Seeing the Dr. in the D.R.

Let's face it...I'm used to the medical system in the U.S.A. Admittedly, it's not the best in the world, but it is what I'm accustomed to. So, for better or worse, I wade through the Dominican health care system.

Several months ago, I noticed that my legs were swelling. I would notice it at the end the day when I took my socks off. There would be an indentation around my leg at the top of where my sock was. I thought this was odd, but because I wasn't in any physical pain, I ignored it. Eight weeks later, I went home to the USA for my grandmother's funeral. My brother Andrew noticed this one night and recommended I go to the doctor to get it checked out. Here is a summary of that journey:

Visit #1 -
I went to a trusted doctor in Jarabacoa. She recommended doing some blood/urine analysis. The following day I went and peed/bled/waited for results.

Visit #2 -
We reviewed the results. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were high. They also found trace elements of blood in my urine in the microscopic exam. Combined with the blood pressure reading of 130/88, she recommended an ultrasound on my kidneys.

Visit #3 -
Went to get the ultrasound that afternoon. Found out I wasn't supposed to eat beforehand. Told to come back tomorrow.

Visit #4 -
Went again for the ultrasound. Found I had large kidneys (enlarged, the doctor said).

Visit #5 -
Follow up visit with the original doctor. Referred to a kidney specialist in Santiago.

Visit #6 -
First visit with kidney doctor. More bloodwork, urine sample, another ultrasound. One of the more exciting aspects of this visit was the up coming 24 hour urine sample (more on that later).


**24 hours of pee**

Basically I had a gallon jug given to me by the lab in Santiago. I was to pee in this everytime I had to go for 24 hours. It was to remain cold, thus it stayed in our fridge in between. Two ways my life was changed by this experience: 1) I've never had urine in my own fridge, sitting next to the OJ, etc. 2) I've never had to plan daily events around my pee schedule.

Visit #7 -
Brought the sample back to Santiago - in a cooler on ice. Went over other test results with doctor. Kidneys are normal size, cholesterol/triglycerides elevated, low protein in blood.

**In the meantime**
Test results came back for the 24 urine sample. In the DR when you get lab work done you:
1. Get a referral for the tests
2. Pay in advance for the work
3. Have the tests done
4. Wait 24-48 hours for the results
5. Go to the lab yourself, pick up the results (in an envelope), bring them to the doctor
6. Doctor hand copies them into her hand-written file for you (despite having a laptop on her desk)

Visit #8 -
Doctor had recommended biopsy. I called the Mayo clinic in Rochester (#2 kidney place in the USA, have relatives that work there), Mayo told me the doctor needed to make the referral. Doctor didn't want to make the referral call without me in the office, and oh - I needed to bring some phone cards so the doctor could call. So we came down to Santiago again. Waited for several hours, went in and made the call. They barely spoke to the doctor and spent most time getting my info.

*In the meantime up to present time*

We are waiting for the Mayo doctors to look at the results. Odds are I'll need a biopsy and will be flying back to the USA soon. Keep us in your prayers! God has been good to us throughout this ordeal, in spite of my hatred of doctor visits.