Anyone ex-pat with experience of Covid in Spain

For a start Huercal Overa is our nearest hospital about 40 minutes away.  Haven't heard of any ex pats contracting it in the Garrucha area.  However you mention medical insurance Huercal Overa is a national health hospital dont know how anyone would get on with private insurance but the care given in  that hospital is very good.  Unless you know anyone personally you wouldnt find out whether they sre ex pats or not.  You are treated as a patient only no natter what nationality.   Sorry cant be of more help.

the hospital in Hercal Overa is very good.  all people entering have a temperature test, only one person allowed unless with an interpreter.  all staff fully masked up and social distancing done in departments. 

On 2th January I was taken to the Hercal Overa hospital by ambulance from Garrucha.  On arrival my temperature, pulse and blood pressure were taken.  I received a chest xray and a covid test which proved to be positive.  The hospital is approximately 50 minutes away and I was back home within 3 hours of leaving.  The treatment was thorough and quick.

Maureen J. Sorry you were tested positive when you were taken to Huercal Overa hospital.  Hope you are fully recovered now.  No doubt you had to self isolate at home?  N

Good morning Lyn,

My symptoms were nothing like those that we had been told to be aware of.  I did not have a temperature, no cough and still had my senses of taste and smell.  Consequently, when I began to feel a little unwell, I did not think that I had Covid.  It began on 18th January when I developed a sore throat.  On 19th the glands in my neck began to feel swollen. On the Wednesday, 20th, I began to sneeze and my nose began to run.  I honestly thought that I had a cold.  I was still eating and sleeping as usual but had a really bad headache.  By the Saturday 23rd I began to feel very tired and had started with dreadful 'runs'.  I went to bed early that day and stayed in bed on Sunday and Monday just getting up to go to the toilet or to get a drink.  I really didn't feel like eating.  I got up on Tuesday afternoon but didn't get dressed.  In the evening I began to cough but not excessively.  At that point I thought that I had better have a covid test but did not know where I could go especially as I had no transport and still felt unwell.  Consequently, I telephoned 112 who organised an ambulance and I was taken to Hercal Overa Hospital where the necessary tests were carried out.  I had two Covid tests.  The first one was negative and I was told that I could go home.  An ambulance was organised.  Just before I left, I was given another Covid test and told that I would receive the results the following day, Wednesday.  Once I returned home I went straight to bed and stayed there until Saturday 30th.  

On Friday 29th I received a telephone call from the hospital saying that my second test was positive.  I could not understand why, and thought that it was very dangerous, to wait 3 days before giving me the result of my test.  At this point, apart from going to hospital, I had been insolation since 24th January.  I remained in isolation for a further 2 weeks.  I lost 9 lbs within 5 days.  What is interesting is that in the middle of February new Covid symptoms were released and these were: 1. a sore throat. 2. fatigue. 3. Diahorrea. 4. Headache. These were all the symptoms that I had experienced.  If these had been known when I first became ill, I would have had a Covid test earlier.

I'm pleased to say that I feel fine now and, unfortunately, have put back on the weight that I lost. Given all of the reports that we have heard of how many people have died and how many have been admitted to intensive care, I think that I was very lucky. 

Sorry that this is a long missive but I hope that it enables people to be aware of the new signs of Covid and act quickly if they have any of the symptoms.

Take Care Lyn x

Thank you Maureen J for taking the time to post this, its very helpful to hear of peoples experiences when dealing with Covid and the Spanish System. Glad your OK now.

Hi Maureen, glad you’re feeling better. I wonder if you can give review of your experience from calling the ambulance until you reached the hospital. For example, which emergency number did you call? what was their response time? Was it easy to converse with the operator and medics in ambulance?  Hope I never need to call them but would be interested in these things. Thanks, Doris. 

Hello Doris,

I called 112 and was connected to an English speaking emergency operator.  She ordered the ambulance which was here within 10 minutes.  I was in the ambulance on my own but the driver collected a wheelchair for me and pushed me into the hospital.  I was seen immediately and my observations were carried out.  It was difficult to converse with the staff at the hospital but everything was in hand and xrays and covid tests carried out in good time.  As I mentioned, it took about 50 minutes to get to and fro the hospital and I was back home within 3 hours.  

I hope this helps Doris,

Maureen

Thanks Maureen, it does help. Opinions are divided about calling 112 or 061. Hope I don’t need it but will call 112 if I do. Thanks again, Doris.