Reality check: Canada's government health care system

[Liebling:-)))]

I'm sorry Liebling but you're comparing apples to oranges when you discuss elective surgery to permanent vision loss.

I do not see anything that I tried to compare but shared our experience over that waiting list and agreed that waiting list is not fun. Its about waiting list.

How was your experience similar to mine?

Of course I know that our situation is different - your is vision loss and mine is affect/threaten my health thru infection but your and my experience are both risk. We both need treatment/surgery immediately but they do nothing because our situation are not life-threatening to them which is not right.

I beleive that I did said in my last post that my doctor examined me several times a year to make sure that it won´t be "life-threatening". I should make more clear in my last post about my experience for have tonsil as an adult. It´s terrible experience as an adult to have diffuiclt breathing, also bad breath, hard to swallow when I want to eat something. I have to eat soup and soft foods to aviod painful. Yes, it could lead eat disorder if some people have weak willing. I hardly eat when painful comes. I lost a lot of weight from slim to skinny... You know that infection could risk people´s health. I kept on drink warm salt water to aviod bad breath thru infection... I fought myself to get painful out of my mind.

Finally tonsil removal surgery after over 2 years waiting, it took me several months suffering severe painful, continue lost more weight than I was in waiting list for over 2 years for surgery... The people thought I am an anorexia which is not. Yes it look like but good thing that I tried to eat with my own willing to fight painful...

Again, I do not see anything that I compare apple and orange but share my experience over waiting list like you shared yours as well when we know that our situation are risk to put in waiting list.

I've refused any more testings and specialist visits because I don't see where this is going as they all say the same thing, they all poke/prod right in my eyes to the point where I swear one day my eyeball's going to pop right out!

I forget to ask you question in my last post. I am not sure about your post what and how you was being treated by eye specialist. Do you mean that they exercise your eyes? Correct? If yes, I know that eye execise helps to improve eyesight because my friend had been through it.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I do support regulation on health insurance and every Americans are deserves to access to health care, also social insurance is necessary.

Yes I agree.

Every healthcare system in different country are not alway prefect but it´s worth to have it.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

When they poke and prod in my eyes, those are what they do and a warning to you all, it is a bit on the gruesome side. This is why my eyes are always dilated and numbed so I don't feel anything. However I feel pain and my eyes water for up to 24 hours after both numbing and dilating solutions dissolve.

Electroretinogram (ERG)
Electroretiography (ERG) assesses the health of the retina and allows individual analysis of the special cells that allow us to see colour and light. There are two major types of cells in the retina, called cones, which are light-sensitive retinal receptor cells that provide sharp visual acuity and color discrimination, and rods (light-sensitive retinal receptor cells, which are specialized to work at low light levels or night vision).
To carry out this test the pupil of the eye must be dilated by using special eye drops. Skin-type electrodes are placed on the patient’s forehead and earlobe, and then the patient sits in a completely dark room for 30 minutes wearing special eye patches. This is called “dark-adapting” and is necessary to ensure maximum response of the rod function. At the end of the 30-min dark adaptation, topical anesthetic drops are placed in the eye and a special fibre electrode is placed inside the patient’s lower eyelid. The test entails the patient watching several different colours of light being flashed, which stimulates the rods and cones in the retina.
This test takes approximately 1-½ hours in total.

Ocular Ultrasound
A-scan, axial eye length measurement
Axial eye length A-scan or biometry is the most common type of ocular ultrasound performed today. An axial eye length reading (measurement taken along the visual axis between the cornea and retina) and keratometry readings (measurement of the corneal curvature) are necessary for intraocular lens calculations. These calculations help determine the correct power or strength of lens necessary for the eye to restore vision to near normal after cataract surgery. Some patient’s also require additional glasses, mostly reading glasses.
An intraocular lens is an artificial lens implanted in the eye during cataract surgery in the same location as previously occupied by the natural lens.
These measurements take approximately 15 - 20 minutes and are usually preformed during the “pre-op” visit or assessment prior to the cataract surgery.
The technician will instill a drop of topical anesthetic in the eye(s) to numb the corneal surface and then position the patient’s head comfortably. Some readings are performed where a patient is positioned in a slit lamp type of apparatus and some measurements are done with the technician holding the A-scan probe in his or her hand. *The probe is then brought close to the patient’s eye and it gently touches the cornea where a reading or axial eye length measurement is obtained. Several readings are necessary as these measurements need to be extremely accurate.
*The patient is asked to fixate on a red target light found at the end of the A-scan probe.

