VI – Being sick in India

Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later… I got sick. Real sick. Not just a common cold or the flu, the worst thing is that I do not even really know what got me. Or how, or when I got it. There are approximately a bazillion opportunities where I could have caught it.  

Sorry for the drama, guys but I never ever get sick. I have travelled through Europe and USA, eaten street food in Moldova, even fell down a manhole there but I have never ever been as sick as here in India. Even when I fell down a 15 meter cliff in Germany was I not as scared for my life as I was for the last week.

I really do not want to whine to you guys or explain all of the uninteresting and unpleasant details but I do want to let you know some of my insights into what to do and what to avoid when you are sick in India.

First of all, everyone is going to give you advice. Serious, heart-felt advice from people that care about you. It might me that I am just a spoiled wimpy western girl when it comes to being sick. But I am entirely sure that it will not lower a fever if you just get up and go about your day as if everything was fine or drink the juice of green papaya leaves. Luckily, there are also real doctors in India.

And here is my second piece of advice if you ever have to see a doctor in India: Take someone with you who can stand up for you or at least make careful notes on a piece of paper, so that you do not forget to ask anything. Because you literally do not get any time at the doctor for careful consideration of your options. After being briefly asked for symptoms, there were no further questions about symptoms or my medical history. The physical examination consisted of a very quick blood pressure and body temperature measurement, as well as a 30 second manual scanning of my belly.

One minute later I had a prescription for 4 different pills, my mind, which had already been in a desolate state, whirling, the nurse rushing me out of the room and the next patient in. The fact that he, too came back out after three minutes made me a feel a little better. At least I did not get an extra short special foreigner treatment. So, here is a note to myself: Next time you have to go to the doctor in India and are unable to think, get yourself a friend or a paper that can do the thinking for you.

Oh, and another thing. Indian doctors are not necessarily cheap. Just for registration and one consultation I had to pay about 10€, which is about half the price for a consultation at a German doctor. It is, of course, entirely possible, that I went to one of the more expensive doctors. But at least I paid the regular price, not a rip-off price for foreigners.

Luckily, the place was pretty busy, so I think I avoided paying a big foreigner premium.

On the bright side: Medication is really cheap here. I got 15 pills of paracetamol for about 70 cents, the more fancy and more specific medication was only slightly more expensive.

After this really rough week I hope to be able to share some more positive news next time :)