Centro Medico Cabarete
 

I just wanted to say a big thank-you to the folks at Centro Medico Cabarete. I've had my share of illness this past year and ended up there last week for a 5 day vacation. I cannot say enough about the quality of care and personal attention that I received. Hopefully this time I am finally finished with being ill!! I am impressed not only with the level of care and the in depth diagnostics that were done while I was there, but also with the aggressive manner in which they are following my care. Every last person that I interacted with on the staff was kind, efficient, professional and conscientious. I felt secure that if Dr. Spitale and Co. couldn't effectively treat me that they would not hesitate to move me on to someone who could. Also, thanks to everyone who has suggested Dr.s and the like for what seems like an awefully long illness. Thanks also to those of you who are praying for me. Now I need to get glasses. Does anyone know of a good place in POP?

Thanks, Corey

You have more then your share of illness this year Corey. Donky and we have missed you.

Dr. Spitale and Co. are not perfect but they are good. I guess for special heart procedures and other things I'd go back home. But they have done a good job for what we and friends have needed thus far.

Glasses? Can not help on that one. I had my eyes checked and new ones made a couple of years ago while in Miami while having a specialist look at a nerve problem in my hand. The specialist turned out to be a ... duck... and the problem solved itself in a couple of weeks after talking with a P.T that suggested a couple of simple things. Saved 30K and didn't have my arm opened shoulder to finger tip.

Anyway. CMC does good work and I hope to Ceee you soon.

CMC is a great community hospital. But bare in mind that as community hospital, they do not have the capacity to treat some serious conditions. For anything heart related, you're better off going directly to HOMS where they can do an angiogram and angioplasty. For an idea of cost, an angioplasty cost $75,000 in the US but $15,000 at HOMS.

At this point it looks like I've had a lingering infection that would subside after a round of antibiotics, but then strengthen for the next round. 2 bouts of pneumonia between June and August. Then Sept. my heart had some trouble because of the extended strain of the pneumonia. Early November had me still not feeling 'well' and my eye started to be inflamed and irritated. It ended up that the infection, now very strong, led to the arteries in my brain and my optic nerve swelling. This led to a 5 day vacation in Bournigal. Out for a week and a half and back to CMC... They put me on some super antibiotics, IV for 5 days and another 7 at home. All of the swelling, vision problems, and pain are gone. I had lost quite a bit of my vision for a while. I just went back on Wen. and all the follow-up testing looks good. I just need LOTS of rest, which is almost impossible for me! I go back in another week just to make sure this is all under control.

Ringo, I miss you, the missus, Eeyore and all the other critters too!! AS SOON AS I CAN I WILL COME TO VISIT!! Promise!!

Free in Canada. Corey I hope you can stay healthy.

So glad you found a competent doctor! The name of the bug and the antibiotics that finally cured it would be of great interest. Also how you became infected if you know.......

I'm pretty sure that it just started out with a good case of the grippe. The first time I got sick was literally the day that I was going back to the States for a 2 week vacation to see my niece marry. I didn't seek prompt treatment in hopes that it would just go away on it's own. I also didn't get the rest that I needed. When I came home, I jumped full swing back into overdoing things as always. It has continued the same cycle until now, after 2 five day stints in hospitals, that I am FINALLY getting the message that A.) I am human and need rest, B.) I am almost 50 years old. I don't think it was any bug that is out of the ordinary. Also, I believe the antibiotic is Levaquin or a derivative there-of. Not a rocket science antibiotic, just STRONG, and being given in sufficient and long enough doses. I am finally, after 6 months, starting to feel healthy again and for that I thank God!

Glad to hear you are feeling better.

Wonder why 20 % of cardiac surgery at Cleveland Clinic is on Canadian's payiing cash? I guess they couldn't wait for an appointment.

Right. Nothing to do with how much you already paid in taxes.

Are you from mars? You probably at the end of the day pay as much in taxes and fees as Canadians do, and yet you have to buck up LARGE for your medical insurance and meds. God forbid if you end up in a critical medical situation.
I pay 50 bucks a month to the government health care system. If I need an operation for a critical situation, I'm in the OR right away. I know, it's so socialist.
In some provinces you pay a monthly fee...............of......... ZERO.

