One week after getting sick in this country, I finally have some antibiotics in my hot little hands. All it took was 50 phone calls and 3 separate visits to the neighbourhood clinic:
S: I've had this cold and cough for a whole week.
D: [Checks]. Well it's not a bacterial infection.
S: Are you sure? It doesn't seem to be going away, and I had the same thing when I first arrived in London.
D: I don't want to prescribe you with any antibiotics, it's just not necessary in this case.
S: Oh but I really need them, if I don't take any, I'll get the same thing again later. I just want to make sure the bug's gone for good.
D: Antibiotics won't help you get better. All you need to do is rest.
S: Oooh..... are you sure? How about something for my cough?
D: Look you just need to get some rest and lots of sleep. It takes about 4 weeks to really get over a cold.
S: 4 weeks! But I'm going away this weekend... [look completely helpless.]
D: Oh... now I feel really bad. Do you really have to go away this weekend? You need your rest.
S: It's already booked [throw in another helpless look].
D: Hmmm... okok. I'll write you a prescription, just in case you don't get better by Sunday. But you really shouldn't take them at all. Antibiotics are so overprescribed in this country.
S: Oh I promise I won't. Only if I don't get better by Sunday. [Woohoo!!!!]
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