La Gringa goes to the doctor

The x-ray technician said I have pneumonia. The doctor said I have the "beginnings of pneumonia" but I don't need to go to the hospital unless I start feeling worse. Maybe this is what we used to call "walking pneumonia." Oh, praise the lord, because I think I would rather die than go to a hospital in Honduras.

I'm taking oral antibiotics, Mucosolve (dissolve the mucus stuff), Tylex for pain and fever, and go in daily for five days for a shot of super-duper antibiotic. At least I guess it must be super-duper because each vial cost L.568 (US $30). Let me tell you that is EXPENSIVE for drugs in Honduras. After the five days of shots, then I switch to another type of antibiotic. There isn't going to be one iota of good bacteria left in my body when this is done.

The trip to the doctor only cost L.400 (US $21) and that was actually two visits, one lasting almost an hour. The x-ray cost L.250 (US $13). Most medicines that I've bought over the years have run between about $3 and $10, usually around $5.

I always take El Jefe in with me just in case I get nervous and need a translator. As a joke, I asked the doctor, "Por supuesto, ¿esta significa que yo no podria hacer el trabajo de aseo?" ("Of course, this means that I can't do housework?") While El Jefe was stifling his laughter behind the doctor's back, the doctor answered very seriously that no, the dust would be bad for my lungs and that I'm probably too tired from my illness anyway. Love those sympathetic Hondurans.

The doctor explained everything in detail − a rarity, many doctors don't and are affronted if you have the gall to ask what is wrong with you and what are the drugs you will be taking and why − they take it as a personal insult. Definitely a different culture than in the U.S. Then he asked if we had anyone who could give the shots. I know this sounds strange but the reason is that most people don't want to spend the money to have a doctor give the injection. They just buy the medicine and a syringe and take it to someone or a family member gives the shots.

El Jefe asked at the pharmacy where we could go and they told him the laboratory in the same medical center can give the shot for L. 15 (US 79 cents)! That price includes the syringe. Strange the doctor didn't tell us that. I think he was thinking we wanted to find someone closer to where we live. Anyway, the nice girl did a prueba (test) on my arm first, as ordered by the doctor, to make sure I wasn't allergic.

After 15 minutes and no sign of allergy, she said come with me and started walking down the hall to another room. I said "Por que?" (Why?) She said because you have to get the shot in the butt. I said, "Por que?" (Why?) She said because it hurts so much. Whaaaaa!

Anyway, La Gringa will live to blog another day. Right now, I'm going back to bed. Nighty-night, all.

Teachers will ask for a loan for Pinpon

The teachers have made a decision. In the next few days they are are going to turn to the Secretary of State to ask for a loan for "Pinpon," Rafael Pineda Ponce's nickname from his Poder Ciudadano (Citizen Power) presidential campaign. (See background articles Let them eat cake and Hondurans work for free.)

The following is (roughly) translated from La Prensa:

President of the teacher's group, Sergio Rivera, qualifies the negligence of the government as una grosería (a rudeness?). He says the teachers don't have credit anywhere anymore, not even their corner pulperías (small neighborhood grocery stores).

With this inhuman attitude the only thing the government will achieve is that the teachers will be obligated to take to the streets.

Furthermore, Rivera considers it like a joke with bad taste that Minister of Education Pineda Ponce, who has lived on the state for almost all of his life, scoffs at the needs of the teachers to declare that those who are hungry and don't have food should drink water.

Considering that Pineda Ponce, who aspires to be president of this country, recommended to us to ask for borrowed money, Rivera said that they will visit the Secretary of State to appeal to his great heart and his juicy salary that comes punctually, that he make loans to the teachers who have worked all year and today have nothing to eat.

La Gringa is on drugs

Heh, heh, heh! They say a catchy title draws the readers.

Blogs that start out every post with "Well, sorry I haven't written in a month...." are boring. I know I don't have to post every day, but I have kind of set a standard for myself and I have a hard time not feeling guilty when I don't. So I feel required to give an excuse.

I've been sick for two weeks. I thought it was a cold. Then it began to seem more like the flu. Then maybe bronchitis. Finally, yesterday I broke down and went to the doctor. He thinks it might be pneumonia!

After spending the entire afternoon sitting around the doctor's office/hospital (Just what you want to do when you are sick − Why didn't I bring a book? − If it is something contagious, I have infected another 50-60 people by coughing all over the hospital! − Does an x-ray machine really have to warm up for 45 minutes?), the doctor who reads the x-rays left for the day, so I have to go back today for the results. I think it is going to be bronchitis, not pneumonia.

I did have a scare when I caught a glimpse of the first x-ray. It showed a big white smear across the bottom of one lung. I've seen enough "ER" and "CSI" to know that's a bad thing. It turned out that it was a bad quality x-ray and she had to take it again.

I have been writing a lot of stuff but just can't seem to pull it all together to finish anything. Anyway, hang in there, loyal readers, and be prepared for a blast of articles when these drugs kick in.