Mexican Medicine

I have three things working against me here. The first is that my husband is an undiagnosed hypochondriac. The second is that IMSS hands out medicine like it's fucking candy at a home & garden show. The third is that I don't buy any of it and I definitely don't like hard, dollar store sucking candies that aren't even worthy of my grandma's purse.

A couple of weeks ago Ray made an appointment at the local hospital (just a regular doctor's visit really) because he felt like his stomach was abnormally hard and it had become difficult to breathe. This is not the first time he's had these complaints. Given our diets the last couple of months, my response was that he/we should just eat less crap and more whole foods, drink less alcohol, and suck it up buttercup.

However, after his visit tonight, he was told that we need to desparasitarnos. Basically, take medication to clear our bodies of parasites. "If your family doesn't all do it together, it won't work," the doctor explained.

Now I don't mean to be such a skeptic. I really don't. And I don't mean to discredit Mexican medicine either. But I believe there is a stark contrast between the knowledgeable doctors throughout this country and the pill-passing-physicians at the Seguro Popular.

They prescribed him 4 boxes (doses?) of Bruzol Albendazol. One for him. One for me. And... one each for Meeko and Lucy. Yes that's right, when I said  "we," not only did I mean myself and my husband, but our two dogs as well.

As with every visit he takes to the local hospital, I was left googling like a motherfucker when he came home.

"Albendazole, marketed as Albenza (United States), Eskazole, Zentel, Andazol and Alworm, is a benzimidazole drug used for the treatment of a variety of parasitic worm infestations. Although this use is widespread in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved albendazole for this indication. It is marketed by Amedra Pharmaceuticals. Albendazole was first discovered at the SmithKline Animal Health Laboratories in 1972. It is a broad spectrum anthelmintic, effective against roundworms, tapeworms, and flukes of domestic animals and humans. Albendazole may cause abdominal pain, dizziness, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, or temporary hair loss."

Great... Just what I need. More hair loss. And what about the perros?

"Albendazole has been used as an anthelmintic and for control of flukes in a variety of animal species, including cattle, sheep, goats, swine, camels, dogs, cats, elephants, poultry and others. In many countries, it is very commonly used for ruminant livestock."

Ray immediately suggested we all take them tomorrow. I told him I needed some time to investigate. I asked him how a doctor could prescribe a medication to four people (errr, two people and two animals) if three of them weren't even present?! What if one of us has an allergy?

No allergy, baby. Cada six months. Everybody. No allergy.

Shoot me now.

We've made an agreement to wait until Saturday to take these stupid pills. I am holding out hope that someone who reads this might have more info. At this point, he is convinced these pills will not only save our lives but bring joy to all bitter people in the world while simultaneously securing peace in the Middle East. I am perfectly happy with worms in my panza. They bring out my cheekbones.

Thoughts? Ayuda? Warnings?

This is me being desperate in case you haven't noticed...