It was practically inevitable that I would eventually get sick. My work schedule is crazy. I'm working just about 12 hour days (between actually working and getting to and from work) and my body is fighting back. Luckily I got sick on the weekend, which means less work missed, but I'm going to go to the doctor tomorrow so that I can hopefully get a licencia medica (official medical leave) and take some more time off to really get better.
The problem? I don't know which doctor to go to. In the US, I would just go to my regular general practitioner. But those don't exist here in Chile. All doctors have a specialty. Right now I'm trying to decide between an Otorrinolaringologo (say that three times fast), which is an ear-nose-throat doctor, or a Broncopulmonar, which I assume is a lung doctor. See, my symptoms cover both specialties, so which to choose? It's decisions like this that make me not want to go to the doctor at all.
I know what the doctor is going to say: rest, drink fluids, don't go outside with wet hair, and come back if the symptoms get worse. So why go to the doctor in the first place? Well, to miss work, I need that licencia médica. No sick days in Chile. You've got to bring a doctor's note. The nice thing is is that in my experience, doctors are quite liberal on the number of days they give you. I think I really just need one, but wouldn't be surprised or complain if he/she gave me two.
Want to know more about going to the doctor in Chile? Emily and Eileen both have something to say about it.
7 comments:
Call integramedica, even if you're not going there, when you speak with the secretary to see the doctor the ask her wich doctor you should see and tell her about your symptoms.
boooo! sorry you're sick! I would probably choose the otolarringólogo because anyone can tell you if you have gunk in your lungs that you need abx, but I like the shiny mirror and the way they look up your nose and in your ears (I mean, I don't like it, but it feels very complete). And the ENT guy I went to (at integramédica on huerfanos, probably not where you'll go) was able to figure out that an allergy was causing my ear weirdness, and I didn't even have to take abx, though he did give me some meds that made me insane. Maybe not his fault, I'm very sensitive to speed/steroids, etc.
Get well, soon! I guess it's good our plans didn't work out then. I mean, not good, but just as well. You know what I mean. Send Charlie out to get you some soup!
Thanks Anonymous, that's a good idea. I actually do use Integramedica, but I like that I can avoid the phone call and schedule everything online!
Eileen, thanks for the well wishes. I decided to go with the ENT (easier in English) because they had the first available opening tomorrow. And yes, I probably would have canceled our plans today, so just as well. Someday we will get together, I promise!
I hope you feel better! I can feel myself fighting something. New germs, yuck. Time to make some more green tea. :)
My Chilean blood keeps me from getting sick in this otherwise dreadfully lethal environment (ha! Or so I tell myself bc luckily I've escaped being sick two winters in a row here!)
I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Anonymous is right though ... Integramedica is good for those kinds of visits. Not sure where you live but there is one right off P. de Valdivia in Provi.
get well soon!
weird. i always go to a general doctor. i wonder if he actually has a specialty and hides it?
or am i completely oblivious and the guy has sat through and checked out my stomach, fever, and lung symptoms like a sport without ever mentioning hes a dermatologist or something jajajajaj
Heather: I hope you don't get anything! There's definitely a "bicho" going around.
Andrea: Yep, that's where I go. Good old Integramedica Barcelona.
Lydia: really? That's great. I'd love to go to a general doctor. Although the otorrino I went to today was very nice. Actually, now that I think about it my host sister's specialty is "family medicine" but from what I've heard her talk about, it's a relatively new concept here in Chile. I guess I could have called her, but I always feel weird asking her for favors, even though it's totally expected here in Chile for me to do so. Sigh. Anyway, hopefully your doc isn't really a dermatologist....hahaha.
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