I am leaving today. I can walk normally.
Probably, I could have gone home on Tuesday. I was feeling a bit guilty for still being in here. But Japanese hospitals always like to be on the safe side, making sure there is no infection, that you have had enough physiotherapy, enough post-operative rest; have been properly fed and looked after before they let you go. They are incredibly conscientious.
It was not a major operation. But considering that THIS had been removed from my legs
-and been enmeshed in my bone and muscle tissue for eight years, there was no guarantee it was going to be a walk in the park either ( had I known they were going to be hammering bolts into me like Frankenstein in 2017 I am pretty sure I would have nixed the whole procedure – look at it ! I was a walking hardware store !). I was quite shocked the other day when they presented me with this excruciating paraphernalia as some sort of omiyage – a souvenir from within my own body : I might have to make it into a necklace for Burning Bush.
No. If it were the UK or US, you would be turfed out onto the street with your swollen mummies a day or two after surgery, with a fistful of painkillers and an on your bike. Try not to let the rats get to it – and if it gets gangrenous, come back and we will chop it off.
Plus, if it were the UK, you wouldn’t be having an operation in the first place because you would be on a five to ten year waiting list, crawling like a beleaguered millipede in the dirt before you even got a chance at having surgery, by which time your heart and blood pressure and kidney function et al would be so bad they probably wouldn’t let you have the operation in any case. The procedure would be free, but by the time you were finally wheeled in for it, you would be dead.
Across the pond, surgery and a week in a private room in an American hospital would leave you bankrupt, were you unlucky enough not to have been born into the right circumstances, mopping the floors at Burger King without ‘coverage’ – because remember, people, HEALTH CARE IS NOT A RIGHT !!! COS JESUS SAID SO !!! —- — so you would be sobbing into your receipts as you walked through steel doors : my good friend AI tells mr you would be presented with a medical bill of anything from $17,000 – $100,000 for similar treatment for what I have o my how is this discrepancy even possible ? – and use your new found leg power to promptly jump from the nearest bridge.
In Japan, all citizens pay a monthly health insurance contribution depending on their income, and then 30% of the fees for all medical consultations and medications when they see a doctor or go into hospital for surgeries.
Today’s bill, including surgery, drugs, aftercare, meals, physiotherapy, and sundries, will come to ¥245,000 – or around £1,200, which I think is very reasonable. I am just wondering why in America it could be eighty times higher. I find it … disgusting. And though the staff at the government- funded NHS back in England are undoubtedly doing their very best in the face of the slow disintegration of our national health service – once the pride of the nation – those unfortunate people whose cartilage has gradually disintegrated. and whose bones are aching like mine on a daily basis face years of agony and discomfort : waiting, waiting, waiting, to embark on the eventual, grotesquely delayed, beginnings of a new, more mobile, pain-free existence.
In the Yokohama hospital where I have been staying, I have had immaculate care. A world renowned knee surgeon. Courteous, attentive and friendly nurses, cleaning staff and physiotherapists. Great thought put into nutrition and hygiene. Some amazing food. A successful operation. And, importantly, I was not totally ripped off in the process. While glad to be going home – I will be back in August and November for the joint replacements – at least I know that when I do so I will be returning to a clean and trustworthy environment where I will be comfortable and get the best medical care possible – and at an affordable price. I am very grateful. What can I say ? Amazing !
What an ordeal! And with more to come…but at least you know you are in good hands (world-renowned, no less!) and in a pleasant environment for the next two operations. Agree that the Japanese health care system is exemplary!
Enjoy the pizza!
AAAAAGH I SPAKE TOO SOON AND MIGHT NOT GET THE PIZZA !
Pre-discharge, there was an ACTUAL discharge that I have enquired about all week but which was dismissed ( I had asked for antibiotics just in case ): now I have a suppurating haematoma on my right leg.
The gangrene might be closer than I thought — and I really will leave here a haggis on wheels !
Haggis on wheels!! Where do you find your images?
Somewhere between pizza and haggis I hope you will find your breakfast, whether Japanese or English … ?
Really, mon cher monsieur Ginzaintherain, I wish you all the best.
Anyway, your nose is allright.
Dutch Comfort???
A friend’s hug
Haggis on wheels did crack me up when it came to me but it actually reflects the sense of a bloody pulp trapped under skein
I now have some bruised swelling and can’t get out today.
BRING ON THE FISH! No pizza for me !
I hope you are doing alright
I hug back
Oh rats. I was so pleased to think you were home ….. many a slip and all that. Hope the ghastly swelling goes down really quickly and you can leave soon without any pain or pus.
You are so spot on with all your comments on health care in the USA and UK!
GOOD LUCK! Sending healing vibes.
Thank you !
Trying not to have a meltdown.
Wonderful news!!
Glad to hear everything went well, I was thinking of you! Bolts are quite impressive.
You’re right, Japanese hospitals are really cautious. Here in France they kicked me out right after surgery, and I knew it was risky. A friend of mine, who came from South America and had the same surgery, ended up with complications… Luckily, I was on the safer side of things.
Hello Yoshinobu !
How are your own knees ? Sorry I (so rudely )failed to reply to your message from a few weeks ( months ?) back.
Sorry to hear your friend had complications. If you read the comments above, I also do now ..
I can’t even imagine being kicked out right after surgery. What on earth was it like ?
I think ultimately part of me loves the Japanese mollycoddling
I read your blog post and learned about what you were going through, so no harm done!
I’m doing very well, thank you. I was nervous at first, but I had daily visits from nurses for two weeks and have a good physiotherapist, which has helped a lot.
I hope your blood bruises aren’t too serious. I had small ones too, but thankfully they turned out to be harmless. Be careful not to develop deep vein thrombosis, though. That’s what made me the most anxious about during the first month…
Anyway, may my mother country take good care of you!
Arigato !!
I am sorry you couldn’t leave after all! Hoping there is no serious complication and if there is that AB will take care of it.
Dutch healthcare is not Japanese, and the waiting lists are longer than they used to, but it is affordable and responsible, very careful to only prescribe AB if it is really necessary in order to prevent AB resistant bugs.
Mollycoddling, great word! In Dutch: vertroetelen.
I can’t pronounce that word but I can feel it !
Yes, I am a bit scared in truth – but they don’t seem overly worried – no temperature or redness or ballooning or ill feeling ( to be honest, when I was power walking round the ward I was conscious something didn’t feel right and should have stopped; I think I overdid it) – I will just see how it is in the morning.
Good to hear the Dutch health care system is good – though it somehow seems obvious that it would be.
Here they hand out antibiotics like Charlie And The Chocolate Factory – at least my local clinic does. They saved my life once when I had severe pneumonia back in 2004 – so I am a huge fan
I am glad that everything worked out well for you and you are doing great. I also agree with your other comments regarding American health care. You obviously picked the right place when you moved from the UK to Japan. Stay well and enjoy the warm weather.
Thankyou . Unfortunately had to stay in longer because of blood bruises.. one slightly infected. Possibly overdid it !!
I’m glad the removal of that impressive hardware went well, and sorry you’re still in, but given everything you describe, you seem to be in the best hands. May it all work out for the best and get you home as soon as is prudent. Feels wrong to say I’ve enjoyed your posts given what you’re going through, but it is true that I always enjoy your writing, so expressive and spot on. I did get myself some Courreges In Blue after a previous post of yours; lovely, comforting, dusty, a little fizzy, just right for a cold June day.
Delighted to hear it – an inherently optimistic perfume that one – what is the bottle like ? I have a bit of a soft spot for Courreges. EDT or parfum?