BajaKeela
Junior Nomad
Posts: 94
Registered: 5-9-2008
Location: Vancouver Island
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Nomads..I need medical info please
Can anyone tell me if there is a lab to get blood tests done in Santa Rosalia? We plan on camping on one of the beaches south of Mulege for several
months ..I would appreciate any info on this .. The test I require is a PT-INR
Hope you can help because I sure want to go to Baja at the end of October..
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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end of october? there aren't labs in BC? just wondering. if driving, can't you take a couple of days and get the test/results in ANY city?
[Edited on 9-15-2008 by woody in ob]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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If you want a blood panel which you can have confidence in, you may want to get it done in Ensenada while you're refilling your coolers. Valmar
Hospital does them on a walk-in basis and they have good local credibility. On matters of high importance, doctors here will send blood to the
states for analysis.
I don't know what a PT-INR is but, you could stop at Valmar for a chat on your way through.
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baja Steve
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Mulege has a lab and a new hospital
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DENNIS
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Thanks Steve. I keep forgetting how big things are getting down there.
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BajaKeela
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 5-9-2008
Location: Vancouver Island
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I need to have my blood checked every 2 weeks.. Someone I know had the same problem and had blood tests done in Loreto ..It seems when you take
Coumadin (Warfarin) it's important to keep a close eye on the PT-INR
(coagulation time?) I'm hoping there's a lab in Santa Rosalia ..only because it's closer to Mulege..but I can always go to Loreto..Thanks for your
quick response Woody..So many good Nomads on this forum ..I hope to meet some of you this winter
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BajaKeela
Junior Nomad
Posts: 94
Registered: 5-9-2008
Location: Vancouver Island
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Yeah!!!! New lab and hospital in Mulege...Now my husband can't balk about going to Baja ..Thank-you ..Thank-you..You guys are great and have made my
day!!!
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Russ
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Chivato
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Dr. Hector Silva, My doc, in Mulége, has a lab and pharmacy. You could call him and find out if the lab does the work you want. 615-153-0253. His
office is on the hwy. Heading South he's on the left right after the 1st speed bump after the water place and just next to the auto parts. He speaks
English. Hope he can help.
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
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Location: Baja California Sur
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There are two labs in Santa Rosalia but my reccomendation is Laboratorio Santa Rosalia. I have confirmed with them that they can do a Pro-trombin or
in Spanish -Tiempo de Thrombina-. We think the people there in the lab are wonderful and very professional. They are located on Calle 4 Number 30
which is on 4th street and about two blocks south of main street. Phone number is 011-52-615-152-22-33.
Most medical doctors who advertise labs usually have bacteriological labs for testing reactions to infection and medication. We found most of them
ended up sending to Santa Rosalia anyway so we go directly there which keeps us from worrying about mixups.
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BajaKeela
Junior Nomad
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Location: Vancouver Island
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Thanks Pescador and Russ...I have all the info logged ..
Now that this is resolved ..I can dream of spending time with my fishing rod in hand...Woo-Hoo... and Baja here I come!!!
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bajabound2005
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Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Any lab can do it but it may take you 24 hours to get the results. My hubby gets it done at a lab in Maneadero and has to go back the next day to
pick up the results. In Spanish the test is called "Tiempo de protrombina" or TP for short. They will give you a printout with your results, the
number you want is the INR.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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greybaby
Nomad
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And I would think the labs that have been referenced are credible. Once you get the INR value, you can call your physician in the US and get their
input on your dosage. I hope you can travel. Have you been stable for any length of time with your INR's? I work in a clinic in the US and we
adjust patients' doses of Coumadin all the time. Some people stay pretty much the same and others are a little trickier. And a little R&R in
Baja will be therapeutic for sure!!!
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Sidenote to Woody -- INR/PT tests, at the start, are required weekly. After several weeks of being "within range" you get a pass to a monthly test.
After that, you KNOW what your numbers have to be and know what to do to correct them if you're off. Of course, they can get the test in the other
BC, but it's a "maintenance" thing....eat more leafy greens, eat less leafy greens and take more coumadin.....
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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BajaKeela
Junior Nomad
Posts: 94
Registered: 5-9-2008
Location: Vancouver Island
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Thanks Greybaby.. I plan on consulting with my family Dr. in Canada.. I'm working at getting stable before we leave..I'm told diet and exercise are
important ..and any changes in medication ..even over the counter vitamins can change the values. I plan to be very vigilant.. I have a small blood
clot on my lung that will take about six months to dissolve..Just an extra little gift I got with my recent surgery. Considering I came out of surgery
with all results benign ..I'm elated I'm alive..Now I have to make sure I don't get hit by a big truck..Chuckle chuckle
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Baja California Sur
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Another thing that your doctor will probably tell you is that you do not want to sit for long hours while driving. You will want to stop and get out
and walk around for awhile or whatever. We were told that can be a real critical issue and they do not want clots in the legs or other places. So be
sure to mention that you are going to be going to Mexico and the doctor can set up an exercise time for you while on the road.
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greybaby
Nomad
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Location: Idaho - formerly Cantu
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Mood: Missing Baja
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Good advice, Pescador. Okay, Bajakeela, I have to tell you the medical side of me is fretting a bit about you. As long as your doctor knows about
this trip and is okay with it, I won't worry about you. Sounds to me like you have good insight into what is going on and I'm counting on the fact
that you are NOT going to be hit by a truck. I do have to admit that during our six years living in Ensenada my husband and I would joke about the
fact that if we did get hit by a truck, we wanted it to be fatal. We did not want to get hauled into any of the hospitals by Cruz Roja - I know they
do their best but the whole system makes me more than nervous. I always said that if anyone saw me slipping, drive North and go fast!!
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Skip_Mac
Nomad
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Registered: 4-25-2008
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Just wanted to say thanks, this kind of information sharing and caring is what makes the Nomad site so wonderful for me. A minority of 1% of flamers
is NOTHING compared to Stateside sites, and NOT important for enjoying BAJA.
Looking forward to my next wait in line at the border, 'cause it's always worth it.
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midwifevicki
Junior Nomad
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Registered: 1-11-2004
Location: SOLANA BEACH CA
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My husband had a Pulmonary embolism last year after much air travel and a long drive to Punta Chivato and back, so I know the situation that you face.
Be sure you stop frequently get out of the car and walk around! Wear pressure socks! My husband got the insurance to buy him his own INR meter, very
convenient. When we are in Mexico, he can check it any time. Any time that you travel, stress and environmental changes can increase/decrease your
INR so it is important to check more frequently.
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