Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

It Took Nine Procedures to (Hopefully) Get it Right

My Intimate Journey with Cancer Part 16

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Back in the days when I first had my mastectomy, I had some bodily serum fill the place where my breast once was.

While it was considered a “complication” of surgery, I was assured over and over that this was nothing to concern myself about.

Initially, I had a drainage device connected to my body with a long tube that hung down to the floor. Within 10 days, the doc removed the drainage device and gave me instructions on how to “flatten” the stubborn bulbous liquid to eventually make it go away.

Unfortunately, the liquid remained… and grew.

Over a period of time, I had that liquid (called a seroma) drained three times in his office. Then the good doc called in another doctor from GineMed in Guadalajara who had a sonogram machine and she drained the area two more times.

As you know, Billy and I live a lifestyle of travel and we had arrangements to go to one of our favorite Islands, Nevis, West Indies.  

We thought it would be a “lay-up” to have it drained at the hospital on the island, (since this is common) but it became such a paperwork hassle (treating too many foreigners who might want to sue) that we received quite the run-around.

Finally, rather secretively, the name of a doctor on the island was given to us. After speaking with him (he knew it was a “simple general procedure” that he has performed many times) we made arrangements to meet him in his office.

Small build, slender, kind and wise, Dr. George took us to his back room and deftly removed the serum from the mastectomy area.

With that, my chest pressure was relieved and we returned to our Villa at Hamilton Village.   

Well, as life would have it, the mastectomy area begun to fill as if it had never been drained. It was time for my yearly checkup with my oncologist surgeon in Guadalajara and he recommended that I see the doctor with the sonogram machine to have me drained once again.

This time, my seroma had turned into a hematoma (meaning now it had blood in it). The doctor at GineMed drained the area, and took a sample for the lab. The lab showed I was cancer-free in that area and we left the office relieved.

Receipt from GineMed for serum drainage

It just goes on and on

Every few months the area begins to fill causing pressure in my chest like a balloon ready to pop. Needless to say, it’s uncomfortable… but not “horrendously painful.”

I knew I had to get it drained, but I had just completed the bladder stent and spinal ablation at San Javier Hospital and I wanted to recover.

Just some peace, please.  

A month or so later, Billy made arrangements at Ribera Hospital near us, and Dr. Omar was going to take the liquid out. Dr. Omar sent off a sample of the hematoma to the lab for testing. He said to me many times while he was performing the procedure that there was only a bit of skin separating this area from my lungs and he was very cautious not to prick into it, causing a medical mess for my body.

At this point, any infection would be a threat to my life.

The lab came back showing that – indeed – I had and infection, or perhaps a fungus growing in that area. This had to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Dr. Alejandro from San Javier Hospital said this needed to be done before the contamination leaked out and into my body. Fixing this issue would require intravenous antibiotics.

Ok, got it.

A month later, Billy made arrangements with Ribera Hospital and a Dr. Miguel Zaragoza performed what has now become a “real operation”. Dr. Miguel explained that he would cut my breast area, take his glove and go up into the area and scrub it out. Then he would put a drainage tube into me and stitch the “flap” to my body.

Fentanyl was used in the surgery room, so I was in and out of consciousness. If you shook me, I was completely awake. Otherwise, I dozed off.

I could feel the doctor scrubbing me and taking the liquid – which looked surprisingly different. This time it was mottled brown instead of maroon red. Dr. Miguel said the operation went well, and sent a sample to the lab for testing. We needed 10 days for the culture to grow to tell us what the heck was in there.

Now here’s the thing.

The lab test that Dr. Omar from Ribera Medical Center had performed earlier was definitive that I had strep – or something. Dr. Alejandro at San Javier Hospital said I had strep. However, each day that Dr. Miguel checked the culture for results… there was … nothing.

Each day, 10 out of 10 days, nothing was found in the mottled sample growing in the petri dish. 10 days with nothing each day… proved… that there was… nothing!

Somehow, I was “clean.” No antibiotic treatment, no special medication to clear me out, no nothing.

The view from my grandparent's window, Faeto, Italy

My take on this

Of course, Billy and I were thrilled and somewhat surprised, and we’ll take the win.

**I know the story I’m telling you, but I don’t know the story you will receive. **

Everyone has their personal approach to health and healing. Myself, I do not prefer being “Locked in” to a diagnosis. Some people feel comforted by this, but I would rather keep my “edges” fuzzy so that if a development happens, I could benefit from it.

I want to tell you that – for me - this path has worked countless times. Had I listened to the “diagnoses” I have been given over the years, I would be missing several body parts, taking unnecessary medicines, and have little use of my right ring finger which was de-gloved in Guatemala in 2012.  

Just sayin’.

I was told I had “this”… and then… mysteriously, I didn’t.

How else do miracles happen, if one does not give them room to appear…

Well, for the record, I am declaring this event just another miracle that God has granted. It’s up to you what you take from my story.

Pricing, Hospital Names and Doctors

For the practical among you, I have listed pricing and the name of doctors, hospitals and clinics for your benefit below.

St Javier Hospital in Guadalajara - Surgeon, Oncologist, Dr. Francisco Hernandez

Mastectomy surgery $2,685.00USD

Various consultations and eventual serum drainages $49.00USD

GineMed

4 drainages, lab tests

$838USD

Nevis, West Indies - Surgeon, Dr. George for serum drainage $111.

Ribera Medical Center Dr. Omar, surgeon

$100USD 1 drainage, lab test

Ribera Medical Center, Dr. Miguel Zaragoza

$503USD Operation, 1 surgical scrub, petri dish lab test

Addresses

Hospital San Javier, Guadalajara Mexico

Oncology surgeon Dr. Francisco Hernandez

Avenida Pablo Casals 640

Guadalajara, MX

Tele: +52. 33. 3669. 0222.

Nevis, West Indies - Surgeon Dr. Richard George

At Prestige Pharmacy

Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies

GineMed

Justo Sierra 2620

Colonial Ladron de Guevara

Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX 44600

Tele: 33. 1397. 9291

www.GineMed.com.mx

Ribera Medical Center Dr. Omar, surgeon

Lib. A Chapala 153, 45922 Ajijic, Jailisco, Mexico

https://riberamedicalcenter.mx  

Tele: +523767658200

We did not use Medicare or Medicare Advantage insurance, so we paid out of pocket.

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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