johnaross Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I have not been on the forum for the last few months. We had expected to be in England in April. Come January this year the wife was one week off handing in her notice, house sold, removals on alert and just about to convert our money on the great rates and opened a UK bank account, temporary accomodation booked whilst looking for a house. Then doctor says the magic words - don't like the look of that xray. Many scans later plus PET scans biopsies and just started the treatment for the big C. Not quite as planned then. I must say I was devastated how quickly months of planning a scheming can just go out of the window but there you go. Should have returned last year when I was hale and hearty. Just started chemo which destroyed my white blood cells so efficiently I have just finished 7 days in hospital with an infection and in isolation. Locked in a 9m by 5 m room 24 hrs a day for 7 days is just torture. I am so used to daily exercise etc but could not even go out into the corridor. If you have seen Tigers in small cages in zoos marching up and down you get the picture. But luckily the white cell count went up this morning and now back home - yipeeeeee. This is the same home we sold and now have to rent back from the new owner!!! In about 4.5 months of 3 weekly cycles of chemo and daily radiation for six weeks there is a pretty good chance of a cure. Here's hoping. Then do we go back to cold England and creaking health system or stay in Oz. Heart is back home even after 30 years here but might just end up moving to Tasmania as a half way house. So the moral of this sad tale - if you want to go home go because, as with me, it can all evaporate in a flash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Im sorry to hear that John,as you say,these things can come right out of the blue,my mam was never a day sick,walked miles everyday,then all of a sudden she had to start having naps,she was diagnosed with Lung Cancer July 6th 09,i am replying to hopefully reassure you a little bit about the NHS,the treatment my mam had was excellent,this was Christies in Manchester as they moved to Wigan area. Hopefully you will beat this,but "if" you needed treatment here its still very good,imo anyway,best of luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Sorry to hear that John and I hope things work out for you - makes you appreciate your own home being in hospital. Hope you find a good place to live long term, too- whether it is in one of the cooler Southern States or the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnaross Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 Thanks pablo. Yes, I would think the UK is still good when it comes to life threatening problems but once you get on the medical band wagon in one country it is difficult to move. Not giving up hope at this stage and planning for a holiday in the UK later in the year. Shame the people I booked a cottage from for a few months were too insensitive to refund any of out substantial deposit. But hell it is only money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnaross Posted May 5, 2013 Author Share Posted May 5, 2013 Thanks starlight7 will just have to be a little laid back and see what happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tea4too Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 I’m so sorry you’re having to deal not only with ill health but also all the consequences of being mid move. But don’t be too hard on yourself, as you made decisions based on the way things seemed at the time, and that’s all any of us can do. Is is better to procrastinate, or ‘rush in where angels fear to tread’ - who knows, really? I echo Pabs experience of the NHS, although I think like a lot of the UK it may depend on the area and hospital. All the best john, I hope all comes good for you. Tx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest26012 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Sorry to hear about this. My dad recently went back to the uk after living in Spain. He has Parkinson's and his care was very patchy in Spain. Although he receives excellent care under the NHS now, he regrets moving back. Good luck to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest16631 Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 ..........I too am sorry to read your story...........though only that something unforseen and out of your control has forced your choice....... ..........too hear that your home now...............over one tremendous hurdle..............and with the mindset to face the next....... ...........has made me think that your a survivor...............a positive thinker.......... ...........you'll know what to do when the time comes .........when your mind and soul have had a chance to accept the new you..... ...........so I wish you all the best.................and hope you soon find clarity to see your way forward........on the next leg of your journey...........take care......tink x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 So sorry to hear that, John - sometimes the mantra of life is what happens when you are busy making other plans is unpleasantly true. My observation of the NHS from the point of view of a carer of several elderly folk, is that it is amazing. Admittedly we live near one of the nation's best teaching hospitals in Addenbrookes but, I honestly cant fault it. (The aged rellies fault it a lot - have to wait two weeks for an appointment! OMG! End of the World time!). My uncle has to have a potential melanoma removed from his face - it's been 3 weeks from referral to surgery for him which, in Canberra terms is pretty good. I hope your recovery is smooth and uneventful and that you will be back to full health in no time at all. Grab your life back when you can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamboozled Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Sorry to hear you are unwell, stay positive and continue to beat it mate! Regarding the NHS, remember we only ever hear the bad news, it's boring reading apparently to have an article about the many thousands of people who have received excellent care! I worked 10 years for NHS with a pretty devoted team. Good luck with it all, now get better!