Four months to the mri, he might be dead by then
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40192)
Canada
July 13, 2009 2:22pm CST
The stroke specialist at the hospital said that my husband probably has Lou Gehrig's dieease or als and she scheduled him for an MRI. Now unlike the States, we have public medical insurance and so the MRI will not be until December. (Get an idea of what you have to look forward to under Public medical insurance? Long waits since now everyone down there will be on a county medical system where before it was just those who could not pay for private medical insurance.)
What makes me upset is that he is getting worse and we cannot tell our sons about his condition unless we have the doctor's confirmation.
And the test is scheduled for December and the way the Earth is cooling, it will be snowing and very cold by then. I do not understand why they do not make the tests sooner. Do they expect him to walk in? I guess it means they doubt that there is anything wrong with him and it is all in his head. Well he is not going to walk in, he will have to using a motorized wheelchair and by then he will probably be in one that reclines and is designed for those who cannot even lift their heads up.
7 people like this
19 responses
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
13 Jul 09
I would definitely be worried if I were you too.
Is there a letter that you can write to any body for that matter, to make the process faster?
Sorry to hear about your husband's condition and I really understand your plight. Try your best, make some calls to the respective officers or organizations and explain your concern. Or you can check back with the Stroke Specialist whether this situation is hazardous for your husband.
If it is, then it's best to push forward the MRI. I really dislike medical insurance at times like this, when they cannot be flexible. This should be a case by case basis.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
15 Jul 09
The trouble is there are too many people scheduled for Mris. In other words, there are not enough machines to perform this action. Years ago it was EKGS and heart patients were dying. And they go a who goes first, rather then by the triage method that they use in emergency rooms.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
19 Jul 09
He is gradually getting worse. Before he could get his right hand around things, but now I have to put things in them. And he does not get much sleep and I have to move him every half hour or so. His balance is also getting worse and he cannot lift his arms up as high as he used to.
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
14 Jul 09
I am sorry that you have to wait so long. We have public medicine as well and we can just call at a hospital and have an MRI done. We have waiting lists for lots of procedures but that is not one of them.
When my partner had to see a specialist for his back it too months to get in to see him and that was because they were booked up solid. It made no difference what insurance he had. Our insurance only affects how much we pay not how long we have to wait for a treatment.
With hospitals it can make a difference regarding private rooms and having your own doctor. It also effects how much you pay for the service. Our system the price is the same for everyone but if you are a pensioner then the government pays the hospital and if you are privately insured then the insurer pays some or all of it depending on your level of cover. Which ever system the hospital gets the same fee.
2 people like this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
21 Jul 09
I heard that is the same system they have in Europe. So it's public health care like Canada but there are enough equipments for the population.
When I first came to Canada, it was hard to find family doctor that is still accepting patients. I was told that most doctors go to the US because they can make more money there since they don't have public health care. So even if we do have public health care in Canada we don't have enough equipment and doctors, that must be why the long wait for certain things. I have never heard such a long wait in Ontario though but so far we never suffer anything serious.
2 people like this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
22 Jul 09
that is a shame. you guys surely have better public health care than ours. I can't believe some no brainers can step up and make that kind of policy.
I suppose health care in some countries has to be re structured now. I just heard one case in Ontario Canada the woman had to re mortgage her house to pay treatment in the US because somehow she didn't get hers here. Now that's the first time I heard it, but because we don't have enough equipments and doctors here the long wait could kill a lot of people. Not sure how doctor fees are regulated here but as long as our doctors go abroad for money, it won't be easy to solve this problem.
1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
24 Jul 09
They do it because politics is all about now. They care about getting into power and I sometimes think that nothing else matters to them. Maybe if a poor person got into politics in a position to change things then they might do something but that is very unlikely.
The young people are so disillusioned these days because they see their future being sold away and they can do nothing about it. Climate change is like that. Politicians are doing nothing because they do not think they will live to see the problems. They do not want to risk their careers for something that will happen in the future so they do nothing. It is very short sighted and dangerous.
In the case of Uni places. It takes more than 6 years to train a doctor and most politicians are not in power for that long so they do not have to face the result of their decisions so they do not care what happens in the future as long as they are ok now.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Jul 09
I could talk to our family doctor and see if he can do anything about it. It all depends on whether they also notified him. If they did, then we will get a call saying that the test has been put up, but it also depends on how many people have suspected als. There are a lot of Low Germans in Manitoba and it seems to strike them most and my husband is Low German.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
13 Jul 09
I cannot believe that it will take that long. I would call the doctor and ask if it could not be sped up due to the fact that he is getting worse.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Jul 09
We did call the Health Science Centre and they said there is a long waiting list. So I guess what we need is a millionaire willing to pay money or donate another MRI machine.
