Toothpick Troubles

What happens when you swallow a WHOLE wooden toothpick?. . .

Well, I haven't watched the episode of House where this actually happens, I just lived it for a month and half. I have lived in Korea for about a year and half now and only have 3 months left on my contract.

This whole episode started out pretty harmlessly. I had stomach cramps for 3 days straight, then was sick off and on for about 2 weeks. I went to the doctor's 3 times, "Don't worry, it's just some kind of stomach virus." It progressed to the point where I was hardly functioning and finally a coteacher of mine I work with drove me to the hospital again.

I was admitted then told at midnight that evening that they could not treat me. I was carted down to the Uijeongbu ICU, then hauled into a ambulance. That's right, be jealous, I got an ambulance ride in Korea. How many people can say that for the time they have worked here?

I was in the hallway of the emergency room for about 12 hours in a bed then moved inside the emergency room where I stayed for another 15 hours. I was then moved down to the 3rd floor of the hospital, where I stayed a few days until I got too sick for them to take care of me. The emergency icu was next for me, where I stayed for about 5 days. I saw two people die. . .exciting! I then was transfered to the surgery icu unit for about a week. My last stop at this magical place was the Infection unit.


30 days later after my admission to the hospital I was allowed freedom with antibiotics of course!