Chalazion

well, things didn't improve, but at least i am in no pain

we decided to go to the hospital today, because the swelling was getting bigger, the skin was getting redder, this pea-size thing was growing under my eyeball on the bottom eyelid, and since it's the holiday period in greece, i wasnt even sure i would find an ophthalmologist that was working if i waited till monday

i really didnt want to botehr the doctors over the holidays - i know they are overworked during the holidays in crete: if you can read greek, you can find out all abotu it here: http://www.haniotika-nea.gr/dio-nei-travmatistikan-sovara-se-trochea-sta-chania/ and here: http://www.haniotika-nea.gr/kathimerinotita-ta-trochea-atichimata/ and especially here: http://www.haniotika-nea.gr/kimatothrafstes-tis-orgis-tou-kosmou/ - i'm not like other people who will look for the freebie, or demand to see a doctor at A&E without really being in an emergency, so it was a big decision for me to disturb an overworked crew at an understaffed hospital during the middle of the greek summer holiday period

it was a surreal sight today at the A&E of Hania hospital - 80% of the people coming in and out were wearing beach gear (shorts,bikinis, flip-flops) - we felt overdressed - tourists and holidaymakers, it seems, have a lot of accidents

we went to the A&E desk, where we were simply asked for my name, but not my social security number - no payment either, and no one cared for any other detail

the doctor sees me and phones the ophth., she sends me to him, he turns up after a quarter of an hour, tries to pierce the chalazion to take out the pus, to no avail (and all this time i felt no pain at all - really weird infection), so he applies some drops and tells me to come back in 2 hours to see if he can do anything

when i returned, there were 2 doctors in the office already - they were watching a video on eye surgery when i entered the office; the decision was for me to take antibiotics and use eye drops, take a few days leave form work (no driving) and go back to see them again in 2 days

the whole process was efficient, organised, civilised and there was little waiting time involved - it's the waiting that used to get to me in the past; i think the whole hospital thing worked out well because i respected those overworked doctors and nurses and showed some patience - when it's an emergency, you run as fast as you can, but when things can wait, it's good to show patience - we have lost our knowledge on the meaning of patience in modern times: can we really have anything and everything when we want it though?