Alive, Well, and Just a Bit Sad
 Linda Abbott Trapp - PVNN
| | All in all, a dangerous and frightening situation was handled with skill, and with extraordinary comfort and care. | |
Just two months ago we were having lunch in a lovely setting with friends, enjoying the day and the beautiful bay. I couldn't eat much, since my stomach was hurting - must have been something I had at the restaurant the night before. But the tortilla soup was delicious, and the sparkling lemonade hit the spot, and seemed to relieve the pain.
The night was most unpleasant, with fever, chills, more pain, and difficult sleep. I lost the meal, and thought that would be the end of whatever "food poisoning" had been the problem.
In the morning, however, I could hardly walk, bent over with discomfort. My husband insisted that I call our doctor, and Peter Gordon had time to see me at noon. The ride in to his office was one I'd rather not repeat - every speed bump and pothole was agony. I'm healthy, exercise daily, and don't expect to be as unable to function as I was that day.
The short wait in Dr. Gordon's office seemed interminable, and his examination, gently done, was almost more than I could bear. At one point, he pressed firmly on my abdomen on the left side, and released his hand quickly - I actually screamed, and then cried - something I found embarrassing and surprising. He apologized profusely, told me I had just "passed" an important test, and should immediately go across the street to San Javier Hospital.
Still in denial, I remember asking him to assure me they would just do a few tests, give me a pill, and send me home. He smiled indulgently, and called the surgeon, who, fortunately, was still in the parking lot, and would wait for me in emergency.
How lucky I am that the hospital was nearby, and that they had ultrasound and MRI equipment, as well as a blood lab. In a very short time, as soon as the anesthesiologist arrived, I was taken into surgery for a ruptured appendix.
During my eight day hospital stay, both Dr. Gordon and the surgeon, Dr. Miguel Garcia, visited me twice daily and stayed to chat and reassure. When the drain seepage volume frightened me, they both explained carefully why that was a good thing. When I avoided the bland food, they allowed more choice. I can't imagine getting that kind of pampering in the states, or having the time to learn about their fascinating and inspirational life stories.
Our Blue Shield insurance covered 80% of the costs, and a representative even called my room from their US headquarters to see if I was satisfied with the care. All in all, a dangerous and frightening situation was handled with skill, and with extraordinary comfort and care.
But, as you might expect from my title for this article, not everything was well. About the third day, my fingers were swelling from the IV fluids, and the doctors insisted on removing my wedding ring so that it would not cut off the circulation. I asked my husband to take it (We were unaware of any safe or storage facility in the hospital), and he told me he was putting it in an outside zipper pocket of my purse on the windowsill next to my bed. The nurse was in the room at the time. When we went to retrieve the ring later, it was gone, although nothing else in the purse was disturbed, and no money was missing. San Javier Hospital's administrator refused to conduct an inquiry, and we never saw the ring again, despite posting a substantial reward.
So, two months later, I have recovered from the surgery and know that the important things are OK - I am alive, I have my husband, the doctors were wonderful, skilled, and kind. And, I have a lingering sadness. A wedding ring is such a special thing; not just the value, which was substantial, but the commitment and covenant it marks. Should you require sudden treatment, please be both heartened and cautioned by my story.
Nuevo Vallarta resident Linda Trapp is the author of Intentional Living: Lessons from the Tree of Life. Preview this and her other books at: AbbottPub.com. |
Vallarta Weddings
Health & Beauty | January 2009 
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