Influenza

Pulling up to the next hospital is a different story all on its own. I asked the security guard how to get to the emergency area for adults. He quickly picked up my accent and commented I'm not from here. He asked if I had the flu, I nodded, and he pointed me in the right direction. After turning the final corner, I stood dead in my tracks. Looking into an open outdoor space of about 100 people coughing, wearing masks, bloodshot eyes and crying babies, I felt like I was in a movie. I had no idea how much of an issue the flu and Dengue was in Guadalajara. I was suddenly thankful of the horrid mask I too had to wear. Who knew what all of these people were sick with standing around me. All I knew was I wanted to get in the office, get my medicine, and get out FAST.

I pushed my way through the crowd with numerous, "Disculpe," and "Perdon," until I finally got to the main room. There was a small table with two 20-something y/o "nurses" or "helpers" sitting at the table and giving out numbers (currently at 110 for adults and 46 for pediatrics). I waited in a line of three people for about 20 minutes before it was finally my turn. I took a seat at the table, asked if they spoke English (which of course they did not), handed them my lab results and doctor's note, then waited... and waited... and waited. About 30 minutes later of sitting in the same chair directly in front of them, while they tended to other patients, I finally asked the male if there was something I needed to do. Or what the next step would be. He told me he needed to fill out a form with my information and diagnostics. OK...

Granted, I let it slide for about 1 hour of just sitting in the chair. Looking around me and listening to the people coming up to the table, I convinced myself there were people who were in much more dire need of help than I was. A mother was cradling her 6 month old wailing baby with a huge mask over her face. Another mother carried her 10 year old child through the waiting room asking for help. Who was I to take away help from these people?

One hour later I looked at the female "nurse" and asked if I was waiting to be helped or if I needed to take a number. She told me I did not need a number and that there is a lot going on. Thirty minutes later, I felt tears begin to stroll down my cheek. Again, this was a very emotional day for me. I was sick, I was fighting to understand medical jargon and explain my condition to others, stuck in a room with sick people (not good for a hypochondriac like myself), and all I wanted was to get my medicine and get OUT!!!

Luckily, the tears worked. The nurse took my file and began to ask my for data. With relief, I gave all my info and they took my temperature. I knew it was bad when the nurse read the thermometer, looked at me with her eyes almost popping out of her head. I wanted to say, "That's right! I'm sick! And you have been making me sit here for over an hour!!" Instead, I sat like a lady and gave a concerned look (I had a temp of 40 C which is about 104 F). She turned to her colleague and whispered something in his ear. They both then tried to act out taking a pill and rubbed their stomachs. I probably should've told them I do actually understand Spanish, but the charades things was kinda humorous. I told them I had not taken anything up until this point because I was there specifically to get medicine. They handed me two pills and told me to take them immediately. The nurse told me the doctor would be with me in a minute (yeah right).

Next issue at hand would be taking these two pills. I knew it would help bring down my fever. The dilemma was that I have a really big problem with swallowing pills. It takes me about ten minutes to force even one down. I excused myself to the bathroom, which was located in the main building about 200 yds away), and took the pills in a bathroom stall. Upon return to the infected area, I bypassed the crowd, went straight to the office again and sat on the floor. I was EXHAUSTED. All I wanted was to go to sleep and I was trying to fight my fever which was hard to do in an unairconditioned room filled with other ill individuals. I decided to pull the really sick card again. I stood up, leaned against the wall, and started to fall asleep.

The male "helper" looked at me, took my form, walked into the doctors office and placed it directly on her desk. SUCCESS!! Finally, after an hour and a half I would be next up! Of course they were out of the medicine the other doctor requested. After a quick 10 minute check up, the new doctor signed a form, handed me a pack of meds, told me I am not allowed to leave my apartment for five days since I'm contagious and sent me on my merry way.

Today is day four of my apartment "quarantine". The whole thing ended up being for the best since I'm not allowed to leave my apartment and all I do is rest. The last four days have consisted of me being in and out of consciousness with a few movies in between. Tomorrow is my last and final day of having to be kept inside and forgetting what fresh air or the sun feels like.

And today... well today is the first day where I actually almost feel normal again. I hardly have a cough, I'm not as exhausted and I have a lot more energy.