Papa Was A Rolling (kidney) Stone

Last week, I awoke after feeling uneasy and I couldn't get comfortable. I went to the bathroom and immediately felt sick. I thought I might have eaten some bad tuna kimbab (Chamchi-kimbap) from a local franchise.

I thought I might vomit, as I became nauseous and started breathing heavily. Appendicitis was my initial thought - the pain was almost in the right place for it...but suddenly, the pain shifted and became more extreme - this time in my back.

I've had back pain for awhile now - I even saw a chiropractor/acupunturist about it last spring. This felt totally different. It was if I had just been stabbed in the back. As my mind churned, I developed the answer -- a kidney stone.

My gf and I took an excruciating taxi ride to the local hospital where the nurses and doctors at the ER asked my symptoms and did a urine test. (Thankfully my gf translated everything to me, as their English wasn't that great.) They confirmed the stones, and hooked me up to an IV of 5% Dextrose and some pain killer. As they were putting in the needle the pain reached it's height. I began to shake, my hands and chest went numb, and I began vomitting every 15 minutes for the next hour. I thought I was allergic to the medication - but I was told this was normal for this kind of pain.


In between bouts, they ran me into X-rays twice, and a CT-Scan (uncomfortable!) to confirm the stone and get a more accurate assessment.



Turns out, I only had one itty bitty 3-4mm stone.

Once the pain stopped a few hours later, I felt absolutely fine and they sent me home with some pain relievers, antibiotics, and some other medication that I had no clue about - but had no problem taking.

Saturday and Sunday I felt fine. My gf is a great nurse, and watched over me in more ways than I could have hoped for. I even felt great enough to take a walk to Seoul and see the HiSeoul Festival fireworks - which were pretty darn good.

Sunday night the pain started to act up again, as the stone began moving some more, and at 4am, we were in another taxi rushing to the hospital yet again. Of course being one of the only big (and handsome) white guy's the ER has probably seen that month, they immediately recognized me and set me up with the IV's and whipped out my info on their computers. Sidenote: The nurses and doctors I've had every time I've gone to the hospitals in Korea have been great.

Again, after draining the IV's and a little rest, I left feeling fine. We coulding make an appointment with the urologist on Monday - but waited around until he could see us anyway. We had to wait about an hour, but he showed me my x-rays and CT scan to show me the stone, told me that it was too late to remove it, but it wasn't big enough to do so anyways. Instead, I had to wait for it to pass. (I'm still waiting actually). But I've been told to drink a lot of water, eat regularly, and try to stay active. He did hook me up with some stronger pain medication that I've only taken twice since, as the pain has only been dull this past week from time to time.

Some people recommend drinking a ton of lemon juice to move it along, also, I've heard of a lemon juice and olive oil concoction. Others say beer...but the doctor told me no alcohol or caffeine.

All I know is that I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone. I've never felt pain like that in my life. I can only describe it as possibly feeling pregnant, and feeling stabbed in the back.

Hopefully it will pass soon. I don't like the idea that I could be in that pain again in 10 minutes without any notice.

"Rocket Man"

I was sent a link to this site in which an ESL teacher and comic artist named Luke Martin posts his creations. Experience Korean culture from the eyes of just about every expat at his site: Roketship

Here are some of my favorites along with some of my thoughts on the subjects..

When going to E-Mart, the salespeople tend to yell at you to buy their goods. Plus I hate E-Mart because it is always so crowded.

Korean's always form lines in front of doors - or push in front of you so they can be the first one in or out said door. I've found myself waiting in front of subway or elevator doors in order to exit, only to find someone push there way in front of me so that they can get off first. 

(and they're not even in a hurry!)

On the subways salespeople will try to vend their items (usually crap). They are disruptive and loud, and I've never seen anyone buy anything from them. It is also illegal to do, and you are told to call the police if it happens - which it always does - and no one does.

Koreans rarely drink while eating (and I drink a lot of water when I eat). So you always have to say "Mool toe joosayo!" (More water please!). This cartoon is funny because I have a feeling when I go back home, I'm going to be speaking in broken English and making hand gestures out of habit.

Customer service people want to help me all the time, but it gets annoying quickly. Partially because half the time they can't speak English, but want to try. And also because they simply will not leave you alone. Particularly if you go shopping in the fashion districts where they will bargain with you, and compliment you to buy their goods.

 

Whenever I pass another foreigner it feels like there is a rule that you have to make eye-contact or smile because you a rarity -- and usually white. If I was back home I wouldn't be saying hi to every white person I saw, so why should I here? I think we're just all in the same place in life, and all experiencing the same things that you become used to making new friends on the basis of your ability to speak the same language. But it is still awkward even when we all feel the same way.

Couples wear the same clothes here. It's supposed to be cute. I refuse to do it, and my girlfriend gets kind of disappointed in me. My excuse is simple: "I can't wear the same things as you because the sizes are too small!" (plus I don't want to be THAT guy.)

This is basically how I learned to read Korean (mentally making symbols into pictographs). It says "Kimbap" which is basically cheap Korean sushi filled with veggies, crab, or even SPAM.

 My cell phone is the most advanced one I have ever owned (that's not saying much), but I don't know half of what it can do with most of the things to access are online and in Korean. Most Koreans own more advanced cell phones than I do, (where they watch TV, use as an mp3 player, or can text in Hangul (Korean) faster than I can speak!)