I am going to see a new doctor in Northern Mexico that does not speak
ANY English.  I need someone to fluently translte my English letter
into perfect Spanish.  I tried a couple web-based sites like
freetranslation.com, but my spanish speaking neighbor says much of the
letter didn't even make sense.  She has 3 kids and has no time to do
this for me, so here I am.

"Non-human" translators are way too "literal".  I am describing a
medical condition, and various prescription drugs, and even one
misunderstanding could result in him giving me a wrong prescription
and having adverse effects on my body.  Medicines in Mexico have
completely different names, so I would not even know what I am taking.
Therefore the translation needs to make perfect sense, and not
broken-up, which is the result of the various translators on the web.

Here is the letter...

Hello Doctor,

My urologist in the US, did a full examination on me 7 weeks ago weeks
ago, along with a urine test, and told me I have a kidney stone from
not drinking enough water, and taking calcium tablets 3 times a day
for about one year.  I have enclosed the valid US prescription he gave
me for Vicodin (Hydrocodone) for the intense pain from the kidney
stone.  The 5mg tablets of Vicodin he gave me was much too weak
though, and I needed to take 3 tablets (15mg) just to sleep at night.

The kidney stone came out of me in the bathroom last week, and I had
no pain for five days.  Then another stone soon started, with the
exact same symptoms.  My doctor said reoccurrence of another kidney
stone is very common.  I have no insurance and he wants too much money
for another visit so I can get a refill, and I can not afford this
again.  But the pain is so bad, I sweat all night, and can not sleep. 
It even prevents me from drinking water, because it hurts more when I
do.

This is my second trip to Tijuana.  The first trip was on Friday, and
a Tijuana pharmacy sold me fake pills that did not work at all, and I
was still in very intense pain for 2 days and nights, and could hardly
sleep over the weekend.

So this time, I am seeing a Urologist in Tijuana first.  You are the
first doctor I found on the Internet, so here I am.  I will pay cash
for another urine test if needed.  Doctor, please help me for this. 
This kidney stone is the worst pain I have ever had in my life.  If
you wish, please call my US Urologist in California to verify my
kidney stone condition.  He was positive this is my problem.

Please do not prescribe fake pills, or pills that will not work, like
the pharmacy gave me last Friday.  My kidney stone pain is VERY REAL,
and I can not afford an American doctor again to get real medicine
that works. Oxycodone (or Oxycotin) has been the only thing that will
let me sleep, and I have had no side effects from this drug.

American over-the-counter medications do nothing for me.  But, I can
not afford the "made in USA" brand “Vicodin” here in Mexico either. 
The price is much higher here for this American pill.  I only ask for
a prescription for a good high quality medication, which is for
personal use only, until the stone exits, like the first one did.

US Customs said I could take a 3-month supply over the border with a
US and Mexico prescription.  (Which I will have with your help).  But
I think only 90 tablets (which is about a 3 week supply) would be
enough for me, as long as they work as well or better than Vicodin.  A
stronger dose would be much preferred though.  And an address to an
honest pharmacy (for my taxi driver), would also be much appreciated
as well.

If I still have the stone in 3 weeks, and the medication worked well,
I will gladly make the trip and pay for one more visit, or further
treatment.

Thank You.

Hello again Mitmail,  
 
Here is the translation of your letter. 


============================================

Estimado Doctor, 
 

Mi urólogo de Estados Unidos, realizo un examen medico completo hace 7
semanas y un análisis de orina. Explicó que tenía un cálculo en el
riñón por no beber suficiente agua y por tomar tabletas de calcio 3
veces al día, por aproximadamente un año. He adjuntado la prescripción
original de USA que me receto de Vicodin (Hidrocodona) para el dolor
intenso que me provoca el cálculo en el riñón. Las tabletas de 5mg de
Vicodin que me receto eran poco efectivas, por lo que he debido tomar
3 tabletas (15mg) para poder conciliar el sueño cada noche.
  

