You probably did not expect a new posting on Mexican Medicine so soon, did you. Well, neither did I, but these posts are written mostly as stuff happens. I also don't like to talk about my personal life and especially not my illnesses (too many old people do that). But this was too good to resist, so here I am again.
My stay at Medasist last December was about what was determined to be a bad attack on my pancreas. I do remember when I asked "How did this happen?" One of the doctor said it might have been caused by my gall bladder. When I was in the States the following March, I told my doctor but he did not seem to think that any further tests were necessary (HMO !!) I have had some very bad symptoms since (like really horrible pain) but not bad enough to go back to that hospital. Then the last time, I decided that I would have to return to the States and get a full physical. But first I needed something for the pain. I first went to the local clinic. She (yes, most of my doctors here are female) told me she was pretty sure it was not the pancreas, but my gall bladder. She gave me some medicine which helped a little, but in any case I felt I must get back to California.
I put a call into my doctor there (of course you don't get to speak to a doctor, just a nurse). I explained my problem and said I would like him to set up a meeting with a specialist. She said that he would have to exam me first before any referral and that might take a month. I told her that it was just not possible for me to wait a month just for the first appointment. Could she speak to the doctor and see if I could not get in right away to see a specialist? She said, "That is NOT the way it works !" (I think her name was Nurse Rachett.) That was on a Friday.
I tried again the following Monday and this time got a human who did speak to my doctor and came back with the number of a specialist. When I called to make an appointment I realized that this was The Fourth of July Week. Not only were there no empty seats on flights, but the doctors offices were closing on Wednesday. I went for the following week. This nurse was extremely helpful and pleasant and suggested that I try to get a hold of my insurance company so it would be preapproved. (Good Luck, I thought after my last experience with them) Then she also suggested that I have a sonogram done before flying off. Good idea ! I went to see my Dr. Lupita and she set it up for the following morning.
My doctor here was also concerned for I was turning jaundiced. I called back to the specialist to say that I did have an appointment for a sonogram and mentioned I was now jaundiced. She asked a lot of other questions, left the phone and came back and said I should speak to my primary care doctor. I did not call him, but apparently she did and he called me to say that I should not risk the flight and to have to surgery done in Mexico immediately. In some ways this was a relief, if I could talk the hospital into waiting six months for my insurance .to pay anything. I decided to call my insurance company There were about 6 numbers on my card, but sadly it is all push button phone. If you keep insisting on speaking to someone, you get the same woman who has nothing to do with the insurance company but is paid to answer medical questions. After I wound up with her three times from three different numbers, I gave up.
At 8;30 the following morning they were all ready for me, a nurse took some blood, then a technician led me to a room for the sonogram. His English was quite limited, but he did understand when I asked if he could see a stone in my gall bladder. He said "No stone, gall bladder good" Somehow this was not good news to me. I tried to ask what was wrong and he mentioned "grasse" or fat on my kidney.
Then he proclaimed that I had two kidneys (like this was supposed to make me feel better). Then he asked me to wait ten minutes and he took me to another room where they put me through a CT Scan. No one could explain why or what was going on and I was told that I could not see Dr. Lupita until 1:00 when the test results would be back.
The lab tests showed that my pancreas and gall bladder with were within normal range. The liver count was slightly elevated (not a surprise), but nothing else unusual. The CT Scan and sonogram showed no stones in the gall bladder. So basically they have no clue what has called my illness. The doctor proudly pushed the result (all in Spanish) in front of me like I should be pleased. I was not.
This should have been good news, but I wanted an answer. So I decided there was nothing to do but to fly back home and have a complete physical done there. I had the results of my tests faxed to my doctor (unfortunately in Spanish) but hopefully he can figure it. So I booked a one way flight for the following week. All my doctors are on vacation this week. The first chance I had to call was Monday. At one doctor's office I left a message for an appointment and made an appointment to see my primary care doctor. The first office called back to say my doctor was out of the country until August. Then a nurse for my primary care doctor called to say that it was still risky for me to travel and the doctor suggested I stay here for more tests. MORE TESTS ?? I had blood tests, a sonogram, a CT Scan, (all of which the hospital said they faxed to him. What more did he want. I called back and said, "Tell the doctor I am coming anyway.
My friend here said, "Well, it is good they found nothing wrong with you" My answer was "Just because they found nothing wrong doesn't mean there isn't. I still feel like SHIT and I have no intention of finish my declining years in pain and misery. I don't care if I am old !¨" So off I go California. Stay tuned but it may be a while before another posting..
*****************************************++
No comments:
Post a Comment