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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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Medical Decisions in Baja
The topic of what kind of medical services in Baja has been thrown about for quite some time but due to recency of our experiences it may be relevant
to share what we went through so that someone else may be more prepared. I understand that our situation of living close to Santa Rosalia may be
different than those who live in areas such as La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, or even Tijuana and Ensenada.
We decided to leave early this spring because my wife was exhibiting some problems with high blood pressure and elevated pulse rate. We had seen a
number of doctors in our area and they all came up with different diagnosis and treatments and since she had some family history problems in that
area, we finally felt it necessary to return to the United States to get more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Thank heavens we chose to do that
since when they gave her a cat scan and discovered advanced lung cancer. Even though that was a terrible diagnosis and we literally felt like the
bottom had dropped out of our lives, thank goodness we live in an area with some of the best and most modern treatment options available. The
radiation machine used by the radiation oncology department is one of a handful available in the United States and certainly not available in foreign
countries like Mexico or Canada. All of the other machines from CT Scans to PET Scans are of the same modernity and cutting edge technology.
Now the purpose of my tale is not to talk about how fortunate we are to have the modern physicians, specialists, and machinery, but the fact that if
we had delayed any longer while we continued to consult physicians in our area of Mexico, it could have proven fatal. The oncologist indicated that
if the tumor had gone unchecked another for another month or two, that it would have been pretty much untreatable.
We still do not know what the final outcome is at this stage of treatment but so far things certainly look good. If the next PET Scan looks good we
hope to be out of here and back to Baja by Thanksgiving, with frequent returns for continuing monitoring about ever 3 or 4 months, but at least we get
to "come home"
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
The topic of what kind of medical services in Baja has been thrown about for quite some time but due to recency of our experiences it may be relevant
to share what we went through so that someone else may be more prepared. I understand that our situation of living close to Santa Rosalia may be
different than those who live in areas such as La Paz, Cabo San Lucas, or even Tijuana and Ensenada.
We decided to leave early this spring because my wife was exhibiting some problems with high blood pressure and elevated pulse rate. We had seen a
number of doctors in our area and they all came up with different diagnosis and treatments and since she had some family history problems in that
area, we finally felt it necessary to return to the United States to get more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Thank heavens we chose to do that
since when they gave her a cat scan and discovered advanced lung cancer. Even though that was a terrible diagnosis and we literally felt like the
bottom had dropped out of our lives, thank goodness we live in an area with some of the best and most modern treatment options available. The
radiation machine used by the radiation oncology department is one of a handful available in the United States and certainly not available in foreign
countries like Mexico or Canada. All of the other machines from CT Scans to PET Scans are of the same modernity and cutting edge technology.
Now the purpose of my tale is not to talk about how fortunate we are to have the modern physicians, specialists, and machinery, but the fact that if
we had delayed any longer while we continued to consult physicians in our area of Mexico, it could have proven fatal. The oncologist indicated that
if the tumor had gone unchecked another for another month or two, that it would have been pretty much untreatable.
We still do not know what the final outcome is at this stage of treatment but so far things certainly look good. If the next PET Scan looks good we
hope to be out of here and back to Baja by Thanksgiving, with frequent returns for continuing monitoring about ever 3 or 4 months, but at least we get
to "come home" |
My best wishes to your wife for a complete recovery. Glad you did not wait any longer!
Diane
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Cajones
Banned
Posts: 81
Registered: 9-13-2008
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Sorry to hear about your wife. I really hope things turn out OK for her. Was she ever a smoker?
I was just reading here on another thread the other day that somebody in La Paz -- longlegsinlapaz , maybe?-- was saying that the medical care in Baja
is better because the doctors do not rely upon the fancy equipment, but use their brains.
I think your story really illustrates how people let their perceptions sway their view of reality...even to the point of killing themselves over it.
Kind of like the 200+ people who refused to abandon Padre Island for Hurricane Ike, and who are now rotting in the swamps.
What your wife has probably couldn't even be detetected until it was way too late, with the kind of equipment you'll find in Baja. I think this goes
to show the people who like to beat the drums about Baja, and rationalize why they are there, the need to take it down a few notches. Somebody is
going to get hurt, or even killed, listening to those yahoos.
Just my opinion.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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Pescador,
I have a question. Were there any other symptoms like breathing problems or coughing? You said advanced lung cancer and "the" tumor. Would the usual
chest x-ray have uncovered the problem?
Best of luck.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
Member Is Offline
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Pescador
Quite a scary situation. Glad that you got help for your wife and I, too, hope that she will continue to respond well to treatment.
Take good care of her so you can get back to Baja soon.
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bill erhardt
Super Nomad
Posts: 1376
Registered: 4-2-2005
Location: Loreto, BCS
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Jim...... Glad your wife got into treatment as soon as she did, and I hope you are both back to eat your turkey in Baja Sur.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15940
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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we're all pullling for Mrs. Pescador.
