Or as they pronounce it in Taiwan, en-do (long o sound) sco- (again, long o sound) pea.
I got to the hospital before my appointed time, since the walk over took just 20 minutes. Headed up to the fourth floor and showed a lady dressed in pink my paperwork. "Straight ahead," said she, so straight ahead I went. I'm already apprehensive, and I don't like hospitals anyway, so I nervously handed the nurse my paperwork, all the while trying to avoid eye contact with the 10 or so other folks waiting. She took it, along with my national health card, and after signing my name twice on a form that was all in Mandarin, I sat down in a bright orange plastic chair to wait.
After waiting about 20 minutes, (yes, I had a novel with me to help keep me occupied) the nurse stood up and made a loud announcement. In Mandarin. People raised their hands, stood up, and were all given a little medicine cup. They then all brought the cups to their mouths, tipped their heads back, and drank the medicine down. A few minutes later, the nurse asked for my paper, took a look at it, left, and then returned with my very own paper cup. "What is it for?" I asked. "Drink," she encouraged. Oh what the heck, I'm in a hospital in Taiwan, what can possibly go wrong? I drank. (not bad tasting...thick and white...wonder what it was???)
Before long I hear a few belches from folks around me and my own stomach is feeling a bit extended. Oh yeah, this is what Rick told me about. No worries, a tad uncomfortable, but that's it. (the bloating lasted the rest of the day...as did other side effects, but I'll refrain from saying why I needed to stay close to a restroom for the rest of the day!)
Another ten minutes pass (along with some gas) before the nurse starts calling names for the procedure. I occasionally hear sounds of retching from the procedure room, which doesn't make me feel any less apprehensive.
"Brenda," calls the nurse. Oh crap, it's finally my turn.
Into the little room, take off the shoes, climb up on the table, lay on my side. A different nurse squirts my throat with numbing spray. Twice. I'm laying on my side, which sometimes makes me gag on a good day. And with my throat numb, yikes. The nurse then put a plastic mouthpiece between my lips. Yep, that did it. I sat up, tried not to actually gag, and told the doctor I didn't think I could do this. Dr. Chen said,"No worries, it just takes a minute, breathe deep."
So back down on the table I go. Dr. Chen is holding tube. (that sucker is LONG) I close my eyes. Doctor says open eyes. I open eyes, but do NOT look at tube going down throat, and breathe as deeply as I could, doing my best not to make any retching sounds so as not to worry the people still waiting their turn. What's that? Doctor is done, tube coming out? I didn't embarass myself too badly, and although my throat was still numb, I no longer felt the need to gag. (and I KNOW I didn't make enough noise for people to hear me!)
Best part...everything looked good. I can go to Dr. Chen's office at a later time if I want and view the procedure on the computer. Don't think I see the need for that right now.
All in all, while it was uncomfortable, I am glad I had it done. I still don't like procedures or hospitals, but sometimes ya just gotta do it.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Goodbye, Ian
Well, hell, cancer took another friend and colleague. No words of wisdom here...just wanted to say goodbye. I'll miss you, my friend.
Friday, October 12, 2007
A Better Day
I decided to head out for a ride around 11:30 this morning. Figured I could avoid the mad "going to work traffic", plus the rain that had been threatening all morning never appeared. So I thought I'd try for the Taipei Zoo again, since my plans for that destination were thwarted yesterday. The start of the ride was pleasant, not many people out on the bike path and the wind, while strong, wasn't bugging me too much. This picture is a view of Dadaocheng Wharf in the distance...one of our favorite bike stopping places.
Hmmm, what is this? Past Dadaocheng Wharf? A bunch of typhoon debris. Well, the guy on the other side is going over it, so I may as well follow suit.
Unfortunately, not too much farther from the first debris, the bike path was covered in mud, and virtually impassable. So, I turned around, climbed over the pile of junk again, then decided to do a reverse River Loop, which meant I had to walk the bike up a long incline at the Taipei Bridge, and instead of being able to ride in the scooter lane, since I was on the wrong side of the road, I had to carry the bike down these steps.
Once on the other side of the river, and after pushing the bike UP the pedestrian bridge on one side and carrying it DOWN the steps on the other, I very nearly turned around. This side of the river was an absolute mess. Mud everywhere. Debris in piles dotting the landscape like old-fashioned hay bales. Workers in big trucks were out in force performing a massive cleanup. Still, I travelled through some mucky standing water and plenty of mud. I think this is the dirtiest I've been on any bike ride.
