This week I had the long awaited surgery to remove the hardware from my leg. It has been two years since the original accident and I had hit a wall with ongoing pain and lack of improvement to mobility.
I am lucky to have health insurance in the US so I chose to travel here for the procedure. I am glad that I did but the difference in care was glaring.
I’ll start by saying that this was my experience and not a generalization of care in either country.
I found care in México to be more humanizing. Doctors and nurses were friendly and not always in a hurry. They did not enter my room trailing a computer with a list of tests to perform.
The US hospital was not a place of rest or recuperation. Sensory overload, with lights turned on and off all night. Anyone that’s ever been in a US hospital expects it. “That’s the way things are”. Lots of rules, no flexibility. It felt like a manufacturing line.
I WAS sent home with a great deal of support. Home health (HH) care came by the house the following day to go over my many prescriptions and answer questions. In the hospital I had multiple people, social worker, OT, PT, nurses, physician’s assistant, giving me sometimes conflicting instructions. I’m not sure how they expect a drug addled, post op, 74 year old to keep it all straight. And yes, I’m playing the age card. Thank God for Lisa. NEVER go to the hospital alone.
In Mexico my surgeon came by my house. The only problem was his treatment was outdated. He wanted me to stay in bed. In the US I was walking to the bathroom immediately.
I cannot speak to all Mexican orthopedic surgeons. My suggestion is to travel to a large city with a teaching hospital, if at all possible.
At the moment pain is manageable and I am sleeping a lot. My appetite is nonexistent I’m having to force myself to eat. HH will be here next week and I return to my surgeon in two weeks. I am pleased with how things are going and confident this surgery was the right decision for me.
I hope to be returning home to Mexico in 4-6 weeks. Fingers crossed.
DOS TORTAS
the adventures of dos tortas 
Glad you made it through the surgery okay. My stepfather was recently in for a hip fracture repair, and he complained mightily about the food, but the three lunches I saw that they brought him looked good. He hates veggies so would balk at a pretty plate like in your photo – plus, like you, he didn’t have much appetite at first. Hospital food has come a long way, baby. I haven’t been in the hospital since I fractured my pelvis in a cycling accident in 2005, but I still recall how awful the nights were with the lights on and off, people coming and going; hard to get any rest at all!
Hope you feel stronger every day and get your appetite back.
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Thank you. As usual it’s a circuitous route. I thought today id be up and at em. No such luck. I did walk outside which showed me how long I can sit up. Not long. Of course the goal is the return flight home. Here’s hoping there’s no hospital stays in your future.
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Dear Alex:
You have been in my thoughts and prayers – and I am so happy to hear you are doing well. Bravo to you and Lisa)!! I hope your appetite returns and that your pain is as minimal as possible. We are cheering for you – and sending love xoxo Lorrie and Bob
Lorrie Jones
Simple Serenity
simpleserenity.comhttp://simpleserenity.com/
253.312.3117
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Thanks. One step at a time, literally.
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Norma — I’m forwarding the email with Alex’s most recent blog about her surgery. Marcia
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Sent Norma a text today. Would love to see you Marcia.
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Glad to hear your on the mend. You’ll be skipping home in no time 😉 Interesting observations about the different approaches to health care. Sensible advice about finding a teaching hospital too!
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I live in a very underdeveloped area in Mexico. There are extremely high tech hospitals in big cities. Decisions were made quickly when the accident happened. We did the best with what we had.
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Healthcare in Mexico is definitely more human. I’ve had a few experiences and it’s been wonderful.
Good suggestion to go to a place with a teaching hospital because care will be the most up-to-date.
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Big city, private hospitals have the best funding. Many doctors are trained in the US. I think our litigious society really hinders our humanity.
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