Medical Attention Abroad

One of the first worries people have about traveling for long periods is medical concerns. This was a concern of ours too. When we first left the USA, we figured as we aged, at the first hint of a medical problem, we would come home. Home to the medical system we know, and to doctors who speak English (for the most part). Over time, our concerns have lessened. We have experienced the private health systems in other countries. A positive experience

Since we are abroad full time, we do need to take care of routine medical needs abroad. Dental hygiene too. Mark is very diligent about his annual cancer screening. I have had a couple mammograms and gynecological exams. And I get my blood tested for my thyroid levels fairly regularly. I have even figured out that I can go directly to the lab for the blood tests and then go straight to the pharmacy. The cost is cheap as chips. 

We have been extremely happy with the care. Most practices are much more thorough than in the USA. Doctors spend more time with patients and the whole process is less hurried. Mammograms are cat scans and gynecological exams are ultrasound. 

Has our luck run out?

My latest ultrasound illuminated ovarian cysts that the doctor said had to come out. I was not convinced at first. I thought ovarian cysts were fairly common and came and went. Doctor said they were way too big and could burst. He sent me for a blood test to find out what type of cyst they were.

Blood test showed a cancer marker. So he sent me for an MRI. MRI doctor did not agree they were harmless cysts. Now they are using the label Ovarian Cancer. That label kind of smacks you in the face, hard. I was assured that this is early days and a good prognosis because it was caught so early. The gynecologist is still not certain it is cancer. But now he says the ramifications of these puppies bursting is much more serious. Doctors’ orders are to not do anything that could rupture them. Like, expressly, no horseback riding. Or running.

Spelunking for a diversion

I went down to Gibraltar to save some Schengen days. Alone. My only job to keep those puppies whole. One of my friends offered to come down and spend the day. She is into ancient people and neanderthals have been found in Gibraltar, she wants to go to some cave where they were found. Sounds okay. We were told there would be some ropes and climbing, slippery surfaces. Wear proper shoes, and clothes that can get wet. I pictured some puddles and a ladder to climb down, maybe a rope to help you up a big step. Ha, this was not oversold. It was full on spelunking! There was some mini abseiling, literally sliding down slippery rocks, leaps over crevasses, walking over tippy logs across underground lakes, and a lot more. Not at all what the doctor had in mind. It was a blast and a great way to leave my thoughts behind. 

Spanish Hospital

Still not convinced I am really in cancer peril, I am rather looking forward to my first foreign hospital experience. The way the doctor describes it, it is a vacation. It is an upscale international private hospital. The hospital looks like a villa, with beautiful grounds and a swimming pool in the middle. They do a robust business in plastic surgery. We immediately started looking for a hotel Mark could stay in, when the doctor said not to worry, he could stay in my room and even have meals. Doctor said the meals were made to order by a gourmet chef. Sounds nice. It is not a big place, no one too ill and no covid patients (we had to have pcr tests before being admitted). 

For the most part, the experience was as advertised. The pre op procedures were more robust than I remember in the USA: chest Xray, heart EKG, more blood work, Three nights in hospital for a laparoscopic surgery. I have 5 or 6 tiny incisions. How they got the orange-sized cysts out through one of those holes is something I am still curious about.  The only downside being that at every step, cancer is looking more likely. They were now talking about chemo. Not the news I wanted to go home with. 

After pathology, the tide turned. The bad stuff was confirmed to be completely encapsulated and not disturbed being pulled through that little incision (nor during spelunking). While it looked like it wanted to be cancer, it was not yet. Doctor said in another three months, it would not have turned out so well. So thank you to the Spanish health system, and standard ultrasounds for routine checks. My routine checks will be more often and more important going forward. Instead of wanting to go to the USA for care, I am now wanting to come back to Marbella Spain. 

It is still undetermined if our travel insurance is going to cover all this. So we paid out of pocket. Well on the credit card for miles to be precise. Affordable and under anybody’s credit limit, despite being the high brow hospital that it is. 

In addition to the obvious issues of a major medical threat, and surgery in a foreign country, we had another issue to overcome. We will overstay our allowable 90 days in Schengen zone. Doctor says no flying for 5 weeks. I do not want to survive ovarian cancer just to die of a blood clot over the Atlantic, so we are following these directions. We are certain that this medical direction will suffice to get an extension on this visa limitation. Nothing is simple however, see Living on Schengen Time.

So that’s the way 2021 ended for us. Here’s to a healthy 2022.