Some good news

Thank you Ivan,
I will pray for you that you will not need the operation. Maj-Lis and I know that such procedures can be really risky.

It's not much fun getting old, is it? I suffer from PV (https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/205114-followup), which is thankfully almost symptom-free, until the it comes to "the spent phase". I had it for 17 years, so you can see I am on "borrowed time". I just hope that when it happens there will be a massive coronary, I don't want to linger with amputated toes and fingers, or missing the odd leg. But I have made preparations the event.

Looking at it from a distance, I have already had 68 years, I am still working, outwardly healthy and active. Maj-Lis has good quality of life, even if she is confined to a wheelchair much of the time. We both have had a "good innings" (cricket term). So we are both thankful for every day extra we have together. Maj-Lis, by the way, is 74. I think you have to look at life in a different way, for example, every wrinkle is the remains of a jolly good laugh

So I hope that you can try to look at things from a positive way; being happy is also a good cure for many ailments. I hope that your situation gets better.

Hafta go now, yet another, further, different meeting for me to practice my sarcasm   That is a part of the job I love 

Very best regards from harry - SM0VPO

Hi Harry,
thank you for your kind words. I just returned from a medical centre, where I get some physiotherapy (paid from public health insurance in my case). I feel better, but the progress is slow. The doctors say it is normal with backbone issues. It will be one year since I stayed in hospital soon. I hope I will not need an operation.
Besides that I need new glasses and some repairs of teeth. Those must be paid by me. Keeping healthy is expensive. Yes, many pensioners cannot buy food if they pay for medical treatment and vice versa, even with the help of health insurance.

I wish you both health, health and health. And a bit of good luck - all passengers on H.M.S. Titanic were perfectly healthy...

VBR from Ivan

Hi Ivan,
Both Maj-Lis and I have had health issues, but Maj-Lis has had it really bad. She used to have nuts and bolts in her ankle when that was crushed, but the Swedish health service wa a lot better 15 years ago.

It now looks like she does not need the operation. As I wrote below, in Spain I had her see a private physician. He stopped treating the side effect of all the other drugs, in fact he stopped ALL her medications so he could examine her and treat only the illness. Now she has a very little medicine and a (private) therapist. It looks as though she may not need the operation after all. She is a lot more chirpy and getting much better mobility. Unfortunately she still needs the wheelchair.

The private physician and therapist in Spain were rather expensive, but since she has a pension AND I still have a well(ish) paid job, we were lucky enough to afford it. If we were both pensioners then there is no way we could have afforded it. Maj-Lis also had a tooth problem, since her long-term ground illness causes dryness in the mouth, her teeth began to crumble. I was also able to get her a full set of implants. At 75 years, food is a great pleasure. I honestly do not know how some people can afford medical treatment, even if the Swedish state do assist with a large part of the dental costs (only 50%).

But thank you for your response. I hope that you are also getting better and can enjoy an increasing quality of life. If you have a good country health system then it makes a really big difference.

VBR Harry

Hi Harry,
I am glad to hear such good news from you.
I really did not know that Maj-Lis was a candidate for the spinal operation - like me. I am still unable to go to work after the spondylitis. The specialist told me, that the ultimate solution may be to put some screws and bolts into my back. Am I a robot??   But physiotherapy helps me a lot, so I hope the operation will not be necessary at the end.
The "state" healthcare in Czechia (i.e. paid from the public health insurance) is good. Some difference appears only in individual character of the personnel, as everywhere. If I had to pay for all my treatment during the last year, I would be ruined.

Very best regards from Ivan OK1SIP

Hi all,

For the pasr eight weeks, both Maj-Lis and I have had medical issues. Here in Spain she visited a private doctor. One of the advantages of working after 65 is that you can afford the odd extra luxury, such as a visit to a doctor that cares.

The private doctor stopped all medicines for a few days and then treated the symptoms of the illness, and NOT the side effects of all the other medicines. Maj-Lis now has physiotherapy (with a private, Spanish, thysiotherapist) and may not need the spinal operation after all. She has become a lot more mobile, more active, more cheerful and I do not have to look after her all the time.

The last month in Sweden was pure hell and I had to take time off work all the time due to Maj-Lis's medical "emergencies".

But it just goes to show that there is a HUGE difference between the state healthcare, and private healthcare.

Best regards from Harry - EA/SM0VPO
(NOT qrv at the moment)