Photos of last week in Bequia and from Grenada

These were from the last few nights in Bequia. My preceptor Sr. Glynn invited us to her house for dinner and a girls night. I took a pic of her cat Puff-Puff. The night out was with friend mentioned earlier Trinney who works on boats. His brother Nicki took Brian and I out on his 44 ft sailboat the Nicola IV for a private charter. Brian took a sailing lesson from 2 guys who had sailed together for over 35 years together and were regulars in Bequia. One skippered the Zulu winning boat in Regatta. The SLAM condoms are the brans they pass out. They had just gotten in a month's worth the day we went to Pagett Farm the 2nd clinic on Bequia. Also the Staff at the my regular clinic allowed me to take some photos.

There are several from Grenada where my husband and I went to have our honeymoon after my residency. I will post a reflective blog about the whole experience later but wanted to get the pics up! Off to get ready for Graduation tomorrow!

More random thoughts and some student pics.....

Random thoughts again and from clinic…

            We use the ambulance for home visits. People here could care less of emergency vehicles and despite beeps and honks they don’t move or barely slow down for us to pass.

            Flu vaccine is for private clinics only. They rarely have issues with it though so most don’t get, even health care workers.  Pneumococcal vaccine only for small children with high risk and elderly with high risk, like immuno-compromised, but not diabetics.

            Biggest problem they have is chikungunya fever, similar to Dengue Fever or breakbone fever, from mosquitos. They can treat it with NSAIDS and rest but Dengue fever they only use rest and fluids and monitor, no NSAIDS and use only Tylenol instead. Both have high fevers that last about 2-7 days and can be life-threatening if patient does not properly hydrate, which in this area of the world can be problematic when one is healthy, let alone ill and sweating more from fever. Chikungunya can cause joint pain that can last months to years after the disease is gone. Dengue can become hemorrhagic after blood vessels are “leaky” and one can get pleural effusions, ascites or CHF and needs to be watched closely to see if gums bleed or other orifices and for easy bruising…..Obviously tends to be worse in small children and elderly. There is sadly no vaccine for either, but I have not seen either since being here yet! The trick, avoid mosquitos, lol. Not easy to do here! It is why I have mosquito netting in my bedrooms I suppose.

Had school health for 2 days and was great working with the kids. I think I will remember them most from this trip! They are all adorable. Most are shy with us but the parents say they are very chatty at home. A few were scared of immunization shots and would cry when it came time for exams but overall most were good and loved getting stickers for being “good patients”.

The rainy season here starts in June but has been coming a bit early this year. Most days it rains a few minutes but today it has been pouring almost all day.

Having a girls sleep over Wednesday night at Sister Glynn, my preceptor’s house, so she can show us how a traditional house is here, but the apartments kinda are already. She has a motive because her husband works nights and she doesn’t like being alone. She picked a night he is working lol so Stephanie and I can stay there with her.

Sister Glynn and her husband, Fordy, surprised us with a picnic and beach day. They cooked steamed tuna filets, rice with veggies, salad, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and black beans. It was very delicious and the usual foods they eat here. The day was a bit overcast but still got a little color. Working on a nice tan while here J. We did not get to walk the volcano due to some logistic problems, but heard that most days if it is cloudy you can’t see the craters anyway. Most days have been cloudy and we would have been sad to spend an entire day of hiking, a lot of money and travel 70 min one way for MAYBE seeing craters.

The pics are of a few of the nursing students here. They are dressed way better than us in the states in RN school! There is a yarned bottle holder my preceptor made for my birthday. LOVE it! Then saw a Steel Drum Band while out with a local we met on the plane from NYC. He has lived in states for 35 years but was born here and comes back each year for Easter to see family. 

The others include our picnic lunch, the walkway around the cove from one beach to another and a sunset.