The Antwerp-Aspirin Saga

 

Here's the short version:  I ran out of my daily dose of children's Aspirin (81mg) and had to replenish it.  The Netherlands doesn't sell it over the counter so we went to Belgium, where it does, choosing Antwerp to make a day's trip out of it.

The longer version is that back then, when I turned 50 in 1995, doctors were automatically putting their patients on the children's Aspirin daily dose as a blood thinner to help prevent heart attacks/strokes.  So, doing the math, I've been faithfully taking it every day for almost 28 years...until a study came out last year, questioning the efficacy for those not at risk.  To which I then asked my doctor here (last fall) if he thought it was okay if I stopped taking it.  He had no problem with it.

Then all hell broke lose as winter took it's toll on my body.  Without the photos, which you don't need to see, I ended up getting "winter toes" on my left (knee-replacement) foot and one "winter finger" on my right hand...something I've NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE, even though I've always had cold hands and feet, due to poor blood circulation.

DUH!  Have you connected the dots????????  With my poor blood circulation over all these years, the daily Aspirin was helping my blood get to my extremities at least enough to keep me from "winter" toes and fingers!  Without the Aspirin thinner, my blood thickened and had no chance of doing its job.

Why children's Aspirin is only prescribed by a doctor here, and not allowed over the counter, I do not know.  I always got my supply while in America each year, where I could always buy a twin pack of 2 bottles at Walmart (lasting at least a year) for under $6.  Because I stopped taking it, I didn't replenish my stash last November.

So, in Belgium I paid €8 for a pack of 112 pills and bought 2 packs to last me till I get back to America in October!

Which is to say I PLAYED DOCTOR and, with Astrid's total "no-brainer!" went back immediately on my daily Aspirin dose, with the improvement I wanted and expected.

All that to explain why we drove the 60 miles to Antwerp to make a day of it in the area of the train station!

Our Antwerp destination of choice was at their landmark train station.

The camel, to the left of the station (in the top photo), advertises the Antwerp Zoo nearby.

In eye-sight of the station, we stopped first for a latte macchiato...of course.

The signs alone were worth the visit:

"Tomorrow is a lovely day."

"Don't steal:  the government hates competition."

"Let the music play."

...etc., etc.

But the train station itself was the winner for the day.

This is from when we were last there in 2012...and why we wanted to go back.

Lucky for us, we both love architecture.

After passing under the clock inside, you see what it looks like from the train platform outside.

It's a cozy, protected platform...as though lending a helping hand to travelers.

And it's a looooong covered platform, looking back to the station.

This is Astrid's photo, showing the VPP (vanishing point perspective) which I love.

Past the covered part of the platform, you get the lay of the land.

Believe it or not, a pharmacy for my Aspirin was in the train station, which we visited after our sight-seeing.  Serendipity.

From the station we then walked a couple blocks to Wagamama for lunch.

Of course, I had to take this for our Shutterchance photoblog's Bike Friday.

This was Astrid's Bike Friday...with her famous signature placement (can you find it?).

Lunch at Wagamama (only 2 of them in Belgium) was the perfect ending to our outing.

All of that just to say we did it, making lemonade out of the lemons!