Down with flu

With the changing weather, I got inflicted with flu (of the Swiss variety). It was a weird and a funny experience at the doctor's office today. In my experiences in Canada , when you are examined by a physician for flu symptoms, they try to examine your throat, ears and any other facial passageway(s). They then put a strip indicator into your mouth to determine wheter the infection is viral or bacterial. They then proceed with the usual stethoscopic diagnosis where you are asked to breathe in and breathe out.

Here in Geneva, I was lucky to have a medical office from my international organization. With lucky, I mean I do not need to pay upfront for any professional fees rendered by them to me as the preliminary diagnosis is free. What I find strange though is that I was required to disrobe partially and lie down on the bed just to have a stethoscopic diagnosis. It's a little bit uncomfortable as all the diagnosis was done in French and I didn't really had a solid grasp of what was transpiring. Moreso, all the medical staff were 23-chromosomed creatures that made the entire experience even more uncomfortable! I got even more paranoid when they asked me where I am from and when I said the magic word 'Canada', they started moving to another room to get their face filters/masks.... you know what I was thinking about when they did that - the four letter potent word - SARS???? Well, I'm pretty sure I don't have it as I think I got it from my travelling spree. I did some travelling since last Friday and one cause might be overfatigue. Another cause I am thinking is that I used a lot of public transit especially trains and being in public places most of the time increases your chance of being in contact with harmful pathogens that might cause flu. Another thing is that spring is already here in Geneva and the changing weather might also have a hand on that. Even people on trams cough a lot and I reckon that it must be the most vulnerable season of having a flu.

I got a presciption afterwards but since I am outside of Canada, I need to have to pay the medicines upfront. They actually gave me a throat spray, paracetamol and some antibiotics valid for 16 days. In other words, I am going to have an antibiotic theraphy.

I really hope to get well soon. I do not want to lay idle here unproductive and bedridden. I have so many things to do. I even missed an important meeting that I should be having this Monday that I have waited for 3 weeks to happen. And other than that, I have a paper to submit with my adviser for a conference participation in Hong Kong. Would be nice to have a paper accepted on that and take the opportunity to go have a taste of Asia again and probably drop by Manila to visit old friends!

Kindly give me best your wishes. Its tough to be sick in another country but don't worry, I am taking it as part of the exciting and most of the time mind-boggling experience I have. Everything will be fine!