12 replies to this topic

[stanuk]

I recently had a medical problem which needed urgent attention from a Cardiologist. It was a Sunday, but a friend contacted Dr. Salvador Moya Villasenor at his home in Guadalajara and he immediately said that he was setting off to travel and would meet me at the Integrity Clinic (behind Pemex). Dr. Salvador arrived at the designated time and carried out detailed and extensive medical checks to determine the problem. After prompt treatment for high blood pressure, Dr. Salvador informed me that he would be calling at my house in Chapala later that day to do further treatment. Two hours later he visited in my home to fit heart monitoring equipment and administer further medicine, he also informed me that he had already made a booking at a Guadalajara MRI clinic for the next morning. The next day, Dr. Salvador was waiting at the MRI clinic for my arrival and escorted me through the MRI checks, talking with the MRI specialist as the images appeared in the control room. He even cleared the bill for the cost of the MRI in case I hadn't been able to get to the bank and withdraw sufficient funds. Later that day, Dr. Salvador again called at my house to give me more treatment and to explain that I had been very lucky - just a slight stroke - and that I should fully recover.

Through it all, I was more than impressed with Dr Salvador's medical expertise and his devotion to his patient; I have never been looked after so well by a member of the medical profession, and I have lived in several countries throughout the world. I can do nothing but highly recommend Dr. Salvador as a Cardiologist Specialist and to thank him for taking such good care of me

[simpsca]

In January my friend had pneumonia. Dr. Salvador Moya misdiagnosed it as pulmonary hypertension and told him he would be on oxygen night and day the rest of his life. He also prescribed pills to lower his blood pressure. My friends blood pressure is 90/60 - the pills would probably have made him pass out from extreme low blood pressure. I took him to another cardiologist and a neumologo (lung specialist) in Guadalajara and they both said it was just pneumonia and that he did not need oxygen at all. And that the medicine to lower his already low blood pressure would have serious consequences.

I met with Dr. Moya and explained that my friend already had low blood pressure and has a pacemaker, add medicine to lower his blood pressure and he would have a big problem, especially since he lives alone. The doctor said he needed oxygen all the time and should buy an oxygen concentrator and referred to his low oxygen levels (remember he had pneumonia at the time). Within two weeks he was perfect - from the antibiotics prescribed by another doctor, and his oxygen levels were and are up to normal. A simple case of pneumonia was very expensive because Dr. Moya did 4,000 pesos worth of tests at Integrity, plus the expense of the other cardiologist and neumologo plus trips to Guadalajara to get two opinions that my friend did not have pulmonary hypertension. The definitive test was a digital chest xray which the second cardiologist prescribed. You can actually see the pulmonary vein and it should have been the first test ordered. It showed the pneumonia.

[Jistme]

Simpsca, thanks for posting this. Would you mind sharing the name of the cardiologist in Guadalajara please?

My spouse also had problems with Dr.Moya's diagnosis...he told my spouse that he would have to 'live with his condition'
a condition that sounds very similar to that of your friend.

Another cardiologist at the same ( Integrity) clinic told us that this was definitely not the case, and that help was available.
Dr.Moya's fee is high, so you'd better have deep pockets if this is your doctor of choice.

[simpsca]

Actually the cardiologist we saw who ordered the digital chest xray (the first recommended test for pneumonia or pulmonary hypertension) was Dr. Brisena. 600 pesos for first visit to get a second opinion and nothing for the follow up visit to read the xray and tell us he does not have pulmonary hypertension. The second opinion was the neumologo in Guadalajara - Dr. Rafael Rodriguez (practices in San Antonio, Texas and Guadalajara) and he reviewed all the tests - the 4,000 pesos worth from Dr. Moya plus the digital chest xray and he confirmed no pulmonary hypertension. I do have another cardiologist in Guad. that a friend gave me. She was a cardiology nurse in the US and was going to this cardiologist in Guad. for her own problems. PM me for address and details if you want it.

The problem I had is that Dr. Moya, cardiologist did not send my friend for the first line test which is a digital chest xray. Rather he did some very expensive tests in the clinic and never did prescribe the xray. Both Dr. Brisena and Dr. Rafael said the chest xray is the first test for either pulmonary hypertension or pneumonia. And an oxygen generator would have cost hundreds of dollars US or more and he said that we should buy that immediately.

PS we went to Dr. Brisena for a follow up yesterday since my friend has a pacemaker and his oxygen level was 96 - so no problem there.

If you want a third local opinion you may want to try Dr. Ramon Garcia Garcia in La Floresta Wed. evenings - has a clinic in Guad. I do think Dr. Brisena is a better cardiologist though - just a little more thorough.

[lakeside7]

Dr. Ramon Garcia Garcia has a new clinic out in La Cristina: 766-4622. I haven't been there since I always go to his office in Guadalajara, but one of my friends saw him there and says the facilities are excellent.

Dr. Rafael Rodriguez Blanco is excellent. He saved a friend's life here 3 years ago and I saw him when I was in the hospital for some relatively minor surgery last year.

As I recall Dr Garcia Garcia has a very large property there on which he has a home and casitas for his family etc. I gues he has lots of room to expand

[simpsca]

I didn't know Dr. Ramon Garcia Garcia had moved - thanks for the heads up. He was the one who diagnosed my friend's need for a pacemaker. I like both he and Brisena as cardiologist very well and Garcia did a complete check up on me a few years back at his clinic - state of the art equipment. I'll have to call him and find out where he is in La Cristina. Dr. Garcia has saved several friend's lives and La Cristina is even closer to me.

[verchiel]

I detest posts like this. One person applauds a doctor, and the next comments defame him. Then other doctors are mentioned ... one of whom committed a serious error on a good friend of mine, about which I do not talk because a different friend thinks this certain doctor is indeed a God because he saved not only her husband's life, but her own.

My point: Doctors are not God, they make mistakes, but sometimes, they only seem to have made mistakes. But we keep looking at them to be flawless Gods, when they are not. And, one's feelings about the worth of any given doctor are like one's feelings about a breed of dog - highly subjective depending upon expectations.

[Sheldon]

We agree on Dr. blanco.

[simpsca]

Yes, all doctors make mistakes, but some more than others. That is why it's important to weigh other people's experiences. Especially in a cardiologist, it's important to find one with the least mistakes.

[sandykayak]

If there's one thing that is certain (and I've been on these Lakeside boards for 11 years), is that there are good and bad stories about every doctor, dentist, health professional mentioned.

[exyyz]

I didn't know Dr. Ramon Garcia Garcia had moved - thanks for the heads up. He was the one who diagnosed my friend's need for a pacemaker. I like both he and Brisena as cardiologist very well and Garcia did a complete check up on me a few years back at his clinic - state of the art equipment. I'll have to call him and find out where he is in La Cristina. Dr. Garcia has saved several friend's lives and La Cristina is even closer to me.

Dr. Garcia Garcia still has the office in La Floresta he uses on Wednesday evenings but his office in La Cristina is new and state of the art. I just had a stress test and doppler done there on Saturday. Even though La Cristina is farther for me, I would rather make the longer trip for the much nicer facilities.