Natalie,
Yes there is definitely a shortage of doctors in Canada. I have a friend who
has had two back surgeries and now has severe headaches and has now been told
he has osteoarthritis in his neck. He has been waiting for over a year to see
a neurologist. GP's can refer you to one but the waiting list to see one
(unless you are in hospital and near dying or like me when TM hit and I was
just 'out of it').
Yes, you can get a private MRI if you want to pay between $1,000. and $2,000.
for one. I think that is what it is anyway.
To get an MRI from your own doctor can take months too. The wait lists are
long.
For knee surgeries people wait 8 to 12 months sometimes more. It is crazy.
Not sure which health care system is the best. Yours or ours. Yes we pay low
rates and wait long times and don't pay much $$ in the end but a lot of people
waiting for elective surgeries wait for months on end unless it is something
'life threatening'.
Heather in Calgary
----- Original Message -----
From: natalie mizenko
To: Heather & Pieter
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2007 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Wheelchairs
Heather,
Why do you have to wait 6 mths. for an appt? Does Canada have a
shortage of drs? I was suprized to hear this from Canada. Natalie M.
Heather & Pieter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Wow Kevin. You are lucky to be able to have MRI's in the USA. Here we
would never cancel and MRI unless really really sick as we would have to
wait for another 6 months or more for one. Unless of course it was a life
threatening situation and you were in danger of dying.
Hope they find out what is wrong.
Heather in Calgary
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Wolfthal"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: [TMIC] Wheelchairs
>
>
> Natalie,
> I wish I knew why my hands are going numb! First I was told by a
> neurologist and
> an orthopedist that it was carpal tunnel syndrome, and ulnar nerve
damage,
> based on
> EMG results. When I went to the hand surgeon, he sent me for another
EMG,
> and
> I was told there is damage in many sensory nerves in my arms, so the
> surgeon said
> it may not be carpal tunnel, and he wouldn't operate. So now I'm
starting
> all over
> with new doctors, new tests, and I am fed up with everything. I was
> supposed
> to have an MRI of my neck yesterday, but didn't feel well so cancelled.
I
> had a
> physical a few weeks ago, and my blood tests came back perfect. Even my
> cholesterol was only 177, which surprised me.
>
> Sorry I can't offer anymore help. The last MRI I had of the neck showed
a
> lot
> of arthritis, but the neurologist said that isn't causing the numbness
in
> my hands.
> *shrug*
>
> Wish you the best,
> Kevin
>
>
>
>
>
>
> natalie mizenko wrote:
>> Kevin,
>>
>
>> Can I ask why your hands are going numb? I just got my first manual
w/c.
>> I've been user the store's loaner - it was shipped new to be at Baylor
in
>> Feb. or March. I have not had anymore places on me going numb yet. I
>> hope my hands don't give way, as I only have this manual. And I think
>> it's like 5 years before you can have anything else. We don't have a
van
>> (my husband I don't think wants to get one, we waited so long or I did
to
>> get my Avalon and now he really likes it too for when just he & I go
out.
>> It makes me have to stay at home alot tho. We just got him a p/u
Toyota
>> that is really nice last year. It's the nicest but used like 2 years
one
>> he ever had and he doesn't want to give that up mainly. It makes it
>> kinda a hassle to get in & out of the Avalon, but he helps me get in
alot
>> and out too. I just went to the hospital while ago & had my "Pic line"
>> taken out. I don't see why they don't leave it in as I am in and out
of
>> the hospital alot. I will have a surgery in August - it's a major one.
>> All to keep me from being constantly wet even tho I cath every 4 hrs.
It
>> will only be a little hole that won't close up, because the skin
around
>> it will be like your lips - never shut to. I only have to keep a
bandaid
>> over it and cath 7 times a day. No more getting up at nights either.
>> Hope my pain stays down (my out of control pain) from TM when this is
>> done. Take care. Natalie M.
>>
>>
>>
>> */Kevin Wolfthal /* wrote:
>>
>>
>> Bernie,
>>
>> Thanks! I'll check it out.
>>
>> All the best,
>> Kevin
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Bernard Pelow wrote:
>> > Hey Kevin,
>> > If you are going for a power chair, I have found the 'Invacare
>> > Torque SP' to be the best chair I have ever had over 17
>> years. It can
>> > come in a variety of setups for your maximum comfort. Check
>> it out
>> > online at: http://www.usatechguide.org/itemreview.php?itemid=89
>> > Peace,
>> > Bernie
>> >
>> >
>> > Kevin Wolfthal wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Hi Grace,
>> >>
>> >> i don't have a wheelchair, but don't think I can put it off
>> much
>> >> longer. Do you
>> >> mind if I ask what kind you have? I'm pretty sure I will
>> need a
>> >> power chair
>> >> because my hands are going numb. ;-/
>> >>
>> >> Kevin
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Grace M. wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>> Oh Priscilla, tell me about it!!! I looked just like a big ol
>> >>> middle aged Raggedy Anne (Or an elderly Bette Davis) lying
>> there
>> >>> in the bushes. And you know how it is whenever part of
>> your body
>> >>> is paralyzed---the legs just flop into these impossible
>> >>> positions. Plus, to add to my utter humiliation, my
>> bladder let
>> >>> go and I was soaking wet whenever they hauled me up. That
>> poor
>> >>> young man who attempted to snatch me from the jaws of certain
>> >>> death, didn't know if he should laugh or cry---we decided on
>> >>> laughter. He had fallen in a roofing accident and broken his
>> >>> back. Can you imagine if he had managed to hold onto me
>> and I had
>> >>> pulled him out of his chair? It really could have been a
>> >>> catastrophe. I would much rather have taken my chances at
>> dodging
>> >>> traffic than to have caused him any additional pain.
>> >>>
>> >>> Hugs,
>> >>> Grace (In PA)
>
