The Secrets Of Vancouver BC, Canada

Swine Flu Fear Still Going Strong…

An interesting story from a friend that’s been traveling and now visiting Stockholm..

Yesterday, In Stockholm…

So I had an interesting experience yesterday.

Like Amsterdam, you have to get a prescription for sudafed here… so I went to the hospital, at reception I answered their questions::

yes, I’m from the US
yes, I have body aches
yes, I have a cough
yes, symptoms have lasted a few days
yes, I think I had a fever the day before

After which they promptly escorted me out of the hospital and told me to wait. Shortly thereafter, a nurse appeared in full gear. She escorted me into the back of the hospital, through an empty hallway. We stopped at a large metal door with big red sign with some kind of warning written in Swedish. Once inside, I was told to disrobe and wait.

After a bit, she came back, took some blood samples and told me to wait again. A man appeared some minutes later in full protection gear and explained that I was now in quarantine and that I would need to stay in this room for the next few days until my results came back… I was a swine flu suspect and I was not allowed to leave. “Do you have internet?” no… “is there anyway I could get internet access? My business depends on it” no…

I waited a minute after he left… jumped off the bed… took off the hospital gown and quickly put my clothes back on as best as I could since I still had the blood sample valve thingy in my arm. With my clothes mostly on, I closed the bathroom door thinking that would buy me an extra minute or two.

Popped my head out the big metal door to make sure the hallway was clear. Near the end of the hallway a couple of nurses noticed me and stopped what they were doing. I had distance though and decided it was now or never. Quickly through the door, closing it behind me, I was through the hallway and out of the hospital.

To my left there were some trees and a path, so I headed there first to button my shirt and regroup. As I was finishing, 4 orderlies came flying out of the door I had exited from… they were clearly looking for something, probably me.

I followed the trees down to the street and walked till I found a little store. Bought some alcohol and some band-aids. I removed the blood valve thingy from my arm in the bathroom of a pizza shop… was shocked how long the little tube was in my vein. Applied alcohol and band-aid, pretty simple.

After the pizza shop, I got lost for a bit but eventually made it back to the subway.

I am feeling better today but would still like some sudafed…

Shows what happens when you visit a country coming from Los Angeles… and also when faced with the Internet being taken away…

Amy Mickelson Latest Victim Of Breast Cancer

One of the game’s greats wife is the latest high-profile person to fall victim to breast cancer. Amy Mickelson is among the most visible wives on the PGA Tour, a former Phoenix Suns cheerleader who regularly walks during the rounds and mingles easily with the gallery.

According to a release from Mickelson’s management company, his wife was to have more tests but begin treatment with major surgery as early as the next two weeks.

From CBS Sports:

Six years ago, during the delicate delivery of the couple’s third child, she almost died after suffering a torn uterus, lapsing into a coma and experiencing massive blood loss. As Phil paced in the hospital hallway, he overheard a nurse say it was sad that if their baby boy, Evan, pulled through, he would have to grow up without a mother. She was rushed into surgery and survived.

And thrived.

In an era when some wives of prominent players practically flee the course when identified by fans or media — Elin Woods is notoriously guarded and eschews all interviews — Amy Mickelson is the polar opposite. She gladly gabs with strangers and spectators, often cracking self-deprecating jokes about herself and her husband. She even knows the names of some lowly media scribes and treats us like something other than a walking O.B. stake.

Here’s wishing the best for Amy.

Blame Canada – Our Healthcare Kills

CANADA CARE MAY HAVE KILLED NATASHA

COULD actress Natasha Richardson‘s tragic death have been prevented if her skiing accident had occurred in America rather than Canada?

Canadian health care de-emphasizes widespread dissemination of technology like CT scanners and quick access to specialists like neurosurgeons. While all the facts of Richardson’s medical care haven’t been released, enough is known to pose questions with profound implications.

Richardson died of an epidural hematoma — a bleeding artery between the skull and brain that compresses and ultimately causes fatal brain damage via pressure buildup. With prompt diagnosis by CT scan, and surgery to drain the blood, most patients survive.

Could Richardson have received this care? Where it happened in Canada, no. In many US resorts, yes.

Lots of P’d off Canadian comments follow the story..

More in defense here.

Great Healthcare In Canada

In the US we had direct access to specialists, and a family doctor. No waiting, and confidence in the service.

