Monday, August 06, 2007

A crappy day...

I feel very discouraged today. I also feel very homesick. Basically, it's been a pretty crappy day.
I feel discouraged because, I found out that our health fund only covers procedures like what I need to have done, after you have been with them for a whole year. That means, I can't get any of the stuff that I need done for at least another 6 months. It's discouraging because I'm working so hard at staying positive about my health stuff and trying to get it all sorted out. I feel like I take one step forward and then get knocked back 2 steps. So, the plan of getting everything done and behind me is out the window and I'm back to not really knowing what the problem is and just trying to find ways to deal with it on my own from day to day. I am trying to take control of things, but all this means that it's back to being out of my hands for a few more months.
I feel homesick because I'm not used to medical stuff being such an ordeal. In Canada, you need something done, you book it, you go. Done. It's hard being the immigrant...the one in the country who doesn't have all the benefits, like everyone else. I'm not used to being on that end of things. I'm not used to having a bill come in the mail, charging me for the blood test that I went for, or having to pay to have a standard doctor appointment. We don't have medicare cards here, unless we become permanent residents. Our private health fund covers some things, but only 80%. I'm also homesick, because I feel like crap and would LOVE to call someone to chat, but everyone is sleeping in Canada.
Some days, you just really feel like you live on the other side of the world...

4 comments:

Kristie said...

I'm sorry you're going through this Cari. I totally understand what you mean about going from Canada with Cadillac health care to a country with old beatup ford escort health care. it's so frustrating. I had a surgery in December and got a bill for $800. we have one of the best health plans in the country, and I still have to shell out hundreds of dollars to get anything done. that's a huge thing I miss about Canada. makes me homesick too.

Kristi Drennan said...

:(

I wish I would have been awake for you to talk to!

George said...

Hang in there Sis. You`ve been battling the mystery malady for years. Another 6 months is fairly short in comparison.

Ying and Yang. Good days and bad days.True strength of character is not avoiding the pifalls but having the fortitude to overcome them.

Or as a good friend once told me...."Alas...this too shall pass."

Geo

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear you're having health issues. I can imagine it's really frustrating not knowing exactly what is wrong and how to fix it. I can sympathize a little with your health care dilemma since I'm now in the US. On the first day I arrived, I had to choose an HMO. I had 4 choices amd no idea what to do or who to choose. I told Adam to charter me a helicopter to Canada if anything goes seriously wrong...lol... I don't trust the system here at all, especially after seeing "Sicko". I'm lucky I work for a university because I can get a health care plan for $34 a month to cover both Adam and I (my employer contributes an additional $500 a month!). At least there's no waiting period here, but there's so much fine print and so many technicalities...I don't even really understand what is covered! I'm just going to get whatever I need done and wait for the bill in the mail I guess...lol... Besides the strange health care system, the midwest is fantastic. The people here are super friendly and I love my job. I'm really missing Adam and Shelby a lot though... I love your blog. Keep it up! I'll be posting photos of my road trip soon on facebook.
Live! Love! Laugh!
Shan :-)