Sickness in India

Being ill is not much fun. Neither is being really ill. It's even less fun when you live in the tropics.

It all started with a cold for Rich and I. Friday he said he was just worn out. So we stayed home and I worked on Sophia's cake. Saturday he seemed to be doing better. I think self medication with gimmlets helped! Then Sunday he wasn't very good at all. By Monday, he was staying in bed and there wasn't much moving him.

Sunday night - he did not sleep. His coughing kept him up and made him miserable. When he decided not to go into work and was sleeping most of the morning. I decided to call the company Dr. I gave him the symptoms (since to me, he sounded like he did when he had walking pneumonia) and the Dr. sent me a text message with the medications to get him. Also as part of the regimen here, no headbaths (don't get your head or face wet) and no cold water as this makes you sick. I went out and got the medications.

I got to the pharmacy nearest us. I had to repeat myself a couple of times and waited for them to get the requested meds. The lady came back and said, "No TusQ". No sorry or anything. I told them I required this medications and they said "I have three of the four medications you need. No TusQ." To which I replied, "so before I traipse all over this city, could you call the nearest Apollo pharmacy near her to see if they have it?" Apparently this thought never crossed their minds. After about 5 minutes of waiting. The guy comes back and says, they have in Adyar - 7 tablets. I told him I needed 10. To which he replied, "They have 7". I asked when the next shipment was coming in to this location. The answer, "Maybe 8pm tonight." (Translation - I have no idea). I get back into my car and told Senthil I needed to go to another Pharmacy. His response "Kottapuram, madame?" Yup - take me to another village. This pharmacy is connected to an Apollo clinic so it is better stocked and I got the TusQ, all 10 tablets, there.

I get home, we dose Rich and hope for the best. Unfortunately, he didn't sleep well that night either. He felt a bit better, but stayed home from work. He talked to his boss and even he said he sounded awful and to work from home.

Wednesday - he went to work and saw the Dr. out at the plant. He said he has a nasty virus as well as infection. He then added codine cough syrup to the mix. If that doesn't take care of the cough, I have no idea what will!

Here's hoping he's better for our trip to Maldives and that Sophia and I don't catch it!