Being Sick in Egypt

I think I might be quite sick. I've had a cough for a few weeks, congestion in my head and chest, tiredness, occasional fever and sore throat, tummy problems...if I was vomiting, I'd have all the symptoms for swine flu. Since I'm not, I figure it's just a bad case of bronchitis. Also, I haven't grown pink ears and a curly tail...yet.

One benefit to being sick in Egypt is that you can self-medicate at the pharmacy. Earlier this week, when the health office sent me home from school since I had a fever, I went to buy some cough syrup on the way. As I'm asking for the syrup, the pharmacist must recognize my fondness for prescription medications and inquires as to my other symptoms. I explain the fever, the stuffed up nose, do a fine demonstration of my hacking cough inside the shop.

He says, "I would like to give you an antibiotic."

"Great!" I reply. Saves me the trip to the doctor to be told I need one anyways.

He leans in closely. "Do you think it might be the swine flu?"

"No, I think it might be the bronchitis."

"Are you sure? It could be the swine flu."

"No, it probably is the bronchitis, since I felt, sounded, and looked like this last summer."

Now, when he first asked about the swine flu, I really wanted to respond with, "I don't know. I did eat pork chops last night. Do you think that might have caused it?" However, it's such a big deal here now, that I'm afraid to joke about it in a pharmacy. Next thing you know, I'd probably have my school shut down and I'd be quarantined in my flat for a week. And if that happened, who would walk Howie?

So I left the pharmacy with Zithromax, cough syrup, echinacea, throat drops, and more tissues. He wanted to sell me something else, but at that point I started to wonder about drug interactions and though the better of it. All I can say is, three days of big doses of antibiotics have only made me sicker. So today it's off to the doctor anyways.