Re: CLARE

From: clare (csheedy@netcom.ca)
Fri Nov 2 06:55:13 2001


Hi Nancy:

I know what you mean about these surprise bills - we have to pay for my husband's blood test to check for prostate CA (I think it's called a PSA) as it's not covered. I guess they think that it's not necessary! I also pay for most of my appointments with my nutritionist, but I don't care about that because I believe I get a better access to health care when I pay for it.

I know that if I want to get to a pain clinic, I'll have to at least have the laproscopy done. I probably won't make that particular phone call until the pain gets real bad again. Right now I feel much better, with a tolerable pain level so I feel as though God's giving me a break to think this through!

I lived in a small community in northern Ontario for years, so I know the challenges you face out there. It is so nice that I can post here and have access to the advice and encouragement I so badly need. Wishing you pain free hours and days....

At Thu, 01 Nov 2001, Nancy E. Hale wrote: >
>At 11/1/01 08:31 AM -0600, you wrote:
>> you
>>understand the state of our health care system here.
>
>Clare:
>
>We have a system to our health care???? *LOL* Right, like the bill we got
>for my partner getting a shot of blood thinner for a clot in his leg - they
>started threatening us with collections, and when I called them about the
>invoice, the reply I got was "Oh! Blood thinners are covered under
>Medicare! Forget it, I'll cancel the invoice!"
>
>Right - the wonders of socialized medicine *LOL*
>
>You are right about the protocol in Canada, however. Before I got anywhere
>towards pain management, I went through internal, ultrasound, gyn,
>internal, u/s, urologist, barium enema, cystoscopy, gyn, finally after 15
>months the diagnostic lap. Then it was back to the GP, to a local surgeon,
>to another, to a year long fight for something stronger than
>Ibuprofen. When the cystoscopy was done, I knew they wouldn't find
>anything, and I was so wound up the urologist asked "Then why bother having
>it done?" I told him "If I don't have this done, my GP won't go any
>further towards finding out what is causing the pain, and I'll end up
>committing suicide." After the procedure, he came in and said "Well, we
>didn't find anything." I gave him "The Look" *LOL*.
>
>Just remember - although your gyn has promised he won't take you in for a
>laparoscopy and do a laparotomy without your permission, he may not have a
>choice. If he goes in for a laparoscopy and finds more than he bargained
>for or something goes wrong, he may have to open you up. That is one
>reason I refuse to have surgery in our local "band-aid station". The
>hospital here just does not have the facilities to convert from laparoscopy
>to laparotomy safely, and I would end up being rushed to Fredericton by
>ambulance - 75 miles away. Thanks, but no thanks. You have the advantage
>of being in the big city, where the hospitals are better equipped.
>
>Anyway, now you have access to all kinds of advice from those who have
>"been there, done that", which will help you make an informed decision.
>
>Pain-free hugs.
>
>Nancy in NB

--
csheedy

Enter keywords:
Returns per screen: Require all keywords: