You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by btimbit

That's a way you can tell someone isn't from Calgary

I haven’t gone into the bios, but Sue Deyell this morning did the same thing as yesterday’s afternoon traffic person. You can’t just say “The Deerfoot” but then every other road you omit “The”. I haven’t heard anyone say “The Glenmore”, “The Blackfoot”, “The Shaganappi” when referencing the roads.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

GMG having to navigate our health system and getting a crash course on how it operates. Up until now I've luckily never had to deal with urgent care, but my father recently went to the ER and after an MRI was diagnosed with a severe issue requiring spine decompression surgery. He was referred to the spinal clinic at foothills, then told they would contact him within a few days to arrange surgery. They never did. We called them, and they said there was no need to speak with them, they'll reach out to us, at minimum 8 months from now, then at that point they'll schedule something.

It seems they want to wait for permanent paralysis before they bump him up to needing urgent care, but by that time it'll be too late.

So I'm left trying to help him, but he doesn't have a GP and can't find one in Lethbridge. His pain is a 9/10 and unable to walk, but his pain prescription runs out in 3 days and they tell him he has to keep returning to the ER to get new meds. What bullcrap.

Could use some advice from someone who's gone through back issues needing surgery. Going to start looking at private options, but man, I don't know where to begin. I thought our health system would at least be a little bit of a help.

Sorry to hear. Always sucks to hear about those living in pain and the challenges that those supporting those individuals have to go through.

Who referred him to Foothills? Ask them to put pressure on them by asking on the status or insight into how long the wait might be.

In the interim, I think all you can do is try to figure out what else can be done to improve his comfort levels.

Personally, I have pretty bad back pain issues but not one requiring specialists and surgery to address. Beyond physical adjustments and staying mobile (I highly recommend looking for a few Tai Chi warm up exercises that can be done while seated that your dad might be wiling to do), I started tinkering around with a few things beyond medication (leaving it as a back up plan) to see if it would help reduce discomfort.

Things that I've found work for me in tandem with other pain mitigation and reduction approaches that are not too expensive....

Weight lifting belt. Allows reduction of strain on back for basic motions and stabilizes back to reduce randomly painful movements. $30-50.

Hot bean bags. Allows for slight relaxation of muscles via heat, consider more than one. $40-60.

Salon Pas stickers. Allows for relaxation of muscles via topical medication. $20-40 for a pack of around 100, replenish maybe 2-3x a year?

"Water intake"/supplements. Drinking an extra litre of water or so can help the muscles not seize up as bad, but also adding slightly extra doses of electrolytes/salt/multi vitamins/Rhodiola etc. will help as well. Just make sure it doesn't react with anything else he might be taking. $10-50 /year.

Compression knee braces/compression pants. Helps to reduce strain on lower body which helps to have less requirement to use back to re-balance. $30-40 ish for knee braces. $90-150 ish for compression pants that help with both knee and hips.

Document the pain. Date, level of pain, how the pain occurred etc. Keep going to whoever you can and don't let your dad downplay the pain when talking to someone. Don't lie of course, but don't downplay it either.

I ignored some other things I try under the assumption that those in an advanced age and likely worse pain than me shouldn't try them (ie: certain activities recommended to my by physiotherapists such as stretches and rollers etc.).

Hopefully some of those ideas are able to help to to tide him over until the surgery. Good luck.

[Reggie28]

“We’re on the Blackfoot”

[Fuzz]

Sorry to hear, man. That's just awful to experience and watch a loved one suffer through.

Unfortunately it sounds like Mazrim's advice is probably the only option. On top of that you can squeak higher up. Email the Premiere's office, your and his MLA, the health minister(or all 8 of them now, I guess?)the NDP health critic(I believe it's Sarah Hoffman), and Friends of Medicare. CC, don't BCC. They hate seeing stuff like this go to everyone. Throw CBC in there if you are media-willing. Don't make it too long, but emphasize the pain and suffering, and mental health damage of suffering for 9 months with no family doctor for support. Mention your plan is to go to the ER every time he needs anything, because there are no viable alternatives. They need to hear from everyone who suffers, or they'll think they are succeeding.

To that last bit, I tried the government's site here:
https://albertafindaprovider.ca/find-a-doc/map


And ya, nothing in Lethbridge.


Good thing we don't have a PST or anything though. That tax cut has really made our lives better.

[WCan_Kid]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Sorry to hear, man. That's just awful to experience and watch a loved one suffer through.

Unfortunately it sounds like Mazrim's advice is probably the only option. On top of that you can squeak higher up. Email the Premiere's office, your and his MLA, the health minister(or all 8 of them now, I guess?)the NDP health critic(I believe it's Sarah Hoffman), and Friends of Medicare. CC, don't BCC. They hate seeing stuff like this go to everyone. Throw CBC in there if you are media-willing. Don't make it too long, but emphasize the pain and suffering, and mental health damage of suffering for 9 months with no family doctor for support. Mention your plan is to go to the ER every time he needs anything, because there are no viable alternatives. They need to hear from everyone who suffers, or they'll think they are succeeding.

To that last bit, I tried the government's site here:
https://albertafindaprovider.ca/find-a-doc/map


And ya, nothing in Lethbridge.