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Very sorry to hear about your problems, we live with it daily in our house as well but unfortunately my oh does not have a long life to look forward to. As far as care goes you have been here a long time and not used to the NHS. Care here in Australia is wonderful, we were at the specialist on Friday with my oh, my oh needed an urgent MRI and he is having it today and seeing the specialist tomorrow for results, can't get quicker than that. If we were living in the UK my oh would not be here, he had a ground breaking operation last year and it was the first they had done, he had been knocked back by another surgeon and with age and with the type of cancer he has I know he would never have been considered in the UK. As it was it was very successful as he was very fit prior to becoming ill. I also have had my daughter for nine years now after a brain tumour, she fell down at work one day, admitted to hospital, operated on the next day, no wait for a week or a fortnight, just operated straight away, it was grade 3 tumour so not a good one and very successful op, chemo, radiation and she has not paid a penny for it. She is called in for her MRI's appointments made does not have to phone anyone or follow up. If its urgent and we are sick no trusts to worry about money for this and that, its done here. There are a few of us on the forum that have vast experience of treatment here and I know where I would prefer to be. My sister in law was high up in the NHS and her husband was very ill and she knew the ropes and she still had to jump through hoops to get things the way she wanted them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flathead Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Very sorry to hear about your problems, we live with it daily in our house as well but unfortunately my oh does not have a long life to look forward to. As far as care goes you have been here a long time and not used to the NHS. Care here in Australia is wonderful, we were at the specialist on Friday with my oh, my oh needed an urgent MRI and he is having it today and seeing the specialist tomorrow for results, can't get quicker than that. If we were living in the UK my oh would not be here, he had a ground breaking operation last year and it was the first they had done, he had been knocked back by another surgeon and with age and with the type of cancer he has I know he would never have been considered in the UK. As it was it was very successful as he was very fit prior to becoming ill. I also have had my daughter for nine years now after a brain tumour, she fell down at work one day, admitted to hospital, operated on the next day, no wait for a week or a fortnight, just operated straight away, it was grade 3 tumour so not a good one and very successful op, chemo, radiation and she has not paid a penny for it. She is called in for her MRI's appointments made does not have to phone anyone or follow up. If its urgent and we are sick no trusts to worry about money for this and that, its done here. There are a few of us on the forum that have vast experience of treatment here and I know where I would prefer to be. My sister in law was high up in the NHS and her husband was very ill and she knew the ropes and she still had to jump through hoops to get things the way she wanted them. My experience of the two systems is very different to yours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Sorry to hear about your health worries John - take care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cracked Actor Posted May 5, 2013 Share Posted May 5, 2013 Very sorry to hear about your problems, we live with it daily in our house as well but unfortunately my oh does not have a long life to look forward to. As far as care goes you have been here a long time and not used to the NHS. Care here in Australia is wonderful, we were at the specialist on Friday with my oh, my oh needed an urgent MRI and he is having it today and seeing the specialist tomorrow for results, can't get quicker than that. If we were living in the UK my oh would not be here, he had a ground breaking operation last year and it was the first they had done, he had been knocked back by another surgeon and with age and with the type of cancer he has I know he would never have been considered in the UK. As it was it was very successful as he was very fit prior to becoming ill. I also have had my daughter for nine years now after a brain tumour, she fell down at work one day, admitted to hospital, operated on the next day, no wait for a week or a fortnight, just operated straight away, it was grade 3 tumour so not a good one and very successful op, chemo, radiation and she has not paid a penny for it. She is called in for her MRI's appointments made does not have to phone anyone or follow up. If its urgent and we are sick no trusts to worry about money for this and that, its done here. There are a few of us on the forum that have vast experience of treatment here and I know where I would prefer to be. My sister in law was high up in the NHS and her husband was very ill and she knew the ropes and she still had to jump through hoops to get things the way she wanted them. To the op, all the best, I know how best made plans can go astray. It doesn't matter where you are at the mo, as long as you are being looked after properly. You take care. Petals, give your pro Australia a rest. I'm not sure why you're allowed to be a moderator, you are clearly out of touch with the rest of the world? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 I think in Australia they are very good when it comes to really serious illnesses, as Petals says. What they are not so good at is minor illnesses but I would put them on a par with UK in this. They certainly seem to make judgements about who should or should not be treated there- according to age. We hit this with my parents. It seems in Australia that is not a part of the equation- all are treated equally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnaross Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 Thanks for all the good luck wishes - they mean a lot at this stage. Re the NHS I never meant to knock it because prompt medical care free at the point of delivery is such a credit to the UK. The pressures recently with immigration from with the EU has put them under strain and politicians of all flavours have not been able to resist meddling. Our australian health system is great but it is so expensive. Even with private health cover and a health card you would not believe how the bills have mounted up. We have the money at the moment having just sold the house (to move to the UK!!!!) but it is just not right that there are people on limited means having to bear the burden of financial worry on top of life threatening health problems. Some of the gap payments above the medicare rebates from specialists and some pathology companies are just plain greedy. Not that I begrudge any one the money right now. All a matter of perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.