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jawnbcAmidst the fun of packing and moving (and working), I've also been charsing down some health issues.
For a really long time I've had gastro distress in various forms. I bloat when I consume anything but simple water, my winds smell like summer roadkill, and much of my abdomen is tender. My GP referred me to a GI specialist in late August, but I had to cancel that appointment. So really I had to wait 5 weeks for the specialist appointment.
The doctor took my history and did an exam, and pretty quickly narrowed his differential diagnosis to irritable bowel (IB) syndrome or something parasitic. However, since I've been treated for c.difficile with Flagyl™ already (and didn't have classic c.difficile symptoms anyway), he's pretty confident it's IB. He ordered some tests (blood, stool and x-ray) and sent me off with a 'script for Dicetel™.
Then it was time to get the tests done. I left the doctor's office at noon:
-the lab department took the blood samples and gave me what I needed to collect my own stool samples. Total time: 20 minutes
-the X-ray department at St Paul's hospital did 4 x-rays (1 chest, 3 abdominal). Total time: 35 minutes
So an hour after I left the specialist the tests were done or organized. Here's the out-of-pocket cost breakdown:
-specialist consultation with examination: $0.00
-blood work: $0.00
-stool work: $0.00
-x-rays: $0.00
Total out-of-pocket expenses: $0.00
Of course none of this is free; it's paid for with taxes. But I think I get exceedingly good value for my tax dollars.
For a really long time I've had gastro distress in various forms. I bloat when I consume anything but simple water, my winds smell like summer roadkill, and much of my abdomen is tender. My GP referred me to a GI specialist in late August, but I had to cancel that appointment. So really I had to wait 5 weeks for the specialist appointment.
The doctor took my history and did an exam, and pretty quickly narrowed his differential diagnosis to irritable bowel (IB) syndrome or something parasitic. However, since I've been treated for c.difficile with Flagyl™ already (and didn't have classic c.difficile symptoms anyway), he's pretty confident it's IB. He ordered some tests (blood, stool and x-ray) and sent me off with a 'script for Dicetel™.
Then it was time to get the tests done. I left the doctor's office at noon:
-the lab department took the blood samples and gave me what I needed to collect my own stool samples. Total time: 20 minutes
-the X-ray department at St Paul's hospital did 4 x-rays (1 chest, 3 abdominal). Total time: 35 minutes
So an hour after I left the specialist the tests were done or organized. Here's the out-of-pocket cost breakdown:
-specialist consultation with examination: $0.00
-blood work: $0.00
-stool work: $0.00
-x-rays: $0.00
Total out-of-pocket expenses: $0.00
Of course none of this is free; it's paid for with taxes. But I think I get exceedingly good value for my tax dollars.
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no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 12:04 am (UTC)I hope you get through this really soon.
Get out the Lourdes water!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 12:05 am (UTC)Thanks love. How's the new life/job/universe?
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Date: 2006-10-04 12:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 12:50 am (UTC)[sarcasm]
Date: 2006-10-04 12:35 am (UTC)Here's hoping you find a solution that manages your troubled tum. Before visiting here, preferably, as we have quite enough volcanic activity as it is. ;-)
Re: [sarcasm]
Date: 2006-10-04 12:52 am (UTC)Those of us who live in "we" societies (Canada, NZ, Sweden, among others) find the rest so baffling. And their resolute belief that their system is better even more so, eh? I mean, yus?
Re: [sarcasm]
Date: 2006-10-04 04:32 am (UTC)Re: [sarcasm]
Date: 2006-10-04 04:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 01:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-05 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 01:32 am (UTC)The good news is IB is treatable/manageable, though not very pleasant. There are many theories, the main ones being stress. Often people who have IB also have CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).
I didn’t realise you were moving again. I must have missed that post. Is it somewhere still in Vancouver?
Hugz to you and him
Dragonweir
Downunder
no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 01:32 am (UTC)Oh, wait, I'm over-sharing. So, uh, anyway, I hope you're feeling better soon.
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Date: 2006-10-05 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 02:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 02:51 am (UTC)Second: I'm working through my bowel issues too (that sounds kinda yucky phrased that way). I can't figure out if it's my meds or something else, and neither can my Drs...yet.
Third: Hooray for socialised medical care! Hooray!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 04:13 am (UTC)Second: d'oh!
Third: yay!
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Date: 2006-10-04 03:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 04:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 04:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 04:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 04:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 05:45 am (UTC)hope your guts are going to be ok. xoxo
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Date: 2006-10-04 12:43 pm (UTC)Hope you get better soon sweetheart!xx
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Date: 2006-10-05 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 01:14 pm (UTC)Good luck!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-05 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 02:01 pm (UTC)Hope you are on the road to recover soon!
no subject
Date: 2006-10-05 12:12 am (UTC)I hope you get remedy-ed soon.
Spike
no subject
Date: 2006-10-05 03:47 pm (UTC)