Because I have people who love me and know that I never want to go to the doctor or deal with my health at all and because they are willing to gang up on me and bug me until I do, I spent the last 2 days getting my heart and lungs checked out at a first rate hospital here in Mérida. I got a recommendation and saw an excellent cardiologist who speaks fluent English. I do know that when it is something stressful like my health, I really need to hear and ask questions in my native language.
I have had a battery of tests and lots of live, color images of my heart doing its thing as well as a stress test with me huffing and puffing on a treadmill. Luckily, Mimi got to see most of the live heart pictures, I was laying on my side facing the other way for most of it. It's just TMI, I'm not fond of pictures of my insides.
Some of what he told me I already knew:
- I need to lose weight
- Smoking for almost 50 years was not a good idea
- I need to get more exercise
- I have COPD of some type and severity yet unknown
Some of it was new and not good news:
- I seem to have lost my long time low blood pressure. There is thickening of the walls of my heart which is usually caused by high blood pressure. When he tested it the first day it was high and I was shocked. I was also really scared and perhaps that increased it a little but, you can't really fake these tests. The next day it was down enough to be in the high normal range. The problem is that 'normal' for me has always been at the bottom of the normal range so... I have to face the fact that my blood pressure is now also a problem.
Some of it was good news:
I was really frightened that the higher blood pressure meant a blockage of some sort but my heart looks fine, no obstructions and it's beating away pretty good for a fat old lady.
I return tomorrow to see him with the results of the laundry list of blood and urine tests and he will give me some prescriptions, some guidelines, and lay it all out for me. Of course, I'll also fax my family medical guru, Country, the tests and scripts and results of everything so she can give me her opinions too.
I'm very impressed with the facilities and with my doctor. I'm relieved that my heart is holding up. Getting old is the shits!
For those interested in costs and such, I may be able to use my insurance in the future but this time I think I would have had to get pre-approval so I paid it out of pocket. I may see if I can submit the bills and get reimbursed, why not try? I've had a long list of blood tests, some urine tests, a stress EKG, an ultrasound ecocardiogram (I'm translating the name, it was Ecocardiograma Doppler Color Computarizado in Spanish) and several hours with the Cardiologist. My total bill including the 15% tax was $473.38 US at todays conversion rate.
As near as I can tell, all of the equipment was new and top of the line. I'll find out more when I run it by Country. The Hospital is new and very nice. I walked in with an appointment yesterday with a friend's internist. She listened carefully to me and said that she wanted me to see a specialist, a cardiologist. She spent some time on the phone finding the one she wanted and making sure he was fluent in English. I went upstairs to his office and was seen in about 10 min. He spent an hour at least with me yesterday. Today, I walked in and was seen immediately for the blood work then taken to the heart lab. The doctor was there and spent several more hours with us doing the tests. There is no comparison in the comfort, kindness and willingness to really listen and spend as much time as needed between this and my experiences with hospitals and doctors in the US.
So, that's where it all is and I'm really over talking about this. I felt I should though - partly to get my friends off my back - and partly because it is one of the things that people who move to Mexico want to know about.
I had lots of unrelated pictures to put in this post, distractions from the ugly details, but Blogger will not let me upload them.
... and Thanks Marlene, Country, Kathe and mostly Mimi. I know you are right.
I have had a battery of tests and lots of live, color images of my heart doing its thing as well as a stress test with me huffing and puffing on a treadmill. Luckily, Mimi got to see most of the live heart pictures, I was laying on my side facing the other way for most of it. It's just TMI, I'm not fond of pictures of my insides.
Some of what he told me I already knew:
- I need to lose weight
- Smoking for almost 50 years was not a good idea
- I need to get more exercise
- I have COPD of some type and severity yet unknown
Some of it was new and not good news:
- I seem to have lost my long time low blood pressure. There is thickening of the walls of my heart which is usually caused by high blood pressure. When he tested it the first day it was high and I was shocked. I was also really scared and perhaps that increased it a little but, you can't really fake these tests. The next day it was down enough to be in the high normal range. The problem is that 'normal' for me has always been at the bottom of the normal range so... I have to face the fact that my blood pressure is now also a problem.
