Archive for the ‘Medicine’ Category

Indonesian Healthcare

Monday, July 27th, 2009
first names are more important here anyway

first names are more important here anyway

 

In the past week the 3 of us have all been to a doctor of some sort, and I feel less stress about those three visits combined than I do just thinking about visiting a doctor in America. For one, I don’t feel like I am compromising G’s college fund to take him for a checkup. In fact, his most recent exam (with a course of antibiotics) cost less than Rp. 50,000 (about $5). And before than a head wound patch up was completely free. I had a routine exam with an eye specialist for another $5. But what really blew us away was Amy’s prenatal check-up, ultrasound, and lab work that ran a bill of Rp. 125,000 (that’s right, $12.50). You couldn’t eat out on the way home from your doctor for that much, could you?

Of course, there are some aspects of the healthcare system here that are probably less than ideal. Having to explain symptoms with hand motions is another (but then again it’s only us foreigners who have to do that). The differences in explanations for why people are sick (they were thinking about too many things, or she ate too much sugar, or he’s been falling down too much). Who can ignore the clothes rack with freshly washed latex gloves drying in the street. And the fact that patients have to round the time on the ”OPEN” sign up to the nearest hour divisible by 3, also makes getting well in Indonesia a little tricky.

But those few small things aside, we really appreciate being cared for here in Indonesia.

MICHAEL

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happy anniversary to us

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

IMG_5464a

Wasn’t it inevitable? Michael and I decided to go away for the night to celebrate our 6th anniversary. This was our first night without G, but we left him in the capable hands of our house helpers. They watch him every day while we are in school so they know the drill, know the house, and even do a load of laundry or two while babysitting. Not to mention the fact that G gets along with them really well. As we were sitting down to dinner, I got a phone call that G had fallen down, had a small cut, and “boleh dijahit di bidan sistwanti (can he be stiched at the midwife’s?).”  To which I replied: “No. First call our friends so they can stop by and decide if he needs stitches or just super glue.” I would rather him not go  through the trauma of facial sutures without me. We jumped on our motorbike for a quick and cold 30 minute ride back to the house. We pulled into the driveway just in time to tuck him into bed after convincing him to take off his blood soaked shirt (he was kind of proud of it). It really must have been quite a crime scene as there were blood stains everywhere. We tried to assure the ladies that they had done a wonderful job. And when all was settled down here, we reluctantly returned to finish our uneaten dinner, and enjoy our already paid for cabin.

We got back early this morning and let our helpers go home and rest. I think they are way more traumatized than G. We opened up his bandages this morning to see that he maybe should have been sewn after all, but we’ve got a butterfly on it hoping that will help. Good thing he’s a boy, and boys consider scars cool (or so I’m told).

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medicine on our new side of the world

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Last week G was crabby, quite crabby. He would whine and cry and not want to sleep. I think our house helpers got tired of it, or of seeing him in misery, so they suggested that I take him to go get a massage. So I thought why not try another Indonesian experience. My friends take their kids if they have been falling a lot, or if they are cranky. So we hopped on our motorbike and followed our helper to an unassuming little place. Inside were several Batik throws, and an old mat. With trepidation I gave G to the masseuse, and she mixed some beras kencur powder with water to rub on G. He hated it and bawled and fought and struggled. Michael says we will never do it again. But (possibly coincedentally) G is now doing a lot better.

i wish he had enjoyed it some
i wish he had enjoyed it some

I’ve also of and on felt under the weather. So people tell me that I probably have masuk angin (wind entered). Which seems to be a catch all disease. But the most common symptoms are bloating and gas (sorry fair reader). It’s thought to be caused by sitting under a fan, or in front of an open door when there is wind, or if a kid sits in the front of a motorcycle. Another treatment besides Jamu is to whistle (I’m not making this up). In fact Christians, well educated Doctorate types, also believe in Masuk Angin. I guess it’s a little bit like American’s belief of how the common cold is caused… So the treatment is some more beras kuncur powder mixed into a drink called jamu.

G has small bites all over his arms, and a rash all around his neck. So I’ve been taking our neighbors advice and rubbing Minyak Kayu Putih (Melaleuca Oil, apparently a cousin of Tea Tree Oil) all over him, his matress is going to get “sunned,” and he gets powdered after his bath, which is often three times a day because we take lots of baths around here now that it is hot. Maybe I should try beras kuncur.

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