Comments on: Doctors Again

By: karen

karen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:11:53 +0000

@chastity, @jessica, thanks for the kind words!

I don’t always feel like I handle it well. But I know that a lot of the problems are caused because I lack knowledge. I’m looking forward to the day when I understand the system. I am, however, not sure that I ever want enough experience to learn the Japanese for a variety of diseases!

By: karen

karen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:09:40 +0000

@andrew – Japanese things are not always efficient, but they do have a detailed system. And I think at times their system is better than the U.K. one. I’ll be going to the thyroid hospital tomorrow and they can get me my results in one hour – this would never happen in the U.K. I can sound like efficiency but really it’s just that the hospital has a really good system in place. And also that they throw more people at this than they can in the U.K.

By: karen

karen — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:07:13 +0000

@miyagawa I do think that there are a lot of good things about the Japanese system but there doesn’t seem to be much concern about how much of my time gets wasted on it.

The first time I needed a letter of recommendation it cost me 15,000 円 to get it. I didn’t understand the system, so to get help I ended up going to see a British doctor who didn’t fall under the national health scheme.

By: Tatsuhiko Miyagawa

Tatsuhiko Miyagawa — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:03:01 +0000

It’s surprising people (esp. US) think Japanese health care is perfect.

I think it’s perfect for people who are always sick, or want to go to hospital even when they are not sick (a.k.a oldies who doesn’t do anything besides that)

If you’re healthy and get sudden sick to figure out, it’s a bit painful to get the first care. Some hospitals even require recommendation letter which causes some chicken-and-egg issues for people like foreigners.

By: Andrew Noble

Andrew Noble — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:34:55 +0000

I always thought that anything Japanese would be very efficient – then again thinking back to the Toyota debacle, maybe not!

I hope you get to see who you need, get the treatment you need and are feeling better soon.

By: Jessica Marie

Jessica Marie — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:55:49 +0000

Oh yuck! You’re in my prayers Karen. You’re so much better at handling this than I would be.

By: Chastity

Chastity — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:14:27 +0000

Oh Karen, I’m so sorry you have to struggle through this. It’s hard enough to be sick, but then to have to worry with the language and office hours and just trying to see the doctor you need to see…ugh! That would be unbearable to me. You are very brave and strong, and I admire how gracefully you handle all this. Lots of love to you!