Morecambe - where are you ?

[clara345]

HI How are you ?

I already book the freight on sunday to HIK, I am very scared can't come back to chat with you, I am afraid I may died and dehydrated, on 23of this month, I am luckly I can do colonscopy, the laxative is working (99% not working),I had been in ER 2 times, doctor gave me same laxative, not working)  it has been 17 days, only came out very little one time. I bring all the money to HK to see doctor there, but I am afraid it end up in a huge amount, which I can't afford it.

My son not allowing me to come back, he is worried I may die. I really very scared everything.......... According to the writing of the doctor (last time I saw in HK) over 36% patient doing surgery, have the chance the colon would stick together, they have to do surgery again, it may lead to die. If I don't do surgery, I still have problem later.

Any suggestion is apprreciated.

clara

[Morecambe]

I really can't add any more suggestions over and above what I have mentioned in my previous postings.

Just re-read what I have already suggested and then make a firm plan of action based on your final decision.

The only thought that entered my mind is whether the delay before your surgeon can see you in Calgary suggests that he has assumed that you are "not paying 100% privately and therefore you must wait"??  I don't know the system in Canada - but in the USA, if you are paying yourself then usually the surgeon will see you quickly.  If you are not 100% paying privately then you may have to wait until the surgeon can fit you in.

If the cost is too high for you then maybe you can ask the hospital whether they have any "public medicine/surgery" policy?

Hoping that you will be able to finalise everything soon.

regards
Morecambe

[clara345]

The important thing is the laxative (99.99%) usually is not working for me, so I really couldn't stand it. In canada, last time I call to the doctor office, tell them my situation, they still can't give me earlier appointment time, I think I have to wait long. I can't wait so long. In HK, last time my mom admitted to hospital for 1 week, it cost Can. $70,000. (both parents passed away already) Sometimes you can't predict how much would spent. I am afraid I have to sell my house end up. Right now, I really want to come back, I rather waste 1 ticket.

They really couldn't understand me, only say constipation is not a big problem, but, I really very suffer and couldn't stand it !!! I feel discomfort every min. and couldn't sleep every night. I just drink the laxative (for colonscopy), usually not working and make me more constipated.but I really need to release it. Usually it should come out after 1 hour, now already 2 hour and  still nothing.  They think this would treat me good, in fact not really. I can't go to ER, because the doctor gave me same laxative.
T
tonight I try to beg her to give me back the passport .

I hate my life - being always constipated ! I really don't know how to do now, life is suffer !

Morecambe thanks again !

clara

[Morecambe]

Hi again - you really have two battles:-

a) your bowel problems
b) your family!!

I think that you need to solve problem (b) before you can solve problem (a).  After your latest news, I am starting to believe that maybe it is best for you to have the operation in Calgary - remember Dr Pho has stated that surgery in Canada is amongst the best in the world and it will take more (too much??) convincing to persuade your family that the surgery in HK is not so unsafe as they claim.  Also in Canada you can "just take a taxi and go to the Calgary hospital" whereas it seems that flying to HK generates more obstacles and maybe when you are in HK your family will find a way to prevent you from going to your local HK hospital??.

I am sure that your family has your best interests at heart - but I think they are misguided perhaps by inaccurate information on this operation.  Ask them whether you should avoid surgery and suffer for the rest of your life with chronic constipation which may well mean regular emergency visits to your local E.R.  Is that what they really want??

I would also press the Calgary surgeon to agree to a sooner appointment/operation that they have offered.  Tell them that you are having to go regularly to the E.R. and maybe they will agree to bring forward your surgery.

Regarding the cost - ask for a price that includes the surgery and all necessary after-care.  This should also include a follow-up operation in the very unlikely event that this is nesessary.

Please don't hesitate to come back with any further questions.  My only wish is to receive eventually a posting "Clara345's operation is completeed and successful and her family is happy!!"

regards
Morecambe

[clara345]

Thanks for your feedback.
My sister just come to visit me, she cancel my ticket without my approval, I have to pay $C350,00 penalty and hide my passport.She want me to try other method first, actually, I try everything before. Now, she rebook for me on Nov. 18.  They all don't want me to do surgery, I don't know how to do, it has been long time no poop.
As for my myself, I want to do the surgery, in canada, doctor will call me on Dec. to tell me the next appointment time ,(not surgery time) It's been long time to wait. Only, in HK would be faster. In HK I have to spent at least C$35,000 for surgery if no complication happened, but I am afraid it end up in a huge amount which I can't afford it. Morrecambe, in my family no one suppport me to make the decision ! I really very discomfort !

[Morecambe]

Hi again - Let's go back to the beginning and take it step-by-step:-

a) do you definitely want the surgery (total colectomy?)
b) assuming the answer is "Yes" then where will it be carried out - HK, Canada or other?
c) the answer to this question will depend partially on whether your son can "tolerate" your absence in HK and whether your brother tries to prevent you having the operation in HK.  If your son is really scared can you take him with you to HK?  I don't know how old he is but he may well be at an age where he thinks "Mum going into hospital when I am with her and with my family in HK" is less scary than "I will be on my own in Canada if Mum dies in hospital in HK".
d) it will also depend on your/your son's/your brother's confidence in the quality of the surgery in HK and predicted outcome
e) to this extent, as I have mentioned before, I think that you/your brother have been given (perhaps by "non-experts") an unduly pessimistic prediction of the dangers of the surgery.  Remedy - when you reach HK, try to discuss your case with a colorectal surgeon from the HK hospital whose details I sent to you in a previous posting a few weeks ago.  Ask the surgeon about the mortality rate and the complications that can occur after the operation.  Remember, a total colectomy is a routine operation and it will have been carried out thousands of times in the main HK hospital.  I suggest that you print off my own summary (http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/523166) and show a copy to the surgeon and ask him/her "do you agree with this other patient's experience"?
How likely is it that I will need a second operation?  What can go wrong?

Obviously you must make your own decision - but from all that I have learned, if I were in your situation I would take the following decisions:-

- I think the surgery is essential and worth the risks
- if I had the surgery in Calgary then I would assume that the quality of medical care is among the best in the world. But I would ask a friend/relative to fly from HK to be with me in Calgary so that there is comfort for your son.
- if I had the surgery in HK I would take my son with me.  I would re-check the answers to my paragraph (e) above before 100% committing to the surgery in HK.  Assuming that the HK medical care is also "top class" then I would go ahead and have the operation performed in HK.  If for some reason I received really "bad answers/predictions" from the HK hospital (most unlikely) then I would return to Calgary and have the operation done there.

I realise that this is a difficult decision for you - but I hope that my suggestions may be of some help.  

Good luck and do please keep me posted.

Kind regards
Morecambe