Doctor Consultation

25 August 2011

While I was still in the waiting list to get a doctor appointment, I was assigned simple task by my supervisor. Basically I needed to fold the overalls and pair the gloves. I finally do not have to work at machine speed.

pic: check if there is any holes on the glove

pic: Pair the gloves in correct sides and size and place them accordingly into bins

I received the call from the doctor in afternoon today. After explaining about my finger condition, I was finally scheduled to have an appointment later on the same day. I waited for 1.5 hour to see the doctor, despite the fact that I had made an appointment. Unexpectedly, I was protected under ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) even though my fingers' situation was not caused by accident.

pic: To be filled up by the doctor to determine what kind of tasks I can work.

pic: ACC claim form printed out by the doctor

pic: prescribed with antibiotic, anti-inflammation cream on infected area and moisturizer for the cracked skin. Total was 31 dollars which I have to pay on my own

And now, I am determined to be on light duty. I cannot work more than 40 hours per week.........My earning has greatly reduced.

Waiting to see the doctor

24 August 2011

Teabag saw my fingers this morning and she was shocked to see my fingers getting more serious. She asked me to tell my situation to the supervisor but I refused as I was worried I would be asked not to go to work. She promised that it would not happen and brought me to the supervisor.

My impression towards the supervisor has greatly changed since two week ago and after today, I think she is real real good. She showed her concern and she said that I should have informed her that the fingers get more serious instead of being over worried. She assigned me other task, that is to pair rubber gloves at the counter. It is an easy but boring task. Everyone was so surprised to see I was working at the counter that they started to ask about the fingers. I have become a popular staff since then.

Also, the supervisor arranged me to see the doctor today. Unfortunately I am still in the appointment waiting list. I never expect I could see the doctor and in fact I do not need the doctor as much as I did two weeks ago.

Because of my fingers, I was only allowed to work not more than 8 hours. Sigh.....

pic: From swell to dry and cracked skin. The fingers no longer look like my used-to-be-tiny fingers

Ski at Rainbow

21 August 2011

Finally I had my first time skiing. I did it in New Zealand at an affordable price. It was 110 dollars for learner day pass. We were coached with simple skiing skills. It was a very very sunny day and I became so hot to ski under the sunshine.

pic: On the way home, we went to Nelson Lake

The Pancake Rocks, Punakaiki

20 August 2011

The Pancake Rocks are a heavily eroded limestone area where the sea bursts though a number of vertical blowholes during high tides. Together with the 'pancake'-layering of the limestone (created by immense pressure on alternating hard and soft layers of marine creatures and plant sediments), these form the main attraction of the area.

The Tuna Dinner

19 August 2011

The fishermen in our factory caught a big blue fin tuna today and we managed to get some meat back. On the same day, one of our friend went fishing and he caught a big fish. We decided to organize a food pot luck with the tuna as the main dish.

 

Each of us contributed a dish and around 10 of us had a sumptuous dinner.

We cooked the tuna with two different ways, one in tomyam and one in curry soup.

pic: This was the big fish caught by friend, amazing fishing skill

Fish Unloading at Westport Harbour

19 August 2011

This was our first time having day off on Saturday. However, a few of our friends were chosen to work today. They started working very early before the dawn. I heard from them that the weather was freezing and windy as they were working at harbour.

I went there at 10am hoping to see some fishes caught by the fishermen and also to watch the unloading process. I did not manage to watch the full cycle unfortunately.

pic: friends were carrying fishes from the boat

pic: these ice would be shifted into boat to freeze the fishes

pic: It is salty, thin and flat

Better work experience

12 August 2011

During smoko time today, my hand condition was finally noticed by my supervisor who was sitting behind. Showing a serious facial expression, she asked me to go into the laundry room. At that moment, I was worried that she would ask me not to go to work.

To my surprise, she showed her concern and mentioned that I should have told her about my hand condition before it became so serious. Serious? Is it? I am not sure...I have been struggling with chilblains for more than one month, going through different stages and now I feel numb with the problem. In fact, the swell is not the most killing now but only the broken and cracked skin which is one of the symptoms of chilblains happened in extreme cases. Infection started to develop.

She asked her colleague to apply a chinese herbal cream on my fingers which is claimed better than frost cream. She was so surprised to see my fingers too. Thanks to my supervisor, I am now allowed to wear a cotton liner underneath the rubber glove to keep my hands warm. It is really much more comfortable now. I am amazed that my supervisor can be so kind sometime as well.

Hands are feeling better now, except for the cracked skin. Has the condition turned more severe, or better?

Chilblains Revolution

11 August 2011

I had to take day off today once again. I have been hoping the season can end soon so that I can escape from this hell and start travelling immediately. I have nothing much to share except for my hand condition at the moment. Started with itch, swell, redness and the condition deteriorated to have blood spots last week.

A few days ago, the swell spread to the back of my left hand. I can feel the pain but I do not know what inflamed that caused the pain. Was it the nerve? Or the blood vessels?

I applied the frost cream and now the skin became too dry and started to crack. The cracks are killing me now, more than the swell.

You must be wondering why I never see a doctor to get advice. I did try. The charge is 102 dollars and I would need to wait one or two weeks for the doctor. I can consult a nurse alternatively but I think it does not worth.

血斑

4 August 2011

手已经没像以前那样严重，但是出现一点一点的血斑，不痛也不痒。关节部位还是一样肿痛，小指已经很久没能伸直过了。止痛消炎药也就快吃完了。