Terry’s story · interviewed by Almost Retired in Mexico
Blood Pressure Meds and a Move to Mexico: What Happened
About nine months after moving near La Paz, Terry felt weak and tired on the blood pressure medications he had taken in the US. Terry says Dr. Marco measured 75 over 40, and a cardiologist in La Paz told him he was taking way too much. Terry says his tests came to 10,000 pesos, roughly $500 US.
What it cost them
As stated in the video, February 2023. Prices change; these are theirs.
| Terry's one-bedroom apartment renteverything included, internet too, except electricity | under $700 USD | ▶ 3:14 |
|---|---|---|
| Visit to Dr. Marcothe host's figure | 50 pesos (the host puts it at 2 dollars 50 cents) | ▶ 8:00 |
| Host's chest x-rays, ultrasound and cancer surgeon checkthe host's own tests | a couple hundred dollars | ▶ 8:31 |
| Terry's cardiology tests over two days | 10,000 pesos (roughly $500 US, as he puts it) | ▶ 9:37 |
| Having echocardiogram results read in the United StatesTerry's comparison, not something he paid in Mexico | between 250 and $300 | ▶ 9:37 |
Their situation
- Who
- Terry, formerly from Nebraska, retired at around 62 ▶ 0:31
- Income
- Half of his teacher retirement plus social security ▶ 1:03
- Place
- El Centenario, near La Paz, Mexico ▶ 2:12
- Housing
- Rented one-bedroom apartment in a complex of six units ▶ 2:44
- Time there
- Close to three years ▶ 3:14
- Doctors
- Dr. Marco, a local physician, then a cardiologist in La Paz
Questions this video answers
What happened to Terry on his blood pressure medication after moving to Mexico?
Terry says that after about nine months on the same medications he felt weak and tired, and walking across the kitchen was an effort. His neighbour Julie drove him to a doctor. ▶ 4:50
What did the first doctor find?
Terry says Dr. Marco put a cuff on him and read 75 over 40, then told him to quit all his medications. Terry felt better within a day, but a cuff he bought showed he still needed medication. ▶ 5:20
What did the cardiologist tell Terry?
Terry says the cardiologist in La Paz ran a stress test, an echocardiogram and EKGs, found his arteries fine, and said he was taking way too much medication, because "the lifestyle of Mexico really agrees with you." ▶ 5:53
What does a visit to Dr. Marco cost?
The host has also seen Dr. Marco, whose practice is next to a little pharmacy. The host says a visit is 50 pesos, which the host puts at 2 dollars 50 cents. ▶ 8:00
How much did Terry's heart tests cost in La Paz?
Terry says the tests over two days, including the treadmill stress test and overnight monitoring, came to 10,000 pesos, which he puts at roughly $500 US. ▶ 9:37
The moments, in order
Press ▶ to play the video from that second.
- ▶ 3:14
Rents a one-bedroom apartment with everything included, internet too, except electricity, for under $700 USD. After owning a house for over 50 years, he likes renting at this stage of life.
as stated, February 2023
- ▶ 3:47
The six-unit complex is a close-knit community with social gatherings, such as a Rosca de Reyes celebration at the neighbours' home. He says it is a great way to learn about Mexican culture.
- ▶ 4:50
He kept taking his US blood pressure medications after the move. About nine months in he felt weak and drained, and walking across the kitchen took effort. His neighbour Julie drove him to a doctor.
- ▶ 5:20
Dr. Marco, a local physician, measured his blood pressure at 75 over 40 and told him to stop all his medications. He felt better within a day, but a cuff he bought showed he could not go without medication altogether.
- ▶ 5:53
Through his landlord he saw a cardiologist in La Paz, who ran a stress test, an echocardiogram and EKGs. His arteries were fine; he was simply taking far too much medication, and the doctor put this down to the Mexican lifestyle suiting him. (The captions give the cardiologist's name as Dr. Cuevas here and Dr. Voss later.)
- ▶ 8:00
The host has also seen Dr. Marco, whose practice is next to a small pharmacy. A visit costs 50 pesos, which the host puts at 2 dollars 50 cents. The specialists are in La Paz.
as stated, February 2023
- ▶ 8:31
The host had chest x-rays, an ultrasound and a check by a cancer surgeon done within a couple of hours, for a couple hundred dollars. The host says you can usually see a specialist within a couple of days.
as stated, February 2023
- ▶ 9:37
Over two days, the EKG, echocardiogram, treadmill stress test and overnight Holter monitoring came to 10,000 pesos in all, which he puts at roughly $500 US. He compares this with a US echocardiogram, where he says just having the results read costs $250 to $300.
as stated, February 2023
- ▶ 10:07
In Mexico he pays his debts, buys the brands he wants and goes out, and says his income basically doubled when he crossed the border.
- ▶ 12:14
He can ask for what he needs at the pharmacy, but is not yet conversational. His advice is to start learning before you move.
Worth knowing before you go
- ▶ 4:50
He kept taking his US blood pressure medications after the move. About nine months in he felt weak and drained, and walking across the kitchen took effort. His neighbour Julie drove him to a doctor.
- ▶ 5:20
Dr. Marco, a local physician, measured his blood pressure at 75 over 40 and told him to stop all his medications. He felt better within a day, but a cuff he bought showed he could not go without medication altogether.
This is their experience, retold in our words, and not medical, insurance or financial advice.