Some of it was good news:
I was really frightened that the higher blood pressure meant a blockage of some sort but my heart looks fine, no obstructions and it's beating away pretty good for a fat old lady.
I return tomorrow to see him with the results of the laundry list of blood and urine tests and he will give me some prescriptions, some guidelines, and lay it all out for me. Of course, I'll also fax my family medical guru, Country, the tests and scripts and results of everything so she can give me her opinions too.
I'm very impressed with the facilities and with my doctor. I'm relieved that my heart is holding up. Getting old is the shits!
For those interested in costs and such, I may be able to use my insurance in the future but this time I think I would have had to get pre-approval so I paid it out of pocket. I may see if I can submit the bills and get reimbursed, why not try? I've had a long list of blood tests, some urine tests, a stress EKG, an ultrasound ecocardiogram (I'm translating the name, it was Ecocardiograma Doppler Color Computarizado in Spanish) and several hours with the Cardiologist. My total bill including the 15% tax was $473.38 US at todays conversion rate.
As near as I can tell, all of the equipment was new and top of the line. I'll find out more when I run it by Country. The Hospital is new and very nice. I walked in with an appointment yesterday with a friend's internist. She listened carefully to me and said that she wanted me to see a specialist, a cardiologist. She spent some time on the phone finding the one she wanted and making sure he was fluent in English. I went upstairs to his office and was seen in about 10 min. He spent an hour at least with me yesterday. Today, I walked in and was seen immediately for the blood work then taken to the heart lab. The doctor was there and spent several more hours with us doing the tests. There is no comparison in the comfort, kindness and willingness to really listen and spend as much time as needed between this and my experiences with hospitals and doctors in the US.
So, that's where it all is and I'm really over talking about this. I felt I should though - partly to get my friends off my back - and partly because it is one of the things that people who move to Mexico want to know about.
I had lots of unrelated pictures to put in this post, distractions from the ugly details, but Blogger will not let me upload them.
... and Thanks Marlene, Country, Kathe and mostly Mimi. I know you are right.
posted by Jonna at 12:03 PM
12 Comments:
Good for you, Jonna. How much fun can you have bopping around Mexico with Mimi if you don't take care of yourself? Quitting smoking was a great start and you are following the right path with good people to help you.
Hang in there! Nancy
Jonna, good for you. You faced your demons and can get on with living. Talking about it on the blog is very therapeutic, as sometimes you just have to talk it through with yourself.
I'm glad Mimi was there to beat you into submission.
Get to feeling lots better soon, and LIVE a log and happy life.
Sheila B.
Jonna, I'm glad you got things checked out, better safe than sorry. Big hugs to Mimi for pushing you to do it, it's great to have people around you who can give you that kind of support (and kicks in the bum). Take care milady, and yes, blogging it is good for the soul. (The money part was interesting to see too, thanks).
Jonna, I know it was hard to get up the nerve to go do the testing. I bet you actually feel somewhat of a sense of relief that there are no unknowns lurking out there except for the hypertension which is highly treatable....but you must stay on the meds for life if you truly are hypertensive.
Live long and prosper, my friend. Kathe
Wow, I know just how you feel about the tests and stuff. I have been resisting getting a physical for a long time now. Husband wants me to have one, but since I don't feel like it's warrented, I am digging in my heels. The funny thing is that I know it's not smart, but I still can't help it.