This bridge is just off WenLin Road, and is pretty much right at the beginning of the bike path. The typhoon did a number on it!
On the way home, I stopped at a place that washes cars and scooters by hand. One guy was nice enough to let me hose the bike off, then after getting over his chuckles at seeing how dirty I was, proceeded to soap off the rest of the mud on the bike for me.
Hmmm, what is this? Past Dadaocheng Wharf? A bunch of typhoon debris. Well, the guy on the other side is going over it, so I may as well follow suit.
Unfortunately, not too much farther from the first debris, the bike path was covered in mud, and virtually impassable. So, I turned around, climbed over the pile of junk again, then decided to do a reverse River Loop, which meant I had to walk the bike up a long incline at the Taipei Bridge, and instead of being able to ride in the scooter lane, since I was on the wrong side of the road, I had to carry the bike down these steps.
Once on the other side of the river, and after pushing the bike UP the pedestrian bridge on one side and carrying it DOWN the steps on the other, I very nearly turned around. This side of the river was an absolute mess. Mud everywhere. Debris in piles dotting the landscape like old-fashioned hay bales. Workers in big trucks were out in force performing a massive cleanup. Still, I travelled through some mucky standing water and plenty of mud. I think this is the dirtiest I've been on any bike ride.
This bridge is just off WenLin Road, and is pretty much right at the beginning of the bike path. The typhoon did a number on it!
On the way home, I stopped at a place that washes cars and scooters by hand. One guy was nice enough to let me hose the bike off, then after getting over his chuckles at seeing how dirty I was, proceeded to soap off the rest of the mud on the bike for me.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
An Up and Down Day
It started innocently enough, with me planning on riding 40-50 miles today. Yep, cut those miles down to 20 because the wind was howling, the smells by the river were unpleasant, and there was plenty of muck on and around the bike paths from our recent typhoon. I did have a nice chat though, with Greg and Ralph, whom I met taking a rest near the WenLin Road bike path entrance.
From there, I went on home, via the German bakery where I purchased a great loaf of "Fitty" bread. Too hot, so they couldn't slice it. Now, why did I get upset when the gal told me that? Why didn't I just smile and say ok? Hmmm, could it be I was still irritated from the traffic, people, scooters, and cars on the way to the bakery? It was pretty intense, and I did holler at several idjits. (I really don't like me when I do that, but I can't seem to outgrow the problem.) Once I got home, again dodging traffic, the bread was still warm enough for me to enjoy a slice.
After a bit of a nap, a nice telephone conversation with Russ, and a visit to Jason's grocery store, I was ready to head over to the hospital for my appointment with a gastro doc. Thank goodness for the note from Annie written in Chinese...handed it to a lady at the information desk, who walked me over to the registration desk and the one English speaking lady in the place took care of me after that. Met with the gastro guy...had to have this appointment so I could get an appointment for an endoscopy. I will have no medication for this procedure...the doc assured me it would take but a minute and wouldn't need anything because he has over 30 years of experience. He has no idea what an amazing gag reflex I have.
After I was done being cranky and teary-eyed at the hospital, I decided to grab a cab and hit the fabric market. Score! Found great fabric to hang from the wires in my classroom over the library for only 50NT$...12 yards cost about $20.00 US. The stall was just in the front door up the stairs, didn't even have to go into the maze of the market. Once done there, I decided to walk toward Chung Shan so I could bus home. Well, some twists and turns later (and a fabulous new fabric store find, purchased three lengths of fabric at a great price) I was pretty sure I wasn't going anywhere towards where I needed to go. Not lost, mind you, just a bit turned around. Still, I walked. Up and down streets and alleyways with lots and lots of sidewalk food vendors all doing a brisk business. As it was starting to get dark, I crossed one busy street, then hailed a cab. I had walked enough that the cab fare was almost half what it was on the way to the market.
Oh yeah, I noticed that I was the only foreigner in the hospital (which was busy with HUNDREDS of people just on the first floor where I was) AND at the fabric market AND during all of my walking around. Cool.
So...moral of the day...stop being so bloody cranky!
