I Hurt Myself Today

[MMM]

I'm still undecided what a prudent person should do - get on the next plane back to own doctors or continue the vacation?

It depends on the extent of your injury and where you live. Sometimes you have no choice - it needs to be done and done immediately.

That factored into my decision of whether to have my arm surgery in Mexico or Canada. Surgeons here are reluctant on taking on post-op care of patients who have had their surgery elsewhere. Understandably they only want to be responsible for their own work. And my injury would require considerable post-op work. So I decided to get pumped up on morphine and make the trip back to Canada so I could be assured of regular - and "free" - surgeon follow-up. Yesterday had my umpteenth post surgery visit and he's said he doesn't want to see me for a few more months as healing and physio is producing anticipated (but very, very slow) results.

But here's what I was told by others in Cozumel while trying to reach my decision about where to have my surgery: due to small population in Coz, people seek complicated surgeries on the mainland in order to access surgeons who do these surgeries more frequently and therefore are more up to speed on latest technologies and/or have knowledge that comes with experience. My emergency care was exemplary as was my time in hospital in Cozumel. But, as with any complicated surgery - which mine was - I'd want to know how many times the surgeon had done the operation and what their success rate was. I suspect it was low in Cozumel given how rare elbow replacemnts are as a procedure. But for garden-variety medical issue, or one that was very diving related, I'd trust it to local medical staff.

So in summary, it's not a simple B&W answer.

 

[alohagal]

The two times I had medical care in Mexico...once in Cabo (major surgery) and this recent time in Cozumel. I had full confidence in the Doctors called in to see me. They were both specialists. The area that I personally experienced as lacking is the rehab/aftercare portion in both Cabo and Cozumel. Rehab therapy can often be a luxury for many people even in America. Or they don't bother to go thinking the surgeon fixed them up. Big mistake.
Then you are stuck with a gimp limb for life!

Since I did not have a fracture...I opted to extend my stay! There certainly was easier access to antibiotics, wound treatment, pain meds, all over the counter in Mexico. I would not have had that particular luxury back home.

As MMM says...depends on the injury and one's own tolerance for situation at hand.

 

[DandyDon]

Continue on and even extend vacation of course!! Have the best time possible. There are great Doctors in Cozumel and Playa, sounds like Mary got great treatment for her injury. Don't you see a dentist in Cancun?

Yep, but dental and medical are far from the same thing. Even then you supported my suspicions, that while the doctors in Coz are first rate, sometime you have to go to the peninsula, or Cancun, or further for some needs. The simple bridgework I wanted was much cheaper in Mexico than in the US, but couldn't be done on Coz and took too long in PDC where they send lab work to Mexico city. Going to Mexico for uninsured dental is common; not so for medical, other than some alternative practices.

It depends on the extent of your injury and where you live. Sometimes you have no choice - it needs to be done and done immediately.

Yep, all depends I'm sure. You and Mary/Alohagal both have more insight into medical needs and evaluating resources than most. Don't know what DAN would have advised. I admire Mary for making the best of everything and extending her trip, but for most friends - especially those of us who see Coz as close and cheap to visit - I'd tend to suggest retreat to return another day.

Hehe, I've been warning friends about suicide-sandals even before my daugher developed heel spur. Had a chat with a local young lady about hers today at the grocery.

 

[MMM]

Don't know what DAN would have advised.

DAN would have told me to get lost. It wasn't a diving injury. I fell off a ladder.

 

[DandyDon]

DAN would have told me to get lost. It wasn't a diving injury. I fell off a ladder.

They give medical advise anyway, regardless - and if you're on the Preferred or highest plan while injured out of country - covered to $10,000 plus DAN TravelAssist and up to $100,000 of evacuation assistance coverage just for being a member. You are covered with DAN America, aren't you? Uh, maybe you should have asked...?

 

[MMM]

You are covered with DAN America, aren't you? Uh, maybe you should have asked...?

Yes I am although am not on the highest premium and frankly $10,000 wouldn't have covered my surgery costs. I also have out of country medical insurance from another plan for non-diving coverage. Plus my work offers more medical coverage. I'm more than covered. I didn't really feel I needed to ask DAN what to do since I work for the health department in Sask and have numerous contacts in Cozumel and back home with lots of advice.

 

[DandyDon]

Yes I am although am not on the highest premium and frankly $10,000 wouldn't have covered my surgery costs. I also have out of country medical insurance from another plan for non-diving coverage. Plus my work offers more medical coverage. I'm more than covered. I didn't really feel I needed to ask DAN what to do since I work for the health department in Sask and have numerous contacts in Cozumel and back home with lots of advice.

All that's great, and yeah - $10,000 is only an down payment on a major injury. The Travel Assist might have been helpful, but anyway - they would not have told you to get lost.