A Fresh Start! Right after we tie up the loose ends!

So, it has been a very long time since we last wrote anything in our blog.  Our apologies to all of our readers.  It wasn’t that we forgot about you, but other parts of our life just took control over our time, and our vision for our blog just kind of faded into the distance.  Even more truthfully, when I wrote the last installment of our blog (nearly 2 years ago!)  I had hoped to give you all a positive and glowing review of the consulta system that seemingly all drugstores (farmacias) here have.    Turns out, I was not able to do that, and for that reason, I kept putting the next installment off … for so long, that eventually, it seemed ridiculous to even start it up again.  But, one of the results of trying things can be failure, so….

picking up where we left off, I was struggling with an ear infection had already visited one consultoria at one farmacia and was being treated at a second farmacia by a new “doctor”…

The first option, was a series of 3 shots in my behind, and was greatly encouraged by my husband,  “The Sadist”,  as the most efficient and effective way to clear the infection. 

In the end (pun intended),  it was determined that the injections were neither efficient, nor effective.   3 days, times 20 minutes driving, plus 15 minutes or longer waiting to be seen by the doctor, the cost of gas and $250 pesos for the meds…time, gas and money all wasted.

The doctor was incredulous but checked his enormous ARSEnal (read ego) of knowledge and information and came up with a different set of meds that would certainly deal with this nasty infection.    So, another 200 pesos for meds (they ALWAYS prescribe 3), more driving and waiting and gas for something else that did not work. 

You would think I would have learned something by then, but instead, I allowed him to send me for lab work.   Third times a charm, right?

I don’t remember what all that entailed, but it meant more driving, more waiting and several days for the results to come in.  These, I dutifully carried back to the same doctor at the same farmacia,  who then prescribed yet another volley of medication (yes, 3 items again), again, these cost about 200 pesos. 

Assuming that he would know what he was doing now that he had some medical jargon from a lab in front of him, I bought the new meds.   Colour me stupid, I was somewhat surprised when they did not work. 

By now, 3 weeks has passed, and I had spent $600 pesos on meds that didn’t work and another $400 pesos for the lab tests, plus I had been stuck in the bum 3 times!!  For nothing!!    $1.000 pesos, total loss of my dignity, Lord knows how much waiting time, and still no sign of improvement to my ear.

So, I gave up my dream of finding a good doctor at the farmacias and went to a specialist in PV, near Plaza Caracol.  He took one look in my ear, laughed and left the room.  He came back with a rather large syringe and a glass of nicely warmed water.  Within 2 minutes, the blockage in my ear was destroyed and I could hear again.   Turns out it wasn’t even an infection that we were dealing with.   The Specialist’s fee, $750.00 pesos and no meds. 

Lesson learned.  I have to admit I was highly disappointed because I so wanted to be able to tell you all the consultas work.  But for me, the truth is, that it didn’t.   

The Journey to Casa Madera - Moon over Vallarta

October 27, 2012  -

We are often asked about medical care here in Mexico.   Most ask out of curiosity or concern for our well-being.  Some ask out of disbelief - as in "Really ,they have doctors in Mexico?".  The truth is yes, there are a lot of doctors here.     Many have studied not only here in Mexico, but in the US, Canada and even Europe in some cases.    It is also true that just like home, some are better than others and it is our job as a patient to find a doctor that works for us.

After 4 years of living here, I had an opportunity to experience Mexican medical care first hand.  That is not to say it is the first time I have seen a doctor here, we do have our annual physicals and blood tests; but my first experience with the Mexican "drop-in" health care system because I had a health issue that needed a doctor's care.

I had an earache.

I think I can best describe the set up as a version of a Canadian Medi-centre.   The idea is the same, people drop in to see the doctor on call.  The difference is that these "drop-in" places, called Consultorias, are attached to a drug store.  Actually, ina drug store attached to the medi-centre, so in actual fact, there really is no difference.

The doctor is either in or out, and he or she will take patients on a first come first served basis.    Just like Canada, one could wait a long time in that hot little room while waiting to see the doctor.   But, here, happily, that does not have to be the case.  There is, literally, a drug store on nearly every corner, and most have a Consultoria.    So, if the waiting room in one is too busy, we can simply drive down the street to the next one.

We do have a favourite doctor we see, but he is a whole 10 minutes away in Mezcales, so we decided today, to take our chances in Valle Dorado, which is much closer to us.  The waiting room at the Farmacias Medism was empty when we pulled up!   What a stroke of luck.  NO waiting at all today!!  Within 2 minutes of getting out of the car,  I was ushered into the examining room by the doctor himself.   The good doctor also invited Kevin to sit in on the consultation.

I speak some Spanish, the doctor spoke some English, so between us, we were able to communicate very well.

I told him I had an  earache and he promptly plopped me on the examining table and told me to open my mouth.  Whaaat??     He was very happy to tell me that my ear problem was related to a throat infection I did not know I had.  He continued to explain that the ear, nose and throat were all related. . . .  and did I want meds or a shot?

A shot? For a throat infection?  I have not had a shot since I was vaccinated in high school!  My efforts at asking questions to determine if this was a better option than 5 days of pills were totally drowned out by my ever loving husband, Kevin.   It was as if he had suddenly turned into a contestant on a game show, and be began yelling out   "Shot!  Take the shot?  Just take the shot!"  I could barely hear the doctors answers over Kevin's' encouragement to opt for the needle instead of the pills.  Naturally,  the doctor was very amused by all of this, and though he tried to remain as professional as possible,  I could see he was siding with my husband.  Must be a male thing.   How bad could it be, I thought.  One shot or a weeks worth of meds.   Really, the shot did sound like the better option.

Then the medication came out.  3 vials of stuff, all mixed together, my "shot" turned out to be 5 cc's of meds.  if you are not sure what 5 cc's looks like, it pretty much filled the needle.   The old joke about horse tranquilizers leapt to mind.   In my arm, right?  Oh, no, lie on the table, face down.  Oops, I forgot to ask, can you inch your waistband down just a little.

I don't think I need to mention that as I hopped off the table to undo my pants and peel them down far enough to reveal the target for the needle that my loving husband and best friend, Kevin, was doubled over with laughter and would have suffered serious injury from falling on the floor laughing had he not already been sitting down.

I hopped back up onto the table, target side facing the ceiling.  By now, the doctor, being egged on by my husband, was also laughing.  Lucky for me, his mirth did not affect his steady hand, so he hit the "target" on the first attempt.

Slightly embarrassing, but nothing I would not live thru.  Then he said "this is a series of 3 shots".    I need to find looser pants to wear to his office tomorrow.

I should also mention that the cost of this afternoons entertainment, aside from my eternal embarrassment was $211 pesos and my ear ache will be gone in a day or 2.   We shall see…..