My Surgery in Colombia-Day 4

Tuesday, September 28 was day four of my visit in the Clinica de Hospital.   I began dreaming of how wonderful the hospital breakfast would taste as it was wheeled down the hall and delivered to everyone else. I only had 15 hours sleep since being admitted, and counting the two days at home before admission I was growing weak without eating and drinking for 6 days.  Because of the horrendous constant pain, I hardly noticed the hunger pangs.  Ice chips would have been nice but were not offered.  My only complaint during this entire 9 day stay would be bring on the ice chips.  The doctors checked with me every morning and evening, and this morning they had ordered a tomography.  The test was quick and I was more than happy to drink the two cups of contrast medium down.  It was the absolute best barium and iodine I had ever enjoyed.  I highly reccommend it if you have completely food and liquid fasted for 6 days and nights. 
Pain PaIN PAIN!!!!!!  I could not tolerate it.  Medievel torture may come close to describing it.  The constant stabbing from the side and back of my upper abdomen made every move agonizing, every position sitting or standing unbearable.  That afternoon, Dr. A, my English speaking Urologist explained my test results.  The collection was a 10 cm mass on my kidney.  It was blocking half my large intestine, and they recommended a further test involving a puncture to obtain a biopsy.  He explained the possible results ranging from a cyst to a malignant tumor.  I refused to allow that word to even be considered.  I seriously explained to everyone it was not allowed to be mentioned, because I did not want to speak it into existence.  My dear, amazing Mommy in Pennsylvania was so worried she hadn't been eating or sleeping either.   Thank you to her wonderful partner Carl who had the wisdom to have a doctor prescribe her anti-anxiety medication.   As for my Daddy in Ecuador, he planned to immediately fly in to see me.  His concern for me elevated his blood pressure and along with the headaches, his doctor recommended he not travel.  Both my parents expressed feelings of helpless and fear.  It was the first time I felt afraid through this process.  Knowing my parents, my pillars of strength, my mentors, my caregivers and creators were terrified,  was my low point.  I cried so long and hard, from this mental anguish and physical pain I was given the highest allowed dose of morphine.  I slept two hours before I was in pain again.   I remember asking God several times if my life was really meant to continue.  About that moment he would send a bird singing to me, or a child laughing down the hall, or a staff member with a smile coming to see how I was.    My sleep deprived and distraught husband and I hardly slept that night.  I began to look forward to the procedure tomorrow, even with my surgery phobia.  Just a puncture.  It did not even sound good. 

Latin America on the Move! Here's why!

More and more Americans, especially the 'Baby Boomer' retirees are rethinking and relocating to Central and South America, and never looking back! With considerations such as difference in language, away from family and friends, and cultural contrasts, it must have a great deal of advantages. Here are a few from latinworld.com.:
-Cost of living is much lower. From rent/housing to food and services, you can expect around half what you spend in the US. Maids, security, and groundskeepers are an affordable amenity and are appreciative and hardworking.
-Stress free and relaxed way of life. In Ecuador, they told us "relax", and in Panama "take it easy". Here in Colombia, its "no problem". They actually tell you to be "tranquilo", a gentle reminder of where you are, and are not! Siesta, a two hour lunch break to eat and nap off your meal a bit before returning to the grind is taken very seriously! Well, that's probably the only thing that is!
-Unique natural environments. Each country offers a variety of Eco-scapes to choose from. Icy glaciers in Chile, Rain forests in Colombia, World class surf in Ecuador, Shopping in Panama, Offshore deep sea fishing in Costa Rica. These are just the activities I have recently ventured to. You'll easily find your favorites. latinworld.com covers tons of info and questions for newbies.
-Fiestas, Fiestas, Fiestas!! Here in Colombia, almost every other Monday is a national holiday. At Christmas, schools have a six week break and another break for summer. Nightlife and clubbing is very common in even the smallest towns, and starts when you get on the bus-lights, music, beverages, all can be enjoyed as your riding to your fave hot spot!
-Business and Investor Ready. Many governments foresee the trends already happening and have implemented fewer laws and less requirements for prospective business owners and investors. Panama has opened its borders allowing foreign nationals an "Immediate Permanent Resident" status. Find more info at sovereign-investor.com.

