Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Rx in Italy

My glands felt like two footballs sticking out of my throat by the time I woke up this morning. Gargling with salt water didn't seem to help as much as it did yesterday. I had Josh search my throat for white bumps...sure enough, there they were. I had step throat. I spent the morning in bed.

I needed antiobiotics. Who knew it was so easy. Josh went to the pharmacy where he bought Zithromax -- over the counter -- for only 6 euros! He told the pharmacist that I had step throat, the pharmacist, without him asking for it, said I need a Z-pack. Here you go. How about that? In the States, first you'd have to visit your doctor and get the culture, then you'd have to have a prescription; and then you'd probably pay well over $9 if you didn't have insurance. Even with the insurance, the co-pay alone would probably have been $10. So you see. More evidence that our health-care system is seriously f-cked up -- in particular, the costs of medication. I may have mentioned in one of my earlier Egypt blogs that we bought children's ibuprofen in Luxor for only $1. While at the pharmacy, Josh also inquired about a medication for Olivia that might help alleviate her need to pee at night. This time, the pharmacist asked if Josh had discussed the medication with her pediatrician (we had), and when Josh answered yes, he was able to purchase that too. Thirty tablets for 16 euros. I just can't imagine that a non-generic form of the medication would be available for less than $24 in the U.S.

After school, Josh and Avery went out to the store and they did finally get the chicken soup ingredients. Charlotte had a friend over after school, and thankfully, Morris cooked dinner for everyone.

We had plans to go out tonight. There was an art exhibition opening that Josh wanted to attend and then we were going to listen to some Opera -- arias from several operas were to be sung at La Chiesa di San Paolo entro le Mura. Like a "Greatest Hits" concert in a majestic setting. Well, that was clearly not happening for me tonight. Josh did go to see the art; some of which he found very provacative....and I stayed home, and ate chicken soup.




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