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| Photo by DeLange |
The drive there was easy from Desert Hot Springs, and the traffic was light. It took about 3 hours. We decided that I would drive TO Algadones and Joe would drive back, because of all the work I wanted done. I didn't think I'd feel up to driving home, and I was right!
I never tire of seeing the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area when we drive to Algadones. The dunes are so surreal, just appearing out of nowhere. The dunes are located west of the Chocolate Mountains and are crossed by Interstate 8 and State Route 78. Though nobody is really sure how the dunes were formed, the most common theory is they were formed by windblown beach sands from Lake Cahuilla. However they were formed, they are beautiful!
Entering Algadones was simple. We parked in the Quechan Parking Lot for $6 per car, noted our parking area letter, and walked through the gates.
We had an appointment with the Dermatologist at 11:30 but arrived at 10 am so we had plenty of time. First stop was the eye doctor. Joe needed a prescription for glasses. He is going to try buying glasses on the Zenni Optical site. But I have had good luck with the doctor we visited, so I wanted to drive home with new glasses in hand. Joe paid $20 for his exam and prescription. My exam was included in the price of my glasses. Just a straight prescription and inexpensive frames was $50. I needed those for distance. In addition, I wanted a pair of bifocals, and I chose a more expensive frame. Those were $100. So the total for two pair of prescription glasses was $150. I am very happy with both the quality and the price.
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| The little shop |
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| There were 3 walls of frames offered |
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| My new glasses! |
After the eye exam and picking out frames, the doctor measured my eyes for the bifocals. Then we were told to return in 3 hours to pick up the glasses.
We had 15 minutes to get to the Dermatologist.
Dr. Roberto Flores obtained his degree in Dermatology in 1990 from “El Centro Dermatologio Pascua” of Mexico City. He is certified by UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) and by the Secretaria de Saud de Mexico (Health Secretary of Mexico).
Dr. Flores began his practice in Los Algodones after graduating and divides his time between Los Algodones and Mexicali.
His office and medical facilities offer a clean and safe place to attend to patients and meet the standard of international sanitary requirements.
I did make the mistake of using the restroom when I was there. It was super-clean but they had one of those plug in fragrance things on the wall, and I quickly reacted with a headache. DAMN! I flushed my nose as best I could, and took some ibuprofen to try to head off the migraine. I went outside and gulped fresh air. I did get a headache, but thank the gods, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I wish they'd outlaw those things!
I was very happy with this doctor. He took a look at my nose. For years, I've had two moles, one under my nose and one on the side of my nostril that bled a LOT when I had a cold or blew my nose. I was worried these were skin cancer, but Dr. Flores said no, they were just moles. I'm a big baby when it comes to pain. My MCS causes me to have a very low pain threshold, so I was really afraid of that needle, especially in the nose! But he was quick and gentle and removed both moles completely. It never bled and this morning I can barely see where they were.
Next he froze off about 20 skin tags under both arms. These skin tags are something new for me, and they were tiny, but annoyed me. They just popped up in the past year, and I asked him the cause. He said it's just a result of age, and could have to do with my bra rubbing the skin. I think it's time I reverted to the 60's and burn those bras again. More pain as he froze each tag.
The lipoma next to my spine also popped up in the past year. About the size of a walnut, it bugged me. It didn't hurt, but I didn't like it. He said he could inject it with something that would dissolve the fat, and I agreed without a lot of thought.
Holy HELL! Those injections were painful, and it quickly got hot and swelled up. I had a hard time sleeping last night because the area was so painful and this morning, though the swelling has gone down, it still hurts to move my arm or to touch it.
Upon further investigation, I discovered that this may or may not work and it's not been approved by the FDA. That doesn't bother me so much as the fact that with my MCS, I let him inject something I hadn't researched. But it's done. So now I can only cross my fingers and hope it works. I've read the pain can last quite a while after these injections. I also read the negative side effects reported were in people who injected themselves, not in people who had the injections done by a dermatologist or other professional.
After all this, I decided I wasn't up to having the growth removed from the back of my knee. That will have to wait for another visit.
Prices for these procedures were as follows:
Removal of 2 moles from nose: $70
Freezing of skin tags: $60
Lipoma injection: $120
The price of surgery to remove the growth from the back of my knee will be $220 when I decide to have it done.
In the USA, prices to have moles removed ranged from $100-$200 PER MOLE.
So I'm pretty happy with the price as well as the results.
We stopped by the Pharmacy and I bought 2 bottles of 800 mg ibuprofen for $3.99 each, some opthmalic neosporin for $7, and a generic form of Voltaren called Volfenac Gel with Diclofenac 1.235%. It is stronger and less expensive than what we buy in Spain for only $1.50.
After all of this, I needed sustenance, so we found a little restaurant, Birrieria El Paisa, where they had Pollo Asado (grilled chicken). We shared half a chicken and each had a beer. Total for lunch was $7.
While eating, you must get used to the constant stream of people coming by your table wanting you to buy trinkets. You learn to just say a polite, "No, gracias," then ignore them. If you look them in the eye or engage in any way, they won't leave.
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| Mmmmmmm... CHICKEN! |
The line to leave is the biggest detriment to visiting Algadones.
You can stand in that line for hours in order to get back into the USA.
I went back to pick up my glasses after lunch,
and sent Joe ahead to stand in the line.
When I arrived at the gate,
Joe was right up at the front.
HOORAY!
It's a little slow because each person much show their passport
and what they purchased.
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| Almost there! |
Joe drove home, which made me VERY happy!
We got back to Desert Hot Springs by 5 pm, about 12 hours after leaving.
I'm a little sore this morning but glad we went.
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| Headed back to Desert Hot Springs |
If you're visiting Southern California or Arizona,
don't be afraid to go to Algadones.
Hundreds of retired people visit each day,
going there for dental work, eyeglasses, dermatology, and prescriptions.
It's absolutely safe and a great day trip. If you need to stay overnight, you can find hotels in Yuma or in Algadones itself. If you have an RV, you can boondock in Yuma at the Casinos or on BLM land.
Today I need to pack up the van and get ready to head out again tomorrow.
Not yet sure where I'm headed, but hopefully someplace warm
See you soon,
Annie
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