Visual Evoked Potential / Response (VER)
VER is a computerized recording of electrical activity at the back of the brain (occipital cortex) that results from stimulation of the retina. This potential can be elicited by several methods, including a reversing checkerboard pattern, a stroboscopic flash or a flash generated by matrix of light emitting diodes (LED).
The VEP consists of a large biphasic waveform, which occurs at 250 msec. after the onset of a visual stimulus. There are three electrodes attached to the patient’s head -one on the forehead, one at the back of the head and one on the centre of the scalp. Several readings are taken and computer averaged.
Visual Evoked Potentials assesses the central retina, optic nerve and visual pathways, and may reveal the presence of gross retinal dysfunction, demyelinating disease, e.g. multiple sclerosis (M.S.) or compressive lesions (tumors) affecting the optic nerve.

I had those three tests in one same day. I went in Ivey Eye Institute at 7 am and did not leave until almost 6 pm. I was very sick that day.

They tested me for Retinitis Pigmentosa[RP] and it was found I do have RP. Since I am Deaf and with RP, it is called Usher's Syndrome. [US], mine is Ushers type 1.

Photograph of the retina of a patient with Usher syndrome (left) compared to a normal retina (right). The optic nerve (arrow) looks very pale, the vessels (stars) are very thin and there is characteristic pigment, called bone spicules (double arrows).

Until recently I could only see foggy images in my left eye and now that is gone. I see almost nothing in my left eye. I see tunnel vision in my right eye. It's only 5%. I read using font type 22 and it has to be arial. When you use different coloured fonts, I have to hightlight your font to read your post because I cannot read other than black font.

If a person writes a long post without using spaces.. I will copy and paste in MS Word and add spaces so I can read the post. This is why I don't post as much as I would love to.

This is why I say people cannot compare apples to oranges because I would not compare my situation to theirs.

 

[Frisky Feline]

to mrs bucket and everyone who have similar experiences as her. I can't image how painful when they do poke into eyes for a lot of testings. I dont know much about it.

I don't have vision problem however i do have ocular rosacea. The most annoying is that they do poke my eye when it is necessary. I know the feeling. *shudder*

sorry if its off the topic.

 

[~SG~]

I do remember going to eye specialist in Canada.

First they did the usual eye drop and vision test, next they want to do eye pressure test (tonometry) and I refused that test.

The reason why I went to eye specialist is that cause of nerf ball hit my eye.

As for waiting to see eye specialist... it was 3 hours long waiting. *thuds*

 

[jazzy]

Liebling, you do not know what Canadian health care is like because you do not live here. I cannot claim to know what UK health care is like because I do not like in the UK.

Shana Holmes paid for her surgery out of her own pocket, whether she had a tumour or not, she was not well to begin with.

If I were to take a look at both .pdfs of the UK and Canadian health care system, I can see the big difference between those two. Canadian UK

I will share with you my experiences visiting so many hospitals, doctors and specialists since I've lost most of my vision. Many specialists are happy to refer me to other specialists and they just poke and prod in my eyes.

This is not a walk in the park, this makes me very ill to my stomach. They add solutions in my eyes to make them dilate and for the rest of the day, I'm pretty fk'ed up. I usually curl up in bed and wait out the solution & wait for the solution to dissolve so I can see with my one eye.

I've refused any more testings and specialist visits because I don't see where this is going as they all say the same thing, they all poke/prod right in my eyes to the point where I swear one day my eyeball's going to pop right out!

The point is Liebling, the doctors do too much waiting time with their patients and when they do finally see their patients, it is only just for a 10-15 minutes visit. To wait up to 6 months to see the doctor for a 15 minutes visit, a patient's health can rapidly diminish between the present time to the 6 months in the future.

The patient can be put on the waiting list for a cancellation visit but who wants to cancel their appointment with the specialist that they have to wait 6 months for? No one wants to and they're all on the same waiting list too as well!

Several people I know have gone to USA to have surgery done and their private insurance paid for it because they were heart attacks waiting to happen. One was a 34 year old teacher with several young children and a pregnant wife as well. He spent over 2 months at the hospital and when he came back home to Canada, he was a much healthier and a fattened-up person too as well!!

The trip to USA was worth it because he was grey-skinned and very haggard, looking much older than his 34 years old age. The waiting game cannot happen and it doesn't matter which country we all come from.

