Going to the doctor in Japan?
 

About two weeks ago, I found myself with a sore throat. I had just been to karaoke, so I thought that I had simply sung too much or too loudly and that I was losing my voice from it, but days later it hadn't gone away and I had developed a cough. So I figured it was a cold, since I had been caught in the rain without an umbrella before that. I didn't have any pain, no fever, no pressure in my head, none of the "feeling like crap" stuff, just a sore throat and a cough. But since I was coughing and had a little bit of a runny nose, I figured I was sick, so I took Nyquil and cough drops and decided to tough it out, like I usually do in America. I had had my family send me American medicine so I thought it would only take a few days to go away.

My throat stopped hurting several days ago, but I still have a cough, and when I do it feels like my chest is congested. I think it's slowly, slowly getting better (I'm not coughing as much as I was yesterday, even) but I've had pneumonia twice in the past and I have a mild case of Marfan Syndrome, so I have to be very careful. I'm, so I don't want to go and just have them tell me 'sorry, you're getting better already so there's nothing we can do' like they usually do in America. But the fact that I do have a cough, even slightly, and a little chest congestion, makes me wonder if I should go just in case. Another thing is that I worry that I wouldn't be able to understand what the doctors told me even if I did go, or that I wouldn't be able to fill out the forms.

Long story short, I think I should go to the doctor. But I'm very nervous--I haven't been to the doctor here before, and my vocabulary medically basically extends to '(body part) ga itai'. I'm worried that it will be a completely useless visit, and I don't have the slightest clue how to even go about making an appointment with a doctor anyway.

Also, does anyone have any tips on how to even find a doctor's office (I live in Shimotakaido right now)? Is there anything important I should know? I have national health insurance so that shouldn't be a problem. Sorry for rambling, I just figured details would be useful!

You don`t need to make an appointment. One of the great things about the Japanese health system is that you can pretty much walk into the doctor`s and be seen anytime. Large hospitals usually have set hours for new patients (all those around here tend to be returning patients only after 11 or 12) but I have yet to encounter a clinic or independent doctor who had limits. Just walk in, tell them it`s your first visit, and then they`ll have you fill out a form with name, address, and usually a line to fill in or a circle-the-illness spot to tell them what is wrong.

Doctors tend to be pretty quick and matter-of-fact in their checks, so you really shouldn`t need to tell them anything other than that your throat hurts. They`ll probably ask you how long it has been hurting, and then look at it and give you medication of some sort.

As for finding a doctor, there are tons of online lists. Try this site;

病院・医院検索のマイクリニック

You`ll be looking for a general 内科 - 医院 or クリニック (independent doctor or small clinic). I advise against going to a regular hospital, as more serious problems are referred to a large hospital from everywhere else which means they are generally crowded and more specialized. (And also a whole lot less likely to be able to devote a bit of extra time to understand you if your Japanese isn`t great.)

If it is something beyond a regular cold, they`ll refer you on to either a specialist or a larger hospital.

Be prepared to wait a long time (3-4 hours was my average) and to get medicine that is weak compared to Western standards. Also, they seem to have a thing about putting their medicine in suppository form (YIKES!:eek: ).

I have never had a wait of over 30 minutes in a clinic or with an independent doctor. If you go to a large hospital, yes, expect a long wait as they see patients in the order of seriousness there. More serious issues receive priority, and a cold is not that high on the priority list.

Suppositories work much more quickly and efficiently than medicine taken by mouth. If there is a difference of waiting an hour+ for a pill or 5 minutes of a suppository to start working... You know, I`ll choose the suppository regardless of the second of discomfort.

to sakurasake41 san

I think you had better go to big hospital　as Nyororin san says.

for example
高井戸　浴風会病院
http://www.yokufu-hp.jp/summary.html

Perhaps most doctor can speak English.

Necessary treatment will be done if it speaks in detail(from karaoke to now).
Please write on paper if it worries.

Please take care of yourself.

Where did Nyororin say that? :confused:

She was the only one to bring up the concept of a large hospital for the OP to get medical attention, so that is what toshiaki is referring to.

Well, to be totally honest I also felt scared about such a scenario..

The scariest part for me was getting knocked over whislt riding my motor scooter.

