Down Under!

Monday I was feeling a little off and then Tuesday night after dinner—with some new friends to Cuenca— I was down under. “La gripe” hit like ten-foot waves and I got swallowed up. I couldn’t move, barely could lift my head off the pillow and ached from head to toe. My fever broke on Thursday, so I felt a little more human, but not really.

“Yes,” even in paradise we get sick! It hurts even more because I was just about to blog on how wonderful it’s been to enjoy perfect health all year.

The flu season in Ecuador is Apri-May (I did not know this!). In Ecuador it’s called “la gripe estacional”– seasonal flu. You don’t want this—whatever it is. Mark even threatened to put me in quarantine and finally made me go to the doctor today because I lost my voice. Can you believe that? What good is a writer without her voice?

Little squeaks came out of my mouth instead of full sentences, so Mark had to talk on the phone with Dr. Parra. He offered to meet us at the hospital (Monte Sinai). Since his office was being remodeled by a lovely expat couple, we went downstairs to the ER where he checked me out thoroughly, including making me gag on the tongue depressor. I simply cannot stand that little stick! After the official diagnosis, I was sent home with two scripts and a warning not to drink cold liquids—just tepid. And rest, rest, rest.

It would be simple except we have lots of blog readers coming into town this week and I want to be out celebrating with them. We’ve seen them through the birth of an idea to the final “pack up your bags” and get on the plane stage. It’s been fun to get the updates from their Blackberry, including—“boarding the plane now.” You just can’t help but get excited for them. I hope they can hear me “squeak” from the bleachers! We might have to put off celebrating—for a week or so—until I get my voice back.

This isn’t exactly how I planned to celebrate this weekend—down under. But if I’m a really good girl, I plan to be back on the streets of Cuenca finding some more good stories to share with you. I’m using this bedside time to write some Chicken Soup stories and enjoy going through our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding album from May 30, 2010. Wow, it’s almost been a year!



Until next time…hasta luego!

medical care in Cuenca Dr. Pablo Parra flu season

NOTE: If you need a great doctor (internal medicine specialist and pulmonlogist), Dr. Pablo Parra is only a phone call away. Please, as a matter of respect, don’t call him “Pablo”—always use the Usted form (you) for politeness and respect. I heard some expats calling him “Hey, Pablo” and I nearly fell off the exam table. We are taking cultural classes along with our Spanish and our teacher still uses the Usted form with her father (as a matter of respect). As you learn the right way of doing things, adjust your thinking, and then put it into practice.

Dr. Pablo Parra

Internal Medicine and Pulmonology

Hospital Monte Sinai

Miguel Cordero 6-111 y Av. Solano

Cuenca, Ecuador

Cell: 09-610-8523

Landline: 288-5595 (Ext. 2511)

Medical Care in Cuenca

After ten days in the States I returned to Cuenca to find my hubby hospitalized! As far as we know it was food poisoning. Ironically, another American friend of ours was admitted on the same day at the same time and on the same floor as Mark.

Although this was an unfortunate incident, it has proven to be a learning curve for us. First of all, we had planned to search for medical insurance companies in Ecuador, including Salud and Humana, to protect us in case of a long or complicated hospital stay. But we first had to obtain our cedula (which we received in July), and then I left for the States. There’s nothing like an emergency to help you speed things along.

Mark was hospitalized at Mt. Sinai Hospital where our doctor, Pablo Parra, (an internal medicine specialist) is on staff. We were amazed at the speed at which Mark was admitted and received IV fluids due to dehydration.

All the rooms at Mt. Sinai are private suites with a fold-out sofa for family members who wish to spend the night. I was able to stay with Mark the entire time. The nurses actually prepared my bed, complete with monogrammed sheets and “tucked” me in. During the night Mark was attended to by a competent team of nursing staff and residents. A battery of lab tests were run to determine if Mark’s illness was typhoid or hepatitis A. The results were negative for both (thankfully!), and it was determined that Mark indeed had food poisoning.

By the following morning, Mark’s nausea and vomiting had subsided and he was given the option to leave the hospital or stay one more day. After another thorough examination by Dr. Parra, Mark was released, but not before a complimentary breakfast was served to me along with the morning newspaper (El Mercurio). Mark was given tea and toast, although he enjoyed looking at what I had to eat!

All the visits by staff and physicians were seamless and the test results were given to us as soon as they were available. While we were waiting for news of Mark’s most recent labs, a floral arrangement was delivered to our room compliments of the hospital.

I was almost “sad” to hear that Mark was being discharged because “almuerzo” was arriving! I have to admit that hospital food has never been very high on my food chain, but Mt. Sinai does an extraordinary job in the culinary arts department.

Mark is now home and resting comfortably. I’m still in shock at the speed and efficiency of the medical system at Mt. Sinai. Our total bill came to $250! That was for a private suite, doctor’s visits, labs, medication, IV hydration and meals. Where can you go in the States for such superb care at that price?

No one wants to be admitted to the hospital, but this experience has put our minds at rest regarding the medical care in Cuenca. It only confirmed what we have heard from others—who have had serious illnesses and prolonged stays—that the medical care in Cuenca is exceptional.

We will still investigate our medical insurance options to find a plan that fits our needs, but it’s a relief to know that we are assured state-of-the-art medical care with highly trained physicians who are just a phone call away!

Until next time...hasta luego!
 
 
Consuelo y Marco