scrubbedexpat142

I think there is a good point here. Had a lump in my nether regions, emailed the medical centre, given appointment with specialist - job done, happy ending, all in less than a week.

Jingsamichty

Are you with BUPA?

scrubbedexpat142

No. Do bear in mind that I live in Hungary.

BristolUK

I believe Jings was hinting at something else altogether.

scrubbedexpat142

Ah, sorry, thought it was a specific question!

Jingsamichty

Memory is, of course, fallible, but I like to recall him cupping them in admiration, much as one might select a pair of choice mangoes, and him remarking something like "nice heft on these here beauties, my boy."

BristolUK

The complicated aspect is not the diabetes itself but the impact of it on the rest of the body.

I was diagnosed in 2008. It was several months of tests and doctor appointments, prescription changes and eventually two insulins before hitting the right levels for good sugar controls which I've had ever since.

That would have been hard to do if employed. Like about 35% of Canada, I originally had no employee/other insurance for these things, but, as well, the time involved for all the tests and review appointments might have been hard to square with an employer.

I've had good control ever since. But part of the ongoing "complications" are the eye appointments. Covered by Medicare but so far out of town three buses each way are needed and the last one is still short of where I need to be. Not a good way to travel at the best of times and there's usually eye drops that temporarily affect one's vision. $50 return by taxi each appointment.

Originally it was one appointment, do various tests, see the eye doc but now you have the tests and return to see the doc another day. He does this twice a year so that's four appointments a year.

I got an ulcer under my big toe around 2010. I had four afternoon appointments at out patients and in between times, 2 or 3 extra mural visits at home to treat and redress. Only a small thing but quite a hole in the toe. It was cured.

But returned again the following year. A simple callus to blame. 3 or 4 more hospital appointments.

I expect by now you'd have sacked me for all the time off.

Orthotic inserts for shoes were needed. Two appointments to get that done. I believe the cost was well over $200 but I was able to piggy back on my wife's special coverage for that so I didn't have to pay.

My kidney isn't what it should be thanks to diabetes. I'm not at death's door or anything but I see a specialist twice a year to keep an eye on it and she has me do blood tests twice between each appointment.

Luckily I live five minutes walk away from the hospital so the tests are easy for me, but all these appointments and hospital visits might make life very difficult for an employee.

All this with very well controlled diabetes, so not really just monitoring blood and taking medication accordingly.

Diagnosis came following routine first appointment with new/allocated doc following PR confirmation. Damage likely done by then.

Souvy

Should that doctor/vet be on some sort of register?

Teaandtoday5

What hope is there for the country is the Chancellor doesn't know it's tiggerish not Tigger-like?

BristolUK

'kin disgraceful.

The disability system is blocking people like Jaki from their benefits – literally

Shard

Kafkaesque indeed. Things like this and Windrush beggar belief.

DandNHill

BristolUK

The report said it took several attempts for the friend to get anywhere with the MP. My guess is she saw no point at the stage when the friend was getting nowhere.

DandNHill

BristolUK

Some of these difficulties are just unknown until you actually experience them. I used to look at the number of drop down kerbs on the sidewalks here and think how useful they must be. And they are, of course, compared to not having them. But when it comes to pushing someone in a wheelchair they're a bit steep and you have to reverse...so that's forward, stop, turn, reverse down, turn, move forwards across the street, stop, turn and reverse up - because there's always a little bump that is a big bump when going forwards - taking care not to tip someone out of the chair

And then there's the uneven paving stones.