I was in the middle of a mian road, "Route 24" in Uji, laying on the tarmac with my scooter a few metres away, felt both legs, they were still their, got up, turned the engine off, wheeled the scooter over to the old geezer in the old Toyota that knoced me off, and demanded his licence.

I insisted we head South to the khoban down the road, can you believe he did not even offer me a lift!

He ran a red from side street, he disgareed, I initated a full police inverstigationw hich proved fruitless, except to say my Japanese colleague was paid by the police when he came with me as a translator.

After the accident, I went to my local hospital with my wife, around midnight, It was closed and I pushed the buzzer. I got the night doc who was assisted by a very sexy nurse.

She asked me to pull my pats down (Backside only), and she patted some antiseptic and my backside.. It felt rather nice;)

That was my only experience with a Japanese hospital and I was more than happy with the service.

My Ex was also a nurse in Japan at a phyciatric hospital, and the storeis that came out were mind boggling.. The corruption with police related to Yakuza crime was also disgusting..

On the other hadn, I had virtually all my teeth attended to by my local Kyoto dentist, and he was FIVE STAR all the way.. What an amazing job..

I was then wondering if he gave me the special treatment becuase his siblings were my students..
'
Seriously, all the work he had done I had checked by my dentist in Sydney, and he was simply amzed at the perfection..

My guess is, Japan medical can be good or bad, it just depends on who you see and where you end up..

A mother of two of my private students in Japan was a surgeon who studied in the US.. She used to tell me that Amercian and Australian medical far exceeds the quality of Japan. I guess she should be believed.

It's a hard call;; really, but in relaity, I would trust Australian medical over JP..

How many doctors/clinics/hospitals have you visited in Japan?

You would'nt get me taking a tooshi pill!

I hate to quote myself, but I said THIS;

I advise against going to a regular hospital, as more serious problems are referred to a large hospital from everywhere else which means they are generally crowded and more specialized. (And also a whole lot less likely to be able to devote a bit of extra time to understand you if your Japanese isn`t great.)

Never did I say it was a good idea to head to a large hospital - the opposite, in fact.

As my son has serious medical issues - I`m pretty sure a lot lot more than you... Or even 90% of the Japanese population for that matter. Regular doctors, small clinics, specialists, emergency room visits, etc etc.

With suppositories, if you actually want medication to work quickly and reliably - there is really nothing better. If you`re REALLY sick (think 41 degree fever, vomiting every 15 minutes, etc) 2 seconds of discomfort followed by relief in less than 5 minutes is a thousand times better than trying to keep medication down for the hour plus it takes to kick in - at a weaker strength than the suppository.

But hey, it`s up to you. I`ll take the second of discomfort over sickness any day, but some people have some weird complex and would rather feel like crap for hours longer.

Either way - the only times I have actually had suppositories prescribed to anyone in my family they were for high fever or constipation. Pretty much everything else is given in the form of powdered medication, actually measured and packaged for your specific weight and condition.

Thanks. I knew I was reading your post correctly!

I'm completely of the same opinion as well. The OP would no doubt be overwhelmed if s/he went to a large hospital.

I definitely agree - large hospitals are hectic and really not the place to go for something most likely just a cold.

I am wondering now if I`ve been in Japan too long and my English as suffered, as you and I seem to be the only ones who read what I wrote as being *against* going to a large hospital. Perhaps there is some new meaning to "advise against" these days! :p

Thank you everyone for your help! :rheart: The only thing is, how much do you think it would cost? I have the national health insurance, but I don't want to show up without enough money on me. But thank you very much for your advice, it was very useful. :)

My major medical emergency cost me about 3000 yen in the end, so I think your pocket change should probably cover it...but that was a few years ago.

A regular visit is usually about 2000 to 3000 yen (occasionally less, but hardly ever more), but as it will be your first visit there will be a "new patient" fee of somewhere between around 1000 and 2000. Prescription medication is included in the visit cost - If the doctor doesn`t hand over the medicine there on the spot (common at large clinics and hospitals, but not small clinics and independent doctors)... just present your prescription papers at a pharmacy and they`ll measure and prepare it for you. You`ll have the medications handed over without paying anything at the pharmacy.

I would say 5000 should more than cover even the fanciest visit with multiple x-rays and a bag of medication. :)

Mate, give the hospital a call.

I wouldn't take users comments for granted because you may do yourself an injustice.

Ask the medical establishment that you will attend. It's a "normal" question.