Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group " Bitter Old Bag "

Thanks Julie

It's good to know I'm not the only one this has happened to.
As you say -it was as if they had talked about me. Such an awful feeling because I know the discussion must not have been very complimentary or helpful to me.
I'm glad you've found a good one now. It gives hope to the rest of us who are still searching.

Thanks again Julie
Maggie

Hi Maggie

You didn't put me off rheumys. He did that all by himself. The thing is when I first started going he was great then he went downhill. Finally I said I don't need this anymore so I stoped going. Now it is just my gp who keeps telling me he isn't an arthritis doctor and now my ortho surgeon that is looking after me.
I know that there are good ones out there but finding them is another matter

Take care
Valerie

Hey Maggie,

Not to try to get off the subject here but ummm shouldn't the name of your post be Bitter? From the pic I see you'll have to bang your head for a lot of years before your old and you surely don't look like and bag I have ever seen. Oh, Oh, or could it be you are talking about the doctor being a bitter old bag? hehe

Brent

Brent

Maggie looks even better in person and she is 1 tough little lady. She was right there with the guys putting up my ramp and never said a word about hurting even though she was.

John

John,

I bet she does, that is why I got curious about the title and the old part. Probably out worked a few of the guys to huh?

Brent

Maggie,

If you are in Canada, isn't that where you are suppose to have free insurance coverage?

If so, I think that says it all. Here in the states where you give about 33% of your paycheck to health care, the Drs. are being paid very well.

I would imagine they don't want to do anything because it would cost the government more money.

Sorry to hear it went so bad,

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I'm afraid your concept of our Canadian healthcare system is inaccurate. Just as you pay a portion of your paycheque towards private health insurance, similarly we pay a chunk of our annual income (in the form of taxes) to pay for our healthcare services. So "free" it is not.

The primary difference between our systems lies in that fact that ours is 'publicly' funded; our payments reflect a percentage of total income, and therefore although we (supposedly) all have equal coverage and access, we do not all pay an equal portion of the tab. The rich pay more, and the poor pay less, but in this way everyone is guaranteed coverage.

Our coverage here includes visits to family physicians & specialists, surgeries, hospital stays, etc., but doesn't include pharmaceuticals. For drug coverage, we buy separate private insurance plans, although the unemployed or retired seniors have access to (provincial) public plans, if they find themselves in need and are unable to afford meds.

In general our system works very well, and considering the cost of healthcare is on the rise universally around the globe, maintaining adequate funding levels and quality care is, of course, a constant and continuing challenge, but not one unique to Canadians.

If our board here at KA is any reflection, then finding a qualified and caring Rheumatologist is also not a problem unique to only Canadians.

Take care,

mig

Hi Maggie,

Gosh... I love your last name! We can have so much fun with it...... like, "how can you be a Newby if you have posted 2,407 times?" or if Kickas goes down again, we can always blame it on the Newby

Just giving you a hard time.... but I do love the last name!

Take care,

Tim

If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through - Chinese Proverb

Lisa,

What portion of the health insurance is passed onto the employees where you work? It must be a large %.... I am also assuming you have family coverage. Are you calc
ing that on the gross or net pay? I am no where close to the 33%, I swallow $30 a paycheck (biweekly).... but I am also single coverage and employer picks up 80% of cost and I do not smoke and therefore get that discount.

My employer is actually moving to a plan that tries and attach higher premiums to more at risk individuals... first phase will look at following factors:

- Weight
- Smoking
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol

For each category that you test poorly in, your premiums increase. If you are under treatment for BP or cholesterol, then those factors will not be counted against you.

Not sure what the future entails with the plan.

Tim

If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through - Chinese Proverb

Maggie,

I went through this on the IBD and the SpA at the same time even when I'd been diagnosed with IBD and it was in the dr.s note....same person who sent me for the scope.

One of the terrible GP's said you need to get answers as to why you have this and that! But that was all he said, he would not help all he said "was my hands are tied", so I had to organise GI and specialists via other means.

Also esp the neuro's they get really nasty about changing dr.s........

My Rhuemmy specialst now does all my referrals, GP is just there for blood tests, and pain killers. What is your GP writing on the referral letters? Have you checked them, is all the infomation being provided such as the osteosposis, pain, scans, heart iritis etc......B27 status or are you providing that verbally?

Julie is right you find the Dr and he finds the right diagnosis!

When do you see the GP again? If she says it's not AS/SpA ask her then what the hell is it?

David



IBD=It's Been Dreadful