Anyone who knows me knows it is no surprise that my health has been less than perfect. I have had days where I laid in bed and wondered if this is what the rest of my life is going to be like. I am an energetic, optimistic person. I don't like bad health. It keeps me from doing the things I want to do.
Health care is a topic one can argue about all day long. In Argentina I have one of the best insurance companies - OSDE. I changed from Swiss Medical because I got tired of them and their attitude. The insurance company is great..the doctors and the system is something else.
The good thing about the Argentine medical system is that you do not need to have a doctor refer you to another doctor. The bad thing is that there is no one in control. I have a general medical doctor and he is great. However, if I am sick, I can't see him. I have to go to an Urgent Care center called a guardia and see a doctor who knows nothing about me. If I don't like that doctor, that is a problem. Sometimes that doctor is an idiot and it means another trip to the guardia or another guardia until you get your problem resolved.
I also think doctors like to over prescribe medicine here. I have had to fight with doctors about taking medicine I didn't want or think I needed. This causes the doctor to not want to see me any more. I had one doctor stand up and yell at me and tell me he was the doctor. Duh.
I had a pretty good idea of what my problems were. The Internet can be a wonderful thing is used properly. I went to 14 endocrinologists and not one would test my adrenals or pitutiary. They only cared about 1 number. My symptoms and how I felt were not important. One doctor wanted to know why I took so many vitamins and told me to "stop it." I never went back.
It is frustrating to go from doctor to doctor and not find one that will listen or at least do the tests. Why? One part is arrogance and the other part is financial. Every time you see the doctor you sign a piece of paper. The doctor gets paid. So the more times you come back the more times he gets paid. Very simple. He or she can take forever to diagnose you and in all that time be paid for it. Business.
I am in Ubud. It is the center of healing. This is what Ubud has been known for. The owner of my guest house recommended a reflexologist who is a healer to me. She told me that it would hurt and it would take longer than one session.
Pitu is around 60 years old. He has 2 wives and several children. He is little wrinkled guy who looks like an elf. He learned reflexology and healing from his father. The healers in Ubud do not have set prices. You make a donation. They also take their time. They heal because they feel this is what God wants them to do.
In my first session he would press points and do reflexology not only with my feet, but on parts of my legs and hands. At times he would go "Bad." He does not speak much English. He could not tell me why the parts are bad because his English is not good enough. He would close his eyes after a "Bad" and breathe. Then press somewhere else and shake his head.
In my next session he spent a lot of time on my feet. It was very painful. Then on several points. He called over the woman I am staying with to explain my problems. She says to me "You have problems with your adrenals, pituitary, and your intestines. He is going to try and help you." I had said nothing to Pitu about my health issues. He hit them all right on.
Then he looked at me and said " Your headaches come from here." He pointed to my abdomen. I never told him I suffer from horrible migraines. He said my intestines are very blocked. He hoped that he could help me before I left. "I want to fix you." He smiled at me with the few teeth he still has.
A few days before I got one of my famous migraines. At first I thought to go get a massage. As I was walking I saw a sign for acupuncture. I decided that might be a better course. I walked in delirious in pain.
The doctor was a Chinese medical doctor. He wanted to know my age and my problems. All I could tell him was I had a horrible migraine and I have thyroid problems. He asked me some questions about my headaches. On the table he pressed several points, then more. Then he pressed my abdomen. Of course pain. He looked at me "Why didn't you tell me you have problems with your digestion?"
I don't think I ever had so many needles in me. First in the front of me for 20 minutes or more, then I turned over and on the back of me. After the doctor said to me" Your stomach is blocked. You have problems with your adrenals. Maybe your pituitary. This is why you have headaches." Then he asked me what my Western doctors said. I laughed. More about what they will not say.
I have had several treatments from both my Chinese medicine doctor and Pitu. I am starting to feel better. I wish that I could stay longer in Ubud just to be treated by them. I don't think that it is just reflexology, it is the skill Pitu has as a healer. I watch others do reflexology here in Ubud and it is not the same.
I believe that Eastern medicine can help where Western medicine fails. I feel that Western medicine has been failing me for years. For the first time in a long time I am sleeping better. I have more energy. (I know that is in part to finding out I was celiac.) I am hoping to control my headaches.
I only hope that I can find someone to continue with in Buenos Aires. The acupuncturist I was seeing is no longer there. There are many chantas in Buenos Aires and that is why I was happy to come here to Ubud to start to find health.
I haven't visited your blog in a long time, been taking a break from reading blogs, as I'm so overwhelmed with life (in a good way)! But, isn't it amazing that the post I chose to read for the first time in ages is this one??? I'm so happy to hear that you've had positive experiences with Chinese Medicine! Maybe I should open up a 2nd clinic in BA? ;-) Safe travels!!
Posted by: Andi of My Beautiful Adventures | November 01, 2012 at 06:07 PM