I would have given it 5, except for that pesky abdominal pain. I have just been released from my first Nicaraguan hospital stay, and I have to say, while I could have done without being in the hospital entirely, that was by far the nicest hospital stay I could have hoped for.
On Thursday night, my agonizing, gut-stabbing, double-over abdominal pain returned, and after keeping me awake all night, reached a shivering, sweating peak Friday morning. Normally, I dislike hospitals (who likes hospitals?), but by this time, my inner monologue was begging for an IV drip. My outer monologue was busy remembering to breathe. I thought I would get a quick dose of drugs, and be returned to home sweet home in Masatepe, but I was mistaken. Three days and three nights later, I finally got out. Turns out I had some sort of horrific bacterial infection, probably salmonella, that had my intestines all inflamed and icky. Yes, that's a technical term. I am much better now, thanks to feats of modern medicine, although I am still plagued by bouts of nausea.
Now, back to my hospital review. I have seen the way my dad has been treated in hospitals over the past few years, and sometimes it's been better than others. However, I have never seen a hospital treat patients so nicely. I saw my doctor at least twice a day, despite the fact that my treatment regiment didn't really change at all the whole time I was there. They asked me repeatedly what I wanted to eat, and when I couldn't stomach the smell of my delicious looking chicken soup, the nurse hunted down a menu for me to help me order something without a vomit-inducing smell. My room was super nice, the nurses were always outside my door, and security man took me downstairs in the elevator and walked me to the pharmacy when I needed to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste (note to self, no hospital stay is a short hospital stay - take toothbrush). This was also not just because I am a gringo. All the hospital patients were getting the same treatment. I can't say anything about the demographic of the Nicaraguan population who end up in the hospital to begin with, but once you're in, the care is wonderful.
On a completely unrelated note, I am exceedingly proud of myself because we are leaving our training towns for good tomorrow. Everyone is supposed to pack up their stuff and have it ready to be picked up in the morning. Obviously, my stuff wasn't packed up and ready to go because I was in the hospital. Douglas took me to my house today, and I packed everything I OWN in LESS THAN ONE HOUR. Even if I accomplish nothing else in two years, that was quite a feat. I was bummed that I didn't really get to say goodbye to my training family though. They were awesome, and I just had to kind of run out on them. I am going back to visit them for Christmas though, so I will get to do a round two of goodbyes then.
On Thursday night, my agonizing, gut-stabbing, double-over abdominal pain returned, and after keeping me awake all night, reached a shivering, sweating peak Friday morning. Normally, I dislike hospitals (who likes hospitals?), but by this time, my inner monologue was begging for an IV drip. My outer monologue was busy remembering to breathe. I thought I would get a quick dose of drugs, and be returned to home sweet home in Masatepe, but I was mistaken. Three days and three nights later, I finally got out. Turns out I had some sort of horrific bacterial infection, probably salmonella, that had my intestines all inflamed and icky. Yes, that's a technical term. I am much better now, thanks to feats of modern medicine, although I am still plagued by bouts of nausea.
Now, back to my hospital review. I have seen the way my dad has been treated in hospitals over the past few years, and sometimes it's been better than others. However, I have never seen a hospital treat patients so nicely. I saw my doctor at least twice a day, despite the fact that my treatment regiment didn't really change at all the whole time I was there. They asked me repeatedly what I wanted to eat, and when I couldn't stomach the smell of my delicious looking chicken soup, the nurse hunted down a menu for me to help me order something without a vomit-inducing smell. My room was super nice, the nurses were always outside my door, and security man took me downstairs in the elevator and walked me to the pharmacy when I needed to buy a toothbrush and toothpaste (note to self, no hospital stay is a short hospital stay - take toothbrush). This was also not just because I am a gringo. All the hospital patients were getting the same treatment. I can't say anything about the demographic of the Nicaraguan population who end up in the hospital to begin with, but once you're in, the care is wonderful.
On a completely unrelated note, I am exceedingly proud of myself because we are leaving our training towns for good tomorrow. Everyone is supposed to pack up their stuff and have it ready to be picked up in the morning. Obviously, my stuff wasn't packed up and ready to go because I was in the hospital. Douglas took me to my house today, and I packed everything I OWN in LESS THAN ONE HOUR. Even if I accomplish nothing else in two years, that was quite a feat. I was bummed that I didn't really get to say goodbye to my training family though. They were awesome, and I just had to kind of run out on them. I am going back to visit them for Christmas though, so I will get to do a round two of goodbyes then.
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