“Hmmmm, that itches, sometimes I get nervous hives I’m sure that’s what it is.” At least that’s what I thought when I went to bed. The next morning it was a little bigger but not something to run to the doctor about. The following morning was another story! I woke up looking like Hitch, you know, from the movie Hitch when he eats something he’s allergic to?! If not, it looked like I had been punched in the face several times and my eye was open, but barely. Now this is doctor worthy.
Going to the doctor in a foreign country is every travelers worst nightmare. And I knew that but I thought, “well, at least I’ll get a good story out of it.” Major hotels typically have relationships with clinics and hospitals for such situations and the Sheraton Grande Resort did not disappoint. The expat location (which would have been 3x in cost to the local spots) couldn’t see me until later in the afternoon so they got me into a local clinic in Gavea with the understanding that someone who spoke English would be around to translate as needed. I also had the offer to have a doctor come to me for a “small fee”, which is a nice option if you are really intimidated by taking this challenge on. Not me.
The driver picks me up and we zig zag up the mountain and it becomes more and more lush because we are now in a region of Rio called Gavea. Bits of the national park are in this region and clearly my clinic is sitting right on its periphery. I was greeted warmly and filled out a few forms and immediately escorted outside to another building where the nurse immediately took my vitals and the doctor followed soon thereafter. His immediate reaction was a spider bite but due to my age and history (urgh, I hate writing the age bit) he wanted to test for shingles. For those who don’t know what shingles is, it’s the old person part dux of the chickenpox! AARP card anyone? Because of that, blood tests are required. The lab gal came to me immediately (catching a theme here?) and took blood. I didn’t even feel the prick. As soon as she left the doctor reappears and informs me that it will take at least 30 minutes for the results and would I like any coffee?? WTH? Now, I realize I’m a foreigner visiting a local clinic and that the hotel called first, but even under those circumstances this is unusual. I observed the same treatment of the other patients that were clearly local. Coffee didn’t show up, but an entire tray of food with coffee. As I sat there nibbling, in the words of Carrie from Sex in the City, “I couldn’t help but wonder”, why the treatment in my own country, albeit world class on so many levels, doesn’t demonstrate such consideration.
My Brazilian doctor returns to let me know that it appears to be a spider bite. Can you believe I actually thought, “thank god”? Better a poisonous insect crawled on my face and injected its venom than the pre-geriatric shingles diagnosis! “But to be safe”, he says he will treat me for both, “just in case”. Just one round of treatment and my face started returning to normal, whatever that is!
Why do I share this story in a dedicated post? To say to you, don’t be afraid! Get out, go, explore…even if your worst fear is realized, if you are open, and don’t panic, you’ll get a great story out of it. You’ll meet people you otherwise wouldn’t. You’ll experience the kindness of strangers. That’s what this journey of life is about right? Building a great story of experiences and connections!
Ps: I know some of you are wondering how much this “story” cost me? Office visit: $150 USD. Blood tests: $100 USD. Snack tray: $0.00. Good looking Brazilian doctor: PRICELESS
Next up…driving further up the mountain to the Tijuca National Park