Best of luck!!!
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DrTom
Nomad
Posts: 183
Registered: 6-17-2007
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most of the more affluent mexicans that live in los cabos, go to mexico city or guadalahara for their own medical care. most likely cause theres
teaching facilities there that have good medicine. there is definitely tiers of quality in practive whether its human, veterinary or dental medicine.
now it is getting better there as some dr's are starting to move from mexico city to los cabos to have a more laid back lifestyle, but in general, if
you really have a problem, get back to the us/canada.....where the infrastructure is in place to deal with more significant problems. in veterinary
medicine its even more extreme, but then people dont expect the same level of care for their pets as they do for themselves, but that is changing
especially where i practice.....i have to practice better medicine than is available for humans, in my practice because of the
demographics/competition ....
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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Pescador, I'm relieved that you knew when it was time to take your wife to the states for better diagnostic & treatment equipment & I too am
pulling for her speedy & full recovery!
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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Pescador, you are one of my favorite Nomads. Hope your wife has an easy, full recovery. As to medical services/equipment in Baja California: Blood
work, SAT, MRIs, Sonograms, Xrays and hundreds of other testing procedures one would seek out with professional medical prognocis anywhere are
adequate in major hospital settings in Baja California and most Nomads know that -- from TJ to Cabo there are competent doctors and modern testing
equipment to assist them. The Mayo Clinic it's not but it's close, it's TLC, it's affordable. If you really, really need to go to Switzerland for
special treatment for Wilt Chamberland disease you should not try that at home or in Baja California and I would think all Nomads know that too. If
you need cheap, reliable, quick, intermediate medical care think of Mexico --- hundreds of thousands of gringos do. (daily)
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Cajones
I was just reading here on another thread the other day that somebody in La Paz -- longlegsinlapaz , maybe?-- was saying that the medical care in Baja
is better because the doctors do not rely upon the fancy equipment, but use their brains.
I think your story really illustrates how people let their perceptions sway their view of reality...even to the point of killing themselves over it.
Kind of like the 200+ people who refused to abandon Padre Island for Hurricane Ike, and who are now rotting in the swamps.
What your wife has probably couldn't even be detetected until it was way too late, with the kind of equipment you'll find in Baja. I think this goes
to show the people who like to beat the drums about Baja, and rationalize why they are there, the need to take it down a few notches. Somebody is
going to get hurt, or even killed, listening to those yahoos.
Just my opinion. |
Cajones, as this "yahoo" explained to you or maybe Shark18's response to my post on that other thread, I was commenting on my experiences &
admittedly not addressing catastrophic illness such as cancer. Without going back for a direct quote, I believe I qualified it with an "in many
cases" or something to that effect; I can guarantee that I never stated at all, for anything, under any circumstances, as you seem to be
implying.
Thankfully, Pescador & his wife are smart enough to make their own personal decisions rather than trusting anything I or any other "yahoo" posted.
You might want to give other Nomads some credit for not all following the herd mentality! Some people actually have the ability & intelligence
to sift through information/experiences presented & make their own personal decisions.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Pescador,
My prayers are with you and your wife.
Assuming you are in the US, is there anything I can do to help both of you?
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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Bajagypsy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1416
Registered: 8-31-2006
Location: BahÃa Asuncion BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Living the dream
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Our thoughts are with Mr & Mrs Pescador. We wish you the best. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
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Timo1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 757
Registered: 11-2-2007
Location: Homeless
Member Is Offline
Mood: Lovin every minute of it
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Pescador
ALL of us nomads are behind your wife and yourself in this
tIM
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greybaby
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 10-8-2004
Location: Idaho - formerly Cantu
Member Is Offline
Mood: Missing Baja
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The health care system in Mexico is one of the main reasons we would not consider retiring there. When we first moved to Ensenada in 1999 we were
convinced we could get our care there and all would be well. Having worked for years in medicine, it soon became clear that the quality just is not
there. My husband was admitted to a hospital in Ensenada overnight for an irregular heartrate and it was amazing how little (almost none) equipment
was available. They do the best they can with the resources they have but when it comes right down to it, though our system is flawed in the US, the
care itself is hard to beat. The technology alone is incredible and continues to advance.
We decided it would be unfair to our kids to reach the point in our lives (as much as we LOVE Baja) to retire there and then have them figure out how
to take care of us. Watching our parents die during the time we lived there convinced us we may be ready to die - but the process is what our
families have to deal with - and it's usually not all that simple. So, what started out as pretty idealistic acceptance of the lifestyle we wanted to
adapt to living among the people we so love, made us realize we have options and shouldn't be afraid to exercise them when necessary. During the
time we lived there, we just made it a point to get our "routine" evaluations done when we were North of the border.
