Doctor's Visit

So now I'm in the emergency room waiting area. My scrapes from the bike fall hurt more now than yesterday, so I'm assuming they're getting infected. I was going to to go the public hospital, which isn't that far away, just to experience socialized medicine, but this clinic was the first one I found, the wait is only about 15 minutes, so I figured it's better to pay the 150 pesos (around $43), and skip the cultural experiment.

But I realize that 150 pesos is a lot of money to most people here, that'd be about 10% of a entry-level professional monthly salary.

And of course, I'm annoyed with myself for not going to a pharamcy to get an ointment to apply, instead of just using the white soap and water.

--

Okay, 12 minutes later, I see the doctor, I foolish accept his handshake, which causes him to squeeze the now very sore scapes on the back of my hand. I explain my problem and diagnosis: I fell, and I think the scrapes are infected. He pokes around a bit, says they're not infected. I say they hurt more today than yesterday, he says that's normal, I say there's a pink ring around the wounds, he says that's normal, and if they don't get bigger, not to worry. He prescribes ice 3 times a day.

The doctor was insistent that an anti-biotic was unnecessary now, and that pretty much it was healing normally.

So $43 dollars (and gratefully not much time) later, I think I'll be okay. As long as I avoid shaking hands.