Did Lourdes Send Me To A Panamanian Hospital?
Both Clay and I have gotten sick in Panama. Clay got the sniffles and I became deathly ill and wound up in the hospital.
Sometime between 2-4 AM on a Saturday morning, I woke with a start. I needed the bathroom and I needed it bad. I was doing what my brother terms the “double dragon.” In lemans, it was coming out of both ends simultaneously.
By 8 o’clock that morning, I had been back and forth between my bed and the bathroom more than a supermodel on a coke binge. Things were not right and my stomach was extremely angry with me. I had obviously eaten something terribly wrong.
I don’t really remember much else about Saturday besides that I acquired a fever. The fever was then counteracted by extreme chills, leaving me shivering and sweating at the same time. And, because that wasn’t enough, a migraine like headache took hold.
Sunday morning I moaned to Clay that I needed a doctor. Things hadn’t got any better over night and I hadn’t eaten anything in over 24 hours. Sure, I looked great because of all of the weight loss, but I was in too much pain to enjoy it. Clay agreed I should get some help but it was then that we realized it was a) Sunday, and b) I have no health care or traveler’s insurance.
There seems to be a recurring theme in my life: whenever I worry about something, everything ends up being OK and I kick myself for thinking otherwise. Much to my relief, our hotel owner told us about a clinic that was open on Sundays and was cheap. She agreed to drive me there. It was only 4 or 5 blocks away.
When I think of healthcare in Central America, the first thing I think of is flies. I picture a sweaty, dirty, clinic with nurses holding chickens. When we walked in the sliding glass doors, what I saw was remarkable.
A flat screen TV hung over the receptionist. The waiting room was chicken-free and immaculate. The facilities were more modern, cleaner, and better maintained than any doctor’s office I’d seen in the states. Panama hospitals rule I thought.
They immediately took me back (no wait) and hooked me up to an IV drip. The nurse and doctor didn’t speak any English but I was able to communicate my problems well enough, mostly though vulgar hand motions. They concluded that I had a stomach infection.
As I sat in a room for over 2 hours, my senses coming back to me, I started to worry what this might cost me. No insurance, doctor’s fees, IV drip fees, hospital fees. I had heard horror stories in the United States about hospital visits without insurance.
Clay helped me to the front desk when it was time to pay. They handed me the prescriptions I was to pick up and my bill. For a 2 hour stay and an IV drip I paid $47! I couldn’t believe it. I could have kissed the nurse.
Next, I crossed the street to pick up my prescriptions. There were 5 different things I needed to get. They dumped everything on the counter and starting ringing it up. The heap of prescription medicines cost a total of $25. The most expensive items were 2 Pedialites (it’s really just medical gatorade) at $3.50 a bottle.
Total, I paid less $75 for a visit to the clinic, treatment, and for my prescription medication. Who needs a health care plan when prices are this low? I’m contemplating going to get an IV drip next time I have a bad hangover it’s that cheap.
My recommendation: if you’re traveling to Panama (I can’t comment on other Central American locations) then don’t worry about medical insurance and hospital fees. If anything comes up, a deadly stomach infection for instance, the cost of treatment will likely be less than your insurance fees.
And by the way, Lourdes was not responsible. I haven’t pinned down the exact culprit, but it was probably some meat or eggs I bought from the grocery store Romero. Or maybe it was some bad water? Or maybe…
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I would have loved a video of the clinic or your trips to the….just kidding. I’m so glad you’re better.
Suggestions: Write more, more pictures, more video!
glad that you are ok