TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Kudos To The Staff At SMMC

Its been a rough 36 hours for me, no food and no sleep. Woke up yesterday morning with a beyond bloated stomach and pretty severe pain and all related symptoms shut down. I knew this morning this was more than a trip to a local clinic and infact told my wife to start looking for available flights home, 1 week into our vacation.
We drove to SMMC at 8am and we were out the door by noon! At home it takes 6 to 12 hours to get past ER registration. In that time a nurse took the vitals, blood and other fluid taken, the ER doctor met with me and she ordered x-ray and CT scan. Then she consulted with a surgeon and gastroenterologist and determined that I picked up a viral infection. Which I could have picked up through food, drink or any number of other places.
When we left I got all the reports including a CD of my CT scan should I want to take it to my doctor back home. It wasn't cheap but so glad to know that there is really good care available on island. And the hospital doesn't even charge for parking!!
So for the rest of today it's going to be replacing fluids back into me (no not that kind) and rest. I couldn't think of a better place to recuperate.

Whale Tail--wow, hope everything will be OK! You do have a great place to rest up. Best wishes.

Hello Gary , Glad to hear that the diagnoses was not serious and you will get better soon .
Blessings my friend . Thanks for posting .

Wish you well, and a speedy recovery.

I have had 2 occasions to use the SMMC. and like you, I had good results.

Good to hear that it’s not serious,and great to hear how well you were treated at the facility. Be well.

Hope all will be well for you and you can continue with your vacation. I had one incidence that I had to visit the ER there and with an ambulance trip too. Consult with surgeon, x-rays, CT scan and overnight stay. Cost just over $800.00 that my insurance back home reimbursed in full. Just as a reminder they charge in Florins so your bill might not be as expensive as you think.

Scubaman - How long ago was that? My bill today was just over $2100 and that's not in Florins, my credit card charged me $2900 CDN. We have 2 travel insurance companies but somehow I'm sure I'll be on the hook for some of it.

A long time ago, maybe back 25+ years, I came down with a serious respiratory problem less than a week after our SXM vacation started. We stayed at Belair so we were close to the Sint Maarten Medical Center. I went there and a medical intern that spoke next to no English (he was Dutch), initially diagosed the burning in my chest was too much sun exposure. When I explained that the painful burning was inside my lungs not outside my body. He prescribed very large doses of antibacterial medication that I later learned could have been dangerous. But, after a day or two I felt good enough to enjoy the remainder of our 3 weeks. A visit to my primary doctor upon our return home, confirmed that it was indeed pneumonia and I was on the mend.
Moral of the story? We, SXM lovers, medical technology, and luck, have come a long way over the years. I wish you well, Whale.

I believe it was around 2005-2007. Mine was in US Dollars not Canadian.

Hope you are on the road to recovery.

I would have assumed the French, Hospital Center Louis Constant Fleming, would have more advanced care available and gone there, but I am not familiar with either hospital. Where do those who are more familiar with the island recommend someone go? I hope I never need either but it would be good to know which facility is preferred.

I've met numerous medical school students here over they years and they unanimously recommend using the facilities on the French side - one of them said that one should go over the border "even if you have to crawl there...". I've used the facilities on the French side (needed a CAT scan) and they were top-notch and inexpensive at 400Euros.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes, much appreciated. Much better today compared to yesterday. Coming along.

Whale Tail--glad you're doing better. Regards to Mrs. Whale Tail, as I'm sure she was scared, as I would have been!

Hope you are on your way to recovery.

It's scary getting sick while traveling but it's good they were able to give you the care you needed.