Hi all,

My gosh. I'm full of all kinds of emotions right now. Mostly terrified, but now the decision is made I feel it's time to stir up all that pluck they go on about.

Here's what happened: I had a medical issue that confused all the Docs here in Portland, OR. Months of referrals back and forth, and loads of money on biopsies, cat scans, that "good" Ins. covered a scant part of. The they said, okay, a surgery, and your Ins. considers it "preexisting" now (180+ days of faffing about) and you must pay 30grand. Oh, you need a loan? Well just put your house up, eh? NBL!

At this point I had someone back home recommend a surgeon she knows. Sent him the file, he was: "Oh, right. It's this thing. Take about an hour, your out of pocket is about 1000 pounds"

The light went on: after all these years here, there is no security. (or smart doctors) Its all a racket to get anything you may ever make. Add that to the job market being as bad as I've ever seen, and there you go.

My surgery is June 28th, and I have to rent my house, pack some stuff, sell the rest, and get myself settled somewhere. (terror sets back in)
Oh, and hells bells, the Dog. Got to get the Dog with me too.

Not London, then: somewhere green and golden, with tech jobs
Suggestions, encouragements, or advice happily taken.


That feeling of being mad as anything comes over me again...

An absolute racket.

Just wanted to wish you all the best with your surgery and good luck in your move.

Are you having your surgery done in the US before you leave?

Aww, a Dorset girl like me! I'm having the Surgery done in the UK.

Yeah, I love it here in Dorset

So did you come over to get examined? I'm curious if it's normal to get surgery booked in before seeing a doctor?

He has a file on me the size of a phone book, and all the imaging studies.
We'll chat the day before he knifes me, but... wait didya read the original post?

Yes, I did read it.... I'm not very au fait with medical stuff, so probably way off base, but I think I would be instinctively suspicious of diagnosis by email

Well, if it was by email, sure: but most diagnosticians work with charts,
not the country doctor poking and prodding

Congratulations - sorry about the circumstances. As for the Oregon docs it sound typical of the money scams they run. Tests, tests more tests, Oh we don't know what it is $$$ - oh now we know what it is but now your not covered by Ins. What incentive in a money driven system does a doctor have to get the diagnosis right first time - all that means is less money.
Excuse my cynicism.

Oh not at all! You are right that they're in it for the money. Say what you will about NHS, they have an incentive to get you sorted as quickly as poss.

So if anyone is near Portland, BIG garage sale this weekend!

GOOD LUCK!!! I know how stressful the move can be (gong thru it myself!!) and I have 4 dogs....gulp!!!

Good luck with the surgery also - you're absolutely making the right decision.

Thank you m'dear! Best of luck to you too!

A kind word makes me feel less crazy already.

Oh my goodness!

I think it's a no-brainer: it's absolutely the best decision to move back home.

As for tech jobs....isn't the "M4 Corridor" ie. Swindon area and heading eastbound towards London condsidered to be the best location(s) for IT work?

PS: I hope all goes well for your move and for your operation!

I have to agree with you on the racket that is the health system here. I hope everything goes well with your surgery. Good luck and if you don't mind, please give updates as to your progress

good luck with everything!