Craftygal died Wednesday night....but...

[TrogL]

I called for ambulance and paramedics were there in two minutes then they had her on the floor doing two-man CPR, then they shocked her twice, got a pulse then they got her on a board, then a stretcher and off to the ambulance where they got her stable, then off to the hospital.

When I got to Emerg she was having a CAT scan then they let me in the room and she was hooked up to a bazillion machines and they had her in an induced coma. Later that night she was transferred to ICU.

Next morning, ot a call from ICU saying they were taking her tubes out and I could visit later in the afternoon. Given her condition the night before, I'm expecting it to be pretty bad.

So I walk in and she's sitting up watching TV.

My expenses so far, $CAN18.50 for parking.

Anybody who is critical of Canadian health care can go fuck themselves.

[dalton99a]

1. Kick

[blm]

2. ((TrogL))

😢

[MissB]

3. Wow

So glad she’s doing better!!!!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. Someday the U.S. may become as sensible as Canada about health care.

We shouldn't be supporting the parasitic health "insurance" industry.

[Meowmee]

5. I am glad to hear she is ok and survived

Not many survive that. We are going back to Canada eventually.

[niyad]

6. . . .

[Srkdqltr]

7. Wonderful out come. How terrifying. Hugs to you both.

[Nevilledog]

8. That was a rollercoaster read... Love the ending.

To you and CraftyGal

[Bayard]

9. Oh, wow!

So glad she made it, and that she had you there.

Get well soon, Crafty! Good vibes to both of you.

[TrogL]

14. Forgot one point

There are health care workers who come in several times a day to care for her. I work nights, sleep days so I'm often not available.

It was Fred the health care worker who spotted the problem and insisted I call for the ambulance. When they got there he rattled off the symptoms, I had her medical history and meds list at hand and there's a defibrillator next to her bed.

So Kudos to Fred!!!

[MLAA]

10. Wow! Whew, I can imagine how frightened you both were.

Hurray she was awake and watching tv.

[dweller]

11. This is literally the happiest thread I've read here today

Starts off sad, then tense, then hopeful, then wonderfully resolved …
And with a healthy ‘fuck you’ at the end … I actually cheered !

Life sounds good in Canada 🍁



✌🏻

[wendyb-NC]

12. Oh my gosh

I'm so glad she did an astounding about face. I held my breath, as I read your post fearing the worst. Then hearing she was sitting up in bed watching TV, the next day.

That is so wonderful. What a relief. May she continue to heal. I am so happy for the fast response, by emergency personnel, and high quality care, at the hospital. Bless you both.

You have a brilliant health care system, in Canada.

[frogmarch]

13. Wow! I am so happy for you both!

[2naSalit]

15. I envy your HC system!

[ultralite001]

16. May you both...

live long and prosper...

That is all...

[wryter2000]

17. I had a somewhat similar experience with Kaiser in Northern California

My husband went by ambulance to the ED and then to a room for several days. He was released and came home for a while. Then, back to the ED and admitted. After a while, they found a rare cancer. He died in the hospital before he could be sent home to die. My out of pocket was a few bucks for meds. Eventually, they sent me a $5 check for the copay to the ED for the second visit. I don't know why. Maybe because they couldn't fix him?

I have to admit, I was a Kaiser employee and had excellent Kaiser. But I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have paid much as a non-employee member of Kaiser.

[SeeingEyeRefugee]

24. As long as you don't get fired. Or quit.

[Hortensis]

27. If so, Wryter could sign up for our national healthcare program.

When I did after leaving full-time work, with the subsidy I qualified for I got much better coverage for less than I'd paid for my workplace insurance that had deductibles that meant it hadn't come into play in a decade.

Something for you to keep in mind along with everyone else. After all, the Republicans want you to believe it's not there for you.

[wryter2000]

44. When the ACA went into effect

My brother was able to retire from his job, sell his house, and buy a brand new one somewhere else. Just he accounted for one new job for someone and two house sales. Pretty good for the economy, and he has good coverage now.

