Medical centre visit Feb 17, 2013

A VISIT TO THE MEDICAL CENTRE FEB 17, 2013

Despite a last minute call from Red Head Anne saying she had room for one on her private penguin tour I opted to declin and decided to head down to the medical centre to get this cough or whatever checked. Expecting a long line-up I was presently surprised to see only a handful of people waiting to see the Dr.

At first impression it looks like any walk in clinic – a reception area and then some consultation rooms.

I am greeted by a para-medic – the clinic is staffed with 2 Drs, 4 nurses and 2 Para-medics and obviously a least one pharmacist.

She has me fill out the form – the usual – personal info and a brief medical questionnaire and a brief outline of my problem – then she takes me into an exam room – takes my blood pressure – normal, takes my pulse rate – normal, checks my temp – normal – good first step – back in the waiting room it is obvious that what I have seems to be the flavor of the day as most others were hacking away as well – 10 minutes or so later I see the Dr – he's the chief medical officer on this cruise – he asks a few questions - has me take off my shirt and has me lay down on the bed – starts examining me – take a deep breathe – cough, cough, another here , cough cough – exams my abdomen area – not much coughing there – shirt back on – into waiting room to await prescriptions – I am given a codeine based cough syrup called Codeine Linctus – take 10 mm three days a day and Azithromycin – a three day supply – it's a capsules but since I can't ingest pills whole he just states open up the capsules – I know this isn't as effective but it seems to be working – it's two at a time for three days.

This medicine is designed with those with upper or lower respiratory infection which seems right given that I was coughing as he examined me and I usually have the worst coughing session after eating.

He strongly recommended that I don't go ashore and stay on the ship which is too bad because after you walk the 1000 feet to the port everything is right there but I learned later that it being Sunday just about everything was closed.

The complete visit took about 35 minutes – haven't received the charges yet – it will be sent be my room later in the cruise and when I get back will submit to one of my insurers.

As of this writing the following morning I am feeling much better and look to be ready for the Falklands. Cheers!