@cher913 (25781)
• Canada
13 Jul 09
thats horrible. i know what you mean. i have a cyst at the base of my middle finger on my left hand and have been suffering with a numb finger. my dr referred me to a surgeon, but i called the surgeon last week and was told that i probably wont be seen until october or november! crazy.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Jul 09
And that cyst would get infectious, but here we have cancer patients waiting to get surgery, heart patients waiting to get into the hospital, and there are people who actually die waiting. It makes me wonder what is going on? And Obama wants America to have public health care. Well we have it here in Canada and you have to wait a whole day to see anyone if you have a serious life threatening condition.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
13 Jul 09
Isn't there any way you could travel to the States and get the test? I know some people in Canada do that. It must be breaking your heart! Why the long delay? If you have to wait that long, do your research on those conditions and try to find some way to improve his health. Sometimes there are vitamins you can take or exercises you can do to improve a condition. I'll continue to pray for you and your husband.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Jul 09
There is only so much one can do. The doctor advised him to keep moving, but if als is because of a defective gene, then all one can do is to make sure he does not stiffen up. And at the end when his heart fails, does one keep trying to bring him back to life so that he feels like suffocating and then is revived? I wish we could go to the States but we do not have the money.
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
14 Jul 09
Now if I understand correctly you can still take your dog to the vet and get an MRI the same day. What a system, animals have better health care than humans. If you had enough money you could come down to the States, but that probably is not an option for you. Just pray he can hold out until then.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Jul 09
That is what it is like. The trouble is that I think my husband has the familial als since his sister probably had it. That means there are probably other members of the extended family that has it going back to 2nd cousins once removed, etc. That would mean that there is not enough MRI machines to take care of the human population and by the time they did all the tests to rule out the popular conditions such as stroke, diabetes, and cancer for some it is too late and some actually die with the doctors saying they have an unspecified disease. I do not have enough money to go to the States. I hope he can hold out until then. If it is Als, he has a 3 to 5 year span of life and it all depends on whether he takes after the long living or short living side of the family.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
14 Jul 09
That is a very long time to wait. Seems like they should have took him in right then and got it done!
I dont think I want that kind of health care here .
WOuld have really done a hold up on my breat removal if I had to had to wait along time as they really got to it fast like with in one month all was over with.
I just cant see doing this to our health care here they already have setups for the illeagles to get taken care off.
They get more attention than most people!
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
30 Dec 09
here is something in a news email I get .
Candidates face ultimatum:
Kill Obamacare, or else...
Tea-party leaders are delivering a bold ultimatum to all congressional candidates in 2010: Pledge to repeal the health-care reform bill in its entirety if it passes – or you will be booted from office.
Find out the latest right now at WND.com.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
It seems you are going to get the same health system that we have out here and the ones who are praising it up here are the ones who either have lots of money and can afford doctors, or the ones who have never had a sick day in their lives or knew of anyone who had serious medical conditions. And people here are so enamored of Obama. Why my husband and our friends said that Obama was going to be careful because he is black and not do any wrong. Well he and the Democrats are going against the constitution, he has those in his cabinet who are pro homosexual, anti family, pro abortion, etc. and who knows?
And not just a few of them. So even his cabinet is unbalanced. I think that when they realize the seriousness, it will be too late.
@slickcut (8140)
• United States
16 Jul 09
Oh my goodness Suspenseful, i do hope & pray that your husband does not have Lou Gehrig's , that is a dreadful disease...I have seen that first hand because i had a dear friend that had that..I have thought a lot about your husband lately because he does not seem to be getting much better & if it were a stroke only he should be getting some better...but for now just try & think positive...Oh they have tried their best to get public medical insurance here in the states but they have not been able to as yet & hopefully they never will...That is just a hurry up and wait insurance...To wait until December to take an MRI is terrible, a person could get much worse in that length of time, that is one reason we do not want that here in the states..President Obama has talked alot about Public health care but we are hoping it is vetoed..We do Not want that....If i were you i would just keep bugging them and maybe they will cave in and do the test earlier..My thoughts are always with you because you have had such a hard time with your husband being sick for so long...and then all the work on your home, i know it has all been hard for you...but just hang in there girl , and just do the best you can...Bless your heart i do hope you can get something done soon....
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
He had a nerve muscular simulation test done in October that had been scheduled for January, and it proved he has Lou Gehrig's disease and it is far advanced. So I canceled the Mri. Only the pills he has to take are expensive and even they will get paid for, our allowance for our Blue Cross has run out and the Pharmacare that kicks in has a little over a $2,000 deductible before they pay and he has about $700 left on that. The doctor said that the government will pay for it, but I did not know if he meant that Blue Cross would make an exception even though we ran our of the allowable amount or not.
