On to YarmouthAug 19, 2009
|
|
We had a nice easy drive to Yarmouth, 84 miles total. Somehow, the drive to Digby seemed a lot smoother in Howard’s car; but, we bumped along and soon we were on Highway 101 bound southwest for Yarmouth. There is a very heavy fog again today and, of course, everyone is talking about the effect “Bill” might have on the local weather. Currently, they have 2 inches of rain in the forecast for Sunday.
When we checked in at the campground, we asked if there was a doctor in the area so we could get Joe’s shingle diagnosis confirmed and get some medication. They told us there was not only no doctors but there was no walk-in clinic either….the emergency room at the hospital was the only option and they warned us to go prepared for a long wait.
So, we got set up, had lunch, and armed ourselves with reading material and headed for Yarmouth Regional Hospital. The campground hosts were correct; the waiting room was bulging with people and they told us to take a number. Then the triage nurse assessed the situation, and took us to check-in to do the paperwork, and then we sat, and sat, and sat, and paced, and paced, and paced. Finally, after about 2 ½ hours, they called Joe…..90 seconds with the doctor confirmed he had shingles, had prescription in hand, and was ready to go. The cost? $50 for the doctor and $110 for the paperwork. We stopped at Wal-Mart to fill the prescription…$125 for a week’s worth of medication….worth every penny if it clears up the shingles.
The government controls the health-care delivery system and there is an acute shortage of doctors in Nova Scotia. The ER had gotten behind because they had a serious car accident in the morning so everything piled up around that. Our ordeal made us thankful for the convenience of medical care at home. However, everyone was extremely helpful and friendly and the Pharmacist seemed genuinely perplexed that our home address was in Oklahoma.
We returned to camp and we’re here now at Camper’s Haven until Monday morning. It will give Joe some time to rest and, hopefully, get rid of the shingles. We had dinner, visited with Howard & Gail for a while, and Joe went off to bed early.
Weather permitting, we’ll do some sightseeing tomorrow.