[QUOTE=belmont;1043918]Wonder why 20 % of cardiac surgery at Cleveland Clinic is on Canadian's payiing cash? I guess they couldn't wait for an appointment.[/QUOTE
Your point? Our system has it's problems but the system in the USA has no room for criticism. I was diagnosed as having partial blockages in November - operated in December. Six days in the hospital, numerous tests, then three months of cardiac rehab, plus more tests - nothing out of my pocket. I paid around 16k in income tax last year on income of 90K plus. I'm sure Americans pay close to the same if not more.

My husband was given news last week at CMC that he has CSF ("water" that keeps the brain buoyant) starting to collect at one of his ventricles and may need a shunt. Would you or have one of your family have this done at CMC ? Dr. Spitali is great, but what about everyone else when he is not there. Not sure what we should do ....

Floridaborn, only you can make that decision.

I do charity work. A few years ago, we had a baby who needed a shunt put in for CFS. After a few months, the baby rejected the shunt and a second operation was performed. Dr. Spitali, at CMC, did both operations in consultation with other international doctors. As far as we were concerned, his work was caring, skilled, and professional.

The baby came to us badly malnourished and with a host of other problems. Dr. Spitali put together a team to work together to insure that the baby was in good health before and after the operations.

Addressing your concerns about what will happen when Dr. Spitali is not there, are you aware that Dr. Spitali lives about 3 minutes away? Unless he told you that he is leaving on a vacation, I believe, should a crisis occur, he will always be close at hand and just a phone call away.

Best of luck making your decision. I imagine it is agonizing. I wish your husband well, and hope is recovery is smooth and speedy.

Lindsey

inform yourself about the procedure which needs to be done and decide from there. In this country there are many good doctors but to be honest such a delicate surgery i would not do here after i just read a bit about the procedure.

Procedure
The defect site can be repaired either from the brain or the sinus side of the skull base. Repairing a CSF leak site from the brain side requires a cut through the skull, slight retraction of the brain away from the skull base to identify and ultimately repair the defect. These procedures are typically performed by a neurosurgeon. The failure rates of repair from the brain side are quoted as high as 25%.

If your husband can fly and you have insurance, take him to Florida. In an emergency, I would go to CMC. Spitalle is top notch. But i cant imagine that a community hospital in the DR has the same equipment and resources than a large US hospital. The after surgery care, like you say, if Spitali is not present, I wouldn't trust.

I gave birth to my daughter at CMC this January and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about (almost) all of the staff there! My doctor, Dr. Freddy Reyes (OB/GYN) was great. He was always very relaxed and made me feel comfortable throughout my whole pregnancy and especially my birth. I gave birth on a Sunday so the hospital was almost empty other than a couple of emergency guys but my doctor arrived right away, along with the pediatrician, a nurse to help in delivery (hold my hand!) and the anesthesiologist, in case he had been needed, which he was not. Throughout the night, I had nurses checking on me and the baby often. The head guy at the hospital (sorry I forget his name) came in to say Congratulations in the morning, as did several nurses and other staff. All of the front desk staff and admin staff knew me by name and were so friendly whenever I came for appointments. We will continue to use CMC for medical procedures in future and hope to have baby #2 there in a couple of years! http://www.dr1.com/forums/images/smilies/happy.gif

Have you had any surgery there? I have. Surgery requiring a neurosurgeon, Roberto Spitale and his team provided excellent care. Certain pros and cons about large hospitals anywhere, especially the U.S. But as has been said, only the patient should make that decision.

Yes, my husband did, hernia surgery. Actually, he may have been the first patient that had surgery there when they open. As I said, I was and continue to be very impressed with Dr. Spitale. Our experience with other doctors was not very good.

Thank you for your input - we also are here in the country Lindsay doing missionary work, so I know some about the healthcare in this country which no matter where we go in the DR, I'm unnerved. I agree Dr. Spitali is great - but my concern is for supplies, meds and aftercare.
We do not have insurance in Florida, we have Humano here. So tough decision to make. But ultimately it is the decision of my husband - for his 47th birthday we celebrated with a CT scan and some ice cream http://www.dr1.com/forums/images/smilies/happy.gif

We pray God will give us the guidance we need in the coming days.