Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

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Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby decthirty » 13 Feb 2012, 03:21

My stats: 31, female, Alberta Canada, 5'2 and 105lbs
First went to emergency room in August 2011 due to extreme rectal pain and large growth protruding from anus
Emergency room doctor thought the growth was a haemorrhoid, pushed it back in (ow!) and gave me a referral to a specialist (and suppositories and creams)
mid Dec 2011, appointment with specialist - colorectal specialist diagnosed me with large polyp that needs to removed through minor day surgery
Pain during and after BMs has gotten progressively worse and worse.
It's now mid february and they still refuse to give me a surgery date.
I've called so often complaining about my pain that the nurse finally asked the doctor to give me a prescription for Diltiazem. Doesn't work on me.
So basically I'm in pain every day during my bowel movement and then for about 6 hours afterwards - I take an extra strength advil for the pain but it seems to have stopped working for the past month or so. This has been going on for at several months and I can't stand it anymore. It's currently 2:16am and I can't sleep because of the pain and I'm supposed to get up at 5:30am for work.
I'm tempted to fly to the states to get a surgeon to fix me ASAP and just pay for it. I can't live like this. I've been thinking about killing myself more and more.
Anyone have any experience going from Canada to the states for surgery? How much does it cost?
Or alternatively, is it worth it to get my doctor to give me a referral to another colorectal surgeon in the city or will that just mean more waiting for appointments?
Things that have worked: Magnesium citrate supplement once a day (I attribute my lack of constipation to this), vaseline to lube up every BM ( I imagine my pain would be much worse without it).
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Re: Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby workingonit » 13 Feb 2012, 10:06

You know I would go back to GP and get another referral. Then if things don't work out with the first CRS, there is a second. Look online (use ratemds.com or something similar) and find the nearest colon rectal clinic then give that name to your GP.
You don't need to go to your CRS for a second referral.
It would cost thousands to go to the states for surgery.
I had an anal tag removed in the states and that cost me $700. I was living there at the time, so didn't have to pay for airfare or hotels.
You could call an office in the states and ask what their fees are for such an operation.
So sorry this is dragging on and on for you. Contrary to what people say, the wait times in the states can be just as bad though. It depends somewhat on the State, and the specialist (if they have more of less of them in that state) as well. If you are a new patient though. It can take months.
Keep being a squeaky wheel, and get that second opinion. IMO.
I like magnesium too. You could try some prune juice too so soften your BM more. Be cautious with it though as it effects some people more than others.
I really don't see how Diltiazem would help with a polyp?
It is more for fissures to bring more blood to the area and relax the anus muscle.
Hope you get the appointment soon!!
-Tanya
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Re: Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby Guest » 13 Feb 2012, 10:29

I'm so sorry to hear you are in so much pain, and are also suffering with long waiting times for doctors and referrals. Tanya is right, though.., waiting times in the US are just as bad in most areas. I can call my doctor's office complaining of severe, intolerable pain and "the next available appointment" is in six weeks, and that's as an established, long-term patient..
I so hope you can get some relief soon, and can get in to see someone ASAP.
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Re: Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby Bennastix » 13 Feb 2012, 12:39

I too thought many times about blowing my brains out over the intense pain. The decision to live and fight the pain turned out to be a better choice for me. I would literally sit on the toilet shaking from crapping razor blades and as you, throb with razor like pain for hours on end. I found that if I treated the internal hemmies my fissure healed a lot faster. I dealt with the pain for 5 months on end with zero relief and I did the same meds as you.
Last week I tried a med my friend sent me, HemClear, and within 3-4 days I felt like a new person. I don't know much about it, she said she ordered it off the net. I suggest treating the hemmie along with treating the fissure. I never thought I would ever find this kind of relief after only 3-4 days of treatment but I am happy as a lark once again in my life:) I have been strapped to the couch for 5 months straight!
Good luck! This forum has helped me a lot too. I never knew there were so many folks experiencing the same ridiculousness in their lives. I have only been here roughly a week and the support of others that know exactly how you feel is overwelming to say the least.
I hope the best for you! Try the hemClear, I didn't believe in it but I did it because I had nothing to lose at this point. What a God send:)
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Re: Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby decthirty » 13 Feb 2012, 17:51

workingonit, jr2, an Bennastix,
I really appreciate your kind words. Ironically I called my doctor again today with I think a sound of desperation in my voice and I actually have a surgical date for the end of Feb. Perhaps Canadian healthcare is not so bad.
Workingonit and Jr2, thanks for letting me know that the american system may not be as great as I believe.
The reason my doctor prescribed me diltiazem is because he believes I have an anal fissure based on my description of the pain. Apparently polyps are usually painless. He wasn't able to see the fissure but believes it may be hidden by my rather massive polyp.
Bennastix, before going to the doctor I tried a variety of haemorrhoid suppositories and creams (but not HemClear) to no affect - my doctor doesn't think I have a haemorrhoid so I don't think HemClear would help.
Thanks all for reading my vent. I had a particular bad night last night but hopefully the end is nigh.
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Re: Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby workingonit » 13 Feb 2012, 18:14

That's great news that you have an end date. Image
In the mean time something that might help is sitz baths and (my favourite) an electric heating pad.
Do you get spasms in your anus? Is that what is causing the pain? That is quite common with anal fissures.
Sitz baths would help that.
Check around the forum and look at other posts for ideas that might help.
I think everything's been tried here at least once! :)
-Tanya
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Re: Starting to Hate Canadian healthcare

Postby Savaici » 15 Feb 2012, 10:24

Love the Sitz bath. Don't know what I would do without it now! Ahh. I don't think of lovely food, but of my sitz bath these days. Sad :roll:
As WOI has said, there is a lot of info on here, for just about anything. Just use the search, and you'll be surprised what will turn up.
Hope you will soon be on the road to a recovery, something we all long for.
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