Surgery Visit at the GP's

I am an avid fan of travel blogs, books & websites. In fact, these resources have been a major help when planning for my trip. It is also where I have heard many horror stories of fellow travelers that have gotten violently sick while traveling abroad. As an amateur traveler & a relatively healthy person, I was confident that I would be able to avoid any type of illness during my journey. Well, this unrealistic hope came to an abrupt end when I woke up Monday morning with a cold. As with any other head cold I’ve ever had, I drowned myself with fluids, vitamins & sleep. This usually does the trick for me. After feeling a little better on Wednesday I thought I was right on track. That is until I woke up around 4:30am & the entire room was spinning, going side to side & up & down. I thought for sure it was food poisoning. Of course my 1^st & only instinct was to call my dad. I swear if he wasn’t a minister, he would be a doctor. He told me it was probably a sinus infection that would cause this kind of dizziness. After a night of no sleep & vomiting I came downstairs & told Noel that I needed to see a doctor. He said he would call the “GP” right away. In the other room I hear him on the phone say, “Hello, I was wondering what your surgery hours are?” All I’m thinking is, “Uh, does he think I’m dying!?” In Ireland, they call doctors “GP’s” and a regular office visit would be considered “surgery.” Oh, another fun fact – the doctor’s offices are open in the morning until 12:30pm. They close for the afternoon & then open again at 5:00pm. I’m still trying to make sense of this.. Anyway, I made it right in time to visit the GP. After asking a few questions & taking my blood pressure, he says “Well, it looks like you’ve contracted an infection that is causing vertigo. It usually lasts a day or two so sit tight & read the paper.” Maybe I’m too Americanized & expect a medication for every little illness but I think the look on my face said it all – I needed something! I wasn’t about to pay 50€ to have a doctor tell me to go “read the paper.” He then offered to prescribe me something to help with the vertigo. I spent the rest of the day in bed & woke up this morning feeling MUCH better. Hopefully this will be the first & only story about illness during my travels!

As with any story, there is usually something to be learned. Right now I am reading a book called “The Kindness of Strangers.” It is a collection of stories from travelers who write about times when they found themselves in compromising situations while on the road. In each tale, they explain how a complete stranger went out of their way to help them out. Reading these stories is very inspiring. It is a great reminder that in a world with so much violence & hatred, good people do actually exist. I met my “good people” three weeks ago when they picked me up at the train station after arriving in Ireland. Yesterday when I thought I was nearing my end, it was the kindness of the McCoy family that helped me get through. Between Noel speeding me to the doctors as if I were in child labor, Lorraine checking on me every few hours to make sure I was okay & Matt & Cara delivering me tablets (medicine) & tea, I was reminded of how fortunate I am to have landed in this beautiful home, even if it is only for a short time.

There is no better place than your parents couch when you are feeling sick but I have to say I am very thankful to have a “home away from home” in Ireland!