From Hospitals and Other Horrors

Tuesday, 06.09.2016: So, now we are already in a really great hotel at first sight and I still don't feel better. I am still in bed with a fever of 40 degrees Celsius. Even the Ibuprofen doesn't help for long. In the afternoon we finally decide to see a doctor. So, into the taxi and off to the hospital 30km away.

Hospital? Oh no. That's exactly what I wanted to avoid during my India trip. Doesn't matter. Since I feel so bad that I don't notice what's happening around me, I can't do anything about it anyway. After half an hour we reach the hospital. I am immediately taken care of by 3 nurses and a doctor without a long waiting time. After the first examinations, it is clear - everything is fine so far. A blood test is to be done. Furthermore, my blood pressure is too high, which worries the doctors and they discuss whether I should stay overnight in the hospital. Fortunately, Jasmin is by my side the whole time and we can avoid spending the night in the hospital. After the doctor explains to Jasmin that the symptoms are atypical for malaria, I am very relieved and just want to go to the hotel bed to sleep. We will only learn the results of the blood test the next day . We still get the medication... Oh, what a pile of stuff is that? In total, I have to take 8 tablets: antibiotics, immune boosters, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamin B, something for digestion and for tolerability of all medications, in addition there is a gargle solution and capsules with essential oils for inhalation.

Back at the hotel, the driver asks us to give him 750 rupees (about 10€) for the treatment fees. However, we didn't get a receipt at all. After a heated discussion, Jasmin has no choice but to pay for now, while I just want to go to bed. The day passes with a lot of sleep and for Jasmin with taking care of a sick friend and taking a walk alone on the beach.

Wednesday, 07.09.2016: In the morning we go to the hospital again. Before that, we get 700 rupees back from the driver, who wants to come up with some crazy story about treatment fees for foreigners. Nothing else has come out of the blood test, but they take a closer look at my throat again. How could it be otherwise, I have tonsillitis. Did I mention that I had a severe tonsillitis only 3 weeks ago? The advice from doctors both in Germany and in India - the tonsils have to be removed. Well, my boss will be happy...

We take the rest of the day slowly, the medication makes me so tired that I sleep most of the time. Jasmin, meanwhile, goes to Mahapalipuram to do some things. Among other things, she takes my finished postcards to the post office, but without thinking about putting stamps on them. Dear friends, family and coworkers, unfortunately you will not receive any postcards from me this year, but the next trip is already planned in my mind.

Thursday, 08.09.2016: Shock in the early morning. Since I am feeling better and can leave the bed again, we decide to go for breakfast. The footpath is blocked by several large gravel piles and we have to go through between the apartments. Behind the houses there is a narrow open trench in which cables are lying. As I lift my foot to step over the trench, I perceive a flowing movement to my right. Frozen with horror, I see a 1.5 meter long snake winding beside us. With a leap and 10 long steps, we move as far away as possible from the trench. Great, that was one of the things I didn't necessarily want to experience in India - the encounter with a snake. I have a phobic fear of snakes regardless of their size.

Thanks to Google and my grandpa, we can also determine the species: It was a king cobra. One of the 4 most venomous snakes in India. Now I feel sick. Fortunately, we have survived the encounter well and from now on we check the trench carefully beforehand. We spend the rest of the day doing internet research and reading The Hobbit to each other.

Tonight the next blog for Friday, Saturday and Sunday follows :)