After nearly a month of visits to numerous medical institutions in an around Lima we have finally reached the Holy Grail.
The journey had many highs and lows and it amazing how many Spanish medical terms I came to understand. It began with Teresa, the really helpful nurse at the Motupe Parish centre, then Margot, the wonderful physiotherapist at both the Clinica International and Motupe and on to Dr. Aldo, the Chilean doctor who visits the Motupe Parish. He advised that I see Dr. Louis Quito, the X-ray man just down the road for shoulder photos; I have already told you that story earlier in the blog. After that Dr. Aldo strongly suggested an appointment with Dr. Odilon Martinez, the ‘traumatica’ Specialist at the Clinica International, a very impressive and understanding man – and one who instilled immediate confidence in both Marion and I. He suggested a visit to the DPI Clinic, the Clinic that both takes ‘resonancia magnetica 3D’ images of your shoulder and destroys VISA and American Express cards at the same time! Back to Dr. Martinez who offers two solutions to the fact that the top of my right arm bone is touching the inside of my shoulder socket causing all sorts of problems down the arm and hand – an operation now or a series of injections and then the operation back in Australia. Obviously we opted for the former; this meant more visits to Specialists because Dr. Martinez would not operate until I got the all clear from both a nerve Specialist and a Cardiologist. I passed both; however, the first was interesting to say the least. After getting me horizontal on his couch and wiring me up to his laptop he suggested that I would feel a little ‘uncomfort’ when he counted to three. When I came down from the ceiling and Marion and Margot stopped laughing he announced that although my nerves were fine he still needed to do further ‘uncomfort’ tests. That little bit of news immediately shot my fine nerves to pieces! On departing I suggested to the good man that I would remember him for a very long time. He very quickly retorted that he bet it would not be his face that I would remember!
With green lights showing in all directions I had to report to the Clinica International at 8.00 a.m. last Tuesday for a 2.00 p.m. operation appointment with Dr. Martinez. Once again Peruvian time kicked in, we arrived on time, however, the trolley to take me to theatre was an hour and a quarter late – not good for the nerves, especially when the actual trolley seemed to be the model circa 1940 and not built for tall gringos! Off I went with feet sticking out the front. A quick glance around the theatre, all seemed fine and everybody happy and helpful. That slightly calmed the nerves, nevertheless, just before I was sent to the land of nod a very friendly Dr. Martinez did ask me with a smile on his face which shoulder was the worry! I frantically nodded to the right and immediately lost all interest in the world.
I awoke to good news, Dr. Martinez was extremely happy, all went very well, no cutting or inserting required, just the clearing away of calcification inside the shoulder joint which allowed immediate freedom of movement of the arm bone. Prognosis, I could go home the next day, have my arm in a sling for two weeks and then some physio.
But wait for it; I could not escape without the final ignominy having to occur to yours truly. Apparently it is Clinica International policy that all departing patients are escorted from their bedside to the kerbside in a wheelchair. Subsequently the miniature wheelchair arrived and the procession took off. Half way along the journey the chair decides to shed the left hand tyre so with Marion and Margot in tears, the poor, humbled patient in the chair with his knees tucked up under his chin, one security man pushing the chair and the second following up carrying the tyre we rattled along one tyre less passing many interested onlookers and finally reaching the awaiting taxi! All I can add is thank heavens nobody within the immediate vicinity had a camera to record the event!
So here I am winged for two weeks, coming completely to the understanding of how right handed I am, or was; and totally reliant on the buena enfermera Marion, the good nurse Marion.
The journey had many highs and lows and it amazing how many Spanish medical terms I came to understand. It began with Teresa, the really helpful nurse at the Motupe Parish centre, then Margot, the wonderful physiotherapist at both the Clinica International and Motupe and on to Dr. Aldo, the Chilean doctor who visits the Motupe Parish. He advised that I see Dr. Louis Quito, the X-ray man just down the road for shoulder photos; I have already told you that story earlier in the blog. After that Dr. Aldo strongly suggested an appointment with Dr. Odilon Martinez, the ‘traumatica’ Specialist at the Clinica International, a very impressive and understanding man – and one who instilled immediate confidence in both Marion and I. He suggested a visit to the DPI Clinic, the Clinic that both takes ‘resonancia magnetica 3D’ images of your shoulder and destroys VISA and American Express cards at the same time! Back to Dr. Martinez who offers two solutions to the fact that the top of my right arm bone is touching the inside of my shoulder socket causing all sorts of problems down the arm and hand – an operation now or a series of injections and then the operation back in Australia. Obviously we opted for the former; this meant more visits to Specialists because Dr. Martinez would not operate until I got the all clear from both a nerve Specialist and a Cardiologist. I passed both; however, the first was interesting to say the least. After getting me horizontal on his couch and wiring me up to his laptop he suggested that I would feel a little ‘uncomfort’ when he counted to three. When I came down from the ceiling and Marion and Margot stopped laughing he announced that although my nerves were fine he still needed to do further ‘uncomfort’ tests. That little bit of news immediately shot my fine nerves to pieces! On departing I suggested to the good man that I would remember him for a very long time. He very quickly retorted that he bet it would not be his face that I would remember!
With green lights showing in all directions I had to report to the Clinica International at 8.00 a.m. last Tuesday for a 2.00 p.m. operation appointment with Dr. Martinez. Once again Peruvian time kicked in, we arrived on time, however, the trolley to take me to theatre was an hour and a quarter late – not good for the nerves, especially when the actual trolley seemed to be the model circa 1940 and not built for tall gringos! Off I went with feet sticking out the front. A quick glance around the theatre, all seemed fine and everybody happy and helpful. That slightly calmed the nerves, nevertheless, just before I was sent to the land of nod a very friendly Dr. Martinez did ask me with a smile on his face which shoulder was the worry! I frantically nodded to the right and immediately lost all interest in the world.
I awoke to good news, Dr. Martinez was extremely happy, all went very well, no cutting or inserting required, just the clearing away of calcification inside the shoulder joint which allowed immediate freedom of movement of the arm bone. Prognosis, I could go home the next day, have my arm in a sling for two weeks and then some physio.
But wait for it; I could not escape without the final ignominy having to occur to yours truly. Apparently it is Clinica International policy that all departing patients are escorted from their bedside to the kerbside in a wheelchair. Subsequently the miniature wheelchair arrived and the procession took off. Half way along the journey the chair decides to shed the left hand tyre so with Marion and Margot in tears, the poor, humbled patient in the chair with his knees tucked up under his chin, one security man pushing the chair and the second following up carrying the tyre we rattled along one tyre less passing many interested onlookers and finally reaching the awaiting taxi! All I can add is thank heavens nobody within the immediate vicinity had a camera to record the event!
So here I am winged for two weeks, coming completely to the understanding of how right handed I am, or was; and totally reliant on the buena enfermera Marion, the good nurse Marion.
