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 Co. Rep Blogger Becomes Patient in Colombia

All new experiences told as stories to others usually have a lesson or moral from which we are to learn or ponder. Mine is two-fold; one is a culture changing truth, and the second a personal challenge overcome. My desire in writing is to share what I have gained from a shocking and frightful ordeal and essentially help others. Whether it be joining the change of a country's stigma or opening minds to global medical tourism, my journal begins.
Kind. Caring. Utmost professional. Patient conscious. The absolute best medical experience I have ever encountered. This does not touch the surface of the entire staff at the hospital. In all my 44 years, I have never felt such a level of concern or comfort as in this Colombian hospital. I speak from not only a patient perspective but clinical as well. About 25 years ago I worked as an orthopedic nurse in the largest tertiary care hospital (at the time) on the east coast. I almost made it an entire year. The daily mental and physical endurance was more than I could make my life's work. Nursing school doesn't teach this because it can not. People whom you have grown close to, suffering in multiple types and severities of pain. That sums up nursing in my eyes.
From the doctors and nurses, to the hospitality and communications staff, each one had a smile and awareness of its patients. And especially with my lack of spanish speaking abilities (even though my father is Ecuadorian) a happy face makes all the difference in the world. 
Amazing pictures of the surgery wound, two days post-op and today.  Scar will be barely noticable in the future, thanks to my masterful and english speaking surgeon!

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.

Someca Joins with Primo MedTour

Frederick Siller, President oof Primo MedTour and Travel, S.A., announced today its partnership with Someca Clinicas Odontologicas, a full service, well established dental clinic with 4 offices in Barranquilla and Santa Marta, Colombia.   With over 25 years experience, Someca Doctors and staff are fully trained with the latest technology and committed to the quality standards necessary for optimal service and patient comfort.   State of the art, sterile facilities and excellent tech dental equipment combined with caring and certified personnel providing the highest standard in dentistry care from braces to 24 hour emergency service

On a personal note, my wife has had excellent results with her dental implant procedure.  We plan on proceeding with dental veneers for both of us, as well as replacement of silver fillings to white.  We will post pictures of our new 'Hollywood' smiles very soon.

Eyelid surgery costs in U.S. and Colombia

From ColombiaMedicalTourism.blogspot.com

Eye lift cost comparisons

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty or eye lift) is a popular cosmetic plastic surgery to remove excess skin, fat or muscle from droopy upper and lower eyelids. Blepharoplasty improves baggy skin under the eyes, sinking upper eyelids or drooping eyelashes that impair vision. The surgery can also treat a medical condition called ptosis (drooping eyelid), which is caused by poor muscle tone or nerve damage. Ptosis causes the eyelids to hang very low and block vision.

In the states, the total fees can range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the extent of the procedure. In 2007, the national average for plastic surgeon fees for blepharoplasty was $2,480, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In Santa Marta, Colombia, our specialists quote was 2,600 pesos, or about $1,457.05 USD with today's currency exchange rate. With all the options available in Santa Marta, or Colombia, as a whole (Bogota is the 4th best location for all plastic or as I like to say, improvement surgery) many patients combine services to get the most for your money. I am working with a group of family doctors here, to have the blepharoplasty and total veneers for my husband and I. My molar implant is almost complete, and then we will be ready for the veneers, which take about a week. The eye lift is a pretty quick surgery and recovery is a breeze, according to my mother, who had it done last year. Thanks Mommy, for that gene, and lousy teeth genes too! <3 You Mommy!!! She said it feels like paper cuts on the eyelids, and stitches are out after five days. I am a veteran orthodontic patient, and hated dentist visits more than my fear of bugs, which ranks at totally petrified. So keep checking for updates to these maintenance visits we will be undergoing. After we have completely healed and look absolutely fabulous we certainly will be posting our photos here, and just about everywhere I can online, so look out facebook, all my profile pics, linkedin.....

Colombia, USA, and others Comparative Costs on Popular Surgeries

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