It's a little known fact that I have a doctor phobia. I didn't really realize it myself. But the tip off should have been when blood was seeping out of my left ear and I still didn't seek medical attention. In fact, I had an ear infection for almost two weeks and was just hoping it would get better on its own. It wasn't until the pain got so bad I was ready to kill myself that I relented and let Krista take me to the clinic.
Of course this was the morning we were supposed to be leaving Nelson and we had already packed up and checked out of our apartment. Turns out the clinic was only a block away, and because I had waited till a saturday it cost double. Which was only $100 NZ. Oh well. The doc looked in my ear and said 'yuk'. She wrote me a prescription for antibiotics (but not for pain killers) and told me not to travel, that I'd need to get my ear suctioned out on monday. So we checked back into our apartment and I got to meditate on the whole 'for want of a nail...' thing in between the searing agony which kept getting worse up until the apt on monday. By then I was thinking more about suicide than I like to admit. I remember waiting in the hospital holding my head and trying not to scream.
Finally it was my turn and the wonderfully perky nurse practitioner brought me back to lay on the operating table and began suctioning out my ear. I should mention that because I have a wee little hole in my eardrum (as the doctor put it) I can't just have it lavaged out like Krista and India had done in Bali. Apparently what she saw in there was so extreme she stopped and attempted to find a physician. Incredibly, the local ear specialist happened to be in the hospital, and came right down. He took over and suctioned what looked like a small shitake mushroom out of there. It seemed to be growing on my eardrum itself and it was really something having it pulled off. New Zealand is birthplace to all these extreme sports, like bungee jumping, korbing, etc... I suggested maybe they offer ear suctioning as a new one.
As soon as he got that thing out of there the pain was 98% gone. I was practically weeping with relief.
It was obvious that they felt really bad about charging us for the treatment (surgery really). It goes against their principles. But I was happy to pay the $150 NZ charge and wondered how much it would have been in the US.
This was a week ago today, and I wish I could tell you I'm all better. Alas my ear seems to still be sprouting mushrooms and I'm going back in to have another go. I'm hoping they'll give me some sort of dangerous anti fungal drugs this time. I'm also looking forward to hearing out of my left ear again.
So anyway, this is actually my excuse for not writing anything here for what, almost 10 days? Sorry. I'm just glad to be alive.
Now that I've wasted all computer time on this tale of woe, I just have a minute or two to tell you how great it's been here otherwise.
The day after my surgery we finally headed over the (big) hill to Takaka and Golden Bay. By far the loveliest place we've seen in NZ and also the warmest and sunniest. Coming down off the hill we saw a small green farming valley below us, surrounded by towering mountainsides, that was so beautiful it took our breathes away. It was the Shire. Really.
Oh well, I have to go. Next time I'll tell you about our neat little house, and sea kayaking and all.
love
rob
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