Okay, so in the scheme of things, this is NOT the worst thing that could have happened to me. At least, that is what I keep reminding myself. It helps having a rehabilitation background, gratitude is not difficult to drum up when self-pity comes knocking at the door.
For 12 of the 14 days that I have been here, I have had a rash. Not just any rash. The kudzu of rashes. Front/ backs of both thighs, torso, front back and upper arms. On an "itch" scale, it is a 12 out of 10. It feels like I'm trying to sleep on a bad sunburn and sweating just aggravates it. So, I was thinking that I had a heat rash. When I developed a secondary rash on my hands, which I DID get right- dyshidrosis, I threw in the towel, emailed my contact at the US Embassy and asked where to go. I also emailed the CNO of VinMec, a nurse from New Zealand, whom I had met on Saturday during our tour with the VinUni students. VinMec in Hanoi is 600 beds and is the largest of the 8 hospitals within the VinMec System owned by the Vin Group. It is run in cooperation with Cleveland Clinic in the US. It was the CNO who arranged for me to see a dermatologist yesterday. It was so helpful and I appreciate deeply the immediate response.
Now, let me back up to the funny part. Yes, there is humor to be had here, of course, I tend to look for the lighter side of these experiences. My appointment was for 3PM and I left the apartment at 2PM as I was not at all sure where "Internal Medicine Clinic" was, other than the 4th floor of Vin Mec City Building. I arrived at the hospital and a security officer immediately asked- in limited English- how he could be of assistance. I showed him the paper with "Internal Medicine Clinic" and he held up his hand as if to say, "Say no more. I will take care of things." And voila, onto the walkie-talkie he went and swoosh, a tram quickly pulled up and I was directed to sit and away we went, almost leaving my shoe behind.
Pictures: Entrance to VinMec Hospital- It is absolutely gorgeous!!
We arrived at another tall VinMec building about a block away and when I walked up to it, I saw the sign "International Clinic". Hmmm..... "Internal Medicine Clinic" "International Clinic". Not sure this is where I needed to be but went into a beautifully appointed foyer complete with floral arrangements and took the elevator to 4th floor. Nope. Not in the right place. Not by about 3 decades. I looked to the right... "Pediatric Vaccinations". I looked to the left "Obstetrics". Okay, I had to put my papers in front of my face as I began laughing. The service was excellent though, a young clerk sitting behind a long check in counter, pleasantly waved me over. "Madame! Madam!" I shook my head and said that I am in the wrong place that I needed the Internal Medicine Clinic and I showed her my paper. She said, "Yes. Yes." and proceeded to hand me a new patient registration form. Good golly NO!! LOL.... I shook my head and managed to extracate myself before I wound with more than a rash examined. Now, in truth, I suspect they also provided GYN services, but I was surrounded by mamas-to-be, so I looked like an old crone (particularly with the rash) and out of place.
Down the elevator I went and back out front, back onto the tram and returned to the hospital where the security guard looked confused and a bit abashed as if he had somehow failed me. He asked a group of employees if anyone spoke English and one woman asked what I was looking for and I explained. She told me the clinics are on the 4th floor of the hospital. So, no tram ride required. Though it certainly allowed for a funny story!
Now, within minutes of arriving at the right place and completing a new patient registration form, who should walk up but a US Fulbright staffer who works at the US Embassy. She told me that she wasn't going to let me go through this alone. Alone? How many trips have I taken and managed alone. I was not offended at all, just not accustomed to this level of support. We've previously met twice so we chatted and I was called back. Annnndddd she went back with me to the examination room to provide any necessary language support. Fortunately, I lost any degree of modesty when it comes to things like exams a long time ago, but this was a first- dropping my drawers in front an US Embassy staffer. I suspect she will have nightmares for a week.
My physical assessment document states that I have "erthematous macules, papules, and wheals scattered over entire body". Yep. Medical diagnosis? Apparently I have developed an allergy to the sun! Uh- hello. I live in the "Sunshine State". At first I thought that this is some kind of crazy something and immediately began second guessing the validity of the medical care. I did (and do) feel badly because by the look on my face, the MD obviously realized that I was not accpeting this as fact. But the MD (who looked the age of one of my children) walked me through it, complete with pictures and he is right. I have Polymorphic Light Eruption. (No, I am NOT going to post pictures of my rash. Well, I am sharing a pic of the dyshidrosis on one of my hands. I can expect this to hang around for 3 weeks. You can google the other for pics for yourself.) Now, the UV ratings at home are the same as here, so I really do not know what caused this to happend. He said it could be a number of things that triggered it, including an allergy, but that I should expect it to occur again in the future and enjoying the sun, as I do, is over. Once it was obvious that I was taking him seriously and respecting his opinion, he looked a little less offended. I learned that the secondary rash on my fingers and hands,dyshidrosis, is due to all the hand sanitizer I was using to try and dry up the rash! Good grief. I'm not a nurse practitioner for a reason. I know what I know and I need to stay in my lane. Now, on the upside, I have a great excuse to go and purchase a lovely traditional Vietnamese parasol.
He sent me home with strict instructions re: sun care and 3 prescriptions. In the taxi, I immediately broke out the ointment and began to apply it. It may be psychological, but dang if I didn't feel a bit better already, as in less itchy! At least I do not want to tear my skin off. Hopefully this does the trick! Small children see me, scream and run. (joking)
Postcard from Hanoi May 29, 2023,
Karen
Comments