lookinglass
What's up doc? (Pre surgery visit)
May 31, 2015
I was scared to fly to Puerto Vallarta and asked the coordinator if I could meet the doctor and tour the facilities a few days before the surgery. This way I could back out if I felt uncomfortable. Living in both the US and Europe I've gotten to experience a wide range of hospital care over my years. My experiences in Austria where the hospitals are not air conditioned (or weren't 10 years ago) really made me nervous. As an American I want my hospitals and food the same; sterile, clean and beautifully presented. Austria made me nervous, living in England I was shocked and convinced I might die from something caught in the hospital and clinics. My first trip to the A&E (ambulances & emergencies) in London I was perplexed that in the room I was being treated were various crumbled balls of rubbish, hair and dirt. I actually had to push some rubbish off the examine table before I climbed up. I know I sound so very precious but I've never seen this in the States. Not that it doesn't exist mind you, just that I have had a level of care which made these other experiences unsettling. I should say though that although the facilities might not have been up to par, in all countries the care of the doctors were the same quality.
so, based off these experiences you can see how I would have been a bit hesitant to have surgery in Mexico, in a hospital I've never seen and a doctor I've never met. So through the coordinator named Gerald, a mysterious well informed and friendly coordinator at that, I asked to meet the doctor and tour the facilities. I arrived at the hospital and it's tiny compared to our mega hospitals in the US. It was very clean, the lobby staff super friendly. They let Dr. Hidalgo know I was there and was happy to wait for him (I was 20 min early). About 10 min later he arrived dressed in regular clothes and met me and my husband sitting in the little Starbucks cafe in the lobby. He sat right down and started chatting. I had a list of questions and he patiently went through everything and my concerns. We probably talked for maybe 45 min, not once did I feel pressured or rushed. He then took us on a tour of the hospital and up to the recovery ward. I was quite curious to see these rooms and it turned out he had 2 patients in recovery who had surgery he night before. I waited in the waiting area outside the rooms and was surprised when he came out and asked if I would like to meet the patients. I went in and met X, a woman maybe my age or slightly older. She said her experience was great. She didn't really feel Any pain and was looking forward to drinking water. I saw her drainage tube which had lots of gas but very little drainage fluid in it. I then was invited to the other patient he had recently performed surgery on. Her mother was there and she was younger than I by at least 10 years. She said she was having a hard go of the pain but it was gas. She showed me her sutures and her drainage tube. Her sutures looked amazing, like a scratch that was stapled shut. The drainage tube was full and she had a good amount of drainage fluid in it. I thought it was interesting that both were experiencing different body responses. It does really seem to be on an individual basis. I asked her if she used gas x and she said she wasn't allowed. I was horrified as I'd pretty much asked the hubs to stick one behind each ear and under my arms before surgery to help (j/k do not do that). Dr. Hidalgo told her she needed to walk to rid her of the gas. She too said she didn't regret it at all, just was looking forward to the gas going. Personally, I've no idea how ill do with the pain. I don't know how high my tolerance is because I try and avoid it as much as possible.
Walking away from the hospital I felt comfortable. I feel like if this is a risk I'm taking, it's a risk that I have controlled all that I can, and the rest is up to God. I'm glad I'm having my surgery here.