December 23, 2014

My christmas gift this year

Hello

AS some of you might know - I am not an american but have been on this board for a while - in fact many years now - first lurking, then registered for a more active role in this forum... And it have been a interesting time on this board

And I have also written a few times about my own experience with a system the US at current doesn't have - Universal Health Care - something I encountered this year too.

Last Thursday I got little sick - little pressure and a hurt feeling in my chest in the evening - but I was not thinking much about it - I always have some pain here and there thanks to some kidneys who sometimes doesn't play ball - so I just was thinking it was them who was acting up again - but the pain in the chest was not stooping - even if it was not as bad when I got to bed - over the night it got worse again - but in the end it was at least less painfully again, so I got a few hours nights sleep - wake up - had that painfully chest pain again - but I got along with my day as I usually should - had plans going to the shop doing the Christmas thing stuff - buying food - and the rest - but it was not to be that - as my chest pain contained to be painfully - in fact it got that bad I had to call my general doctor - to ask for some advice and maybe a appointment - it ended up calling what in norway goes for 911 - to ask for some help there - and they asked me a few questions about how it was - where it was and so one - and also reported it was a ambulance on the way to my address - the operator also kept me on the phone to the ambulance arrived - and I was able to get some help - at first it was a EKG who was not telling to much - but they deiced to take me to the hospital anyway - and there I was in the emergency room for a while - as it was a busy day and sadly some waiting - blood tests was taken - and in a hours time i was told I had a little heart attack - at the age of 38... I was rather puzzled about it all - maybe somewhat in shook when I was getting into another room, where they gave me all sorts of medicines - even a "shot" of morphine - to do something with the pain I had (it was rather nasty that pain) - as the pain subsided I was asked a lot of different questioning to be sure they know what it was about - and I answered as best I could....

Later that evening I was in a hospital bed - been cared for and given a lot of help and medical attention - i even had the room for myself that night and I slept rather well - as I had not getting to much sleep the night before... The next day - i was told I had to go to another hospital - as the local hospital was more of a general hospital - with not all of the expertise when it came to the heart - so I was taken to a ambulance - and was at the bigger, more experienced hospital in 12 minutes with blue-lights and it all when needed (Usually it takes 30 minutes drive from Bærum Hospital to Rikshospitalet, who are the most advanced hospital with some of the most experienced doctors in the whole of Norway and the driver was rather experienced - and good at driving!) and in 1/2 hour even operated on.... It was a small blockade in one of the blood vaines near the heart who had been the course of it all - and the blockade was cleared - and I was in another room - with a lot of monitors - and kept under surveillance to the next day.

The next day I was driven, again by ambulance to my local hospital - and kept there over the weekend - and my heart was monitored for the whole time.. The nurses, the doctors and the rest of the staff cared for me as best they could - I also had some friendly shats with some of the others who was there - a elderly couple whose husband was given a peacemaker, the lady was somewhat stressfully - but the husband was a rather laid back gentleman who often told his wife to calm down and take it easy.. Some Lawyer who was a rather interesting man - and some other people who I was talking to....

Today, I was able to go home - after been in a hospital for almost a week - and I was not paying a dime for the pleasure - as I live in a country with Universal Health Care - Some would say I have already paid for it - by taxes (who I guess most americans would find appealing) but up front - for a hospital stay who had if I had been living in the US maybe cost me 250.000 to 400.000 dollar - I would say I got a better deal - as I had not been paying a dime for it.... I would also get some new medication so I hopefully will not get that problem again anytime soon - *sigh* as I docent have enough as it is because of my two kidneys....

I got my Christmas present I wanted this year - I got home for christmas - and my heart act as a heart should do - hopefully for the rest of my life....

And I have to say - I'm gratefully I live in a country with universal Health Care who you will get your medical need attended to - even if you are not a wealthy person - or powerfully - I got in a way my life back this christmas - and that is the best christmas present I will ever be given - thanks to the excellent medical staff at Bærum Hospital - and at Rikshospitalet -

Last - I would wish you all a good Christmas - wherever you are in the world - and hopefully we all Will be given something you want for christmas - I was given my present - little early but other vice a Christmas gift I will remember for many years...

Diclotican

October 22, 2014

A little video

link:

I just liked this video - and would share it to you

Diclotican

October 19, 2014

menatime in Norway - police do this with a drunk man on the street.

link:/

It is english subtitles

Diclotican

September 15, 2013

My experience with Universal health Care

Hello

As some of you might know - I'm living in a small country in the north of Europe, in Norway - where we have universal health care for all.. And I will like to tell you all, an experience I had when I got sick a month ago. But please, bear over with me, when it come to the grammar - as some of you might know - I'm not fluent in english as it is.. and my grammar is maybe somewhat off most of the time, but I will try to write as good as I manage..

Well, a mount ago I got sick - really sick - even though I was first at my local doctor - and was given some medication for an small infection I was still sick, and was starting to be more and more sick as the week passed.. Finally at an sunday I asked my nabour to come pick me up, and drive me to the emergency room - And I guess it was time for it as I was feeling really sick....

