More doctors and more tests
19 August 2013 | Oceanview Marina
sunny and hot--again.
It's another Monday full of fun. At 0830, Tracy took off in the shuttle to get the ferry to go visit the Pulonologist in Davao. Hopefully the last doctor she will need to see. It's been swallowing our days for the last week each day going into town to see some one different or visit a different clinic or another hospital to get tests done. It's been a long fought ordeal but we think we are in the final stretch. Every test she has had comes back that she is perfectly healthy yet she has felt light headed and dizzy for most of the last week.
Meanwhile, I stayed at the marina and attended a navigation seminar about the upcoming rally. Ports of call, anchorages, waypoints, anticipated weather reports, etc. Lots of information. By 1030 it was over and I returned to Zephyr to start in on chores while Tracy was gone. Donald showed up this morning at 0800 and we had him continue to scrub the hull with rubbing compound to get rid of all the oxidation that has happened since we left Mexico. Once he finished the port side(did the rest last Friday) I had him start applying the teak oil/sealer to the port side. The starboard and stern both have at least 5 coats on them and they look great. Donald got 2 coats on during the afternoon. A good start. We have to have the wood dry for at least 24 hours before it can be applied and we just kept getting sprinkles during the night. We got lucky and it didn't rain last night. Put it on while the Sun is shining. In the afternoon, I ran the water maker for several hours checking all the tubes to make sure it wasn't leaking. I even changed the filter. The old one is now soaking in a solution of water and clorox bleach. Once dried, it can be reused. I even got the new(ok, old fishing nets we got in Pohnpei) attached to Zephyr's stern. The old white nets we have passed on to another cruiser that just got a new kitten.
Here is what Tracy ran into while in town. She'd been told by her cardiologist to go see a specific pulmonologist at the San Pedro Hospital. When she told the cab driver where she needed to go, he asked her if she was visiting a friend. When she responded no, she was going in for some test, Tracy told me he shook his head sort of. The reason became evident when she arrived. Now Tracy grew up as a military brat living on or near Air Force bases all over the world. The medical clinics on base were not always the most up to day in equipment and they were far from the modern hospitals that many of us visit when we get sick. She told me that no matter how bad the Air Force clinics were, this place was a hundred times worse. Dark(burned out light bulbs) and dingy(paint all chipped) and with lots of out dated equipment. It was filthy. Now we had been told that when you go into a hospital here in the Philippines, that you need a "minder". Some one that stays in your room at all times and "minds" you. Bring your own sheets and gowns as none are provided. Now she sees why. she could not believe how bad it was in there. She has nothing to compare it to. Now it is cheap. The pulmonolgist charged a whopping $375 pesos($8.75US) and the full chest X ray was $185 pesos(about $4.25US). It doesn't get much cheaper than that. The doctors opinion, she has asthma. A mild case that can be brought on by heat and exertion. Just what has been happening. Her dizziness and light headedness is due to not getting enough oxygen into her system as the breathes she was taking were no where near getting it to her brain and other parts of her body. The doctor put her on some inhalers that she is to use twice a day as a "maintenance" so that it doesn't rear it's ugly head again. So, the mystery is solved and we can get on with our lives. But wait--there is one more test we need her to take. We go back into town and back to Davao Doctors Hospital for a lung capacity test that to be given on Thursday in the afternoon after 1300. So we will be taking the shuttle and ferry into town early in the morning so we can be there long before 1300 so we won't have to wait so long. The doctor told her that the test is free and she is to have it done and bring her the results. At that time, the doctor will give her more prescriptions.
We did get notification that our chain has arrived back where it started and we can pick it up. We're making arrangement with Chardon(Marina Manager) to go in and get it. Maybe tomorrow but I'm not going to hold my breathe as there is an bunch of the cruisers going in to visit the Indonesian Consulate and then the Customs and Immigration people to start the exit procedures to leave on the rally. As we still have no batteries and still have more tests for Tracy and still have to pick up the anchor chain and get it marked with markers(telling me how much chain I've let out). It will probably be next week at the earliest that we get out of here. We will probably miss the rally or be really late.
Stay tuned. It just keeps on coming.
The picture for today is a thank you card made by Ella, Donald and Carols daughter to thanks us for taking them to town last Saturday. She's quite the artist. Really good with colors.