The Mexican Hospital Experience

One thing I love about the Doctors here in Mexico is generally they are really cheap, and one thing I hate about them, is that I generally don't trust them.  There are dozens of medicos or quick walk-in clinics around our house, and usually they charge $2.  These types of clinics are great for common illnesses such as colds, sinus infections, and flu.  But when it comes to something more complicated I wouldn't trust their diagnosis and treatment.  We have used them dozens of times, and for the most part have had okay experiences.  But Elena has had ongoing stomach and intestinal issues since she was a baby, and they never seem to get it right on treating her for it.  I guess, shes has yet to be accurately diagnosed with anything specific.  This past incident, we took her in for vomiting, upset stomach, and fever.  The doctor said she had a Urinary Tract Infection, gave her some antibiotics, anti-vomiting medication, and sent us home.  Her urine was not tested, so right away I was weary that the diagnosis may be wrong.  I also had motherly instincts that it was not a Urinary Tract Infection at all, her pee seemed normal, no oder or strange color, no pain when urinating etc.  But, I thought we'd give the medicine a shot and see if she got better.  After two days on the meds she seemed to be getting better, she had one okay day.  But then after the 4th day she began vomiting massive amounts, and complaining of bad stomach pains.  Her behavior was also clearly off, she was very lethargic, sleepy, and awkward.  It was clear she was in pain. 

Since it was after 11pm, and all the medicos were closed, are best option was to take her to the ER.  When we arrived it was nearly midnight, so they were not too busy.  Let me start by describing how the hospitals here very much resemble homeless shelters.  I suppose due to the lack of space and over crowding, they simply do not have enough room to let just everyone inside the hospitals.  So, the only ones allowed inside are the sick patient, and ONE immediate family member.  And they are very strict about this!  Because it is this way, there are tons of family members literally camped outside waiting to hear any news about their loved ones inside, or waiting to switch off for a turn with their loved one.  Let me remind you that right now the temperatures are near freezing at night, so this makes it extra painful having to camp out!  Blue had to go in with Elena, since I am not fluent in Spanish, so that left me waiting and observing.   People were scattered all over the concrete, some laying on pieces of cardboard, some not.  All wrapped up like burritos in layers of blankets, with hats, scarfs, and gloves.  One coffee stand stayed open 24 hours, and a couple of guys selling Atole, and Tamales from their bicycle.  Blue said wait here 25 min, which turned into 2 hours.  Luckily, my father in law was with me, and my mother in law soon met us with blankets in hand.  Finally, after what seemed like forever, Blue emerged from inside the hospital and told us what we didn't want to hear, Elena was being admitted for the night.  I was beyond worried, because I couldn't even be by her side, and I had no idea what was going on inside, and although I really didn't want to trust the doctors with my baby, I knew I had to...I had to let them take care of her, and trust they would help her get better, cause lord knows I couldn't help her at this point and it was out of our hands.  Right away Blue told be they put an IV in her, and wanted put tubes down her nose into her stomach.  He told me the nurses asked her what her daddy's name was, to try to distract her while inserting the tubes, and she screamed so loud he thought the hospital could here her ''BLLLLLUUUUUUEEEEE!!!!''.  I was trying to keep cool, but I felt so scared for my baby, and I knew how scared she must be.  Blue couldn't stay long, just came out quickly to let us know what was going on, and then he had to get back to her side.  We weren't sure when we would see him again, now we were left to wait like all the other family members outside in the freezing cold. 

It was a very long night, I dozed off for 30 min, and the rest of the time just shivered, thought about Elena, and observed the people sleeping around me.  Lots of dads were either snoring, or pacing back and forth, while their wives were inside with their babies.  I watched the sun come up, and a flurry of activity, as all the street vendors came to set up shop for the day.  Taco stands opened, snack carts, vendors selling baby clothes for the newborns, and of course the line to get into the emergency room grew fast.  Soon there were hundreds of people around...waiting and trying to get in.  I also watched all the nurses and doctors in their clean white uniforms rush to make it inside, in time for their shift, coffee in hand...and the night shift, walk out slowly, tired faces, ready to go home and go to bed.  Blue came outside I think twice to give us quick updates, but there really wasn't much to update us on.  They took her blood, urine, and were waiting for x-rays.  She was calm now, sleeping a little.  By 2pm the next afternoon we knew they wanted to keep her another night.  My father-in-law offered to stay with her, while Blue and I went home to shower and sleep for an hour or two.  We did go home and shower, but we couldn't sleep, so we packed a small bag of extra clothes, and some books for Elena and headed back for night #2.  This time, I was going to stay the night inside by her bed, while Blue waited outside in the cold. 

