Ok, a little more detail about our trip so far.
After returning to Cleveland from Canada we spent the evening packing. We were both exahuasted from the driving and all of the activity. Tragedy struck. Amy rolled her ankle coming down the stairs of my apartment on our way out to run an errand. She was in tremendous pain and we were not sure if the ankle was broken. I can't tell everyone how impressed I am at how well she kept it together, having possibly broken her ankle just a few hours before we were due to fly out for her wedding.
We elevated and iced it, and continued to pack and discuss our options. I was pushing for delaying the trip, but she's a pretty tough girl. We called an RN (one of the benefits of my health coverage, gracias Blue Shield).
The nurse convinced Amy that it probably wasn't broken, too keep up with ice and rest. If it started to bruse or the swelling got worse, we were due for a Doctor visit in Costa Rica.
We soldiered on, Amy hobbling badly through the airports and me doing the best to keep her comfortable. Once we checked into the hotel we continued with ice, rest, and pain killers for the afternoon. This went well with the monsoon and blackout which occured simultanously. I went out and tried my spanish at a farmacia and won an ACE Bandage.
We went out for dinner, but when we returned, the ankle was bigger and uglier. Alas, time to find out about foreign health care systems.
Took a cab to the 'Clinical Biblica' on the recommendation of our hotel staff. A free hospital was the other option, but when we learned of the cost of the pay-per-go service, we decided to splurge.
No waiting. Saw a Nurse immediatley, who recommened a bone dr (orthopedist?). The bone Dr. was 'out' having left for the day at 6pm, they had to call him. He arrived in about 3 minutes. Our longest wait of the night. He saw Amy, who explained (in Spanish, with Amy, every conversation with a local is in spanish) the injury.
He poked her ankle and sent us down the hall for an X-ray. Again, no wait, Amy got right up on a table and they took the pictures.
We had to wait about 2 minutes for the film to develop before we walked it back down the hall to the Dr. NO BREAKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He perscribed Vioxx for the swelling and was confident that we'd be hiking around the mountains in no-time.
So, what did this all cost?
Let's see. $20 for the visit and another $20 to sell Dr. Oscar (Because he's a specialist)
$35 for the X-ray, hey, pictures aren't cheap.
$20 for the Vioxx. No health insurance nessesary, entire emergency room trip - less than $100.
We used a Mastercard, because that, was priceless.
The most remarkable thing was that the entire trip took 20 - 25 minutes complete with X-ray. Oh, yea, we got to keep the X-ray, it's cool.
Today, we went shopping, which was exactly as you would imagine. Amy got a 'real' mango, which she's been craving since Mexico.
I'm using more Spanish than I should, and offending every ear in range.
Tomorrow, to the Volcanoes, and the Volcanic hot springs........