A Camino medical tale with a few lessons

[TheBigT]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

 

[J Willhaus]

Sounds like you were well prepared and sorry about the insurance resources. It is really hard to know which ones are responsive until something happens.

We had a pilgrim last summer from France (I think), who had a heart attack while walking the Aragones in a remote area. A farmer on his tractor spotted him and took him to the clinic in a car and he was whisked to Zaragoza for open heart surgery. He returned one year later to the albergue on his way to finish the pilgrimage very grateful for the good healthcare he received in Spain.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I have also had the privilege of being treated for an emergency medical condition in Spain and at Lugo.

Excellent treatment from committed, caring and professional people.

I also have limited Spanish language skills but we all worked through that together.

 

[CalgaryLynn]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

Not to make light of your situation and Blessings to the fellow pilgrim who helped you along the way. Very scary situation. I am glad you got the help you needed. I have been training with a SmartWatch for the last few weeks to monitor my HR, BP, O2 and measure steps, mileage etc. I have found it to be valuable especially to monitor my HR. I don't have a history but just to be on the safe side. I am interested in what you said about your health insurance too. Terrible that they weren't there in your time of need. Best of luck going forward!

 

[dkiser]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

Would mind sharing the particular travel insurance you had? We just signed up for Allianz. If we need to use it, hopefully we will have a better experience than you had. Take care. Dave

 

[Bumpa]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

I am pleased to hear of your recovery. Concerning times when one does not speak the language of the persons providing treatment. As a fellow Canadian with both Afib and Camino experiences, I would like to know the name of your insurance provider. Insurance for those with past heart issues is exorbitant and one would hope helpful. More and more often, we hear of great difficulties with insurance providers.

If it would be more comfortable for you, and meet the requirements of this site, you could p.m. me.

 

[AnneMarie1]

Wow, glad everything worked out well in the end! Yes, the Spanish medical system is excellent. I have lived in Spain before and knew that back then, but also had a medical issue arise on the Camino last year and got to experience it. I am very healthy, no medical conditions or anything. Last year I developed a UTI while on the Camino (quite possibly due to that day on the meseta with no bathrooms for 17 km!). I'd thought it would go away on its own, but it didn't, and I was on the Invierno by myself googling symptoms, which were on the list Dr. Google provided of "if any of these things happen, seek medical attention immediately because sepsis could occur and that could be serious." Great. So off I went to find the all-night pharmacy (some teenagers hanging out in a plaza outside a closed pharmacy door helped me get to the one on guardia), which directed me to an urgent care place not far away, where the urine test confirmed my suspicions of the UTI, and they prescribed an antibiotic in the form of some tablets that you dissolve in water and drink. The pharmacist said it must have been a strong infection because that med is usually just prescribed to be taken once on the first round (more later if the infection doesn't clear), and the doctor had specified that I needed two doses, with the second one taken a day or two later. I DO speak Spanish, and it occurred to me as I was dealing with all this that this would be way harder and more stressful if I didn't. The doctor himself did speak English, and it was kind of funny because he was speaking English to me and I was speaking Spanish to him. I think he was just happy to use his English and may have wanted me to be more comfortable in the setting or something. I, on the other hand, prefer to use my Spanish while I'm in Spain. So there we were. He did encourage cranberry tablets (available in the pharmacy) and told me the Spanish word for cranberries (which I didn't know), and it turns out that it's the same word as for blueberries (!), which makes no sense. He agree with me on that. We both mused about how if I were a pilgrim in the Middle Ages, when there were no antibiotics, I could just end up septic in the middle of nowhere and die from this, so isn't this modern stuff great sometimes? I didn't have any travel insurance because my insurance from home covers travel emergencies, although it's a hassle. They didn't have any way of collecting payment then, so they said they'd have to send a bill. This happened last June, and I got a bill about a month ago, which had to be paid via wire transfer. It came to about $300 including the fee for an international wire transfer. I don't know if this is even worth messing with my insurance company over, so I probably will just submit it for flex dollars reimbursement. But I was grateful for the kind and competent medical people I dealt with and for the teenagers who took pity on me and helped locate the open pharmacy, too.

