I just spent two days in the Centro Medico Bounigal Hospital in Puerto Plata because I am extemely anemic and need a blood transfusion to boost my hemoglobin levels. Imagine my surprise when a motoconcho showed up in my hospital room requesting 4,000 pesos in compensation for finding a compatible donor for my "difficult" blood type of A negative. I had no idea there wasn't a blood bank! So after talking with the doctor and being assured the blood would be tested before use, I paid, of course. What was my choice? The next day when I needed a second pint, the price had risen to 4,500 pesos! Again, what choice did I have? I'm not sure this is the end of the story since the doctors haven't figured out why or where i'm losing blood...lots of tests but no definitive answer. If I have advance knowledge of needing blood again, I'll put out a call over DR1 and through friends. I don't really mind paying for the blood but it was unsettling to know that I had to spend an extra day in the hospital while a donor was found. And no, insurance didn't pay for the blood. It did pay for most of my hospital stay...total bill at checkout was not quite 8,000 pesos. The professionalism of the staff at Bournigal was very impressive and attentive and patient with my pitiful amount of Spanish!
I have a similar problem and have been diagnosed as having myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
I am being treated by a hematologist at HOMS in Santiago. I highly recommend that you see her, she is far better prepared to diagnose and treat you than the people at Bournigal. This is nothing against Bournigal, but she is a specialist in blood disorders and there is nobody like her at Bournigal.
The doctors name is Dra. Liliana Fernandez, her office is in the Cancer Center at HOMS, Tel 829-947-3303, email
lilianafernandez19@hotmail.com She will be able to read the email if you are writing in English. You will also be able to converse with her in English when you have appointments.
I highly recommend her. One of the first things she will likely prescribe is a bone marrow biopsy, which you will get at HOMS. The material will be sent to a lab in the US for analysis, so that in a few days you will have a diagnosis and treatment can begin.
I would not delay consulting Dra. Fernandez because you condition may worsen without proper treatment. If you want to discuss this further, send me a PM.
Getting transfusions at Bournigal is not the answer. They may only be masking the symptoms as your condition, which might life threatening, worsens.