I retired from Kaiser and now have Kaiser through Medicare that's just as good as my old coverage.

[Hortensis]

46. Ah, for the good old days when need to cling to current workplace insurance

for fear of being unable to replace it kept many millions like your brother trapped in place, unable to follow their dreams, or just move closer to family. Huge change, and funny that nostalgia for what's been lost hasn't kicked in yet. Even on the right.

[wryter2000]

48. Well put

[PatrickforB]

56. I'm sorry. I have employer-provided Kaiser insurance and it is crummy, rationed and has

financially crippling copays.

My 'maximum out of pocket copay' for EACH of us - my wife and I - is $4,000. So if I have to go to hospital too, the copay is eight large. $8,000.

So, as a non-employee member of Kaiser, I can tell you that I pay out the nose. Because on top of that $4K co-pay, I pay $400 per month in PREMIUMS also, and my employer matches that, but used to pay a greater percentage. But they have to pass more and more and more of the cost of healthcare onto the people using it.

Remember - if we want to look at where the government should step in, it is anywhere the profit motive (I know Kaiser is 'non-profit' but they are sure into cost savings and maximizing retained earnings) is in DIRECT conflict with the interests of the people being served, then the government should step in.

I would love having a Canadian style healthcare system, and certainly Medicare for all Americans is do-able. Yes, we'd have to get the rich to pay more, and those poor corporations would have to pony up more than the 6.8% of total government tax revenue they pay in now. But if I didn't have to pay giant premiums and take out effing HEALTH CARE LOANS to help fund my financially crippling copays, you know how much less stress I'd have?

Lots. That's how much.

[wryter2000]

58. Where do you work for Kaiser?

I was an employee. If you have cheap Kaiser, that's your employer being cheap.

[highplainsdem]

18. What a terrible scare! I'm so glad she's doing better. Hugs

and healing vibes for her, and for you.

[FeelingBlue]

19. We may owe

A quarter of a million for medical expenses, but, I think we’d get free parking.

So happy for you that your story turned out great.

[orleans]

20. love to you both

[herding cats]

21. I'm so very relieved to know she's ok!

My heart, love and well wishes to her and to you! ❤️

Oh, and our medical care here is way too expensive, no arguments there.

[OMGWTF]

22. In my next life I'm going to be Canadian.

[70sEraVet]

34. I agree with you, but only if they would build a huge dome over Montreal, and heat the whole city!

[LoisB]

23. Amazing.

[Phoenix61]

25. I'm so happy for you both. nt

[Hortensis]

26. :) So glad for you both. Hi, to Craftygal! Take care, don't overdo the TV.

[CentralMass]

28. I am glad that she is ok.

[calimary]

29. Whew! That's a relief!

[Duppers]

30. Thank goodness. Please keep us posted.

She's a special person & a special DUer.
We'd miss her.

Go Canadian healthcare!
(I enjoyed similar health care in England for a couple of years.)

Remember, updates please. Tell her we all wish her well.

[peacebuzzard]

31. ❤️🌼

I wish crafty gal a complete recovery.

You are so lucky to live in a great country with all parts working well. I have always admired the Canadian health care system

[RicROC]

32. US healthcare is evolving..

the doctors in the Rochester, NY area who forever resisted 'socialized medicine' have had their private practices bought up by the two main hospital systems and now work as salaried employees. I'm not sure this evolves into a better health care for the patients, but it shows that evolution can happen in a short time.

One negative aspect is that if patient wishes to change care from doctor to another doctor, they are prevented/highly discouraged from doing so if the new doctor is within that particular hospital system, so the alternative is to search within the other system. Hence, patient control is forfeited or highly restricted.

In my case, I wanted to change cardiologists but was told I could not because they were both within their system (and not even in the same office) , until the office manager, who is savvy with insurance law, found out that if had been 3 years since my last appointment, therefore, they would file my claim as a new patient (and the old doctor would never find out).

