My first hand experience with the Indian Health System

Slum in Delhi

As you all know by now Farah had her first experience with the Indian Health System when she fainted at St. Stephen's Hospital on Wednesday. Well I guess it was my turn to try it out. I've had insomnia since we got here and while the first several days I was highly functional during the day despite sleep, the last two nights have taken me beyond the edge as I've had panic attacks during the night, mostly because of frustration over the lack of sleep and my inability to function normally anymore during the day as a result. The past couple of visits to community sites have been unbearable for me, because I've barely been able to keep my eyes open and my brain is so fried I cannot ask any informative questions.

So today our coordinator from CFHI Hema Pandey came to take me to Apollo Hospital to see a doctor and since our medical director Dr. Raina is out of town, I waited about 2 hours to see a colleague of his, Dr. Nag.
From my previous blogs you may have gathered that Apollo serves the wealthy Indians and in the waiting room I was the only foreigner. The out of pocket fee to see Dr. Nag was 700 rupees, a little over $17, which is nothing for us Americans since we pay so much more than that, but this is perhaps a month's salary for a hard working impoverished Indian.
He was really very nice and diagnosed me with anxiety, which is still odd to me because I don't feel anxious, I'm actually enjoying being in India, the people are warm and friendly but I suppose my anxiety is on a more subconcious level. In any case he prescribed some anti-anxiety medication which takes 2-3 weeks to work (which I don't understand), and Clonazepam to help me sleep. He suggested I take a .5mg when I got home to help me take a nap, but alas, nothing. At this point I feel like a horse tranquilizer would not phaze me. I've decided that if I cannot sleep tonight and tomorrow night, I'm taking a flight to LA on Monday or Tuesday.
As dedicated as I am to advancing the health of the public, I cannot do any such thing if my own is suffering. Normally I would see this as a failure on my part, but at this point, I see it as being wise about my health. On top of anxiety, I'm also suffering from a cold and a cough thanks to the pollution that hangs over Delhi and penetrates all your pores. Those of you who know me, know that I've suffered a great trauma to my spine followed by spinal surgery several years back from which I am still recovering on a daily basis. I did not let my back discourage me from traveling halfway across the world to educate myself, however, if I cannot sleep and if I have anxiety, I cannot function and am therefore no use to anyone.
So at this point, I'm really hoping the meds work so I can get some sleep and return to my work.