I am so pleased to hear that Pesador's wife has received the correct diagnosis as well as treatment for her lung cancer. Usually by the time patients
exhibit symptoms, it has been around for awhile, thus making it more difficult to treat. Get well soon and return to the land you obviously love.
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Cajones
Banned
Posts: 81
Registered: 9-13-2008
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| Quote: | Originally posted by longlegsinlapaz
Cajones, as this "yahoo" explained to you or maybe Shark18's response to my post on that other thread, I was commenting on my experiences &
admittedly not addressing catastrophic illness such as cancer. Without going back for a direct quote, I believe I qualified it with an "in many
cases" or something to that effect; I can guarantee that I never stated at all, for anything, under any circumstances, as you seem to be
implying. |
Well, you got me curious and since I was just speaking from memory before, I went back and found exactly what you said, which was:
| Quote: | I'm not a vet & too young for Medicare. Why so many seem to feel the necessity to travel to the US for medical is beyond me! There is very good
medical here. You may have to search around a little to find a doctor you like, but the medical care here is better than in the US in many ways
because they don't have the latest in equipment & diagnostic tools, which means they have to use one of the oldest tools know to man....their
BRAIN. Here, doctors actually spend time with you & talk with you to get information & symptoms to actually diagnose, rather than run you
through on a conveyor belt, handing out slips to go here for this test & then go there for that test.
So rather than assume sub-standard medical....have you TRIED it? I HAVE seen a couple doctors here I wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy, but I
shopped around until I found 2-3 MD's & a few specialists that I like & feel sincerely care about my health & I've stuck with them, as
well as recommend them. |
It appears you have very selective memory. You specifically said the opposite of your recollection. You specifically said,"Why so many seem to feel
the necessity to travel to the US for medical is beyond me!" And now you are saying that people should use their judgement and head back to NOB.
You also specifically said that medical care in La Paaz was better than in the US, towit: "the medical care here is better than in the US in many ways
because they don't have the latest in equipment & diagnostic tools, which means they have to use one of the oldest tools know to man....their
BRAIN."
You are being a revisionist. Read what you said. You really were being the yahoo. Sorry if that offends you. If Pescador had actually listened to
your advice, he'd be a widower. You ought to just accept the fact that you really do not know what you are talking about and are giving out really bad
advice. Somebody is going to die listening to you. You are downright dangerous.
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8088
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
We still do not know what the final outcome is at this stage of treatment but so far things certainly look good.
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I'm so glad to hear this!
Marika has been on our minds often these last months.
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nevadacitynurse
Newbie
Posts: 15
Registered: 1-18-2008
Location: Loreto
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My prayers are with Mrs. Pescador. A positive attitude is a huge piece of the battle with cancer...based on my experience. I, like k-rico, am
interested to know if there were other symptoms...you don't need to name them, but "uncontrolled high blood pressure" is different than high blood
pressure that readily responds to meds. Doctors do not usually send a patient to those types of tests without a reason...there had to be more than
simply high blood pressure. My experience has been with the medical care in Loreto, which is limited only because of lack of some types of diagnostic
tests. We do have the basics and the doctors know when it's time to move on to a larger medical facility in either La Paz...or elsewhere. It is
possible that Mrs. P whould have seen just as many doctors in the US, when the initial treatment for high blood pressure didn't work...I've seen many,
many instances where it's taken a 3rd & 4th opinion to get to the right diagnosis, in the USA. And it's not the fault of the doctors, it's the
progression of the disease itself...it's like playing the game "clue". Sorry, I'm with Longlegs on this one. I've had great medical care in La Paz,
even though their hospital is purple!
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rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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Treatment options in Baja
My best wishes to Mrs Pescador for a full recovery.
Very few of my Mexican friends in La Paz have much faith in local diagnosis/treatment capabilities, especially in potentially serious cases. If they
have the cash, they are off to Guadalajara clinics (which I have been told by U.S. specialists and experienced personally, are world-class) at the
first sign of trouble.
For many of us, treatment in the U.S. (or Canada) is no longer an option - we live here full-time, are perhaps citizens, and no longer have existent
insurance in those places. My last brush with Ameican medicine cost me $370 for a two minute appointment - we can't afford it any more.
And Guadalajara is just 40 minutes up the road and is(comparatively), downright cheap.
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Cajones
Banned
Posts: 81
Registered: 9-13-2008
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| Quote: | Originally posted by nevadacitynurse
Sorry, I'm with Longlegs on this one. I've had great medical care in La Paz, even though their hospital is purple! |
Which of her contradictory statements are you with? The one that says medical care is better in La Paz than in the US, or the one that says one should
use ones judgment and head to the US if you think you have something serious?
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