My first piece of advice would be to always, always take out travel insurance! Before, I never really saw the importance of it, I'm not one to place huge value on my possessions, my camera isn't worth a lot of money, my laptop is replaceable and although I'd be very annoyed and upset to have my iPad stolen, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I never once even considered the importance of the medical part of my travel insurance. I just took out insurance as habit, really. Luckily as well, I am fortunate enough to be covered by social security, so should I have my operation or need emergency care, it will all be covered. If I wasn't covered though and without travel insurance I would definitely be in a pickle.
After years and years of having various stomach/abdominal/digestive complaints, I come to Mexico and suffer from several nights of excruciating pain, I'm talking pain that causes everything else to seem like a blur, pain that causes me to vomit and fills me full of haziness. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing that I have suffered with these episodes before, I had visited British doctors before and been sent away with antacids or painkillers. This time though, the Mexican doctors sent me for tests, I've had ultrasounds, x rays, blood tests (all of which I've had to pay for so far... Insurance, people!), a gazillion tablets and been diagnosed with gallstones, as well as having repeated bouts of colitis. The doctors have told me I need to have an operation to remove my gallbladder. Now, anyone who knows me well would realise that an operation would put the fear of god in me... Even if I were at home. Being the other side of the world, without my family, and where everything is in medical jargon Spanish and having to contemplate being operated on is, frankly, terrifying.
Of course, this isn't what I expected when I decided to come back to Mexico and although it's not really impacting on my enjoyment of being here at all, it has meant that I've had to make some pretty drastic changes to mi vida mexicana. The most notable is that i cannot eat much fat... So, no tacos, quesadillas, nachos, tortas, chocolate, pizza... Not until my gallbladder is out or I'll suffer further excruciating pain and a visit to a&e. Also no alcohol. No cerveza, no tequila, nada. This is an extreme healthy living kick! On the plus side, I'm eating more fruit and vegetables, minimal dairy and I've discovered I can enjoy going out without being drunk! No hangover! HURRAH!
I'm in two minds as to whether I should have the operation or not. I have an appointment with a specialist in March, but I have very exciting travel plans in April so don't want to be worrying about post op care and after April, well, to be honest, I will have got through the majority of my time here being ill so would just wait to go home. I also have the option of feigning/having pain bad enough to go to emergencies and having an emergency operation.. I'm really not the biggest fan of that option either. At the moment I am just waiting. Taking each day and each temptation as it comes.
It's really not ideal to be ill while you are working the other side of the world, obviously but in a way I am quite proud of myself for getting this far, I could have easily given up and gone home. But that'd be very unlike me. and besides, this is going to make for a hell of a story in years to come.
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