El cálculo salió hace una semana cuando estaba en el baño, y no sentí
dolor por 5 días. Luego, un nuevo cálculo apareció con los mismos
síntomas. Mi medico dijo que la reincidencia de cálculos en los
riñones es algo bastante común. No tengo seguro medico y además mi
medico quiere demasiado dinero por otra consulta, por consiguiente no
podré conseguir una nueva receta, ya que no puedo costear otra
consulta. Sin embargo, el dolor es tan intenso, transpiro toda la
noche y me es imposible conciliar el sueño. Incluso me impide beber
agua, por que me duele más cuando lo hago.


Este es mi segundo viaje a Tijuana. El primero fue el día viernes, y
en la farmacia de esa localidad me vendieron pastillas falsas que no
surtieron efecto alguno. Llevo dos días con un dolor intenso, sin
poder dormir en todo el fin de semana.


Esta vez he decido ver un Urólogo en Tijuana.  Usted es el primer
medico que he encontrado en la Internet, por lo que aquí me encuentro.
Pagare en efectivo por otro examen de orina si es necesario. Por favor
ayúdeme, el dolor que me provoca el calculo es el peor sufrimiento que
he tenido en mi vida. Si lo desea, por favor llame a mi medico en
California (USA) para verificar mi condición, su diagnostico aseguraba
un calculo renal.


Le ruego no recetarme medicamentos falsos o que no surtan efectos,
como los que me dieron en la farmacia el pasado viernes. Mi dolor es
MUY REAL, y no puedo costear un medico Americano nuevamente para tener
medicamentos reales y que funcionen. Oxicodona (Oxycotin) ha sido el
único medicamento que me ha permitido dormir y que no ha tenido ningún
efecto secundario para mi salud.


Los fármacos que se venden sin receta (OTC) no me han hecho efecto
alguno. Sin embargo, no puedo costear en México la marca “Vicodin”
fabricada en USA; las píldoras americanas son mucho más costosas. Es
por esto, que le estoy pidiendo una prescripción medica por un
medicamento de buena calidad, para mi uso personal y mientras exista
el calculo.



La Aduana Americana permite llevar un suministro de medicamentos para
3 meses con una prescripción Mexicana y de Estados Unidos. (la cual
obtendría con su ayuda). Creo que solamente 90 tabletas serian
suficientes para mi (lo que alcanza para 3 semanas), siempre y cuando
funcionen igual o mejor que Vicodin. No obstante, preferiría una dosis
más alta. También si tuvieras la amabilidad de señalarme el nombre y
la dirección de una farmacia honesta (para mi chofer de taxi).


Si todavía tengo el cálculo al cabo de 3 semanas, y el medicamento
marcha bien, yo gustosamente haría otro viaje y pagaría una nueva
consulta medica para continuar el tratamiento.

 
Gracias, 

============================================


Search Criteria:

I am totally fluent in Spanish and have been living in South America
for almost 30 years. The person who helped with this translation is a
Chilean born second year dentistry student. She is fully bilingual in
English and Spanish.


Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 13 Jul 2003 14:38 PDT

I failed to mention that I have been doing professional translations
(English to Spanish and Spanish to English) for over 10 years.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by mitmail-ga on 13 Jul 2003 17:22 PDT

Hello,  I already gave you a good rating and a perfect 5-stars on my
translation paper.  I did leave one small paragragh out on purpose,
because I did not want a million people to see it for some reason. 
But now that you are here, could you do a quick translation of it? 
Thanks again.

Paragragh is...

My symptoms are: started with a very strong urine odor. Then a pain
started in my lower back, then a few days later I felt long waves of
bad pain (6-8 hours long) that moved from my back, to my lower right
groin, and remains there now.  I have no fever, no blood in the urine,
no nausea, or no pain during urination.

---

Clarification of Answer by bobbie7-ga on 13 Jul 2003 18:42 PDT

Mitmail,  
 
Here is the translation of the additional paragraph. 


Mis síntomas son los siguientes: Comenzó con un fuerte olor de mi
orina. El dolor se inició en la parte baja de mi espalda. Luego de
algunos días sentí largas olas de intenso dolor (duración aproximada
6-8 horas) extendiéndose desde mi espalda hasta a mi ingle en su parte
baja y derecha, donde se encuentra ahora localizado el dolor. No tengo
fiebre, nauseas, ni sangre en la orina o dolor en la micción.

Translated my English letter to Spanish accuratley.  Has much experience in this.