I’ve been sick for about 3 weeks now. I’m pretty new to Taiwan. Had a bad wet cough and sinus infection. Went to a clinic and got antibiotics (amoxicilin). Went back three days later because they stupidly give you just a 3 day supply. Told him give me something stronger because it wasn’t doing shit, got more amoxicilin. After that I decided to see if my body could kick it on it’s own. Nearly 3 weeks later I’m just now getting over the cough but still have yellow mucus (have had thick mucus for 3 weeks or at least sinus drip) but now maybe allergies are kicking in too (not sure what allergies are like in Taiwan…first time here in Spring).
[b]I haven’t been to a hospital for normal stuff, but my friend said they can give me better medicine, maybe take blood to see what’s really wrong with me, and give me a full course of antibiotics instead of stringing me along 3 days at a time.
I’m really quite pissed at my local doctor clinic, so I don’t want to go back there. I assume all clinics are the same? Should I say the hell with it and just go to the hospital even though it’s more expensive?[/b]
Unfortunately, most of us get sick as dogs during the first months here on the island, while our bodie sbuild up immunities to all the new bacteria and viruses. That said, let’s not get stoic and suffer: yes, you may get better attention at a big hospital, granted teh doctors have enough time to see you. Resources, as your friends told you, are more plentiful, and yes, at this point, an X ray and blood test are called for.
Furthermore, most hospitals have special “flu” clinics, which have the battery of tests ready for you and may offer, once you get over this phase and get well, a nice vaccine that could diminish the severity of smiliar flu/respiratory maladies to come. As it happens, ther eis nothing worse than a summer cold…
Oh, and don’t get us started on allergies… Wait for the sand storsm from China to hit us…
Where are you so we can reccomend a hospital in your area?
I’m In Taichung so I’ll probably just go to the medical university where I had my original health check. I’m just happy to have my health insurance card finally. Paying 400 NTD at the clinics and feeling no better was pissing me off pretty well. A lot of people have said that it’s normal to get sick the first year, especially with the age I teach (not going to incriminate myself there…needed a job badly haha).
Thanks for the info, I’m glad to know the hospitals have special flu areas and everything. The only other time in my life I was sick this long was my first job out of college, and by the time I made it to a doctor and he did bloodwork he was MAD at me for waiting so long Good ol’ steroid shot in the ass and a badass antibiotic did the trick. Sad to know that before modern medicine I’d have been dead though
Wow, I usually pay 200 at the clinics, 400 to 600 at the hospital, but I have NHI. When I got here, last century, foreigners did not have the right to join NHI, so I remember paying 600 nts every time we went to the doctor.
And yes, if you teach kids, you are in the frontline. Try to rest, drink a lot of water, pile on fruits and sleep a lot. And most importantly, get out of the city limits and enjoy fresh air regularly. Your lungs will appreciate it.
Oh, and avoid Taichungs Chinese medicine university hospital, as per what locals tell me.
I’ll be in Taichung next next Tuesday (3rd). Hope there aren’t too many nasty bugs in the air…
I’m popping over from Xiamen, which is not too far away. The port authorities just pulled two passengers (Europeans, I’m guessing - http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/news24287.html, enjoy the Chinglish) off a cruise ship here a couple days ago - they were carrying the H1N1 virus.
Take care.
If you’re better by then, and up for it, send me a PM and we can meet up. I lived in the Chungle (aka Taichung) for three years and enjoy that city.
EDIT: I was so excited to be coming over that I forgot to say ’ get well’. I used to go to a doc on Liming Lu who charged me NT300/visit without NHI. Spoke good English. But still did the 3 Day Deal.
The good:
If you have NHI and even if you don’t the medical care is dirt cheap. Your coworkers(foreign) should know of a good ENT doc.
The bad:
You will have to just keep trying doctors. Taiwanese doctors can take a dart board approach to medicine so you need to just get lucky and find a good doctor. I’d suggest Taiwan Adventist hospital in Taipei. The international clinic isn’t an international clinic in Changhua Christian Hospital and I don’t know how Taichung fits between those two.
The ugly:
You generally have to have a good relationship with the doctor or physically threaten him in order to get 7 days worth of medication. Because they use a random approach, they often don’t prescribe the right drugs for you and if you know what you need you can just buy it at the pharmacy and self-medicate yourself. Which becomes a viable option if you get a string of doctors prescribing you crappy drugs.
If you are desperate and need a good ENT doc there is one in Changhua and he’s open all day on Saturday. I can give you the google map coordinates for the clinic.
It took me a long time to find a doctor who was willing to spend time with me, ie, not check my pulse, listen to my problem, and prescribe.
This guy sits and listens, ask questions, thinks, calls in another doctor if he’s not sure. Has the names and numbers of other doctors and, other doctors in hospitals if necessary (he works in the university hospital).
His English is about as good as my Mandarin/Chinese, so we mix it up.
A true gem of a doctor. And he looks to be in sterling health at 44 (looks 34). He attributes it to congee every morning.
I just left the hospital after 23 days and I got painkillers and Antibiotics … for, you guessed it … 3 days, even though I need to go back in about 10 days to get the stitches removed
Last year I went to Belgium for 2 months and I was on BP pills … I had to bring my plane ticket to the doc so he could give me medicine for 2 months … needed it as proof for the NHI … I think the 3 days is some rule from the NHI …
The 3-day rule is scary. It can’t possibly be a cost thing - routine antibiotics are dirt cheap. You NEED that five or seven days’ worth to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria into the wild. Why Taiwanese doctors (or the NHI managers) think this doesn’t apply to them is a mystery.
Good ol’ steroid shot in the ass and a badass antibiotic did the trick. Sad to know that before modern medicine I’d have been dead though 