We’ve been in Vancouver for 14 months and still haven’t found a family doctor. I guess that clinic in the mall isn’t so bad. At least that’s what I keep telling my wife.

Socialized Healthcare explained to Americans.

Listeria Hysteria

photo credit: Glynnis Ritchie

With the recent news about Canadians dying because of Listeria, it might be helpful to explain exactly what the disease is… 15 people have died already from Maple Leaf Foods deli meat.

What is listeriosis?

Listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, mainly in Maple Leaf Deli meats. The disease affects people of advanced age, pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems.

What are the symptoms of listeriosis?

Fever, muscle aches, and sometimes gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.

Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness; however, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, or infection of the newborn.

How great is the risk for listeriosis?

• Pregnant women – They are about 20 times more likely than other healthy adults to get listeriosis. About one-third of listeriosis cases happen during pregnancy.
• Newborns – Newborns rather than the pregnant women themselves suffer the serious effects of infection in pregnancy.
• Persons with weakened immune systems
• Persons with cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease
• Persons with AIDS – They are almost 300 times more likely to get listeriosis than people with normal immune systems.
• Persons who take glucocorticosteroid medications
• The elderly
• Healthy adults and children occasionally get infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.

How does Listeria get into food?

Listeria monocytogenes is found in soil and water. Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer.

Animals can carry the bacterium without appearing ill and can contaminate foods of animal origin such as meats and dairy products. The bacterium has been found in a variety of raw foods, such as uncooked meats and vegetables, as well as in processed foods that become contaminated after processing, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts at the deli counter. Unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk may contain the bacterium.

Listeria is killed by pasteurization and cooking; however, in certain ready-to-eat foods such as hot dogs and deli meats, contamination may occur after cooking but before packaging.

How do you get listeriosis?

You get listeriosis by eating food contaminated with Listeria. Babies can be born with listeriosis if their mothers eat contaminated food during pregnancy. Although healthy persons may consume contaminated foods without becoming ill, those at increased risk for infection can probably get listeriosis after eating food contaminated with even a few bacteria. Persons at risk can prevent Listeria infection by avoiding certain high-risk foods and by handling food properly.
How can you reduce your risk for listeriosis?

• Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry.
• Wash raw vegetables thoroughly before eating.
• Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and from cooked foods and ready-to-eat foods.
• Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk or foods made from unpasteurized milk.
• Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible

How do you know if you have listeriosis?

There is no routine screening test for listeriosis during pregnancy, as there is for rubella and some other congenital infections. If you have symptoms such as fever or stiff neck, consult your doctor. A blood or spinal fluid test (to cultivate the bacteria) will show if you have listeriosis. During pregnancy, a blood test is the most reliable way to find out if your symptoms are due to listeriosis.

Can listeriosis be treated?

When infection occurs during pregnancy, antibiotics given promptly to the pregnant woman can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn.

Babies with listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until physicians are certain of the diagnosis. Even with prompt treatment, some infections result in death. This is particularly likely in the elderly and in persons with other serious medical problems.

Hope this helps…

Free Health Care

Yahoo.. free health care.

No more co-pays, HMOs and high priced drugs.

Now if we could only find a doctor that’ll take on new new patients.

There are some, but in Canada, you can’t go to a specialist without a referral – this means two things:

• You better find a family doctor that is connected..
• “The family physician decides, based on his/her medical knowledge, if the referral is necessary.  Similarly, if he/she feels that a second opinion is unnecessary, he/she is not obliged to provide that referral.” So better find a good one.

It’s no wonder why this problem exists. Health is now 50% of the provincial budget. And it’s a big chunk.

On average, family doctor’s incomes in BC are already 40% lower than those of other specialists – and this discrepancy is increasing.

Plus doctors are capped at how many patients they can treat. Probably cause we don’t want a hard working doctor making too much money.

So by limiting the amount of patients a doctor can see, they can control costs.

Until we show up in the emergency room.

Interesting Canada Health Care Stats:

4 million people (approx. 12% of Canadians) lack a family doctor.

86 per cent of those who were born in Canada or immigrated more than five years ago have a doctor; just 65 per cent of more recent immigrants can say the same.

That means me. And now my family has to wait 3 months before they can get on the “free” health care, even though I have been paying my taxes for 7 months. At least they’ll have time to find a doctor.

Hey! Health care in the US wasn’t bad.

Michael Moore – can you look into this for me?

…