Medical Care

I have migraines & reflux. I was about to run out of my reflux meds, so I needed to find a doctor. I had also wanted to try acupuncture for my migraines. I was really hoping to find an English-speaking doctor who was alternative therapies-friendly. I wanted a doctor that we could all go to, preferably female, not too far away, and who wouldn't mind if Em came with me. I asked for recommendations from Max's coworkers and from our homeschool group, but nobody seemed to have just what I was looking for. I got lots of recommendations for GYN & pediatricians, but no general practitioners. I did receive a suggestion to check out the consulate website, so that's what I did. Turns out, there aren't many GPs in Germany. Almost all of them specialize. But, I was very lucky, and I found an English-speaking, female, general practitioner who specializes in pain management and alternative therapies. Perfect!

I have discovered some interesting things about medical care in Germany.

One - it is so much cheaper than in the US. We got the bill for my initial appointment, a bloodwork & general check-up appointment, and like 12 acupuncture appointments, and it was about 1500€ (about $1800). I got a prescription for 2 months worth of a migraine med for 24€ (about $30), and I just got the prescription for my reflux meds for 2 months for 57€ (about $70). In the US, it's a $50 a month copay.

Two - they're way into ultrasound. When I went in for my check-up, one of the parts was an ultrasound of my internal organs. Apparently, all of my organs look good. So, I got that going for me, which is nice.

Three - doktor knows best. As much as I'm glad I found the doctor I did, she's not big on listening. When I first went in, I went armed with a list of the medications that I have used, and whether they were successful or unsuccessful for me. I told her I react badly to the triptan family of migraine meds, but she really wanted to give me some. I also told her that ibuprofen irritates my stomach, but she told me to take it anyway, just take it with an extra stomach pill. I did, it hurt, I stopped. I also had the name of the reflux med that worked for me, but she gave me something else. I think it is more commonly prescribed here. I did finally get the right one, just yesterday. It was a bit of work to find an apotheka (pharmacy) that carried it, though. Of course, this is just one practice, and one doctor within that practice. I had another doctor do a couple of my acupuncture treatments, and he was a sweetheart. I wish he spoke better English, or I spoke better German, so he could be my regular guy. But, I don't feel great leaving my medical care up to our broken conversations, so I'll stick with the other lady.

Four - The apothekas are great. You take your prescription, they look at whether or not they have it, they give it to you. It seems that everything is pre-packaged, so you don't have to wait for them to actually fill a prescription. They go get the box off the shelf and give it to you. It takes about 3 minutes. Twice, they haven't had my meds, but they've ordered it and given it to me the next day.

Five - You get your own immunizations. The doctor gives you a prescription, you go to the apotheka and get it, and you bring it back to the doctor. My hepatitis one cost like 15€ (about $18).

Emma says - Waiting rooms are boring, especially when you have to sit in them for like an hour.