Getting Sick Far From Home

If you are a good little backpacker, you have a properly equipped medical kit–stuff for headaches, for diarrhea, for rashes, for colds, for blisters, etc. I do have a good medical kit, yet still, what I needed was not in there.

If you are a good little backpacker, you have a properly equipped medical kit–stuff for headaches, for diarrhea, for rashes, for colds, for blisters, etc. I do have a good medical kit, yet still, what I needed was not in there.
I noticed some bumps on my neck when I was at the Vatican (I thought I was just having a religious enlightenment or glow) and it spread further. Perhaps a reaction to the weird perfumey sunscreen? I found the hydrocortisone in my medical kit, and applied and applied. It wasn’t improving so I went to a pharmacist, and the guy gave me some stronger hydrocortisone cream. I applied, and applied, and still found myself scratching during dinner with Andy yesterday.
I was supposed to go on a walking tour of Roma today but about an hour and a half before it started, I was itching and sweating and I felt gross and the rash was on my face and I was crying. So I called a doctor recommended by my hostel (110 euros!!!!) and went to see him. He gave me two kinds of medicine and a special soap. I spent a few hours at the doctor and pharmacy and lost my deposit for an ancient Roman history tour. But oh well, my health is more important.
The moral of my story? If you think you need medical attention, see a doctor. Don’t wait until the last minute, and make sure you know your health insurance company’s or travel insurance policy–I need to get a bill with the amount in US Dollars, the diagnosis in English, and the date and all that good stuff. Without it, I do not get reimbursed. However, knowing my health insurance company, I’ll need luck getting reimbursed.