Well I think the overall health care system in this country is good. We have free universal health care. It is good. But in this region we just have a really big shortage of doctors. There are reason I won't go into that explains this but it would be too long lol. Anyway, so we have a tough time seeing our doctors and a lot of people don't have a family doctor at all. OUr emergency rooms are packed and the doctors and nurses there are severely overworked. But I am very lucky as not only I have a family doctor and so does my hubby but my doc is one of the nicest in the region by far. She is great. She is hard to get an appointment with but she is very caring. I feel very lucky.
Well done Diva. I hate Doctor's offices. Yuck Yuck Yuck. I know how it can feel. I can't believe your system is so poor. It sounds like the worst of our hospitals. And I am from a third world country...
I think that poor medical systems are the reason I dislike hospitals so much. I good Doctor helps allot so I am glad you seem to found somebody who cares
Hi all! thank you for your support! Oh and I did take a list with me! !
Btw DM, I am also in the same country as you. But this region has a great shortage of family doctors. The hospitals lack doctors too so the emergency rooms are alswys crowded. There are often waits of over 18 hours there (unless you are say dying, stroking out, having a heart attack or bleeding out profusely...). But I have seen people with multiple fracture waiting for over 10 hours before seeing a doctor... Bleh! This region is nice to live in but tough on doctors and people who need doctors lol. But hey, free health care, I ain't complaining! I just keep hoping it gets better in this region and making due with what I have!
I went to the doctors and it was a positive experience. I feel like I communicated efficiently with her and maximised the time I had with her. On top of it she takes my symptoms seriously and will see me in 2 months instead of the usual scrambling for an appointment in a years time! I told her how sad and tired I had been since last April. For now we decided against anti-depressants. My options are limited since I cannot take any SSRI's. Also, I think I can manage. But she said we will see in two months and adjust all of this. So I think it went well!
I too suggest taking a list. I will tell you that I will NEVER complain about our health care system again.
We are so fortunate as a family. We have an amazing doctor that we can see whenever we want...usually within a weeks time..she does squeeze you in if it's an emergency and she always gives us her undivided attention....and sometimes it's 5 minutes but it can be 1/2 an hour or more. She's always behind because of this but I always think if she's behind it's because someone needed her...
She's a bit of a celebrity here in Vancouver so she has a lot of pull when it comes to specialists and stuff for the kids. We're so fortunate..especially with our little "heart baby".
You just made me realize how truly blessed we are...
Good Luck and be sure to prioritize the listed items so that you do get to talk about the most important stuff first.
Make sure you go with a list of everything you would like to talk to your doctor about. You can also bring a friend or family member with you that you're comfortable with to help you remember what you need to talk about or take notes so you can digest the information post-appointment.
Now i should write a list cos i go blank when i step through that door . My hubby has been coming in with me this past months and he pipes up for me when i mumble lol .
Diva , i can remember when you first said how long the appointment was going to be and how much i was shocked at that then . Dont think i will ever moan again here !
Well i hope you remember everything and get it all in with the time you get ( we get 5mins) .
Thinking of you .
ROFL just remember to tell her that your a doctor now as well
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