[lonely bird]

53. Not only that...

Private Equity firms are also doing that in healthcare.

[area51]

33. I'm so glad the story has a good ending.

I take my hat off to Canada, a civilized country which gives its citizens healthcare in exchange for taxes, something the US will never do.

[TigressDem]

35. WOW!

When things work well, it is a sight to behold.

So glad Craftygal got her second chance due to sound medical care delivered by professionals who obviously know what their job is and do it.

[niyad]

36. Sending vibes for a speedy and complete recovery for craftygal, and for

strength and endurance for you. Your DU family is here for both of you.

[Bev54]

37. As a Canadian, I think they need to take away paid parking for the hospitals

[ironflange]

40. Yeah!

When I did six weeks of radiation a while back (all clear now it cost us a hundred bucks for parking! Well, I guess that's kinda OK since that was the only expense, other than the odd lunch.

[grantcart]

38. Greatest "but" I have ever read BUT you forgot the most important details

What was she watching on TV?

[TrogL]

54. Dr Phil

[DownriverDem]

39. So happy

for you and her. As for health care, Americans are so stupid. We could be so like Canada if folks voted for the Dems. This is only one issue that could be fixed with a true Dem majority. MAGA repubs suck so bad.

[llmart]

42. That's all well and good but...

where would we get all those jobs from the super special "job creators" like insurance companies?

That's the propaganda that the GOP puts out every time people wonder why we can't get universal health insurance. That and the line that Canada's health care system is awful. We've been hearing that b.s. for decades, long before there were MAGAts.

[orangecrush]

50. Can't work a job

If your dead.

[ProfessorGAC]

41. Well, The Ending Sure Was Good!

Sounds tense, though.
Glad things are better.

[malaise]

43. Amazing

Rec

[liberalla]

45. Damn! I was holding my breath! and then the good news ending finally came. So happy for you both!

[CaptainTruth]

47. Wow, what a close call!!!

So glad she's doing better!

[orangecrush]

49. KICK

[Beartracks]

51. What a ripoff!

$18.50 for parking??


(< if needed)

[TrogL]

55. UPDATE

Saw her today. Voice is better. A few blood pressure issues but that's nothing new. Talked to doctor and they confirmed potassium levels - not heart so there's going to have to be some major dietary changes. Mostly little stuff like no pizza unless I can find something with a pesto base instead of tomato, no processed cheese or meat.

There's talk of getting her off ICU onto a dialysis ward, then home.

Current TV: Seinfeld

Parking: another $CAN4.00

[budkin]

57. Thanks for the update

Holy crap!

[Kaleva]

59. I get similiar care from the VA

[TrogL]

60. UPDATe

They've got her sitting up in a chair. Still some blood pressure issues. Pain in back of her head from banging on floor during CPR.

Unless anything changes this will be last update unless she joins the thread.

TV: Rescue 401 - a show about big tow trucks on the major highways around Toronto. I used to drive truck so I can't watch it without getting queasy.

Parking: $CAN4.00

[gldstwmn]

61. Good news. Here is to the continued good health of Craftygal and

the Canadian national healthcare system!

[CraftyGal65]

62. CraftyGal here...

Looks like I could be going home tomorrow or Saturday. Depends on how it goes.

Talked nephew (I’m on hemodialysis) I was told the 3 main minerals that go out of walk for renal patients is : calcium, phosphorus & potassium. It took years of try through diet and medication (last on was $1,000.00/month paid for by AHS). Finally had the parathyroid surgery done; found out all 4 had tumours. So now those are in check but now potassium levels have been high often includes headaches & nausea that can look like migraines.

I will check with my dietitian about having the odd pizza if it doesn’t contain processed meats or tomato to sauce. Saw a recipe for one with Alfredo sauce and chicken.

I’ll keep you updated in the next couple of days.

[TrogL]

63. OMG I JUST GOT A HUGE BILL IN THE MAIL!!!

$CAN 50 copay for the ambulance.

Outrageous, I say, outrageous!!