 

[joramos]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

Praying for your fast recovery and positive prognosis. Thank you for the heads up, so us other pilgrims, know what to do to prepare and what to do just in case. Stay strong fellow pilgrim. Vaya con dios. Ultreia.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon....

I was very interested to read about your experience. Like you and @AnneMarie1 I too had to seek help from the Spanish health system on my camino last year. I was extremely worried about an acute problem with urination – I'll spare you the details – but I was taken to Estella hospital by my extremely kind hospitalero in Luquin. I do speak very elementary Spanish, but was dreading having to explain my problems. However in my case the doctor in the ER spoke excellent English. I had blood and urine tests and a scan as an out-patient. The whole experience was very re-assuring, and I felt that at all times I was in very competent hands. I was sischarged with very good advice about handling the problem.
I'm wondering what happened in your case about payment. I was not presented with any bill for payment, or asked for any details of medical insurance. The bill did arrive about 2 months after my return to Australia, amounting to a mere 300 euros. I paid this by bank transfer to a Navarra government agency but recieved no receipt. This didn't especially concern me because there was a cap on claims by my insurance company and the difference was not significant, so I didn't make a claim. But the hospital had provided me with a full transcript of treatment, and a report from the doctor who treated me.

 

[bullingtonce]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

Thank you for sharing your valuable learning experience with everyone. Very useful info to know.
I also would like to know of the insurance company you used.

 

[SilentNight]

Thank God you were well cared for, no matter the language barrier, and yay for your recovery! Also, thanks for the excellent advice. In my experience in the US of my more than dozen emergencies, the ambulance EMTs hold my hand when I’m in dire circumstances. Most of the EMTs later stopped by my hospital room to wish me well, and I was able to thank them. The land ambulance EMTs and paramedics are among the kindest of the medical care providers. I will say that the air ambulance EMTs are somewhat short and understandably so, since they’re only called in for near death subjects, where time is of the most essence.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Would mind sharing the particular travel insurance you had? We just signed up for Allianz. If we need to use it, hopefully we will have a better experience than you had. Take care. Dave

You might want to search the forum for various threads, including my own, of disaster stories from people who have used Allianz.

Hopefully though, you won't have to use them

 

[DoughnutANZ]

It is probably worth mentioning that in Spain medical care is devolved to the various regions rather than being centrally managed.

This can mean that policy in one region is different from a neighbouring region. For example, it was possible for me to buy high dosage ibuprofen over the counter at a pharmacy in one region without a prescription but in an adjoining region I either required a prescription from a doctor for the same high dosage ibuprofen or was offered a lower dosage item without a prescription.

In addition, Galicia (the region that contains Santiago de Compostela) seems to have some form of special free medical insurance cover for pilgrims. Certainly during the Covid years they offered this but I think that I have seen it mentioned outside of those specific circumstances as well. Perhaps a resident can provide greater certainty about this?

I spent almost a week in hospital in Lugo in 2019 for Legionella, some of it in intensive care and I provided all of my identification details and even offered to pay when I was discharged but I have never seen a bill for that care nor the emergency ambulance or first responders (I collapsed on the Camino just past O Cebrerio).

I also suffered a different medical incident last year while walking the Camino Madrid but managed to drag myself into a tiny village and to a pharmacy. The pharmacist took me to the local medical centre where the doctor initially diagnosed appendicitis and called an ambulance that was (fortunately, as it transpired) out on a prior call and so I waited in the medical centre under observation with the possibility of calling in a helicopter if I got worse.

