Firsthand Experience with Colombian Healthcare

I started off this week with some of the typical "stomach problems" that one often experiences while in another country and soon found myself in the office of a cardiologist. Here is the story:

I feel like I've been fairly fortunate with avoiding those horrible stomach reactions that can plague some travelers (like my dad); I have only had one major episode of "Moctezuma's revenge." However, during the past few weeks, I have had some unpleasant digestion problems-- although nothing too bad. Carlos' mom is a doctor and kindly agreed to check it out for me.

As she poked, pushed, and prodded on my stomach while I lay down on her bed, she came to the conclusion that I simply needed to eat better, and she prescribed me a diet of papaya (the ONLY fruit I do not enjoy) and saltine crackers.

HOWEVER......... she found something that sent her some red flags: a strong pulsation coming from the upper part of my abdomen-- near the Aorta. Pretty soon, news of my oh-so-strong pulsating Aorta spread, and others were all putting their hand above my stomach-- agreeing that my pulse was far heavier than normal. She asked if I had ever had any sort of evaluation of my heart or blood system (which I had not), so she recommended that I see a cardiologist.

Therefore, on Tuesday, I found myself in the office of Doctor Ramiro Gonzalez, who thoroughly interrogated me about my complete medical history and performed an extensive exam. I was very healthy.... except for one thing: a "masa pulsatil" (pulsating mass) above my stomach. The detailed printout came to the conclusion that I could possibly have an "aneurisma de aorta abdominal."

An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm????? Yikes! That sounded pretty serious. That couldn't be me. I read all about it Online as soon as I left the hospital and discovered that I have none of the risk factors. However, Doctor Gonzalez recommended that I return to the DIME clinic for extensive blood exams and an abdominal CAT-Scan on Wednesday.

So, there I was once again early on Wednesday morning-- following my new cardiologist's orders. I got all of the tests that he recommended done (fun, fun, fun!) and am currently waiting for the results. I am sure that I will be fine (hey-- maybe my little Aorta is just a very diligent and dedicated worker!!), but it has been a very crazy process.

I can now completely empathize with those who must enter the medical system in another country. I mean, I am sure that Colombian doctors are good and have all of the right equipment, but it definitely isn't the same as being treated in my own country. Carlos and his dad have been great at taking me to my appointments and helping me figure out where to go and what to do... BUT... If I do have something major wrong with me (which I do not think is the case), wouldn't it be nice to be surrounded by my long-time friends and family?

It is also surreal to have everything transpire in another language. I have understood pretty much everything, but there are times when I've been a little slow. For instance, as the doctor was telling me that I needed a TAC (pronounced like "talk"), it took FOREVER to figure out that it was a CAT-Scan.

I remember one particular moment when I was in my little medical gown, with an I.V. in my arm (which sends a liquid throughout your body that makes you want to pee, by the way), laying with my arms above my head, inside a cave-like machine that was telling me, "Tome aire, sosténgalo, exhala, resuma respiración normal", that it hit me: "Holy cow! I'm in a hospital in COLOMBIA!"

I hope that this will be my last visit to the DIME Medical Center, and I vow to keep you posted as to what they discover about my body.