2wacky
Trinidad Colorado
Senior Member
Joined: 09/11/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
For all of the bad media coverage about the dangers of RV'ing in Mexico, perhaps a real life experience may demonstrate why so many of us continue to pursue our love of being in Mexico in a recreational vehicle.
I was given a premedication prescription for amoxicillin by a dentist prior to an appointment. I took the medication as prescribed and within 3 minutes I knew there was a problem. Within 2 more minutes, all of my muscles went into spasm. In 5 minutes more, I was having difficulty breathing, and several minutes more I was unconscious. My wife took me to the local emergency clinic. Four grown local family men waiting their turns to see the doctor carried me into the clinic. The doctor immediately diagnosed anaphylactic shock and began administering massive doses of cortisone. I was rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital. Intensive care staff stabilized my condition and I was discharged 12 hours later a little weak but otherwise OK. Now I know I have an allergy.
There were no charges for the clinic emergency care and life-saving drugs. There were no charges for the 90 mile ambulance ride to the Hospital in Hermosillo. The hospital took a credit card and processed a 10,000 peso deposit (around $750.00 U S Dollars). The care I received was prompt, professional, and performed by skilled, caring people with the assistance of local Mexican citizens who helped in any and every way they could.
Is there any wonder why I continue to love to RV in Mexico. I have always had and continue to have a genuine affection and respect for the dignity and generosity of the gentle people of Mexico. Now there are a bunch of Mexicans I will probably never see again but I know they saved my life. Viva Mexico!
Best regards,
Larry
Door. "Something a dog is always on the wrong side of." Mark Twain
KEØM
|
sunkatcher
Fulltimer
Senior Member
Joined: 12/12/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
Great testamonial Larry. Glad you are OK and enjoy your winter in Mexico.
Ron
masa4u.com
|
jspringator
Versailles, KY 40383
Senior Member
Joined: 01/07/2003
View Profile
Offline
|
IIRC Tioga George had a similar positive experience a while ago.
Jim & Sherri
05 Jayco Eagle 308 FBS, Dual Cam
2001 Ford Excursion 4.30 LSD,V-10,2WD,RAS,5-Star tuner
Honda EU2000 & EU1000 gensets;
2000 watt Tripp-Lite inverter/charger APS 2012
Saturn SD365 inflatable, 15 hp 2 stroke Yamaha
"Scout" Springer Spaniel
|
MazatlanLee
Mazatlan MX
Senior Member
Joined: 10/14/2008
View Profile
|
Thanks for sharing your experience, Larry. The quick response of the people who saved your life doesn't surprise me a bit. I've experienced the same kindness and caring under different circumstances. Thanks to the people who helped, you'll be OK now. Just stay wayyyy clear of that stuff, and please do yourself a favor by carrying something to alert first-responders that you are allergic to it. I'm glad you are still here to share your story, Larry! Now, go and have fun!! Lee
Beyond the Guardrails... Lee's photo albums:
http://www.leejacobs.org
|
rocmoc
AZ/Mexico
Senior Member
Joined: 09/30/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I too had a small event happen in Kino with my good friends moisheh & wife getting me in the clinic in the early morning hours before it was even open. While they do not charge or take payment, they will accept a donation for medical supplies. The clinic like anywhere in the world never has too many supplies. I left a nice sized & reasonable donation for the excellent care I received.
rocmoc n AZ
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
|
|
|
moisheh
North America
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Larry:
Glad that all is OK. I assume you went to the CIMA Hospital. World Class.
Moisheh
|
moisheh
North America
Senior Member
Joined: 05/04/2002
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
A quick followup on this subject: Mexican health care can be complicated. It is not a 2 tiered system but rather a multi tiered system. There are private clinics and hospitals( user pay), IMSS clinics and hospitals ( public health system), military hospitals and government employee hospitals. Among the private facilities there are some ( like CIMA) that are equal and in some cases surpass US hospitals IMSS hospitals vary from really bad to so so. Military and Government hospitals are excellent. In many small towns there are no hospitals and sometimes no private Dr's. Here in Kino we have a clinic that is run by the IMSS. Although they lack some modern equipment ( no EKG) the Doctors are young and enthusiastic. They are required to spend time in small villages before beginning a practice. I think they stay for one year. But these are not interns. They are fully graduated practitioners. Many speak English and we are continuously amazed at their knowledge of medicine. We have found the Doctors in any of the facilities to be very caring. You can phone a Dr. in Hermosillo and if it is urgent he will see you the same day. Try that in Canada. One caveat: In many tourist areas( Maz., PV) there are private clinics and hospitals that are vultures looking for naive tourists. The fees are many times what you would pay in L.A. and the quality of care is horrible. Never go to one of these facilities with a sign saying: Welcome Canadians or We speak English.
Moisheh
|
Belgique
Cedar Island NC (Outer Banks)
Senior Member
Joined: 09/17/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
x1000 on the tourist clinics. One in Maz tried to charge us over $1,000US for a simple office visit. I thought the amount on the card was pesos at first and then realized what they were doing. I called them on it and they backed down, real quick. Later, thanks to Linda from Canada, we saw a specialist in PV that was fantastic. Scanning DW's medical history he recognized a condition that no other US Doc had ever heard of except the guy that found it at Bethesda years earlier. He called us at the CG several times to coordinate medicine and gave us his private phone number. The charge was miniscule.
The Johnsons (incls a Bouvier, Lab, and Newfie)
Cedar Island, NC (Gateway to the Outer Banks)
2008 Winnie Sightseer 35J
Our Mexico trip Blog
|
Luke Porter
Not on the road :(
Senior Member
Joined: 10/03/2000
View Profile
|
I was on a caravan, doing a bus tour of Veracruz. A guy on the bus had a stroke. The was a RN and a EMT on the bus. They got the guy to a hospital in probably 20 minutes.
The hospital did basicly nothing for him. Kept him overnight, sent him on his way the next day. He wasn't "right" for the rest of the trip, couldn't even drive.
Had that happened in a city in the US, I bet the guy would have done a lot better.
Yep, actually drove to all of these places---in the last eight years. Missed Rhode Island and New Jersey.
.
|
clarlk
seattle
Senior Member
Joined: 02/23/2008
View Profile
|
Luke Porter wrote:I was on a caravan, doing a bus tour of Veracruz. A guy on the bus had a stroke. The was a RN and a EMT on the bus. They got the guy to a hospital in probably 20 minutes.
The hospital did basicly nothing for him. Kept him overnight, sent him on his way the next day. He wasn't "right" for the rest of the trip, couldn't even drive.
Had that happened in a city in the US, I bet the guy would have done a lot better.
You have a stroke and then go on with your tour ??? 
|
|
|