American's Medical Tourism Emergency Surgery in Colombia

Today

Three days after surgery

I was admitted on Saturday, August 25.  I had not eaten for two days and only sipped water and broth.  The pain had increased from about a 6 (scaling from 1 to 10) to about an 8 overnight.  Doctors and nurses checked on me about every 2 hours, and added severe dehydration to my symptoms.  My lips and mouth were completely white from what everyone said-mirrors were not in my vocabulary at that point.  That weekend was one I wish never to relive.  Before the pain medication wore off, I was literally crying in agony.  The doctors were not certain about my diagnosis and mentioned several ranging from kidney stones to a bowel obstruction.  All equally as frightening and painful to me.  Finally Monday arrived and I was quickly taken to get a sonogram.  Although four very pregnant women were waiting ahead of me, I was taken right away to the exam table.  The technician was as gentle as he could be, and when he captured the image of a large mass at the top left of my abdomen, he showed it to me on the screen.  He didn't make me wait hours for the doctors to read the results and share the same information.  Although I was shocked and disturbed, the tech was comforting and assured me I had the best team of physicians working on my case.  Everyone shared this same sentiment with my husband and I, and it was true as we soon realized.  But the waiting game wore on all of us.  My family in the states and my father in Ecuador grew concerned as my pain severity was evident over the phone.  My husband was staying strong for all of us but after weeks of seeing me in pain he could not sleep or eat. 
Which made two of us.  I was not even allowed water so of course it was all I thought about.  Watching the Food Network was definitely out.  Sleeping came about an hour and a half at a time until the pain woke me.  I wrote in broken Spanish to Ledys, my favorite nurse, I never experienced pain this severe in my entire 44 years.  And I have given birth 3 times naturally.  My youngest was born 9 1/2 pounds.  I am about 5'4" and 125 lbs.  Yea, I know what pain is.   

  





CNN: Latin America is the Future

The Mellennials are targeting Central and South Ameria for good reasons. They see a future full of prosperity, in countries changing policies to entice potential businesses as well as implementing changes in elementary school curriculum's teaching different levels of English classes. Governments welcome tourism and many have strategic marketing and advertising in place to familiarize and promote their countrysides. As we have seen here in Colombia, the reasons are many. And like their slogan says, "The only risk is wanting to stay". Its true. I am proof!
Find the article at this link- just click on it. --->>http://business.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/14/millennial-david-lloyd-why-the-future-is-latin/?hpt=ila_r1

American Medical Tourism Blogger has Major Emergency Surgery in Colombia

I never thought it would happen to me.  As I write, research, and promote medical tourism in Colombia, who could guess  that I would soon have a 'as-serious-as-it-gets' experience as an emergency patient. I speak barely enough Spanish to say I am in pain, and not enough to know what the doctors were saying was wrong with me.  But the nine days I spent in the hospital I will write about for the world to read.  And hopefully my experience will help others needing medical treatment and cannot receive it, for more reasons than just financially.  I am only 2 1/2 weeks out of surgery and recovery is going very well.  My surgeon is a wonderful man who speaks better English than my Spanish abilities, and will make his second house visit Friday.  The tomography picture above shows my kidney on the left normally.  The right kidney (looking like a hot dog) is smashed by the 10 cm abscess behind it.  My large intestine was also half blocked which caused me to become severely dehydrated.  I had started with a bladder infection and as we are reminded to 'always finish ALL the antibiotic prescription' I consciously did not.  I now know why this is impertinent; I learned the hard way.

Dental Procedure Price Chart on UK, US, and Colombia

Taken from http://medellindentalsolutions.com/costofimplantdentistry.html
                               United            United            Colombia
                             Kingdom          States

White Fillings

$150 to $250 One Surface Filling

$25-30 one surface

Crowns

£300.00 – £2000.00 per tooth

$950 per crown up to $3.500.

$220-440 per crown

Inlay & Onlay

$650-1200

$220-440

Basic Dental Implants

£1500 – £2500.00 per tooth

$2,000-$4,000 each

$650-950 per implant

Veeners

300.00 – £2000.00 Per Tooth

$975 per veneer up to $2200

$100-400 per unit

Colombia Is Open for Your Surgical Needs!

Colombia Jumps in to Medical Tourism Industry
February 26th, 2010

For Full article online tap here.

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SOURCE: IMTJONLINE

The Colombian government is promoting the South American country as a medical tourism destination, where visitors can receive high quality-low cost treatments such as cosmetic surgery and dentistry.
Tourism minister Luis Guillermo Plata says that the government expects to see a rise in medical tourism visitors because the quality of Colombian medicine is high but far cheaper than treatments in Europe and the U.S.The government estimates that twenty foreigners travel to Colombia every month for cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation. The majority of patients come from the USA, Spain, Panama and Mexico, according to the government. Approximately 2.2 per cent of visitors to Colombia in 2008 came to receive medical treatment, around 27000 people.
Colombia is projecting itself as one of Latin America’s main destinations in terms of health tourism. Expectations concerning the increase in the number of health tourists in the coming years are high due to the excellent quality of medical care and the high cost of treatment in the United States and Europe, where the ratio to Colombia is seven to one.
The development of health and medical tourism in Colombia depends on getting referrals, international accreditation hospitals, alliances with international clinics and hospitals, as well as the implementation of an infrastructure for bringing together the health and tourism sectors.

