I have a whole bunch of photos that I want to post from Fasching last week, but I’ve been laid out with a really bad cold. It’s been an interesting way to learn more about how health care works here. For one thing, you can’t just pickup aspirin or tylenol at any old convenience store. You have to go to an Apotheke, or pharmacy, and talk to the pharmacist who will decide what you need. I wobbled my way over there on Friday and was given an effervescent tablet that I’m supposed to take once a day and some capsules of pine, eucalyptus, lime, and I think linden oils to ‘reduce inflammation.’ Sunday, I was feeling worse and then we had a problem. Nothing is open here on Sunday. Nothing. S headed out to find the nearest emergency Apotheke. On a rotating basis, pharmacies stay open late and on weekends. But it changes every weekend. Luckily, they had touch-screen maps to show him where the nearest was. Unfortunately, it was pretty far away. They gave him some effervescent aspirin tablets with an added decongestant and some throat lozenges.(What’s with the effervescent tablets?)
Today, he talked me into going to the doctor and he called a couple in Garching, the small town we’re staying in now, to find one that could see me today. It didn’t take him long, and soon I was trudging up Muenchenerstr trying to find the praxis. The doctor was a kindly older german fellow who spoke english. He rapped my forehead with his knuckles and prodded my cheeks, and listened to my breathing for a very long time. Then we went and sat in his cluttered office and he typed up his prescriptions. I asked if I needed to pay and he chuckled heartily – ‘Ha! Ha! This is not America! No, we will send you an invoice.’
I went to the Apotheke to get my prescriptions – an antibiotic, a nose spray, and a bottle of some sort of opiate drops to help me sleep. I’m pretty sure they don’t give out big bottles of opiates to new patients in the US. And, the antibiotics are only prescribed in 10 or 12 pill quantities, not the big bottles I’m used to. The pharmacist threw in a couple of hot vitamin-c drink packets for me. I guess I look as bad as I feel!
Another interesting difference to me, is that all of the medicine so far has been pleasant tasting – the lozenges and effervescent tablets have tastes slightly fruity and not at all like ‘Medicine.’ I know they would have tasted horrible in the US – why is this? Because we don’t think something will work unless it tastes medicinal? So that kids won’t take more than they are supposed to? What ever the reason – the taste (mmm…! cherry!) and the quantity (‘here’s your big bottle of liquid morphine derivative and here 10 small antibiotic pills!) differences seem to speak to differing sets of values and worries when it comes to medicine. Hope you all are feeling well!
Hey, Lara! Hope you’re feeling better and I’m glad Steve got you to a Dr.
I have lots of percocet from my knee replacement. Hate the stuff, just sleep all the time. I quit taking as soon as i could. Sounds as if you get little choice in the care you are going to receive. Did he get a melon sound when the Dr. knucked your forehead?
I’m feeling better, but back to the doctor today! I feel like I got as much choice as far as drugs,etc. are concerned as I do in the US – in other words, not a whole lot. They just kind of give you what they think is best and don’t ask for much input. I could go to any doctor I wanted to, though, so we went with the one that could see me right away. Then they send you a bill and you send it to your insurance.
No melon sound, but I’m sure the look on my face was pretty funny. I’ve never been given the old ‘knock, knock anyone home?’ treatment by a doctor before.
I enjoyed your telling of the story – very amusing….mostly, I’m glad you are feeling better!
I had a similar experience in France many many years ago. I was also sent home with multiple effervescent tablets, homeopathic remedies, and tisanes, but no bill.