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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.

Experiencing Covid in Mexico

One man's medical adventure

Jim Greene

Currency Converter

Who I am, what I do, and how I got Covid

Hello folks, I am an expat who has spent the last few years traveling and housesitting around Mexico.  

I contracted Covid 19 around the 2^nd week of January, 2021, while staying alone in La Paz, Baja California Sur. I do not know how I contracted it, as I was using a mask, gel, and doing social distancing. But I did want to share what I experienced, just to maybe help someone else who may contract Covid 19 while being in Mexico, or while being far away from their home country.  

I do not have any medical experience or knowledge whatsoever.

Here is my story.

It begins

Around the 2^nd week of January, 2021, I wasn’t feeling well. I just thought I had a cold/flu, so I took flu medication and after a week I felt better. 

During the next week I felt ok initially, but after 4 days I noticed that I had a persistent dry cough, could not sleep, and had a headache most of the time. I remember in the middle of the night thinking that I had never experienced a cough similar to this, and that is when I wondered if I had contracted Covid 19. So the next morning I called a friend in the medical field who verified that a dry cough was one of the leading indicators and I checked on the internet and saw the same information.

Testing, lab and costs

I asked a friend here in La Paz who told me where I could be tested locally and on Saturday, January 23^rd,  I had the Covid 19 antigen test performed at the Nunez Laboratorios in La Paz. This laboratory is located about 8-9 blocks from my apartment. A swab was inserted deep into my nasal cavity - it wasn’t pleasant but it was over quickly. 

Laboratorios Nunez, La Paz

The cost for the test was 1000 Pesos (currently about $50USD) and I received the positive result via email within an hour or so.   

I live alone so I was going to just stay in my apartment, have food delivered, and hopefully get better.  

Support of friends and my drug treatment for Covid

However, my friend Marta here told me that her friend’s husband is a doctor who treats Covid 19 patients and he would come to see me in my apartment if I wanted him to. She encouraged me to see the doctor and thought he could help me recover faster so I agreed to have him come over.

Dr. Sergio evaluated me that day, on Saturday Jan. 23, and thought I had a mild case and was going to be ok. I speak a little Spanish and he knows a few words in English so we were able to communicate. 

He called on Sunday morning to check on me and to ask if I wanted him to buy me medication. He said I could reimburse him later, which I agreed to do. Later that Sunday he came over and gave me Ivermectin (an anti-parasitic), and Azithromycin (an antibiotic), both in pill form, and he gave me a 2-3 days supply. 

He checked again with me on Monday and I was already feeling better. He said to call him anytime, especially if I wasn’t feeling well.

The Covid progressed into pneumonia

I went a little downhill after that, from Monday to Thursday. 

Thursday night was particularly difficult and I was getting out of breath pretty easily, so on Friday I called him and he came over. He was upset that I had not called earlier, saw that I was uncomfortable, a bit out of breath, and after listening to my lungs said that I had developed pneumonia in my lower right lung.  

Friday he injected me with Ketorolaco (a pain medicine) and Dexamethasone (a corticosteroid). He also gave me sleeping pills, pain pills, and Tylenol to use as needed. 

More heart-felt local Mexican support

While he was here on Friday he did not think that I had enough food in my refrigerator. So he called his wife, went home and came back with lasagna and salad for me from his own kitchen, and he even brought me electrolyte drinks! The next evening he brought another meal for me that he prepared in his own kitchen! 

I think that when he left the apartment building that Friday night he told the woman who owns this building that I was sick and did not have enough food. Enriqueta and her sister Paulina left soup and other homemade food on my door every day for the next 4-5 days!

More doctor visits and medications

Dr. Sergio came to see me every day for the next 7 days, and each day he injected me with a combination of Dexamethasone and Ceftriaxone (an antibiotic). He also brought me an Oximeter to measure my oxygen level, and a nebulizer with Budesonide (steroid to reduce lung inflammation) to use twice daily. 

I also took Acetylcysteine for mucous in the lungs, and I was doing deep breathing exercises several times daily, taking vitamin D3, vitamin C, and sitting in the sun on my terraza every day.   

Dr. Sergio was very positive. He kept telling me that he was taking care of me and I was going to be fine, and he suggested visualizing that my lungs were clean and absent of Covid 19!

Dr. Sergio Bojorquez Blanco

In 8 days total - by Saturday February 6 - my oxygen rates went from around 92-94 to consistently 96-98. My lungs cleared up and Dr. Sergio did not think I had any more pneumonia present when I was discharged. Every day I walk and am getting stronger each day, and I continue to do the deep breathing exercises daily. 

My Covid 19 experience lasted about 4 weeks in total.

Detail of monetary costs

In regard to the total cost of treatment, we agreed on a price for all medication, equipment (nebulizer, Oximeter), supplies, consultation, home visits and injections. The total price was 14,000 pesos (currently about $702USD), which I paid in cash.

The emotional cost and beneficial experiences

I do think that I was affected a bit emotionally by having Covid 19. 

Being alone all the time and not leaving the apartment, feeling sick while trying to understand and process information about the disease, and having concern about what I would do if the pneumonia spread… was a bit stressful.

However, the emotional challenges and impact were minimal compared to the gratitude that I have for all of the people who helped me. Dr. Sergio’s medical care, his concern for me and his kindness were exemplary. 

I am also grateful to my friend Marta here who encouraged me to see him, and who also brought me food and arranged for groceries to be delivered to me. The two Mexican sisters, Enriqueta and Paulina, who live in my building and brought me lunch for several days and looked out for me were just so kind, they barely knew me and did not need to help me. 

The kindness of the Mexican people toward me was so special.

Finally, I am so fortunate to have friends and family who helped me and supported me continually. 

This is what I want to take and remember from my Covid 19 experience… the goodness of people, the humanity that we all share, and everything that I have to be thankful for!

Laboratorios Nunez

Calle Ignacio Manuel Altamirano 2155

Zona Central, 23000 La Paz, Baja California Sur

Mexico Phone: +52 612 122 3200

Dr. Sergio Bojorquez Blanco

Medica Integral

Ignacio Allende 651

Zona Centro 23000

La Paz, Baja California Sur

Cell: 612 120 3820

For more information on Mexico, CLICK HERE

For more information on Medical Tourism, CLICK HERE

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