Sampling Mexican Health Care

The rains brought by tropical storm Pilar and my continued intestinal issues limited my adventures this week to  trying out the Mexican health care system.  The folks in the marina office referred me to a doctor in Puerto Vallarta.  I was able to make a same-day appointment and took the bus into town yesterday to Medica Vallarta, a clinic associated with the neighboring hospital.  A single receptionist is there for a large group of doctors and related professionals.  Patients wait in a common area, with small doctor's offices surrounding it.  My doctor's office consisted of an outer office with a desk and an examining room behind.  Both neat, tidy and professional.  The receptionist and doctor both spoke fluent English.  The doctor got a basic medical history from me, discussed my problem, palpated my abdominal area and gave me an EKG (he was a heart specialist).  After the exam, he wrote out orders for an ultrasound and blood, urine and stool tests.  They called the radiologist in the same building and I was able to get the ultrasound done about 30 minutes later.  The basic layout of the radiologist's office was the same, but rather than a neat desk, the center of the first room had a table covered in clutter.  The ultrasound exam used the same computerized technology I've experienced in the states.  Although the radiologist's English was more limited, she was able to let me know my appendix (which I was concerned about) and other organs were fine.  I then went downstairs to the lab for the blood test, which turned out to be a little weird.  It was two rooms in a corner of the underground parking garage and there was a piece of the concrete floor damaged and left unrepaired next to the chair used by the patient when drawing blood.  The lab tech spoke almost no English, but we had no problems communicating.  She used hand sanitizer before putting on the usual disposable gloves, and other than having some trouble finding a good vein, drew blood just as I've always had it done in the U.S.  I left a urine sample before leaving for the day.  I had to return again this morning to deliver the stool sample.  I expect to hear back from them with results as early as tomorrow.  Because I have no Mexican medical insurance, I had to pay for the services myself, which means cash. (Only the lab took a credit card).  Here's how it broke down:
   Exam and EKG:  2,587 pesos
   Radiologist:            900 pesos
   Lab work:            1,100 pesos
   TOTAL:              4,587 pesos or $253 at the current exchange rate.
Pending  a good final outcome, a pretty good experience overall.

With the almost continuous threat of rain all week, my desire to get a second coat of Cetol onto the starboard rub rail was frustrated.  So, I worked on refinishing some interior locker doors and cleaned and lubed one of the main genoa winches.  One day when the cabin fever got to be too much and it wasn't raining for a while, I managed a walk on the beach.  I'm hoping by next week I'll have found the answer to my health problem and can make some real progress on "the list."  Who knows, I might even find a way to have some fun!

Tropical storm Pilar passed just outside Banderas Bay this week.

Although NOAA issued warnings of the possibility of winds up to 39 mph,

we had only light winds, but some heavy rain.

The area got 7 to 10 inches of rain in one 24-hour period.

No problem in a boat, of course.

Nice sunrise after the storm passed

I took the bus into town to see a doctor on Wednesday.

While they often talk on the phone, this was the first time

I've seen a driver texting.  Scary, but there were no problems.

Medica Vallarta, where I saw a doctor and got lab work done.

Inside, you are greeted by a friendly receptionist who speaks

fluent English with no accent.  Doctors' offices are behind each

of the doors, with a shared waiting area in the center.

The lab was tucked into a corner of the underground parking garage!

Judging by the cars, doctors do pretty well in Mexico,

despite much lower costs for care than in the U.S.

A little project I could do in the rain:  Lubing the pressure

regulator for the propane bbq.

Refurbishing one of the genoa winches began with

removing the center section on top that holds it all together.

With that removed, I could pull off the drum.

The shaft and gears were pretty dirty and covered with

caked on, contaminated old grease.

 

Removing the shaft from the base. 

(I quickly switched to a socket wrench

on a ratchet, which worked much better.)

Yucky shaft, gear and base

Reduction gears revealed.

Ratchet pawls

Pulling off the last gear

Gear teeth got cleaned like human teeth:  picks

and toothbrush.  But humans shouldn't use

paint thinner.

Everything down to the individual pawls got a thorough cleaning.

Everything cleaned and the drum polished.

Everything reassembled with fresh silicone grease.

(Except the pawls, which got lubed with Boeshield 9

because grease would gum them up.)

One down, one to go!

Sanding a locker door prior to refinishing. 

A little at a time does it.

Executing the rainy day plan:  coffee while reading the printed

version of previous years' blogs.

The heavy rains cause some pretty big logs to get washed

down the rivers and into the bay. (note the sandals for scale.)

Gotta be very careful if you're out there in a boat!

Willet

I almost tripped over this guy walking down the dock to my boat!