For a few weeks I had what looked like an infected hang nail. However, on our trip to Portugal, the finger took a turn for the worse and became really swollen and painful. When we returned, I finally went to the doctor. He put me on some antibiotics but told me to go to the emergency room by Saturday if it wasn't any better.
Jim and I decided to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The Elisabeth Krankenhaus is only about 7 blocks away so we walked there. We were surprised to find the hospital virtually empty. I guess the times I have been to the emergency room (and was actually conscious when I arrived) the hospital was chaotic with long wait times. Here in Bonn, there are a number of small hospitals in the area so rather than everyone ending up at the same hospital, the emergency patients are spread out. Or maybe since Germans seem to be more law abiding, there are fewer "misunderstandings" involving knives, guns and other weapons.
Somehow I was surprised that I wasn't required to fill out any paperwork before seeing the doctor. I don't know why that surprised me because it really isn't any different than seeing the doctor or dentist here in Germany. They take your name and address and trust you at your word that you'll pay the bill. I guess since most everyone else has the public insurance, there are very few people who have private insurance so it doesn't pose that great of a financial risk.
The procedure itself was pretty quick. The doctor simply had to cut open my finger and release some of the infection juices (not really a medical term but doesn't sound as gross as pus) out. I had to go back every day for a week for the doctor to check the wound for infection and every day the hospital was just as empty. I'm not sure I'd want to go to that hospital for a gunshot wound or something serious because the doctors don't seem to get a lot of practice with emergencies.
Here's a picture of me with my injured finger.
No- I'm not giving you the finger, just showing it to you.
Thankfully, Jim and Sylvia were around for a few days after this because one handed diaper changing is a little challenging.
2 comments:
Oh dear, what have you done to yourself! Glad to hear you emergency room experience was good. Mike, K and I all visited the emerg while there and all had pleasant experiences!
That's one way to get out cleaning, cooking and diaper changes :) Hope you are on the mend.
amber
Post a Comment