I have been plagued with a variety of abdominal symptoms and complaints since the start of the trip. I had one very good day in Budapest on Tuesday and then came crashing down again that evening. Thinking it might be a good idea for medical intervention before leaving for Croatia, I started exploring options.
Hajnal, our lovely Airbnb host had provided details of a nearby medical centre, which usually had an English speaking doctor. Unfortunately as August is holiday time, they were not available. Hajnal offered to be my interpreter via phone for a consult with another doctor, but I couldn't think of anything more awkward. I was half-heartedly considering other options when I remembered that posh hotels often have access to English speaking doctors. Fortunately Kate and Jeanie were staying in just such a posh hotel and Kate quickly arranged for the good doctor to visit me at their room.
I
went out to get the required fee from ATM and was a little put out to
see this van parked outside the hotel when I returned. It was not for
me :)
Dr arrived within the hour, spoke very good English (albeit with some interesting twists), was friendly and very thorough. Towards the end of the process, he prepared to listen to my stomach via the stethoscope. He placed it on my stomach, nodded vigorously saying Aha, aha, ... yes, (just as I thought) splashy voices. He moved it to another spot: Oh yes, more splashy voices. Another spot: You have many, many splashy voices.
Diagnosis complete, we moved to the medications. Now while we tend to say this medication is for nausea, the doctor more correctly said this medicine is against nausea. So I received medicines against infection, against nausea and against abdominal pain. His next question temporarily threw me as I thought I was facing some sort of impromptu quiz. Do you know about medication allergy? After a few seconds processing I realised he was asking if I was allergic to any medicines.
He told me that despite my splashy voices, I still had good colour and the smile, so I was liking him even more. Then he told me I should stick to a bland diet, dry toast and definitely no beer. I cooled. Then he said a couple of glasses of wine would be alright and sometimes a shot of hard liquor (40%) could help. Warming again.
Armed with my prescription, I went to the pharmacy for the 4 meds. Jeanie and Kate waited outside and so missed another trip highlight: the pharmacy assistant, realising I did not speak Hungarian, was forced to mime what each of the medications was for. Nausea (vomiting mime), ab pain (grimace and bent over), antibiotics (random hand waving in circles around stomach). She gave up the mime with the probiotics and just handed them over. Too good.
Our favourite coffee shop, Espresso Emporium, also provided a few new turns of phrase.
Your cafe will be by my hand = I'll bring it to your table.
Q: Do you take credit card. A: Without question! (which is literally certainly, I suppose)
Sorry about the language = I am sorry I do not speak English well.
We also appreciated the worker in our building who greeted us with Hello as we approached and Goodbye as we passed. Nothing else :)

Better splashy voices in the tummy than in the head! Hope you have a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteGee sickie hope you feel better soon. Poor you. Lots of love
ReplyDeletehahahahahaha!!! i just read this again. such lovely turns of phrase.
ReplyDelete