At the emergency room - I had to fill out some paper (of course) but I managed - and had to wait for a while before I was called up and was coming in to the emergency rom for real.. When I finally got into an room where a doctor was, I was put on IV - and a lot of blood work was being doing on me - I was still sick as hell - and was rather helpless where I was laying.. After some test I was put in intensive care - the doctors was afraid I had a blood cloth in one of my lungs - so I was ex rayed and had a lot of other blood work being doing on me.. The first days was somewhat in a haze as I was on IV, got a lot of medication - They discovered I had pneumonia and a kidney that was not working at all - So I continued to be on IV for a long time, to get the kidney working properly again (it took almost 3 weeks to make it so ). But I managed at least, and was in hospital for most of 3 weeks - on medication - when my kidney was starting to work again I was taken off the IV, but they did kept an eye on me for as long as I was at the hospital.. But I did had another problem who surfaced rather unfriendly - I have a condition who can give me some problems in the joints specially the knees - as I was off my regular medication - this condition surfaced in all its pain and misery - so the hospital stay was not the most pleasant for me even as I was given painkillers to manage it all..

After almost 2 weeks, I was transported to an another hospital - across the street from where I was before - a smaller one, but who had expertise for the one problem I had with my knees ... There I was given first class service from the nurses and the doctors - who really seen to care about their patients.. And my knees also improved as they had taken out some of the inflammation who was inside the knees - and put in some medication by syringe - It was almost as a lot of pressure was coming out of the knees - and the medication they put in at least did some for the pain....

After a while they managed to get me up of the bed - first I was in a wheelchair - not able to walk at all - but after a few days as I progressed I was able to walk small distances - to the toilet - and even out in the hall sometimes - of course with help of a "preachers chair" and so one.. But after a few days I was even able to not do that, I was able to walk around with crutches - and after 3 weeks I have recovered enough to get home again.. I'm still on some medication but I am at least back home....

I'm not sure what it all would have cost me, if I had been in the US, but I fear I would have broken the bank just a few days out of the 3 weeks I was in hospital.. Thanks to Universal Health Care laws in Norway I was not broke - and I got my heath back.. I'm on the "recovering" side of my illness - and I guess I would have some fycio for my knees - and for getting rid of the crutches I must go with at the moment (not easy if you want a cop of tea!) And for the medication I had to get from the pharmacy - I paid 69 nkr for 5 types of medication... (it was on something called "blue receipt" and therefore the State take most of the cost as the medication else would have been horrible expensive for me)

This is just my experience with universal health care - I got the medical help I needed - and was given the care I was in need of having when I was sick - I am not trying to glorify or to tell how great it is - I'm just trying to explain what Universal Health Care can do when you are sick.. And it is "free" of charge - no great bill waiting when I got home - no ten of thousands of NKR in debt and so one.. But then again in Norway we do pay taxes according - and our tax brackets is little more steep than it is in the US I guess....


Well, this is my history, and my latest experience with universal health care in Norway - I hope one day, that even the mighty US can give their people a universal health care system where at least people is given a possibility to be well, without broke the bank...

Diclotican

February 14, 2013

I Will just say thank you

I Will just say thank you all, who have given me some hearts to this valentines day - I do not know who you are - but I thank you all, for the hearts - I have no clue I had fans here on DU.

Happy valentines day to you all

Diclotican

December 5, 2012

Winter Temperatures and Norwegians:

Winter tempratures - and Noriwgians

+15°C This is as warm as it gets in Norway, so we'll start here. People in Spain wear winter-coats and gloves. The Norwegians are out in the sun, getting a tan.

+10°C The French are trying in vain to start their central heating. The Norwegians plant flowers in their gardens.


+5°C Italian cars won't start. The Norwegians are cruising in cabriolets.

0°C Distilled water freezes. The water in Oslo
Fjord gets a little thicker.

-5°C People in California almost freeze to death. The Norwegians have their final barbecue before winter. (its true - I and one friend of me, was indeed barbeque for the final time a year when it was - 5*C outside - it was cold - but the food was great

-10°C The Brits start heating their houses. The Norwegians start using long sleeves.

-15°C The Aussies flee from Mallorca. The Norwegians end their Midsummer celebrations. Autumn is here.

-20°C People in Greece die from the cold and disappear from the face of the earth. The Norwegians start drying their laundry indoors.

-30°C Paris start cracking from the cold. The Norwegians stand in line at the hotdog stands.

-50°C Polar bears start evacuating the North Pole. The Norwegian army postpones their winter survival training awaiting real winter weather.

-60°C Santa moves south. The Norwegian army goes out on winter survival training.

-183°C Microbes in food don't survive. The Norwegian cows complain that the farmers' hands are cold.

-273°C All atom and subatomic particles movement halts. The Norwegians start saying "Faen, its cold outside today."

-300°C Hell freezes over, Norway wins the Eurovision Song Contest

Diclotican

August 22, 2012

A little pickyboo into the Norwigian prison where Breivik might end up after setencing freday

http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/08/22/nyheter/anders_behring_breivik/ila_fengsel/tvunget_psykisk_helsevern/forvaringsdom/23067689/

Diclotican