Flu

Went to the Dr today.  First time since I moved here, except for the dermatologist when my hair was falling out in handfuls.  Thank God that stopped.

I've had the flu since Saturday, but it has been a strange flu.  Yesterday was the worst, so Hermida made a Dr appt for me.  She called me mid- day for something (I never discovered what) and learned I was sick.  When she got home she made me some homemade soup and gave me medicine.  Marcela spent the morning at the Dr with the same symptoms.  Hermida has had it since last weekend and she still doesn't feel well.

So this morning I put a load of wash in the washing machine, laid down and rested, drank a glass of coconut water, rested more, took a shower washing only what was necessary, rested...  You get the point.

The guy who is working on out driveway probably thinks I am a crazy alcoholic or something.  Yesterday he watched me drag myself to the car to go to the local store with my hair uncombed.  Today I dragged myself to the car to go to the Dr. with my hair soaking wet.  For a minute I thought I was hallucinating.  There was a horse in the middle of the driveway.  We don't own a horse.  Turns out my landlord's brother has a landscaper who travels by horse.  It was sweet.  But very hand shy.  And old.  Someone abused the poor thing.

Anyway, I drove like a zombie to the Dr.  I thought I had an actual appointment at 10 - forgot for a moment I was in Honduras.  So the receptionist had a nice giggle when I walked into the waiting room and announced I had a 10 a.m. appointment.  She basically told me to get in line behind all of the people who were already waiting.

I was reminded about Honduran manners today.  I walked into the waiting room and went straight to the receptionist.  Every person after me walked into the waiting room and said good morning to the people who were waiting there, even though we were all strangers.  I am such a rude North American.  I never thought to say good morning when I stepped into a room full of strangers.

The Dr is a pediatrician.  Pretty sure I am his oldest patient.  He said I am his biggest, which I think was a nice way of saying the same thing because Marcela and Guillermo are both taller than I am.  He is a member of the church, a really good doctor, and he has seen every kid from the church with the same symptoms this week.  So I figured he would be the best person to handle this.

When it was my turn he checked me all out.  He also took my temperature under my armpit.  I don't remember ever having that done before. Then he wrote prescriptions for some medicine, and gave me a free sample of some antibiotics which he said are easy on the stomach.  I asked if he believed I really had an infection, because to me it seemed more like flu.  He said he wasn't sure, but could give me the antibiotics just in case.  With respect I said I am not accustomed to taking the medicine without knowing if it is necessary.  He was kind and understanding.  He said yes, the correct way is to take a blood test.  He said that in other countries people do things the correct way and they take medication according to the test results.  But the people here do not have money for the test so he has to give antibiotics when they may not be necessary.  He said if I would prefer to know, he could send me to the lab downstairs and save the antibiotics in case I needed them.  I told him that sounded perfect.

Downstairs the lady for the blood test took my name.  When I only had one last name she said, "That's all?"  Most people have at least 2 last names here.  Yes.  I only have one last name.  She charged me $25, took my blood with barely a pinch, and called this afternoon to say yes, I have the flu.  I don't have any sort of infection.  So, no antibiotics for me.  Meanwhile everyone else I know is madly taking antibiotics.

I was thinking about the fact that in the US we do kind of the same thing, in a different way.  We avoid going to the doctor if we think we have the flu.  We don't want to pay for the office visit unless the doctor is actually going to prescribe an antibiotic.  We learn the symptoms of a flu and how to tell the difference.  In Honduras people are quicker to go to the doctor, and also the hospital, than most of my North American friends.

It scares me how people here overuse antibiotics.  But doctors can't stop prescribing them until the people are educated as to when antibiotics are needed and why it is dangerous to over-prescribe them.  Otherwise the people will just go to another doctor until they get an antibiotic.

I called Belinda to tell her I need one more day of rest but I will see her Friday.  She said that both of her sons and everyone at the church has the flu, so we should all rest until we are back to full strength.  I told her I'll see her Friday, but Friday is a holiday, so there is no Breakfast Program Plentiful Life Program.  I am going to have a VERY long weekend.