At least you still have medicial insurance. I am sorry you are suffering this but at least your not blind alike my grandfather and he never had health insurance and could not afford surgery. That is big issue here in USA, many people never gone to doctors because they do not have insurances. U live in Canada and we live in USA and I have seen enough around here. Greedy hospital just charge I knew someone two weeks ago 5 thousand for just 5 stitches on his finger and he does not have health insurance. Guess what who pay for it? Tax payers pay for it because law force ER to do for this man and Hospital lose business over this.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

to mrs bucket and everyone who have similar experiences as her. I can't image how painful when they do poke into eyes for a lot of testings. I dont know much about it.

I don't have vision problem however i do have ocular rosacea. The most annoying is that they do poke my eye when it is necessary. I know the feeling. *shudder*

sorry if its off the topic.

Oh I can understand the feeling Frisky! Ocular rosacea is not easy to deal with because that's where you have to avoid natural body oils around your eyelids but you can't be excessive when you wash them off as your eyelids needs them too as well.

Makeup, we have to be careful too as well. I don't wear makeup at all. I stopped using hairspray and only use gel when I need to.

Hair will get into the eyes so I can understand how you feel. Frisky. Your eyes becomes so red, you want to scratch but you can't. That's how I know because I want to rub my eyes so badly but I can't.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

I do remember going to eye specialist in Canada.

First they did the usual eye drop and vision test, next they want to do eye pressure test (tonometry) and I refused that test.

The reason why I went to eye specialist is that cause of nerf ball hit my eye.

As for waiting to see eye specialist... it was 3 hours long waiting. *thuds*

I had the tonometry test a few months before we moved here and I do understand your refusal. They do go right on the eyeballs.

At least you still have medicial insurance. I am sorry you are suffering this but at least your not blind alike my grandfather and he never had health insurance and could not afford surgery. That is big issue here in USA, many people never gone to doctors because they do not have insurances. U live in Canada and we live in USA and I have seen enough around here. Greedy hospital just charge I knew someone two weeks ago 5 thousand for just 5 stitches on his finger and he does not have health insurance. Guess what who pay for it? Tax payers pay for it because law force ER to do for this man and Hospital lose business over this.

I don't always have medical insurance for everything and I do have to reach out to other agencies to pay for tests that are not covered by OHIP. [Ontario Health Insurance Plan]. ODSP [Ontario Disability Supports Program] paid for this test and I had to wait until I got approval after several weeks.

There are new state of the art technologies that measure and analyze the optic nerve in a more precise way, and allow for detection of subtle changes over time. These technologies are called the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT) and Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT). These tests take digital images of the back of your eye and computers evaluate the images to provide information about your glaucoma.

Data from these tests may help to determine when treatment is necessary, and if you are already on treatment, whether it is adequate. These tests will most likely need to be repeated on a regular basis.

These tests are completely safe, cause you no discomfort, and take only minutes to complete.

At present, OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) DOES NOT cover the cost of these tests.

Please jazzy, don't compare one person's situation to another person. I have yet to compare mine to your grandfather and where do you come off pouting those statements...

I am sorry you are suffering this but at least your not blind alike my grandfather and he never had health insurance and could not afford surgery.

U live in Canada and we live in USA and I have seen enough around here. Greedy hospital just charge I knew someone two weeks ago 5 thousand for just 5 stitches on his finger and he does not have health insurance.

Where do you come off saying those? FYI I lived in USA with my husband and I have seen how the health care system operates.

Oh yes, thank you for NOT sympathising me when I was only sharing my experiences in the first place.

Keep in mind, I am a disability rights advocate, not out milking for attention. Thank you.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

Yes I agree.

Every healthcare system in different country are not alway prefect but it´s worth to have it.

Yes, every health care system is different and never perfect.

I agree each person is entitled to it whether it is perfect or not. Our health is very important.

 

[Reba]

Of course I know that our situation is different - your is vision loss and mine is affect/threaten my health thru infection but your and my experience are both risk. We both need treatment/surgery immediately but they do nothing because our situation are not life-threatening to them which is not right.

I beleive that I did said in my last post that my doctor examined me several times a year to make sure that it won´t be "life-threatening". I should make more clear in my last post about my experience for have tonsil as an adult. It´s terrible experience as an adult to have diffuiclt breathing, also bad breath, hard to swallow when I want to eat something. I have to eat soup and soft foods to aviod painful. Yes, it could lead eat disorder if some people have weak willing. I hardly eat when painful comes. I lost a lot of weight from slim to skinny... You know that infection could risk people´s health. I kept on drink warm salt water to aviod bad breath thru infection... I fought myself to get painful out of my mind.

