yup, the beetle that gave me trauma this summer has left a lasting impression on my ear- and not in a good way. for those of you who don't know, before coming to Greece, a bug dug its way into my ear and caused me to go to the hospital. after flooding my ear, suctioning my ear and tweezing in my ear, the little buggar finally came out. after that, my ear was pretty sensitive and I couldn't sleep without the fear of something climbing in my ear. When I came to Greece, my ear still bugged me, but I tried to put it in the back of my thoughts, I mean I'm in GREECE! However, I couldn't do it while I was in Crete because my ear began to really bother me. So, after telling my coordinator, we went to the pharmacy thinking it was just an ear infection that could be treated with some drops. While the drops mentally helped, my ear continued to bug me, but once again I put it in the back of my mind.
I wish it went away, but during my recent trip to the Peloponnese (which I will blog about after this post) I slowly began to lose my hearing in my right ear, as well as having some pain whenever we climbed to different elevations. I finally started to think there might be a real problem, so I told a friend and she convinced me to seek some help. Today I went to the hospital, but before I could get a diagnosis, I had quite the adventure.
My director Aleko told me which place to go and showed me on map where I was going. It was a straight shot to the hospital and I was sure I wouldn't miss it. Boy was I wrong. I first walked into the wrong place, but didn't know it was wrong until I stood in a line for 30 minutes with screaming kids biting each other, a janitor waxing the floor around me, and impatient Greeks. Once I finally got to the counter, I said my ear hurts and the lady said, "Speak Greece". Um, yeah. So then I was directed to a different window only to be told I had the wrong hospital. Win. I had a few more blocks to go. It was partially my fault for not asking the name of the hospital, so I couldn't get too mad.
So after leaving there, I finally find the right place. I get directed to the first floor. That's the problem here though, my first floor does not equal their first floor. Naturally I go to the wrong area. I can't read anything and I am just utterly lost. It was like and American ER though- crowded, old people and chaos. When I get to the counter and start speaking English, the lady automatically says, "There" and points to yet another window. A guy next to me tells his friend what happens in Greek ( I sort of understand as well as being able to read the situation because he looks at me/points in my direction). They start laughing and that makes me even more frustrated. At this point I want to cry and I'm just so frustrated. The entire situation was emotionally draining.
At last the lady at the next window reads the note Aleko gave me that said 'ear specialist' in Greek and I am sent to their first floor (so my 2nd floor). here is where the waiting starts. a few people are in front of me, so I journal a bit, write and email and read. I keep waiting for about another hour and a half until finally the doctor comes back to me. I go in, give him my info and am taken to a chair. This is when 4 different doctors take a look into my ear and I explain to them what happened with the bug back home. Their faces were priceless. Ha, it was funny. The last guy who checked my ear then grabs this long suctioning tube. NOT AGAIN. gah, my experience with this ear is just terrible. He tells me he needs to clean it and begins the dreaded suctioning. I can hear everything and I absolutely abhor the sound of the device and it hurts a little as well. He decided he needs one with a wider opening and goes at it again. Then, it happened. He got some huge piece of funky, nasty, goodness knows what out of my ear. I breathed a sigh of relief along with a huge, "What is that?!"
He explained to me that there was a huge build up in my ear from a small piece of cotton getting stuck. It was the reason my ear had felt clogged and why was experiencing pain. He also mentioned that there could be a possible fungus, so I need to go back for a check up when I get back from France. I was prescribed some ear drops and told to keep it from getting wet when I shower. Augh, what an experience. It's all thanks to that darn japanese beetle. Sheesh. I was able to leave with a prescription. But before I could be happy that it wasn't more serious, I eat it so hard on the pavement walking back. I get a nice little scrape on my right leg and a huge audience to the fall. At this point, all I could do was laugh. That's all. My day had already been a mess and to add the cherry to the sundae, I fall. Win.
I make it to the pharmacy and get my drops. The entire cost of this hospital trip was € 1.96 ( = about $3). Yeah, for being in a crazy economy the medical expenses here are extremely minimal. Talk about cheap. After going through this, it made me realize how messed up the system in the states is. I can't imagine how much this trip would've cost me. They charge for the visit as well as the prescription and don't even get me started on what happens if you don't have medical insurance. I paid $3 to have some nasty thing sucked out of my ear and the drugs to make it better. They didn't require insurance at all. I was impressed as well as extremely relieved it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I am also more appreciative of my ability to hear. I was so scared that there was possible permanent damage from the suctioning done with the bug and had all these possible scenarios running through my mind for if I lost all hearing in my right ear. I am grateful for the ability to hear and I will not take this ability for granted. It's unfortunate how easily we can take things like hearing and seeing for granted. It was a good lesson and I am glad I had this opportunity to have my perspective checked.
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