posted
I've also got a question that may sound like a total herecy. What about permanently moving to Canada to fight the Lyme, with the free healthcare there? Are there any Canadian Lymies here? Can you share your experience with finding the care you need?
When there is an insurance middleman to make money on your health, it's just wrong, period. I am not making that much money in the US anyway. But I may be idealistic in my thinking.
Posts: 59 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
Read the thread on this page, by some canadians. There is also a canadian lyme forum. It appears they are just as bad off as we are.
Wish some small country somewhere in the world would decide to treat lyme correctly, set up a system for medical tourism at a reasonable price. They would be swamped by lymies flying in.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
| IP: Logged |
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
From the canadians I can remember posting and chatting with they are just as bad or worse off than we are
Kayda
Posts: 582 | From midwest | Registered: Nov 2006
| IP: Logged |
canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Ah...ya; bad idea. I'm trying to get well enough to move to SF. I wanted to move to the US re: my career for many years, but a few years back put it on the backburner and worked on interesting projects here.
Not any more! Oh, no; as soon as I'm well enough it's CA here I come and there will be no regrets. Some of my clients will come with; I'll develop new relationships in SF - there is amazing art going on down there.
Because Canada - Good place for a Vacation. Maybe I'll buy a cottage here? Did I mention the part: _when_ I'll be working again? Because the $$ are used up and house and cars are sold trying to get treatment in Canada. Thanks to this group I recently became aware that at my "Canadian Cottage" I will have Guinea Hens, a Magpie that will sit on the dog, as they do Water Buffalo, and import some fire ants, all in an effort to keep down the tick population, eh? (another thread)
With best wishes,
Canbravelyme.
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
I had moved to Canada from San Francisco and as soon as I figured out I had Lyme (still in Canada) I hightailed it back to the Bay Area.
I am a Canadian citizen, so I could have gotten healthcare, but the question is where on earth would I find an LLMD? I know of one in B.C., but the thought of wading through the healthcare system, the risks, the time, etc. was too much for me. Apparently Canada doesn't have Lyme even more than California doesn't.
I really feel for my fellow Canadians having to negotiate the morass of the healthcare system while trying to get care for Lyme. I hope it gets better.
Be strong, Eh!
Alison
--------------------
The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I actually live in San Fran (I see Dr H in Palo Alto/Nevada City).
No matter how good a healthcare system is, of what help is it if you can't pay for it? I mean, if all your source of income is your job, which you are at risk of losing since you have Lyme and can't keep up anymore? And suppose one comes to the US from Canada to get treated - don't you have to buy insurance? Wouldn't the HMO consider your Lyme a pre-existing condition?
I guess another way of looking at it is - get treated, get better, then go backrupt and start from scratch.
Posts: 59 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
posted
...btw I heard statistics somewhere that 50% of bankrupcies in the US come from medical expenses. Just another note.
Posts: 59 | From CA | Registered: Dec 2006
| IP: Logged |
canbravelyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9785
posted
Alison,
I had to laugh at the towels; I won't let my partner go near my towel when I'm herxing, and he's been remarking on how many towels are ending up in the washing these days (I also won't use one twice if I'm herxing)
Yea, well bankrupcy. Now the way I see it, sure health care won't do you any good if you can't pay for it, but inadequate health care is when you really pay.
On the other thread I go into it in more detail (tired now), but it's false economy to not find the MD most likely to cure you, because all that time you are unable to work, you still have to pay to live, and the cost of living goes up when you're really ill and have to pay for services that you would normally do otherwise. Also, bleak accommodations are a little easier to take if you're well, and you might want to keep a positive living space happening to contribute to stacking the cards in your "healing.favour". A place that isn't bleak or remote also costs something. And I'm talking modest.
So, as I see it I could have been at least in remission by now had I immediately done what Allison did and high tail it back to SF. I could have paid off debt incurred through medical treatment out of pocket by working starting - I figure by the 18 month general standard of how long it takes - one year ago, now. And I was liking what I was doing. Loving it, all told. So then there's the personal price of my career coming to a slow halt from age 34-38? Great timing. This is "supposed" to be when I'm really cooking with gas.
So the cost of "free" healthcare has a hell of a price.
-------------------- For medical advice related to Lyme disease, please see an ILADS physician. Posts: 1494 | From Getting there... | Registered: Aug 2006
| IP: Logged |
How about scotland - they have some lyme problems there. Or better yet-- I am hungry and could use some good pasta - I'll try Italia!!
i see dr h too! thought about seeing Dr S in SF for all my hematology problems
mags
Posts: 259 | From California | Registered: Mar 2006
| IP: Logged |
Vanilla
Unregistered
posted
I have seen both and think you are in the best hands already.
IP: Logged |
heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
i can think of about a million reasons to move to canada, given the current, well, climate of things, so to speak. lyme, however, isn't one of them. unfortunately the situation there regarding diagnosis and treatment of chronic lyme is even worse than it is in the US.
David95928
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3521
posted
If I had a way of getting paid in dollars I'd move to Mexico. Antibiotics are cheap and dispensed freely. Of course, I've already lived there, speak Spanish, and like being there for any number of reasons.
-------------------- Dave Posts: 2034 | From CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yes our health care system is something I am very thankful for. It does have its flaws but at least everyone is cared for (unless you have Lyme, of course).
Unfortunately, our policy makers liked the look of the IDSA guidelines and as far as I know, they were adopted on March 31st. Maybe they thought we would be good neigbours by doing this.
But we are all such a happy and polite bunch and we welcome visitors anytime!
-------------------- The Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation www.canlyme.com Posts: 128 | From Canada | Registered: Sep 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Be strong, Eh!
![[shake]](graemlins/shake.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic