I was waiting to publish this blog post until the SAGA was over, and I received a diagnosis, but I think my 6 trips to La Clínica warrant a blog post. Basically, I’ve been really sick for a really really long time, and I have several symptoms of a Parasite.
About five weeks ago the Lewis & Clark cohort went on a trip to the East. I had a relaxing blast. Un placer, really. Well, until the last full day when I woke up incredibly sick—It was probably the tap water, I told myself, from brushing my teeth. I thought it would pass in no time, and that that day’s five hour hike would help me “sweat off” the sickness. Basically, by the top of the mountain I was crawling on the floor, with my head throbbing, using the bathroom constantly. A nice dinner and swim in a beautiful river helped me feel a bit better—until I got home. I spent that night walking from my bed to the bathroom again and again. My head ached and my body was in serious pain.
Digestive problems continued, so once back to Havana I went to the Clinic.
You see, Cuba’s healthcare system is praised around the world. During the economic crisis in the 1990’s the Cuban government was able to maintain universal healthcare for all. Today, Cuba trades medical training for Oil with Venezuela. Cuba sends doctors to developing nations around the world.
Immediately, my doctor sent me to the Tropical Medicine Clinic. But, before I could get there I had to wait for the insurance company to confirm that I was covered. In a country with limited access to internet, this literally meant waiting for the insurance company to call the clinic back. Two hours later my 25 dollar doctor’s visit was covered, and I was driven to the Tropical Medicine Clinic in La Casa de la Yuca (really far away, in a part of town I had never been to).
While waiting for a doctor, the clinic’s driver came inside the waiting room and instructed me that he would not be waiting to take my back to the clinic, and that I can find a cab outside after my meeting.
Basically, the doctor decided that I probably just had some stomach bug that would pass. The sickness continued, but subsided for a few days. Until a week later, when the digestive issues returned. It continued off and on, every for days, until I finally decided that the sickness couldn’t wait (especially because I had—have—symptoms of a parasite).
So I went back to the clinic. To what would soon be several, long, complicated annoying trips.
My first day I saw a doctor, who ordered comprehensive fecal and blood tests. I was sent home because their communication line with the insurance company was down.
The next day I returned, only to find out the insurance company lines of communication were still down. Elliot Young, our trip leader, came and convinced the administration to have me sign a contracting, agreeing to pay in the event of insufficient insurance coverage. By the time this was all figured out, the laboratory instructed me that it was too late, and I should have been instructed by my doctor to fast for four hours anyways. yikes.
I returned the next morning and took a blood test. I was told that the doctor did not order a fecal test, so I did not receive one. The next day, Friday, was a national holiday for workers, so I was instructed to return Monday.
So I did. When I first seen by the secretary, I was told that I couldn’t be seen because, though their computer confirmed it was covered by insurance, my paper did not have a stamp to demonstrate payment. After jumping through these hoops, I was told that I actually did need to take a fecal laboratory test, but it was too late to take one.
I had to return later in the week to drop off samples of feces. Hopefully, tomorrow, I should be able to see a doctor, get a diagnosis and receive medication. Hopefully.