Wikipedia Defines Colombia Medical Tourism

For full definition click here

"Colombia is most likely the most underestimated destination for Global Healthcare in the Americas. Struggling with security and drug-related issues more than 15 years ago, Colombia is today one of the most thriving economies in South America and safe for tourists.^[66] Colombia's major cities like Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Cartagena are already receiving more than 1.45 million tourist each year and the numbers are increasing.^[67] Global Healthcare has been identified as one of the main drivers for economic growth in the medical sector. Patients from the Caribbean already know Colombia as a first class destination for medical procedures and cosmetic treatments. Now hospitals and facilitators are beginning to successfully convince also US-Americans of the quality of medical services provided in the country. An independent platform to compare the quality and prices of medical and cosmetic services is being supported by the government's export agency and regional initiatives.^[68] Colombia is overcoming its stigma and becoming a major player in Global Healthcare, serving needs of patients all over the Americas."

Cartagena is Host to International Medical Tourism Conference Next Year

Colombia’s northern coastal city Cartagena is likely to host an important corporate tourism conference next year.

“Successful Meeting of the Caribbean and the Islands” [SMCI] will bring together tourism businesses from Latin American, the Caribbean and North America. An estimated 6,500 people are expected to participate in the event held in October 2013.

Proexport, the government agency in charge of promoting tourism, pushed Cartagena as the host city of the conference and says SMCI decided on the tourist destination after an inspection of the city.
Successful Meetings belongs to travel publishing house “Northstar Travel Media,” whose publications reach some 50,000 readers. SMCI will allow Colombia to publicize the tourism opportunities it offers directly to a wide American market.
Successful Meetings’ advertising director Diane DiMaggio said after the 2012 visit “I really loved Cartagena and I look forward to confirming that we will be bringing the event to the city in October 2013.”
This announcement represents more good news for Cartagena which this week came out ahead of Berlin, Germany, and Venice, Italy, in a travel publication’s top ten tourism destinations for 2012
Taken from http://colombiareports.com/travel-in-colombia/cartagena/22593-cartagena-to-host-international-tourism-conference.html

American physician has procedure done in Cartegena, Colombia

How is that for your second opinion? Dr. Curtis Hunt, M.D. of Detroit recently traveled across the Caribbean to historic Cartegena, Colombia where he saved about $3,000 on a single office visit procedure. His story can be found at http://cartagenainfo.net/MedicalTourism/GastroCaribe/index.html

Got Health Insurance? Medical Tourism is Better, Here's Why

Health insurance can be confusing, disappointing, and is almost always expensive. When considering travel abroad for procedures, side-by-side cost comparisons still favor medical tourism. Studies tell the whole story.
The Commonwealth Fund, in its annual survey, “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall”, compares the performance of the health care systems in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada. Its 2007 study found that, although the U.S. system is the most expensive, it consistently under-performs when compared to the other countries.
The Commonwealth Fund completed its thirteenth annual health policy survey in 2010. A study of the survey “found significant differences in access, cost burdens, and problems with health insurance that are associated with insurance design”. Of the countries surveyed, the results indicated that people in the United States had more out-of-pocket expenses, more disputes with insurance companies than other countries, and more insurance payments denied; paperwork was also higher although Germany had similarly high levels of paperwork.

Surgery Cost Charting Colombia vs USA

http://www.globalbenefitoptions.com/

Taken directly from http://www.globalbenefitoptions.com/facts_about_medical_tourism.html

In 2007 alone 750,000 American’s traveled abroad for medical care. Medical Tourism is a real option for high quality medical care at reduced costs. By opening the door to the Global marketplace the patient has increased their options. Wait times for procedures are no longer a concern.               

