same. Chinese people are big fans of taking medicine via IV drips, rather than topically or orally as it gets into the blood stream more directly so I thought I would give it a go.

Initially I tried to take the prescription the doctor at the clinic gave me to the big hospital in town because we thought it might be more hygenic, but they refused to fulfil it because I hadn't seen one of their own doctors. We aren't sure if it was genuine concern, or if they were just pissed that they missed out on the money from my consultation. So I traipsed back to the clinic to be seen there. It's very out of the way, and a bit dirty. The nurse cleans the place, which surprised me as I thought they'd have an Ayi, if not a proper anti bacterial cleaning regime. For example, there were a couple of wooden beds with bedding and lots of pillows scattered about the chairs, but these were just folded up every night and reused the next day.

The IV room has about 5 rows of metal benches with hooks overhead for your IV bag. They did a skin test first and then mixed my medicines together. I needed two bottles of something or other, three days in a row. The first time they dripped it really slowly, to see how I would take it, and it took over 2 hours. By the third night I was in and out in 1! the only difference i noticed when it went faster, was a bad taste in my mouth, but they said that was normal.

It wasn't sore at all, and the first night Benny stayed with me so the time passed fairly quick because we turned it into an impromptu business meeting as well as a general catch up. The following two nights I took my laptop and got quite a bit of work done on my application essays (it's amazing how much more I get done when I am not connected to the internet!)

My right hand (which had the drip on two of the three nights) is a little bruised, but not painful and my skin does appear a little clearer so hopefully it will continue to improve over the next few days.

I also treated myself to a wee beauty treatment on Monday. Rach went for a facial, but I can't have anything on my face so had a tea bath and full body massage, complete with vibrating pads on my tummy! It was divine and I would definitely be up for that again sometime.

What else? I've just been working on my business school apps. Some people I read about are applying to loads of unis, but I really only want to go to two, and it just so happens that they are both among the best in the world, so I am setting the bar pretty high. Application essay writing this weekend, then off to Shanghai Monday and Tuesday, back Wednesday and hoping to finish my second drafts by this time next week....

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Comments

[Ankur]

LINKING THE WORLD
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