[Felt like ranting a bit today, so excuse the lack of PR content in this post]
Full disclosure... I haven't been to a doctor in a long time (and yes, by long time, I mean a very very long time). I've never really had anything that didn't go away on it's own in a few days.
Anyway, I recently came down with a sinus bug (or something) that was bothering me for the past 1.5 months. Not enough to keep me off my feet, but enough so that you know you are sick and it makes the day a struggle.
Given it's lack of severity, I kept thinking it would go away in a couple of days, but it didn't. So after a month I tried the neti pot (video below) and it worked wonders. Pretty much got me back on my feet in a few days. Who would have thought running water through your nose would do the trick (of note: it also stopped my allergies). Anyone with sinus issues, breathing through your nose issues, or allergies should get one of these things.
So flash forward to a few days ago, sinuses seem to have finally healed, and then - BAM - I come down with a stomach flu (or something). Anyway, I figure it's probably a function of water from the neti pot dripping down my throat a bit and as a result carrying whatever was infecting my sinuses down to my stomach or lungs.
So finally I decide, enough is enough, I'm going to the doctor (even though I'm feeling much better than yesterday).
Since I don't have a doctor I go to a walk-in clinic. Not having used the medical system in Canada for a long time (you're welcome tax payers), I figured, this won't be a big deal. Hey, anyone watching Michael Moore's documentary 'Sicko' would think that Canada has great health care services.
Let me tell you, I sure don't think we do (at least not if you don't have a regular doctor). I should state that about a year ago I tried to find a doctor and let me tell you, it's practically impossible. No doctors are taking new patients. You'll spend hours on the phone and basically get nowhere.
So a walk-in clinic is my only option. I go to the first clinic and am basically told to come back in four hours and I might get seen. So I go to another walk-in clinic to see if they have any openings and there's a sign on the door saying "No new patients until tomorrow at 9am"
This is Canadian health care? You can't get a regular doctor to save your life (pun intended) and you can't get seen at a walk-in clinic when you walk in, if they even let you walk in and there isn't a sign on the door saying 'Come back tomorrow".
I mean, no one even looks at you to quickly assess whether you should be allowed to 'walk out'. I guess they assume that if you are really sick (however one would define that) you'll go to the ER or something.
Which makes me wonder just how good is our health care system?
We'll see if when I go back to the walk-in (in a couple hours) whether they can see me. Who knows, perhaps I'll change my views in a few hours... but right now, what strikes me is that if you want to see a doctor in Canada you have to be pretty darn patient. I shudder to think what the experience would be like if you were in the middle of being really sick - dragging yourself to the clinic only to be told to come back in four hours and they might be able to see you.
I like Michael Moore, but this sure wasn't the Canadian health care system depicted in his movie. And I'm beginning to understand why Americans are reluctant to adopt universal health care (although I still think it's the only equitable option for a democracy to adopt).
Full disclosure... I haven't been to a doctor in a long time (and yes, by long time, I mean a very very long time). I've never really had anything that didn't go away on it's own in a few days.
Anyway, I recently came down with a sinus bug (or something) that was bothering me for the past 1.5 months. Not enough to keep me off my feet, but enough so that you know you are sick and it makes the day a struggle.
Given it's lack of severity, I kept thinking it would go away in a couple of days, but it didn't. So after a month I tried the neti pot (video below) and it worked wonders. Pretty much got me back on my feet in a few days. Who would have thought running water through your nose would do the trick (of note: it also stopped my allergies). Anyone with sinus issues, breathing through your nose issues, or allergies should get one of these things.
So flash forward to a few days ago, sinuses seem to have finally healed, and then - BAM - I come down with a stomach flu (or something). Anyway, I figure it's probably a function of water from the neti pot dripping down my throat a bit and as a result carrying whatever was infecting my sinuses down to my stomach or lungs.So finally I decide, enough is enough, I'm going to the doctor (even though I'm feeling much better than yesterday).
Since I don't have a doctor I go to a walk-in clinic. Not having used the medical system in Canada for a long time (you're welcome tax payers), I figured, this won't be a big deal. Hey, anyone watching Michael Moore's documentary 'Sicko' would think that Canada has great health care services.
Let me tell you, I sure don't think we do (at least not if you don't have a regular doctor). I should state that about a year ago I tried to find a doctor and let me tell you, it's practically impossible. No doctors are taking new patients. You'll spend hours on the phone and basically get nowhere.
So a walk-in clinic is my only option. I go to the first clinic and am basically told to come back in four hours and I might get seen. So I go to another walk-in clinic to see if they have any openings and there's a sign on the door saying "No new patients until tomorrow at 9am"
This is Canadian health care? You can't get a regular doctor to save your life (pun intended) and you can't get seen at a walk-in clinic when you walk in, if they even let you walk in and there isn't a sign on the door saying 'Come back tomorrow".
I mean, no one even looks at you to quickly assess whether you should be allowed to 'walk out'. I guess they assume that if you are really sick (however one would define that) you'll go to the ER or something.
Which makes me wonder just how good is our health care system?
We'll see if when I go back to the walk-in (in a couple hours) whether they can see me. Who knows, perhaps I'll change my views in a few hours... but right now, what strikes me is that if you want to see a doctor in Canada you have to be pretty darn patient. I shudder to think what the experience would be like if you were in the middle of being really sick - dragging yourself to the clinic only to be told to come back in four hours and they might be able to see you.
I like Michael Moore, but this sure wasn't the Canadian health care system depicted in his movie. And I'm beginning to understand why Americans are reluctant to adopt universal health care (although I still think it's the only equitable option for a democracy to adopt).
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