Good thing we don't have a PST or anything though. That tax cut has really made our lives better.

Data backs you up on your lack of a sales tax theory, for sure.

Quebec: ~31% of residents (over 2 million people) lack a family doctor.
Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PEI, NL): ~31% of residents lack a provider, with PEI (38.4%) and New Brunswick (35%) facing severe shortages.
British Columbia: ~27% of residents reported having no primary care provider.
Alberta: ~18%–20% of residents (roughly 650,000–800,000 people) lack a family doctor.
Ontario: ~12%–13% of residents lack a regular provider.
Saskatchewan: ~22% of residents report having no family docto

[woob]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

i remember lots - chatting with the doctors both times (i've had 2... my mom had colon cancer so 'early screening'... lucky me), i was "with it" enough on my second one that i remember seeing the screen as they were "probing" with the camera. once i was awake in recovery i was fine both times - could have driven home if i was allowed. once home i felt fine and worked on a bunch of stuff around the house.


maybe i'm just lucky it didn't hit me too hard??

I remember the whole thing as well. Watched it all on the screen and found it fascinating. There was a couple uncomfortable moments but other than that, it wasn't a big deal.

The prep was annoying as heck.

[Sainters7]

There's this person in our office who's very nice, but WAY too chatty (and loud),who will gab your ear off for hours, they secretly drive everybody crazy. To the point where, if someone sees you stuck talking with them, they'll silently laugh at you behind their back and mouth "have fun!" or something to that extent.

Anyway, I just found out Chatterbox is on my exact same 9 hour nonstop flight to Paris next month. NOOOOOOOOOOooooo

[DoubleF]

New world problems.

Summary message:
"Hi DoubleF, I'd like to meet you unperson."

Umm... do you want a video call or is that a typo? Or... am I no longer viewed as human to you?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

There's this person in our office who's very nice, but WAY too chatty (and loud),who will gab your ear off for hours, they secretly drive everybody crazy. To the point where, if someone sees you stuck talking with them, they'll silently laugh at you behind their back and mouth "have fun!" or something to that extent.

Anyway, I just found out Chatterbox is on my exact same 9 hour nonstop flight to Paris next month. NOOOOOOOOOOooooo

"Hello airline agent, can I slip you a $20 to move me away from chatterbox? I have noise cancelling headphones/earbuds. I'll agree to sit beside children."

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

"Hello airline agent, can I slip you a $20 to move me away from chatterbox? I have noise cancelling headphones/earbuds. I'll agree to sit beside children."

That's actually much better than my idea of simply acting unruly to throw myself off the flight... * takes notes*

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

That's actually much better than my idea of simply acting unruly to throw myself off the flight... * takes notes*

I've also occasionally wondered how a chatterbox might react if it is suggested an AI dictation software will be used to record and summarize the conversation later on.

"Our conversations are always so in depth. I want to make sure I didn't miss as much of it afterwards."

Do they end up shortening the conversations? Or do they double down?

[Sainters7]

Haha I love the AI summarizations, good plan. "Best" part is, they're kinda Maple MAGA, and talk very loudly. I'm sure the flight will LOVE us, if she clocks me...

Think I'm just gonna break out the Larry David, Fatwa disguise.

Spoiler!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

"Hello airline agent, can I slip you a $20 to move me away from chatterbox? I have noise cancelling headphones/earbuds. I'll agree to sit beside children."

Just buy a different seat selection online, and if they ask say you must have got moved for some reason. Shrug your shoulders and put in an earbud.

[puffnstuff]

Do you guys not have a PFO face you can use to get out of awkward social situations?

[Sainters7]

Sadly nah, cuz it's usually the socially ostracized ones, and I'm cursed with my mom's empathetic heart, so I feel bad for em.

I just pray I have a large person next to me who can hide me (I'm in the window seat at least).

[habernac]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Do you guys not have a PFO face you can use to get out of awkward social situations?

Yeah, I have trouble hiding that face.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Sadly nah, cuz it's usually the socially ostracized ones, and I'm cursed with my mom's empathetic heart, so I feel bad for em.

I just pray I have a large person next to me who can hide me (I'm in the window seat at least).

Just be incredibly rude and say you're practicing for fitting in with the French.

[Sainters7]

Good call actually. But I feel it won't land the same without the lit, slim cigarette. This would've worked so much better in the 80s..

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Good call actually. But I feel it won't land the same without the lit, slim cigarette. This would've worked so much better in the 80s..

Sliver can help you out there.

[Titan2]

Pay whatever it costs to get upgraded? Tell her you have a great idea, you should both pay to get upgraded. When she does it, you don't and say it was full or something?

Sneak onto her phone when she has someone else held hostage and call in a bomb threat? Be sure to spell her name clearly.

Call CSIS and leave a tip that a certain someone is meeting a russion spy in Paris?

Call CBP and tell them she is smuggling tainted roast beef in her underwear?

Call the airline and cancel her ticket?

At the French border patrol, be sure to get ahead of her and tell them she just came back from Wuhan and has been coughing like crazy?

Slip a brick of heroin into her luggage when you 'help' her get it out of her car?

Really, you have lots of options. Just put a little thought into it.