From there, I went on home, via the German bakery where I purchased a great loaf of "Fitty" bread. Too hot, so they couldn't slice it. Now, why did I get upset when the gal told me that? Why didn't I just smile and say ok? Hmmm, could it be I was still irritated from the traffic, people, scooters, and cars on the way to the bakery? It was pretty intense, and I did holler at several idjits. (I really don't like me when I do that, but I can't seem to outgrow the problem.) Once I got home, again dodging traffic, the bread was still warm enough for me to enjoy a slice.
After a bit of a nap, a nice telephone conversation with Russ, and a visit to Jason's grocery store, I was ready to head over to the hospital for my appointment with a gastro doc. Thank goodness for the note from Annie written in Chinese...handed it to a lady at the information desk, who walked me over to the registration desk and the one English speaking lady in the place took care of me after that. Met with the gastro guy...had to have this appointment so I could get an appointment for an endoscopy. I will have no medication for this procedure...the doc assured me it would take but a minute and wouldn't need anything because he has over 30 years of experience. He has no idea what an amazing gag reflex I have.
After I was done being cranky and teary-eyed at the hospital, I decided to grab a cab and hit the fabric market. Score! Found great fabric to hang from the wires in my classroom over the library for only 50NT$...12 yards cost about $20.00 US. The stall was just in the front door up the stairs, didn't even have to go into the maze of the market. Once done there, I decided to walk toward Chung Shan so I could bus home. Well, some twists and turns later (and a fabulous new fabric store find, purchased three lengths of fabric at a great price) I was pretty sure I wasn't going anywhere towards where I needed to go. Not lost, mind you, just a bit turned around. Still, I walked. Up and down streets and alleyways with lots and lots of sidewalk food vendors all doing a brisk business. As it was starting to get dark, I crossed one busy street, then hailed a cab. I had walked enough that the cab fare was almost half what it was on the way to the market.
Oh yeah, I noticed that I was the only foreigner in the hospital (which was busy with HUNDREDS of people just on the first floor where I was) AND at the fabric market AND during all of my walking around. Cool.
So...moral of the day...stop being so bloody cranky!
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Weathered the Typhoon
No pun intended. It was nice to wake up today, though, and have the winds of the typhoon over and done with. It's headed toward China now, and over a million people there have been evacuated. Here, there were landslides and some flooding. Of course, there is debris all over the place. I lucked out because my power was out for less than half an hour. It cut out just as I was taking a pan of hot nachos out of the convection oven. Good timing. And good nachos.
I finally put the bike on the trainer this morning and did about half of Coach Troy's "On the Road" DVD. This is a beautiful autumn virtual ride through northern Baltimore county, Maryland. Figure it's one way for me to experience fall, since I don't get it in Taipei. The DVD is fun, but tough.
Typhoon Krosa aftermath: Photos taken within a city block radius of my apartment.
Trainer currently in my living room in Taipei: (I can do this since Russ is in the states and I don't do any entertaining!)
I finally put the bike on the trainer this morning and did about half of Coach Troy's "On the Road" DVD. This is a beautiful autumn virtual ride through northern Baltimore county, Maryland. Figure it's one way for me to experience fall, since I don't get it in Taipei. The DVD is fun, but tough.
Typhoon Krosa aftermath: Photos taken within a city block radius of my apartment.
Trainer currently in my living room in Taipei: (I can do this since Russ is in the states and I don't do any entertaining!)
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Typhoon Krosa
What a crazy typhoon this one is. Lots of wind and rain...I sat at my desk and watched a bunch of debris fly by my window as it rattled and shook. Stepped out onto my balcony at one point to snap a few photos of the trees and blowing precipitation. (see below) That was probably stupid, but I didn't venture too far out. Looks like the eye is over us right now, which should have lessened the typhoon's intensity, but it still feels pretty darn powerful. The upper kitchen window is rattling and so is the vent cover in the bathroom. I've already replaced it once, but chances are I'll have to do it again before the night is out.
I had every intention of putting my bike on the trainer and enjoying a ride inside the apartment. Here it is, about 6:30 pm, and the bike is still sitting on its stand, waiting for me to get off the computer, log out of bikejournal.com, and put in some miles. I did have some fun on the computer today, though, as I put together my first html table. Kind of addicting once you get started.
I had every intention of putting my bike on the trainer and enjoying a ride inside the apartment. Here it is, about 6:30 pm, and the bike is still sitting on its stand, waiting for me to get off the computer, log out of bikejournal.com, and put in some miles. I did have some fun on the computer today, though, as I put together my first html table. Kind of addicting once you get started.