The next series of blogs I heavily disclaim. I have made an attempt to start taking more pictures and observing the "normal" things of the day. And blogging them. HOWEVER, I am no expert in any of them...particularly this one. SO:
Sunday Caden had to go to the doctor again. He split his chin open on the bottom of the pool for the second time. Despite my best instincts to put a band-aid on it and move on, it was pretty clear that it was wide and deep enough to require stitches. Dr. Mom thought as much (even though as noted above, she's heavily biased toward avoiding it). Nurse Chandra confirmed however, and that pretty much settled it. We tried to help Caden understand the merits of getting stitches to which he replied adamantly: "I want a big scar!" Well, he's my kid after all.
It being Sunday, we had no transportation and had to drum up a ride from a nice neighbor. Thanks Dave, and thanks IBM for letting expats drive! We arrived at the local clinic, supposedly the newest, best place to go (and where Caden went in October). But today, there was a cricket match on, and the doctor was busy. Oh, and it seemed Caden didn't want stitches. Right, so the 4-year-old doesn't want it...well, then. The doctor suggested a nice injection of tetanus instead (seriously, his immunizations are current, and what is the fascination with injections here???). Oh, and we of course got him some "tablets" (as if we don't keep children's Tylenol at home). An hour and 210 rupees (<$7) later we were on our way.....to Chandra's to at least get a proper dressing of sterile strips on it. Story aside, the American "do-it-yourself" attitude doesn't seem to have caught on here...the doctor suggested we'd want to return in a day to get the band-aid changed - really, I don't look like I can change a band-aid?? And I didn't mention before, I actually find the state of health care here broadly alarming (not that the US has this figured out I fully realize, but I'd take it over cheap pricing any day). And while I'm sure there are many fantastic, qualified doctors available, alarming stories are a dime a dozen, and the environment just doesn't cry out quality control...which I find odd in a place with so much stifling regulation (not that I'm complaining about that aspect by any means). So anyhow, as you drive along the commute in, many of these medical facilities are available, and truly my heart goes out to anyone who has to use them, or decides to for whatever reason...
The quantity of establishments alludes to the fact that there really does seem to be a bias to see the doc for just about anything from dull skin to indigestion to a canker sore to stress to diabetes or cancer to fever to a cut on the finger to I need a new bandaid please. An injection or some tablets ALWAYS seems to be prescribed!
These are all from my commute, with a number of chemists and druggists to stop at...next time I'm out further down the road, I'll try to replace this with Michelle's favorite "Pill and Powder" (she really went there for meds, with a grimace every time).
With the (over?)use of medical care, there also seems to be a great deal of specialization possible...
So I am I suppose glad that it's just a cut on the chin, and we have managed largely to stay healthy here. There have recently been a few cases of tuberculosis in the neighborhood, and corresponding truly frightening stories. At times like that, I can only imagine how very vulnerable one would feel - and not being able to travel on an airplane for three months as part of the diagnosis - yikes! (and in which case I'm sure you find this blog not funny or interesting at all!).
So, I hope for everyone to just stay well!
- I am not a doctor.
- Or anything like it. I hardly even know any doctors.
- My personal preference is to go to the doctor...never. Unless death is imminent (can't recall ever) or I am in labor (once). In fact, I generally just don't go.
Sunday Caden had to go to the doctor again. He split his chin open on the bottom of the pool for the second time. Despite my best instincts to put a band-aid on it and move on, it was pretty clear that it was wide and deep enough to require stitches. Dr. Mom thought as much (even though as noted above, she's heavily biased toward avoiding it). Nurse Chandra confirmed however, and that pretty much settled it. We tried to help Caden understand the merits of getting stitches to which he replied adamantly: "I want a big scar!" Well, he's my kid after all.
It being Sunday, we had no transportation and had to drum up a ride from a nice neighbor. Thanks Dave, and thanks IBM for letting expats drive! We arrived at the local clinic, supposedly the newest, best place to go (and where Caden went in October). But today, there was a cricket match on, and the doctor was busy. Oh, and it seemed Caden didn't want stitches. Right, so the 4-year-old doesn't want it...well, then. The doctor suggested a nice injection of tetanus instead (seriously, his immunizations are current, and what is the fascination with injections here???). Oh, and we of course got him some "tablets" (as if we don't keep children's Tylenol at home). An hour and 210 rupees (<$7) later we were on our way.....to Chandra's to at least get a proper dressing of sterile strips on it. Story aside, the American "do-it-yourself" attitude doesn't seem to have caught on here...the doctor suggested we'd want to return in a day to get the band-aid changed - really, I don't look like I can change a band-aid?? And I didn't mention before, I actually find the state of health care here broadly alarming (not that the US has this figured out I fully realize, but I'd take it over cheap pricing any day). And while I'm sure there are many fantastic, qualified doctors available, alarming stories are a dime a dozen, and the environment just doesn't cry out quality control...which I find odd in a place with so much stifling regulation (not that I'm complaining about that aspect by any means). So anyhow, as you drive along the commute in, many of these medical facilities are available, and truly my heart goes out to anyone who has to use them, or decides to for whatever reason...
The quantity of establishments alludes to the fact that there really does seem to be a bias to see the doc for just about anything from dull skin to indigestion to a canker sore to stress to diabetes or cancer to fever to a cut on the finger to I need a new bandaid please. An injection or some tablets ALWAYS seems to be prescribed!
These are all from my commute, with a number of chemists and druggists to stop at...next time I'm out further down the road, I'll try to replace this with Michelle's favorite "Pill and Powder" (she really went there for meds, with a grimace every time).
With the (over?)use of medical care, there also seems to be a great deal of specialization possible...
So I am I suppose glad that it's just a cut on the chin, and we have managed largely to stay healthy here. There have recently been a few cases of tuberculosis in the neighborhood, and corresponding truly frightening stories. At times like that, I can only imagine how very vulnerable one would feel - and not being able to travel on an airplane for three months as part of the diagnosis - yikes! (and in which case I'm sure you find this blog not funny or interesting at all!).So, I hope for everyone to just stay well!
And no offense, don't go for the surgery offered here:
I like the multi-purpose possibilities of filling my prescription, stopping by the wine shop next door, and upstairs to use the computer to research if that was a good idea...
And what do you suppose happens at the homoeo clinic? Does it look like a garage to anyone else?
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