Malaria!

Before coming to the Philippines, I went to the doctors to get my shots. At the time, I went to the doctors as soon as I knew that I was going to he Philippines. Unfortunately there was not enough time to get my Hep B shot as it took 6 months. I was advised not to get any dentist work done while in the Philippines.

I made an appointment with the dental hospital to get a tooth extracted, but they said it would take 6 months to get a review and then another 6 months to get an appointment for the extraction. But I did not have that much time.

But while I was here in the Philippines, the tooth worsened and I had to go to see a dentist. In for a penny, in for a pound. I got all my fillings done, but when it came to extracting that one tooth, I bottled out. I have an insane fear of dentists I can not control.

I had also been to the chemist in the uk on the advice of my doctor. I needed anti malarial tablets. “when will you be returning” she asked. “I am not returning, I am moving there” I replied. The problem was that you needed to take these tablets for a week before you left and for four weeks after you return. These are the instructions on the packaging, as such the women in the chemist had no idea what to do if someone is not returning.

I bought a few packs and started taking them as instructed. One per day, plus one per week of the weekly tablet. No problems.

Now, after I have finished all my tablets and am looking for more do I find that the instructions state that the dose I have been taking is half the dose I should have been taking. Is there any point buying more? Should I get more and take the correct dosage?

What the hell do I do when I have moved here and will not be returning to the uk, so can not take the 4 weeks dosage that the instructions suggest?

Here I am working mostly at night and I usually end up with a load of insect bites on my ankles.  If just one of them has malaria, I am fucked. I don’t have any health insurance at the moment as I am waiting for my application to complete.