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Published: August 30th 2014
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When we first arrived in Turkey, we never foresaw us being in the back of a pharmacy with Glyn face-down on the tatty sofa getting an injection. But that's part of the exciting unknown of foreign travel, right?
The original plan for today was to hang out in Goreme for the day, take an overnight bus to Fethiye and then on to Olideniz for paragliding. But after another dreadful night, it was clear that Glyn could barely walk down the street, let alone sit on a long distance bus. And looking online, they say the buses have three toilet stops, in other words, no facilities onboard.
Our hotel was able to let us stay an extra night, but the guy was vague when I asked about finding a doctor. I googled doctors in the area with no helpful results and asked on Trip Advisor - the only response was someone who googled for me with the same unhelpful results including a dentist. Why are people so dim? When you say you've already googled it with no satisfactory outcome, does another person think that a link to their unchecked out google search is of help?
We had to get
Glyn's dinner - boiled potatoes and grated cheese.
He was unable to eat the salad, or even that much of the potato. the car back to the hire place before 10am, so Glyn had to come out anyway and we walked back to the pharmacy where I'd bought his medication yesterday. The guy said he could call a doctor but it would cost 250tl, so this is what we did. During the hour long wait, the pharmacist made Glyn the best apple tea that he has had in Turkey.
The doctor turned up in jeans and t-shirt but had a reassuring medical bag. We went into the staff area at the back, amongst the stacked boxes and shoes strewn over the floor. The doctor was good though, taking Glyn's blood pressure, listening to his lungs and squeezing down on Glyn's aching belly.
He gave Glyn an injection which was included in the call out price and said that the over the counter medication bought yesterday wasn't strong enough. So he had a 40tl prescription for anti-biotics, worm tablets and rehydration pills. Glyn was told to eat only potatoes, rice and cheese bread but where to get such a simple meal in a tourist area? It's all pide, pizza and nice but oily Turkish food. So the pharmacist asked at a neighbouring restaurant to do a special meal for Glyn and they obliged. I was quite hungry and had mixed vegetarian mezes which was the best meal I've had so far in Turkey and I felt a bit guilty eating it next to Glyn's paltry potatoes and cheese.
We then took a slow walk up the hill, Glyn was so weak. The afternoon was spent dozing off and reading, it really is a nice terrace and hotel to chill in. They happily supplied more toilet rolls, new sheets and towels and seemed to care which is nice.
We took an evening walk into town to get bread rolls and cheese, poor Glyn was retching on the way and suffering on the hill back up. He seems a bit better now but was only able to eat half a cheese roll. Hopefully the meds will do their job now!
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Bonnie
non-member comment
Turkey ills
I can completely understand your problem of severe GI problems while in Turkey. The same thing happened to me in a small town in central Turkey called Avanos. I obviously had food poisoning and probably salmonella. I was bed bound for 3 days except to the bathroom (where I slept on the floor at times too). The Hotel owner arranged for the kitchen to boil me a potato and I supplemented it with lots of salt and Sprite. It took me 4 more days to feel almost normal again. And that included getting on a bus and driving down to the south coast and around the tip and north to Fethiye. By the time I got to Fethiye I was ready to go to the hospital to be hydrated. I knew I was not in good condition and was settled on making that hospital trip upon arrival. However, when we got to Fethiye I was at least keeping things down and my diet of potato chips and sprite had served to help hydrate my dehydrated body. As a nurse I knew that was not the best way to do that but when that is all you have you do it. We spent 3 days in Fethiye and I stayed in my room (with a beautiful marina view) for those days. I knew that if I tried to over do it I would be right back where I started. I hope Glyn does not try to catch up on sightseeing over the next few days. It takes a few days to get your body chemistry balanced again and trying to hurry that along will not have the results you/he wants. Good luck and Keep hydrated!