After seeing the Cardiologist here in Guaymas the other day neither Roy or I were feeling good about the consultation with him. Something just didn't feel right, nothing concrete, just both our feelings/instincts.
When we got back home we discussed it with our landlords/friends and found out that this Dr. does not have a good reputation here. We discussed other options with them about heading to the city south of us for a second opinion with a Cardiologist that they and others they know have dealt with. They feel very confident in this specialist as they and others have had good results with him.
Our landlady couldn't find his card with phone number on it; so we headed home to sleep on it. Yesterday morning she still hadn't found it; but she knew his name so I looked him up in the Yellow Pages and found his number.
She phoned him and got an appt. for 12:30 PM yesterday, same day appt.. She went with us and showed us how to get to his office and we waited for our appt..
Our turn came and of course there was another ECG. He read all the other test results and compared them to his own and then sat and explained what he thought, a very in depth, detailed explanation. His opinion was that we should see another Cardiologist; but one with a specialty in arrhythmia. He got on his phone and called this specialist and asked if he could see us the same day, (yesterday). He said he could and gave us an appt. for 4 PM.
As it was now after 2 PM we barely had time for a fast lunch and then off to the other appt.. This Dr. is also a Cardiologist and a Electrophysiologist, which is a Cardiologist trained to treat heart rhythm disorders.
He did an Echo-cardiogram, a type of specialized ultrasound to look at Roys heart. He asked our landlady and I to watch and as he performed the test he explained it to us as we watched Roys heart on the screen. After he was done he then showed Roy the test on the machine and explained it again to him. Interesting to see with Doppler colour and all sorts of views of his heart and watching exactly what was going on with it in real time.
He then discussed the treatment options, starting with the least invasive. Roys heart is beating over twice as fast as normal and untreated he could easily go into heart failure or have a stroke. Normal is around 60 and his is going at 130, not good.
The first option and the one we are trying starting today, is medication to regulate the heartbeat. The downside of this is that there could be adverse side effects such as weakness, dizziness and falls, if he feels any of this he is to go ASAP to hospital. The drugs can also cause damage to liver and/or kidneys. Roy will have to have regular blood work done for his liver and kidney function for the Dr. to compare to the one he had done today.
The second option would be to do a Cardioversion which is where they shock your heart into beating normally. The Dr. said that before he would do this though he would need to do a Transesophagael Echo Cardiogram so that he could see the back of the heart also to make sure that there were no clots/thrombosis. If there is the shock could break them loose causing a stroke. If there were none then they would shock the heart and see if that worked.
The third option is a Pacemaker to regulate the heartbeat.
We were both very happy with both of the specialists we saw yesterday and came away feeling much better mentally. The attitude and demeanor of both Drs. was excellent, they both took lots of time to explain things and make sure we understand everything that is happening. The second Dr. could actually speak some English which was nice, between his English and my Spanish and our landlady dumbing down the odd Spanish words both appts. went great.
Both Drs. gave us their cards with all their phone numbers on and the second one which is now treating Roy told us to call him at any time even if it is 2 AM. He is making us a CD of the test and we will get it probably when we return to see him in 3 weeks.
Roy went for the blood test this morning and then started on his pill treatments. We are both feeling a lot more upbeat today than we were a couple of days ago.
Hopefully the pill treatment will go well and we won't need to deal with the other options, only time will tell.
We want to thank everyone for their kind comments/emails/messages. It means a lot to know that people are thinking of us. Thank you one and all.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Cardiologist
The cardiologist did another ECG yesterday and the results were the same as the tests he had done at the Similares lab.
It turns out that he has a problem that has to be dealt with right away so we will either be going to the hospital in our state capitol today or to the city south of us, both apparently have good cardiac facilities.
I may be away from the computer for a few days, not really sure at this point.
Cost of the Cardiologist: 500 pesos for the consultation and letter, 300 pesos for the ECG. Total cost: 800 pesos or just about $66.70 CAD.
It turns out that he has a problem that has to be dealt with right away so we will either be going to the hospital in our state capitol today or to the city south of us, both apparently have good cardiac facilities.
I may be away from the computer for a few days, not really sure at this point.
Cost of the Cardiologist: 500 pesos for the consultation and letter, 300 pesos for the ECG. Total cost: 800 pesos or just about $66.70 CAD.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Roy And The Doctors
Well this morning we went to the lab. to pick up Roys results from the blood, urine and heart tests. They had said they would be ready anytime after 8 AM Monday morning. We were slow to move this morning so it was probably after 10 AM when we arrived. They picked out his package from the pile and we were out of there.
Next was a return trip to the Dr.. Only 1 other person in front of us, so not a long wait. The Dr. read through the reports and told us the good news first.
Blood tests all came back normal and good.
Urine tests showed elevated Uric Acid which can cause swelling and inflammation in the joints. Pill prescribed for 20 days to eliminate that issue and told to eliminate all red meat for a month, which is not hard for us as we eat very little red meat. As we do eat so little red meat I am not quite sure why he has this issue.
Onto the ECG, the Dr. had thought that he had heard an anomaly when he listened to Roys heart and it showed up on the ECG. As I cannot spell the words the Dr. used I will just say that basically his heart is not working correctly.
Referral to the Cardiologist. Off we went to the Cardiologists office and found out that he only has appointments in the afternoons. We were given an appt. for 5 PM today, so I will write more after we see him.
Total cost for this morning: Dr. 30 pesos, (less than $3.00 CAD.) and prescription for pills for the Uric Acid - 23 pesos, (less than $2.50 CAD).
To be continued..................
Next was a return trip to the Dr.. Only 1 other person in front of us, so not a long wait. The Dr. read through the reports and told us the good news first.
Blood tests all came back normal and good.
Urine tests showed elevated Uric Acid which can cause swelling and inflammation in the joints. Pill prescribed for 20 days to eliminate that issue and told to eliminate all red meat for a month, which is not hard for us as we eat very little red meat. As we do eat so little red meat I am not quite sure why he has this issue.
Onto the ECG, the Dr. had thought that he had heard an anomaly when he listened to Roys heart and it showed up on the ECG. As I cannot spell the words the Dr. used I will just say that basically his heart is not working correctly.
Referral to the Cardiologist. Off we went to the Cardiologists office and found out that he only has appointments in the afternoons. We were given an appt. for 5 PM today, so I will write more after we see him.
Total cost for this morning: Dr. 30 pesos, (less than $3.00 CAD.) and prescription for pills for the Uric Acid - 23 pesos, (less than $2.50 CAD).
To be continued..................
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Back To The Doctor
Roy has had very swollen feet for the last few months, he never wanted to go to the Dr. about it to see what the cause is. Is it just men in general or is he more stubborn than most? This said with a smile, of course.
A couple of days ago our landlords daughter in law came up with a birthday party invitation and was aghast when she happened to notice his swollen feet. I guess coming from someone other than me had an effect on him as he decided we should go to the Dr. and see about it.
We went to a Farmacia Similares to see the Dr.. I have seen this particular Dr. before and liked his approach so I was glad when it was him. The Drs. at the Farmacia rotate in and out and also change from mornings to afternoons so I am never quite sure who I will see.
The Dr. asked lots of questions and gave him a fluid pill to get rid of the worst of the retention problem quickly. Then he wrote a script for a blood and urine analysis and also an ECG. Paid the Dr. his 30 pesos, (about $2.50 CAD) and we were on our way.
This morning we headed down to the laboratory that is run by the Similares people also. There were very few people ahead of us and after giving the clerk his information we maybe waited 5 minutes, then blood work, he handed in the urine sample and waited maybe another 5 minutes for the ECG. She gave him a couple of minutes to remove the metallic objects on his person and his shirt and returned and did the test.
While we were waiting they had to do a blood test on a little girl about 1½ yrs. old. We both figured we were in for some ear splitting screams; but she emerged with mom with a lollipop and dry eyes. I said something to her mom about there being no tears. Mom just proudly smiled and said no, she just sucked in her breath a bit and that was it. Wow.
Cost for all of Roys tests was 324.00 pesos or about $27.02 CAD. We can pick up the results on Monday morning after 8 AM and then we will have to return to see the Dr.
All in all a good experience. Very friendly, professional people, very clean place, would definitely go there again. Thankfully, we didn't have any communication problems and were happy with the appt..
I did notice that they have a special on right now for the basic analyses. For 426.00 pesos, (about $35.52 CAD), you can get your blood and urine tested for all the normal stuff and a ECG and something else. It said that this checkup will tell you how well your liver, kidneys,heart, etc. are functioning plus your cholesterol levels, sugar, etc.. I thought is was a pretty good deal and am thinking I might go for that myself as I haven't had anything like that checked in a very, very long time.
Next installment to follow.
A couple of days ago our landlords daughter in law came up with a birthday party invitation and was aghast when she happened to notice his swollen feet. I guess coming from someone other than me had an effect on him as he decided we should go to the Dr. and see about it.
We went to a Farmacia Similares to see the Dr.. I have seen this particular Dr. before and liked his approach so I was glad when it was him. The Drs. at the Farmacia rotate in and out and also change from mornings to afternoons so I am never quite sure who I will see.
The Dr. asked lots of questions and gave him a fluid pill to get rid of the worst of the retention problem quickly. Then he wrote a script for a blood and urine analysis and also an ECG. Paid the Dr. his 30 pesos, (about $2.50 CAD) and we were on our way.
This morning we headed down to the laboratory that is run by the Similares people also. There were very few people ahead of us and after giving the clerk his information we maybe waited 5 minutes, then blood work, he handed in the urine sample and waited maybe another 5 minutes for the ECG. She gave him a couple of minutes to remove the metallic objects on his person and his shirt and returned and did the test.
While we were waiting they had to do a blood test on a little girl about 1½ yrs. old. We both figured we were in for some ear splitting screams; but she emerged with mom with a lollipop and dry eyes. I said something to her mom about there being no tears. Mom just proudly smiled and said no, she just sucked in her breath a bit and that was it. Wow.
Cost for all of Roys tests was 324.00 pesos or about $27.02 CAD. We can pick up the results on Monday morning after 8 AM and then we will have to return to see the Dr.