What a shock about the BP, mine has always been so low that the first question they ask after taking it is "do you get dizzy if you stand up too fast?". Now I have closer to normal BP, maybe that is because I am an overweight and aging gringo.
regards,
Theresa
Thanks guys, you are right that another reason to blog about it is that it is cathartic, it also makes it more real and harder for me to pretend it never happened. I'm really good at that ;)
He hasn't said anything about BP medication, probably because it was down to 120 over 80 today, the high yesterday was 150 over 90. My 'usual' BP in the past was 90 something over 70 something. Yes, Theresa, they used to always ask me if I got faint too. He does have me taking a mild diuretic, so we'll see what he says tomorrow.
GUAU! What a lot for you to deal with. I'm quite like you about medical care and testing. If I can't handle it at home, then I like to pretend it doesnt really exist. Good theory! WRONG! You inspire me.
So sorry you are going through all this, I do agree with you that the stress of the situation could elevate your bp.
Keep up the good work, and good luck with the rest of your testing.
Debi
Jonna, I'm really glad you went and had the tests done. Besides not wanting to go to a doctor anywhere, going to one in a foreign country brings another level of resistance. I'm gradually getting over some of my feelings about it but I have also realized that I will need a doctor who speaks AND understands English very well. It is one thing to be able to speak Spanish in the market and to construction people and another whole thing to be able to talk about medical issues.
Now....do what the doctor says.
I mean this in the kindest way possible but I wish you guys could come with me every three weeks to the chemo room. There's lots of folks there who waited and waited because they "felt fine" or they "hate doctors". The longer you wait, the worse it gets and the harsher the "cure" gets. And that's not just for cancer, but for damn near anything you might have.
Mimi, darlin', I am so glad you got her to the doctor. I'm betting she didn't go easy did she? ;^) You're gettin' a big hug for that next time I see you two - hopefully sometime this summer.
John sends his love.
Ilene
(bald but doin' fine)
Ilene, you really are one of my inspirations. I didn't want this to sound like I was whining because I am very aware that this is nothing on the grand scheme of things. You and my niece Poppy and some other friends who are in chemo are facing a much harder road. And, doing a damn fine job of it I might add! Bald is in you know, it shows strength and character.
So, basically I passed the stress test (in more ways than one) and I'm clear to go out and walk and climb the stairs to my condo and try and perk up my lungs. My cholesterol was very low and the trigXXX whatevers were good and so I'm good to go. Oh, and after another hour of conference with the Cardiologist today, I had no additional bill. I'm overwhelmed with the kindness and the time spent with me to make sure I understood everything and had all my questions answered. Theresa and Billie, you should find a doctor and just go. The level of care in this country so far exceeds that in the US that I am amazed.
Jonna, I spent the day wishing I could erase my post because I thought I sounded too "preachy". And you were worried about sounding "whiny". ;^)
I'm glad your "numbers" are good and that you have good doctors that you feel comfortable with. That is a huge help in the recovery process. I've been really lucky in that the doctors I've had have been great. Maybe oncologists don't get to maintain huge egos. The cold slap of reality hits them too hard too often for them to get swelled heads... least that's what I think. A woman, a breast cancer survivor, gave me some advice which has helped and I think would apply to any health problem:
"Remember the doctors and nurses are there to help you get well. And just listen to what they say to do."
Stay well, Jonna. I really want to get to see that gorgeous house of yours in Merida. As for me, don't worry, I'm doing fine. My prognosis is a 90% survival rate since it was caught early. I'm doing well. The chemo, while no picnic, has not turned out to be as bad as I feared it would be. And everybody is just spoiling me rotten. You should see John. He shaved his head bald too. While I look goofy - he looks absolutely HOT! ;^D
Ilene
Oh Jonna; I had no idea how sick you got. You're so healthy and full of (how do I put this? :)) fire that I didn't know you were feeling awful other than the horrid flu stuff.
I never congratulated you for stopping smoking - I don't know how I missed that! THAT IS AMAZING!!! I hate our choices for hospitals here in QRoo - sounds like a trip to Merida is in order (for more than one reason).
Much love to Mimi for her well aimed kick. :)
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