When I was home this summer I had a physical (which I do every 6-months), and my blood platelets were lower than normal (they have always been low). So when I got back in theater I decided to take more vitamins that help with platelet production. I wanted to see if it was doing any good so I decided to go to the German Medical Clinic here in Kabul to see if my level had improved. Now the German Medical Clinic is supposed to be the place to go for EXPATs that need medical care, and aren't authorized medical care on Camp Eggers. I was told it was a great place to go.
So I got my driver to take me -- however, he didn't know where it was so we drove around in circles -- stopping to asks kids along side the road where it was.
When we got there I was frisked for weapons and ushered into the in-processing area. The guy that took my information (on form) couldn't read the English so I gave him my drivers license and he entered my information. I went to the lab area and tried to explain to two guys I wanted the test to check my blood platelet levels. They didn't understand what I wanted and I didn't know which test covered that process, so I said I'll take a general test that covers everything. A while later the supervisor came and asked me if that's what I wanted as it is very expensive (I might mention here that when you check in they charge you $100 and if it's less they give you money back and if it is more you pay more). I told him all I really wanted was a test to see if my blood platelet level was up or down from normal. He showed me the one I wanted and so this young guy came over to take my blood -- now he looked like a high school kid. He wasn't wearing latex gloves and once he put the needle in he kept moving the needle around trying to find my vein. He was unsuccessful and he called his buddy over. He asked for a new needle and tried to reinsert the needle in a vein. Also, unsuccessful on the first three tries. He also wore no latex gloves so I wondered how clean their hands were. Finally success. I said I'll go pay while you run the test -- they said it would take 10 minutes. So I went to pay -- this guy in Admin. couldn't understand me either -- total cost of bill $37. Returned $63 to me.
As it turns out my blood platelets are up but still low -- 140. Normal (150-300). So more vitamins. I survived my experience at the German Medical Clinic. I understand there are Germans there (doctors) but I never saw one the whole time I was there. There were only Afghans.
2 comments:
Hope you got antibiotics also to help prevent any infection from the unclean conditions.
hmmm that made me feel gross reading that....yeah thats definitely not good that they weren't wearing gloves. who knows if those needles were sanitary. I hope your ok
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