The Joint Commission International (JCI) is the health care industry’s official accreditation institution. JCI represents the highest quality standards. As of 2008 JCI has over 220 approved foreign medical sites.
The savings on procedures is significant – see the chart below from Deloitte a Cost Comparison of U.S. vs. Foreign Surgical Procedures
Medical Tourism Sample Surgery Cost Chart

Surgery	USA	Colombia	Costa Rica	India	Jordan	Korea	Mexico	Singapore	Thailand
Heart Bypass	$144,000	$14,630	$25,000	$8,500	$10,000	$24,000	$20,000	$13,500	$24,000
Angioplasty	$57,000	$7,106	$13,000	$8,500	$5,000	$19,600	$16,000	$7,500	$7,000
Heart Valve Replacement	$170,000	$10,450	$30,000	$1,200	$12,000	$36,000	$30,000	$13,500	$22,000
Hip Replacement	$50,000	$8,360	$12,500	$8,000	$8,000	$16,450	$13,125	$11,100	$14,000
Hip Resurfacing	$50,000	$10,500	$12,000	$8,000	$8,000	$20,900	$12,800	$12,100	$16,000
Knee Replacement	$50,000	$7,106	$11,500	$7,000	$7,000	$17,800	$10,650	$10,800	$12,000
Spinal Fusion	$100,000	$14,500	$15,000	$12,000	$10,000	$17,350	$7,000	$18,300	$11,000
Dental Implant	$2,000-10,000	$1,672	$1,000	$700	$500	$3400	$910	$2,900	$3,000
Lap Band	$30,000	$6,500	$8,500	$7,500	$5,000	$9,500	$8,430	$12,000	$12,000
Breast Implants	$10,000	$2,600	$3,500	$4,500	$3,000	$11,000	$8,000	$5,400	$3,700
Rhinoplasty	$8,000	$1,677	$5,500	$3,500	$2,500	$4,000	$4,165	$2,700	$3,400
Face Lift	$15,000	$3,305	$5,900	$7,000	$3,000	$3,000	$7,200	$4,000	$6,600
Hysterectomy	$15,000	$1,845	$5,500	$5,500	$2,500	$9,000	$6,675	$4,000	$5,000

Updated July 2009

Transplants:	Asia	Latin America	United States
Kidney Transplant	$43,550	$30,000	Up to: $150,000
Liver Transplant	$134,000	$75,000	Up to: $315,000

Updated July 2009         

The future of medical tourism is coming!

Cartegena, Colombia is a beautiful and historic coastal town along the Caribbean coast, and next year the proud host of ‘Medical City 2012′, a metropolis of medicine, education, and healthy living for the world. With promising forecasts for the entire medical community and especially medical tourism, Medical City certainly will be beneficial to Colombia and promote visitors whether it be vacationers or those seeking life-changing surgery. Find more at http://www.cartagenainfo.net/MedicalTourism/medical-tourism.html

Comparative Knee Replacement Costs for Colombia vs USA

Comparative knee replacement costs in Colombia vs. U.S.

June 2, 2011

Medical tourism for knee/hip replacements has emerged as one of the more widely accepted procedures because of the lower cost and minimal difficulties associated with the traveling to/from the surgery.
Colombia provides a knee replacement for about $5,000 USD, including all associated fees, such as FDA-approved prosthetics and hospital stay-over expenses”.
—from “Medical tourism growing worldwide” by Becca Hutchinson, UDaily, July 25, 2005. Retrieved September 5, 2006.

“For patients without health insurance, a total knee replacement (in the U.S.) can cost $35,000 or more.”
—from http://www.costhelper.com/cost/health/knee-replacement.html

Cartagena's Medical City Promises to Increase Medical Tourism

“One of the last reasons why Colombia is the medical destination of

the future is the development of a medical supercity, the “Medical
City 2012′ project that is being build in the upscale suburbs of
Cartagena, approximately 10 kilometers from the Cartagena airport.
This project, spearheaded by Dr. Francisco Holguin, aims to provide
comprehensive services in a select group of surgical specialties
including cardiac surgery, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, dentistry
and plastic surgery. In a recent interview with Holguin, he stated,
“No hospital, not John Hopkins, not Harvard can be excellent in all
areas of medicine. But with the right programs, and the right staff, a
place like Medical City can be excellent in a few select areas.” He is
meeting with leading physicians in these areas to develop surgical
specialty programs at the new facility.”
—from ‘Colombia healthcare network future of medical tourism for
Americans’, http://www.wellnessvisit.com/mtnblog/?p=451

Colombia Ranks Higher Than U.S. In Worldwide Healthcare

Colombia Ranks Higher Than U.S. In Worldwide Healthcare

http://www.medicaltourismmag.com/article/what-is-your-countrys-ranking.html

What is Your Country’s Ranking?