The trouble with free health care is that you will get a system where you have to pay a lot before it kicks in. With private health care, like Blue Cross, you can pay so much a month, or a year and check the $100, #200, or whatever deductible you want and the money you put into it will go into their high interest account, and if several people do not need prescriptions, you will get your procedure paid for.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
20 Jul 09
I wouldn't be able to afford anything but free health care anyway
so I would wait for the MRI if this happens to me
if I die or something critical happens then it happens
I've never heard such a long wait in Ontario
but then again unless I'm a millionaire I won't opt for anything I can't afford
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
Oh is not Ontario where they have Ottawa and all those politicians? Of course they will not have a long wait there. It is not in their best interest. We did not have to take the test as my husband got his muscular nerve simulation test done sooner. It proved he has als.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
14 Jul 09
I see two reason why they are making your husband wait. One is--that is the kind of insurance they have over there. You have to wait a long time. Secondly, I think older people are not treated as well by the system and by many doctors. They think the elderly are on their way out. Very disrespectful. In the USA, the elderly are treated that way by some doctors and various institutions. It is such a shame. Those who voted for Obama could not look around and see what kind of healthcare will be coming our way. No, they just sing praises of him. They think that getting something for nothing is better than having nothing. However, some of us don't want socialized healthcare.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
20 Jul 09
With socialized health care, it is the cheapest. And there are not that many multi-millionaires willing to donate an MRI machine. The one we got at our Health Science Centre was donated and I do not know people did before that. If there is private care, then the rich people will pay for much of the stuff, but when everything is public, then we are not all rich up here.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
You're welcome. Sorry I have not had much time to comment on the discussions, but I have been quite busy. We already got our reclining power chair and he is already got an appointment to be an outpatient at our als center. Plus we have our own van and do not have to depend on handitransit to drive us everywhere, and our friends are a great help, two of them are nurses, and one is a home care worker.
@mamacathie (3928)
• United States
14 Jul 09
Suspenseful, I am so sorry to read your post. I am so sorry that you are going through this but you are not alone even if you feel you are at times. We, mylot friends, are here for you. Please vent and let us lift you up and encourage you and be here for you. I will be lifting you and your husband up in my prayers. Please don't keep this inside, vent to us and we will listen. God bless you!
1 person likes this
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
15 Jul 09
The bible teaches that God heals, I believe
God does heal. I believe he hears and answers
prayer. I am praying for you to see Different
things happen, Than what you are being told.
In Exd. 15:26 The word says " I am the Lord
God that health you." I stand on that word.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
I do pray that my husband will be cured of his als. But I think it will be in the next life not this one. He told me that if it had not been for his als, he would not have considered going back to church. So I guess in a way, this is for the best. And I discovered that I am stronger then what other people think of me.
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
He is thinking of being a member. He will not be able to do much talking and I hope they take that into account. He has to get a computer to do the speaking for him, and he might not be able to go to all the meetings, just to church unless the houses where the meetings are are wheelchair friendly. Not many of them are here and there are more cases of als coming up here in the city all the time.
@Fortunata (1135)
• United States
14 Jul 09
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband's possible diagnosis..I had an aunt that had ALS. Yes, Socialized medicine sucks. My husband is from Great Britain, and his brother in law will probably have pneumonia by the time he see his doctor, he can't get in now-he just has a cough now. By the time he gets to the doctor, he'll probably have pneumonia, which kills a lot of elderly and infirm people. A lot of people in America have a fit just waiting for a Mickey D hamburger, wait til they have to wait to get something done at the doctor's, and have to sit for hours and hours in the doctor's office. Some people have to be hit on the head with a hammer to get them understand something, unfortunately. God Bless.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
14 Jul 09
I agree that is to far off. Couldn't they schedule something sooner? I would be asking for sure. Try to make it alteast where it won't be winter time. I have no health insurance at all so I don't know much about the working of it. But that is to long of a time to wait for a MRI.
1 person likes this
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
13 Jul 09
It's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Public/social health care we have long waits, American health care, the poor can't afford treatment, so in the end someone will always get screwed. I have been following your stuff on mylot, and you and your husband are both in my prayers.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
22 Jul 09
The trouble is with our public health care, that there are many who come in with just a scratch or something minor that could have been fixed with Lanocaine and a bandage or with a tylenol or an aspirin. These are the ones that make the public health care cost more then it should and so that hospitals cannot get the proper equipment. Whereas with private health insurance, those who do not get the benefits are mainly the poor. So there are things wrong in both systems.
@dreamr802 (985)
• United States
14 Jul 09
If I was you I would be going through every single channel possible and even come to the states to get the test done if possible. There is no reason for an MRI to be scheduled that far in advance, especially with your husband being so sick. How old are your sons? I hope that there is some way you can get the test sooner, bring him to the hospital, don't they have to do the tests in the hospital?
I hope everything works out.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
14 Jul 09
I'm sorry to hear that. Waiting on medicine or not is never an easy tasks. Just do what you need to do to keep it together. Be strong.
1 person likes this
@amybrezik (2118)
• United States
14 Jul 09
I am so sorry to hear about this. I will keep you in my thoughts, and I hope that things work out the best possible way they can for you. I'm sure there is nothing anyone can say that will make things any better for you, but try to keep a positive attitude.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
30 Dec 09
We did have another test done, a muscular nerve simulation that was supposed to be done in January and it would have proved what my husband has. But it seems that the doctors here want to prove that a person has or does not have a stroke, or a heart condition first. Well having either als or ms is much more serious then a stroke. Anyway we had that muscular nerve simulation done in October and it proved he has als. So therefore we could cancel the Mri test. What made me angry was not just the long wait, but we heard on the radio that this sports hero got an MRI test done immediately in another province close by while people here have to wait for one.
