Thoughts...

About one month ago, I was in the hospital, recovering from pulmonary embolism.

Here are some thoughts I wrote to one of the egroups of friends I belong to.


Some of the things I have learned/realized very recently...

1) Really too bad DH kept procrastinating on the supplementary health insurance thing, because from now, my new condition will not be covered... And this hospital stay will be expensive (basic Japanese health insurance
does not cover all costs, one has to pay about 30% of the bill)

2) I am glad to have the level of Japanese I have (kind of intermediate), because without it, the whole day spent at as outer patient looking for what I had and the hospital stay would be really difficult. The doctor does speak
English, but tends to prefer Japanese. Specialized medical vocabulary is of course difficult, because I usually don't use it. Anyway, I will start intensive Japanese lessons from April 7. By then, I hope to be my usual self again.

3) Watch myself a little better: there was no way the breathing problems came from kafunsho (hay fever), as I thought... It is just so difficult to know what doctor to see. And if you visit an hospital as an outer patient, it takes so much time...

4) I am not such an Internet/TV/chocolate addict, since I could get off "cold turkey" :-)

5) I really cannot do the "idle" thing unless I am really exhausted...

6) the cats do like me very much: they behave strangely, wondering where I am and why I do not come back and spend time at home as usual. It seems that Momo is even not eating like usual. We are talking here about the adult male cat who is only rarely behaving like mama's boy. I do miss my cats...

7) knitting requires energy: I tried to do a little yesterday, but became quickly tired.

8) I miss my sofa... And my home.

9) There is no such thing as privacy in a hospital, at least ICU... And no body part the nurses have not seen...

10) If DH ever gets seriously sick, will I be as good as he is for me right now ? He is so patient, comes 3 times a day (while I am at the ICU, 2 times from tomorrow), brings me this and that, wash clothes etc

11) Communication can be a serious problem when your parents (& relatives) and your husband do not speak any common language... Parents and relatives speak French and Swiss German while my DH speaks English and Japanese. Luckily, some friends helped. But still...

12) Do not think that nobody will ever see... your cute pajamas... Because it might be the case someday...