All in all a good experience. Very friendly, professional people, very clean place, would definitely go there again. Thankfully, we didn't have any communication problems and were happy with the appt..
I did notice that they have a special on right now for the basic analyses. For 426.00 pesos, (about $35.52 CAD), you can get your blood and urine tested for all the normal stuff and a ECG and something else. It said that this checkup will tell you how well your liver, kidneys,heart, etc. are functioning plus your cholesterol levels, sugar, etc.. I thought is was a pretty good deal and am thinking I might go for that myself as I haven't had anything like that checked in a very, very long time.
Next installment to follow.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
A Trip To The Emergency Room
I have to say that we have been very lucky health wise since we have come here. We have never had a health concern that going to a doctor at Farmacia Similares has not been able to help with.
Roy has been feeling yucky off and on the last few days. One day he is fine and then next day not so great.
Last night he was in a lot of pain, neither one of us thought that it was a heart attack; but he was in quite a bit of pain so he decided he needed to go to emergency at the hospital. Roy has no health care here as he has never wanted to sign up for it. We decided to go to the Hospital Pabellon Guadalupe and just in case I couldn't understand everything the doctor said we asked our landlady to go with us. Our landlady does not speak English; but she and I communicate very well, we are both used to each others speech and if I don't understand one word she uses she will dumb it down.
We arrived at the hospital around 5 PM and were signed in and told to sit down, we barely got sat down and they called us into a examining room. They asked some questions, told Roy to lay down on the bed. He was having a lot of pain breathing so before checking too many things out they asked about allergies and immediately started an IV with pain medication in it. Within 10 minutes he was comfortable enough to lay down and the Dr. checked him out more thoroughly. He decided that Roy had Gastritis, that the parasite killer had not worked for him as it was bacteria born. He continued to check on him and chat with our landlady and I until Roy was pain free. He then wrote out a bunch of prescriptions and sent us on our way.
After heading to the drugstore and filling the prescriptions we were back at home. Roy was feeling much better and pain free. The whole trip took about an hour and a half.
This morning he is his normal self, I am happy to say.
We had never been to an emergency room here before; but after this experience I am comfortable with the fact that I could understand what was being said and with what was happening and if it happens again we will do it on our own.
Now for the nitty gritty, the costs.
To see the Dr. on a Saturday evening at emergency cost 300 pesos.
The hospital costs were 911.28 pesos (cost of medication in the IV, materials, etc.)
So the total cost at the hospital was: 1211.28 pesos or approx. $ 101.63
Cost of the medications at the pharmacy was: 655.90 pesos or approx. $ 55.03 some of the meds. are for 5 days and some are for 10 days supply.
So the total cost in pesos was 1867.18 or approx. $ 156.66
All in all a good experience if going to the emergency room can be a good experience. Happy with all the care and procedures that were done. Doctor was in no rush and explained everything very well. Nurses and Dr. were very good and we both felt very comfortable with the level of care.
Roy has been feeling yucky off and on the last few days. One day he is fine and then next day not so great.
Last night he was in a lot of pain, neither one of us thought that it was a heart attack; but he was in quite a bit of pain so he decided he needed to go to emergency at the hospital. Roy has no health care here as he has never wanted to sign up for it. We decided to go to the Hospital Pabellon Guadalupe and just in case I couldn't understand everything the doctor said we asked our landlady to go with us. Our landlady does not speak English; but she and I communicate very well, we are both used to each others speech and if I don't understand one word she uses she will dumb it down.
We arrived at the hospital around 5 PM and were signed in and told to sit down, we barely got sat down and they called us into a examining room. They asked some questions, told Roy to lay down on the bed. He was having a lot of pain breathing so before checking too many things out they asked about allergies and immediately started an IV with pain medication in it. Within 10 minutes he was comfortable enough to lay down and the Dr. checked him out more thoroughly. He decided that Roy had Gastritis, that the parasite killer had not worked for him as it was bacteria born. He continued to check on him and chat with our landlady and I until Roy was pain free. He then wrote out a bunch of prescriptions and sent us on our way.
After heading to the drugstore and filling the prescriptions we were back at home. Roy was feeling much better and pain free. The whole trip took about an hour and a half.
This morning he is his normal self, I am happy to say.
We had never been to an emergency room here before; but after this experience I am comfortable with the fact that I could understand what was being said and with what was happening and if it happens again we will do it on our own.
Now for the nitty gritty, the costs.
To see the Dr. on a Saturday evening at emergency cost 300 pesos.
The hospital costs were 911.28 pesos (cost of medication in the IV, materials, etc.)
So the total cost at the hospital was: 1211.28 pesos or approx. $ 101.63
Cost of the medications at the pharmacy was: 655.90 pesos or approx. $ 55.03 some of the meds. are for 5 days and some are for 10 days supply.
So the total cost in pesos was 1867.18 or approx. $ 156.66
All in all a good experience if going to the emergency room can be a good experience. Happy with all the care and procedures that were done. Doctor was in no rush and explained everything very well. Nurses and Dr. were very good and we both felt very comfortable with the level of care.
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