Editor Medical Tourism Magazine Sep 4, 2007

As the healthcare crisis in the US continues to grow and Americans are looking to overseas alternatives for treatment, many people are looking back to the World Health Report from the year 2000 that focuses on the performance of health systems, world wide. It assesses health systems and the 35 million or more people they employ. The report notes that the well-being of billions of people around the world, the quality, and length of their lives, depends on the performance of the health systems.

The WHO report came out as the first ever analysis of the performance of the health systems of WHO’s 191 Member States. The performance assessment of health systems is based on many country variables such as: socio-economic, political and technological. WHO rankings show that even countries with the same levels of income can have very different healthy life expectancies while many countries fall short of their potential for performance.

According to Dr Uton Muchtar Rafei, WHO's Regional Director for South-East Asia, “This Report will hopefully provide a framework for the review of health sector reform in these countries, and will enable them to adopt various policy options in order to obtain higher levels of health.”

According to Dr Uton, “Choosing the right interventions and providing incentives to the providers is one way to improve the performance of the health system. WHO calls for a new ‘universalism’ - which means providing the simplest and most basic quality care for all, including the poor. Developing countries should rationalize their investment in human, physical and technological resources. The health ministries need to play a strong stewardship role, and should invite and regulate investment by other sectors, including the private sector into health.”

The following is the list provided in that report. Where does your country rank? Surprised?

1 France
2 Italy
3 San Marino
4 Andorra
5 Malta
6 Singapore
7 Spain
8 Oman
9 Austria
10 Japan
11 Norway
12 Portugal
13 Monaco
14 Greece
15 Iceland
16 Luxembourg
17 Netherlands
18 United Kingdom
19 Ireland
20 Switzerland
21 Belgium
22 Colombia
23 Sweden
24 Cyprus
25 Germany
26 Saudi Arabia
27 United Arab Emirates
28 Israel
29 Morocco
30 Canada
31 Finland
32 Australia
33 Chile
34 Denmark
35 Dominica
36 Costa Rica
37 United States of America
38 Slovenia
39 Cuba
40 Brunei
41 New Zealand
42 Bahrain
43 Croatia
44 Qatar
45 Kuwait
46 Barbados
47 Thailand
48 Czech Republic
49 Malaysia
50 Poland
51 Dominican Republic
52 Tunisia
53 Jamaica
54 Venezuela
55 Albania
56 Seychelles
57 Paraguay
58 South Korea
59 Senegal
60 Philippines
61 Mexico
62 Slovakia
63 Egypt
64 Kazakhstan
65 Uruguay
66 Hungary
67 Trinidad and Tobago
68 Saint Lucia
69 Belize
70 Turkey
71 Nicaragua
72 Belarus
73 Lithuania
74 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
75 Argentina
76 Sri Lanka
77 Estonia
78 Guatemala
79 Ukraine
80 Solomon Islands
81 Algeria
82 Palau
83 Jordan
84 Mauritius
85 Grenada
86 Antigua and Barbuda
87 Libya
88 Bangladesh
89 Macedonia
90 Bosnia-Herzegovina
91 Lebanon
92 Indonesia
93 Iran
94 Bahamas
95 Panama
96 Fiji
97 Benin
98 Nauru
99 Romania
100 Saint Kitts and Nevis
101 Moldova
102 Bulgaria
103 Iraq
104 Armenia
105 Latvia
106 Yugoslavia
107 Cook Islands
108 Syria
109 Azerbaijan
110 Suriname
111 Ecuador
112 India
113 Cape Verde
114 Georgia
115 El Salvador
116 Tonga
117 Uzbekistan
118 Comoros
119 Samoa
120 Yemen
121 Niue
122 Pakistan
123 Micronesia
124 Bhutan
125 Brazil
126 Bolivia
127 Vanuatu
128 Guyana
129 Peru
130 Russia
131 Honduras
132 Burkina Faso
133 Sao Tome and Principe
134 Sudan
135 Ghana
136 Tuvalu
137 Ivory Coast
138 Haiti
139 Gabon
140 Kenya
141 Marshall Islands
142 Kiribati
143 Burundi
144 China
145 Mongolia
146 Gambia
147 Maldives
148 Papua New Guinea
149 Uganda
150 Nepal
151 Kyrgystan
152 Togo
153 Turkmenistan
154 Tajikistan
155 Zimbabwe
156 Tanzania
157 Djibouti
158 Eritrea
159 Madagascar
160 Vietnam
161 Guinea
162 Mauritania
163 Mali
164 Cameroon
165 Laos
166 Congo
167 North Korea
168 Namibia
169 Botswana
170 Niger
171 Equatorial Guinea