Hmph!

Disclaimer: This post contains statements that could be construed as ethnocentric, stereotypical and almost racist.

I'm ill. I have no idea what is wrong, but I'm not well. A few weeks ago, I woke up with swelling in my right cheek. The inflammation was minor and went away after a few hours. I chalked it up as a bug bite. Four days ago, I awoke with swelling in the same exact place only that time it was worse.
OK, two bug bites, time to fumigate my apartment. This morning, the swelling was back, only this time it interfered with my speech and eating and made me look like a professional baseball player with major chewing tobacco issues.

Here's where my ethnocentric, racial and stereotypical comment comes in. I do not trust these doctors. There is a very long list of reasons why, but I'm too sleepy to ennumerate them. Suffice it to say, they do not inspire confidence. You would almost have to have lived in the situations and conditions in which I have lived to understand why I feel this way. The long and short of it is:I'm taking antibiotics for an infection I don't think I have. As a side item, I was prescribed some drops to bring my blood pressure up from 90/60 and the doctor had a nice letter holder on his desk from the company that produces the very expensive antibiotic he prescribed me. I would have hidden it myself.

It's 2:30am and I feel like my cheek is starting to swell again. He flippantly dismissed the possibility of an abscessed tooth (despite that fact that I feel no pain there).

The problem is that I have NO medical training, so what do I know? It's almost like going to a mechanic. I have no mechanical training either. Doctor's offices and mechanic's garages, peas in a pod. You've got to admit, they've got you.

I'm an awfully long way from my home country and right now, I'd pay good money just to talk to a doctor who speaks English and would go to the trouble of at least x-raying my mouth to make sure my teeth are OK. Besides, my cheek is starting to hurt.

Hmph! I don't want any pity, so don't bother "poor you'ing" me. I just want relief. A professional physician who is not so interested in where I'm from and what I'm doing here and is more interested in what is wrong with me would be nice. I wonder if House MD does house calls. His bedside manner stinks, but he's ALWAYS right.

Until later and happer times, carry on sleeping reader.

Comments:

Can you have an abscessed tooth without pain? I had one of those and it hurt like He....er...um....the dickens. Hope it clears up soon.

comment by nittineedles on May 7, 2008 1:45 PM ()

correction "without pain".

reply by jerms on May 7, 2008 1:53 PM ()

Hi Marg. Well, someone said you could have one with pain, but I seriously doubt it. Today, all is well. Evidently the doc knew what he was doing all along. I'm just very distrusting. Thanks for dropping by! BTW, hope your mystery caller from last night wasn't important.

reply by jerms on May 7, 2008 1:52 PM ()

Glad you are feeling better. being a stranger in a strange land is sometimes scary. I really admire your dedication. Christianity made practical is admirable.

comment by elderjane on May 7, 2008 6:12 AM ()

Today the swelling was completely gone, which leads me to believe that perhaps the doctor knew what he was doing all along. Thanks for stopping by.

reply by jerms on May 7, 2008 1:51 PM ()

Wow, I think that you probably do need to check in with a dentist. At least he could see whether it is a tooth abscess or not. The antibiotics would help with the abscess also as elfie said. Take care--I hope that you find out what the problem is.

comment by angiedw on May 6, 2008 8:17 AM ()

Thanks for dropping in.

reply by jerms on May 6, 2008 9:11 AM ()

How far are you from the border? or from an American Embassy? Might be worth the effort to make a trip to either and see if there is a Dr. or dentist close by. I would take the antibiotics tho...because if it's a tooth they would prescribe it anyway. Good luck