My intense lower abdomen pain cleared while I waited and so I requested a re-examination and the doctor then decided that I had some form of colic (my lower abdomen is a bit of a mess from various issues). I eventually managed to talk the doctor into discharging me by promising not to walk any further that day and to return immediately if I had any further pain.

Again I offered to pay before leaving but was told that there was no charge. In this particular case I think that having a non-Spanish, non-EU person turn up at the medical centre in this tiny village in the middle of nowhere was so rare that the doctor simply did not want to have to deal with the paperwork involved and wrote it off as a charitable act for a pilgrim.

 

[Colette Z]

Hey guys, I have just returned home to Canada early from the Camino Frances and thought my story might help others.

I left Canada on Feb 29th and started walking on March 4 in Leon. I had done SJPP to Leon last spring and my plan was to complete the Leon to Santiago portion by the end of March, taking things pretty slow. I got to Sarria on March 16th. I had found the preceding couple of days very challenging and was effectively exhausted when I arrived. Feeling very poorly, I had dinner with a fellow pilgrim who was also a doctor (GP). My heart rate was steady at 135-145 and showing no signs of slowing down. This is very dangerous for a number of reasons. We agreed, off to the Sarria medical centre.

They did some blood work and ECG, determined it was out of their zone of treatment and put me in an ambulance and off to the major regional hospital in Lugo. This became a 5-day stay cumulating in a heart ablation procedure to treat a "Atrial Flutter". See a reference definition here from John Hopkins:

Atrial Flutter

Atrial flutter is one of the more common abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). It affects the upper heart chambers (atria).

www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Some observations:

1. Language barriers were significant as I speak zero Spanish. Google translate helped a lot, but I also engaged the services of a translator from Madrid recommended by the Canadian embassy for several key medical consultations. Do not assume that English or any other language will be available in the system.
2. If I was not awake and competent to act on my own behalf, I do not know what would have happened. My arrangements for support from home were limited, I was travelling alone and except for some critical help from the fellow pigrim I mention above, no other assistance was available. The medical assistance line of my travel insurance was very hard to contact (very long wait times) and useless when contacted. Check this part of your travel insurance package carefully if possible. I will be making much more significant arrangements for support next time.
3. I had a full doctor's letter setting out prior conditions and medications, printed and laminated with me. This was a huge help and allowed the Spanish medical staff to very very quickly understand what was happening. I have a significant history of cardiac problems.
4. I contacted my home cardiologist and requested an immediate send, via email, of my cardiac medical records to the hospital in Lugo. They did this in less than one hour and these records were critical for the Spanish cardiology team to determine the correct course of action for me. I would make sure that key specialists in your life, if you have them, are aware you are overseas for an extended period and that support may be required.
5. The Spanish medical systems is excellent in my experience, at least as good as the Canadian one and in some ways better.
6. They would not let my fellow pilgrim travel to the hospital with me because she was not family. Within 45 minutes we were 100km apart. Plan on the possibility of being absolutely alone.

Hope this all helps some of you judge your own risk and prepare as you can. As for the future, it is in God's hands. His Angels held me up through a long week, as they appeared in the form of many thoughtful and loving people in Spain. I especially thank the older woman ambulance attendant who held my hand as we sped through the dark night to Lugo, comforting me in my lonely distress.

Glad it worked out but I agree quite frightening given your lack of Spanish language skills. Did you know you had this arrhythmia prior to walking your Camino?

 

[JamesGeier]

Would mind sharing the particular travel insurance you had? We just signed up for Allianz. If we need to use it, hopefully we will have a better experience than you had. Take care. Dave

You might want to search the forum for various threads, including my own, of disaster stories from people who have used Allianz.

Hopefully though, you won't have to use them

Agree with @DoughnutANZ . See the following thread, started by me. I was almost shocked at how many others had similar bad experiences with Allianz as I did.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/alternative-to-allianz-travel-insurance.79470/#post-1233775

And, as @DoughnutANZ said, hopefully, you will not have to use them.

Buen Camino,
--james--