Core strength is important, and there are many great ways to build it. Crunches, Pilates, hacking cough marathons… but after 2 nights in a row of little, if any, sleep due to a deep cough that just wouldn’t quit, I decided to get some outside help
Normally, I like to let my body heal itself. A fever is one of the bodies defense mechanisms for killing virii and bad bacteria, but if you take anti-fever meds it just takes longer to heal. So I don’t take them. But in this case, past experience told me that antibiotics were what I needed
In a country where you can buy Viagra and Cialis over the counter, I assumed antibiotics would be the same. But no. Apparently it is OK to self medicate if you want some assistance for an all weekend sexcapade, but antibiotics require a prescription.
Conveniently, many pharmacies in Mexico have an on site Doctor. With no appointment and zero wait time, I was sitting down with a doctor explaining I had chest congestion, a horrible cough, and lack of energy. She asked some great questions, like “What color is your phlegm?” As all of this was happening in Spanish, I impressed myself that I knew how to say phlegm
She checked my throat, listened to my heart and my breathing, checked blood pressure, weight, my ears and eyes, etc… nearly a full on physical exam. It was good to hear that she thought I should get on antibiotics. Since there weren’t any patients waiting we talked for awhile about our travels and her daughters hobby of drawing Anime, of which there were several great pictures on the wall. To be sure that I understood the diagnosis and recommended treatment, she called her son on her cell phone and explained her conclusions, so he could repeat back to me in English.
What did I pay for this great service and excellent bed side manner? $2.50 (30 pesos.) In the US, I may have had to shift the decimal point over by two places
Back at the pharmacy counter, I submitted my newly obtained prescription and was quickly handed 20 pills of Amoxicillin. Surely the pharmacy must use the doctor as a loss leader to suck people in, so they can charge ridiculous amounts for drugs, right? Maybe that is the case, but the $13 I paid seemed fair
2 pills and 10 hours later, I’m feeling like a million bucks, and I didn’t even need insurance.
And I’m definitely looking forward to showing off my new abs
My wife and I have received similar excellent examples of health care here in Mexico and last year in Panama – $40 for an office visit to a dermatologist; $7.50 for a clinic visit for allergies and three prescriptions for a total of $33. There are more examples, but the point is we cannot even obtain health care insurance in the U. S., and even if we could the monthly premiums would cost more than my rent.
Great post!
It’s a good thing that you know the two sides of a really important trouble.
I’m a Mexican Doctor, and I’m happy that a colleague could help you out of your ill, and don’t rape your wallet.
I know a little about the situation the health system in the US, and I know how ridiculous expensive is the medical attention over there. That works fine for the Doctors, hospitals and pharmaceuticals in general, but sucks for the patients, and I wont even mention the poor.
Here in Mexico, on the other hand, you can get medical attention at the same price than a shoe polish in the street, and cheaper than a sixpack of beers, but at what cost?
We Doctors study a seven year career, full of stress and deprivation of sleep, among other sacrifices. Do you think that is fair that a medical consultation costs less than a cup of coffee?
I hope your country could meet in a middle point, where getting quality medical attention wont suck for anyone.
Hi Walter, thank you for this great comment
The health care system in the US is definitely in need of change. As I understand it, the average American hospital barely breaks even, and after malpractice insurance and student loan payments, many doctors are not doing much better.
It is hard to say what is fair. I always suspected that the Dr we visited in Mexico received commission on the drug sales at the pharmacy, which is why she was very eager to recommend we purchase 4 or 5 other things that weren’t necessary. Do you know more?
Overall, I would prefer to see antibiotics sold without a prescription as they are in many countries (the US is not one of them.) It seems strange that responsible adults can buy alcohol, tobacco, and Viagra over the counter, and an assortment of illegal drugs on many street corners, but must visit a doctor to get simple penicillin
I too hope that the US finds a good balance. I am optimistic about the future cost of medical care, and hope that the ACA helps more people get the medical care they need at reasonable prices
Cheers
Jeremy
Hi Jeremy,
I found your site after listening to your interview on Mad Fientist. Great interview and fantastic site! I look forward to reading the rest of your posts.
I just wanted to note that there is a justification for restricting access to antibiotics. Overuse and misuse can lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria that can be harder to treat in the future. It can be harmful both to the individual taking the antibiotics improperly and to the population at large. Therefore, the rationale is that a doctor’s consultation is required first to try to confirm that the infection is one that can be treated by antibiotics, and second to give the patient clear instructions on how to use them.
I’m all for personal responsibility/freedom and allowing everyone to consume substances to their hearts’ content, so long as they don’t harm others; but we are in a global war against constantly evolving microbes, and we need to make sure our weapons are deployed effectively so that our enemy is destroyed rather than strengthened.
Now I’ll get back to the financial freedom topics that drew me to your site, but thanks for the interesting diversion. I love how free-ranging the posts have been.
Hi David
Welcome. Thank you for stopping by and for a great comment
The following would be a fun conversation over some beers, another great self-prescribed substance :)
I understand the rationale behind restricting access to antibiotics, and think you have phrased it accurately and articulately.
But, restricting access to adults seems a bit like making firecrackers illegal when everybody already has their own personal nuclear arsenal.
Antibiotic resistance doesn’t come because Jeremy self prescribes some antibiotics once every year or two. It comes because antibiotics are abused across numerous industries, including the food industrial complex. From wikipedia
“In 2001, the Union of Concerned Scientists estimated that greater than 70% of the antibiotics used in the US are given to food animals (for example, chickens, pigs and cattle), in the absence of disease”
70%!
Antibiotics are overused in the US medical industry as well. My sister, mother, and brother-in-law are nurses, and their immediate reaction to the question, “Are antibiotics overused in hospitals?” was, “Hell yes!” Examples included signs of infection immediately treated with antibiotics, even if the infection is likely viral, and numerous cases of patients and doctors feeling better because they are “doing something” by using antibiotics.
Just using the 80/20 rule, 80% of the problem isn’t self-prescribed antibiotics
But my rationale doesn’t change anything. Antibiotics in most places require a prescription (except ordering on the Internet) and that will continue to be the case
Thanks again for the great comment. I’m off to self-prescribe some beers
Jeremy