I wasn't prepared at all for what I would meet inside.  They led me past bed fulls of sick patients, some hooked up to all kinds of machines and tubes, pregnant women screaming through labor, it was all open, no privacy, just bed after bed, patient after patient in one big room.  Then off to the side of the big open room, was a very small room, perhaps slightly bigger than my own bedroom, and it was lined with 12 cribs each holding a sick infant.  Next to each crib was a plastic school chair for the mom or dad to sit in.  I immediately was overwhelmed with emotion and starting crying.  That didn't help Elena, who in turn also started crying, and said to me ''please get me out of this place right now!''.  I calmed down, so I could calm her down, and looked at the faces of all the other moms watching us.  It was a very depressing place.

I watched the nurses work through the night, attending each baby.  The moms dozed off here and there, but never for long.  There was a constant cry of at least a baby or two, sometime all dozen of them at once!  The faces were long, tired, heavy with worry and exhaustion.  There was one newborn, called Tomas, who was abandoned after birth and he was all alone.  He had trouble breathing, and cried that newborn cry loudly, only there was no family to come to his rescue, to pick him up, to soothe and comfort him.  This was especially hard for me.  Tomas had to wait and cry till the nurses had time to feed him by syringe.  I still can't help but wonder what will happen to little baby Tomas. 

Laney was a champ, although she was frustrated and wanted to get out, she didn't cry, and somehow managed to sleep through all the noise and commotion.  She colored a little bit here and there, and practiced her letters.  We read books, and laughed with each other.  I even saw some of the other mothers crack smiles while watching Elena and I make the best out of it.  I think through the whole night I nodded off for maybe a half hour, I had one Coke to help me stay awake.  In the morning once the sun was up and the street was buzzing again, I snuck out with Blue to grab a quesadilla real quick.  A small old lady ran up to us on the street, telling me in Spanish ''Lady, lady, your daughter is crying for you!''.  I swallowed my food quickly and headed right back in, to find Elena upset, thinking I had left her.  She quickly calmed down.  Finally the doctors came and ordered a liquid diet for Elena, which was a huge relief because she hadn't eaten or drinken anything in over 40 hours and was literally begging for food and water.  They said if she could hold down the liquid, then they would try giving her solid food, and then if she could hold down that, and her intestines looked better she could go home.  Well she did it, she held down the liquids, and later that afternoon the food.  The swelling of her intestines went down, and she pooped normal.  Finally in the late afternoon, she was released :)

Now here's one of the best parts of the whole thing:  Our total hospital bill for 2 full days, IVs, blood work, urine tests, x-rays, and food was $480 pesos...about $48 dollars!  And on top of that, before we left, they told us we could make an appointment to have the government reduce our bill if we wanted to do so!  We were okay with paying the $48 dollars, and didn't want to wait around for another appointment, so off we were full of smiles and glad for it to be over.  Elena was in good spirits, and so were we.  She was diagnosed with a severe stomach virus or infection...same thing she has had several times before.  Nothing unusual showed up in her blood and urine tests.  Overall it restored a bit of my faith in the doctors/nurses/hospital system.  I know if this would have happened in the USA, it would have been a couple thousand dollars easily, and that is WITH INSURANCE!!!  I think I can forgo private rooms, and comfortablility if it means $48 vs thousands of dollars.  The quality of the care from the doctors and especially the nurses seemed comparable to the care you find in the USA.  I am glad my little girla is okay and feeling much better, I am thankful they cared for her, and thankful the bill didn't destroy us financially!