Finally tonsil removal surgery after over 2 years waiting, it took me several months suffering severe painful, continue lost more weight than I was in waiting list for over 2 years for surgery... The people thought I am an anorexia which is not. Yes it look like but good thing that I tried to eat with my own willing to fight painful...

Again, I do not see anything that I compare apple and orange but share my experience over waiting list like you shared yours as well when we know that our situation are risk to put in waiting list....

Your waiting list experience is exactly what Americans DON'T want. Your infection should have been treated immediately, and then the surgery should have been done as soon as the infection was cleared up. There is no reason why you should have suffered for two years.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Mrs Bucket, for description. Its new to me which is different as my friend who had it. She had her eye exercise. Its something do with muslces and nerves (poor vision)... She got eye drops and vision exercise from Ophthalmologist/therapy.

I did not know that you have problem to read color font except black font. I use blue font when I quote ADer´s posts. Next time I will use black or dark font for you to save your time.

Your waiting list experience is exactly what Americans DON'T want. Your infection should have been treated immediately, and then the surgery should have been done as soon as the infection was cleared up. There is no reason why you should have suffered for two years.

I shared my experience of waiting time in UK at 30 years ago doesn´t mean that you will get the same.

Every Universal healthcare system in any countries are different.

Yes, I got treatment by doctor against infection and also tablet as well but infection came back. I took doctor´s advice to drink warm salt water, soup, etc. I went doctor for throat examination/treatment several times per year to make sure that I won´t get "life threatening".

I got my spleen removal when I was little girl after road accident.

I can image what if I live in the USA without healthcare coverage? I would never get doctor´s treatment then later surgery because I know my parents cannot afford to acheive the medical cost for me or sell their house to save my life? Thank God, they live in UK and can keep everything.

See the example:

BBC NEWS | Americas | Boy's death highlights US health debate

Thank God, I am survived after treatment and tonsil removal surgery and over 2 years waiting time. I know that waiting list is no fun but it´s worth to have healthcare than no healthcare.

I am sure that you remember my few years old thread over my hubby got facial paralysis and one week later then heart rhymthus? After that, he went to see Ophthalmologist for treatment because his left eye was an infection due nerve paralysis. All of his treatment was immediately and cure instead of put him in waiting list. He had backache (disc prolapse), he got his treatment immediately instead of put him in waiting list by Neurologist. Oh yes, my son´s head surgery, behavioral therapy (ADD), and go on...

We went to see Ophthalmologist for our eyes check few years ago. He suspect my son had tumor in his eye and send him to clinic for eye specialist clinic within 2 days later after that. He stayed there for 3 days for eye examination. The result comes negative... *phew*

The gyn. confirmed her suspect that my MIL got breast cancer and send her to clinic straight way and got surgery within 2 days later and then chemo therapy.

Waiting list in Germany is very rare.

And go on... We have NO cents to pay their bills but our health insurance cover for us because we work to pay health insurance for myself and my family.

I only pay €10 per quarter for visit doctor - no matter how often I visit doctor and I pay between €5 and €7 for medicine after got doctor´s signature recipe. Without doctor´s order, I would pay more.

I don´t know what and how Obama´s healthcare plan for all Amerians if his plan is different than other countries´ healthcare system.

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Yes, every health care system is different and never perfect.

I agree each person is entitled to it whether it is perfect or not. Our health is very important.

Exactly

 

[jazzy]

Your waiting list experience is exactly what Americans DON'T want. Your infection should have been treated immediately, and then the surgery should have been done as soon as the infection was cleared up. There is no reason why you should have suffered for two years.

What about those people who does not have insurance and not seek health treatments, they are the one who suffer most. Friend of ours had heart attack and he does not have health insurance. He does not seek treatment because he does not have insurance and he is working a full time. What a country we live. Stop spread lies about USA. I have seen enough.

 

[Reba]

What about those people who does not have insurance and not seek health treatments, they are the one who suffer most. Friend of ours had heart attack and he does not have health insurance. He does not seek treatment because he does not have insurance and he is working a full time. What a country we live. Stop spread lies about USA. I have seen enough.

When your friend had a heart attack, he didn't go to the emergency room at the hospital? ER's aren't supposed to turn away emergencies whether or not they have insurance. Did he survive the heart attack?

 

[Liebling:-)))]

Canadian Straw Man

Canadian Straw Man | FactCheck.org


Dying on a Wait List?

Dying on a Wait List? | FactCheck.org