Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Errata

SDW best wishes for your consultation. My stepdad had cataracts remove from both eyes when he was 75. It's literally a 20 minute procedure with a couple of hours 'stay' afterwards so they can make sure everything is ok and is done as a day case. He was back to normal in a couple of days with no discomfort at all.
Your GP should be able to tell you which hosptal has the shortest waiting list and can refer you to whichever one you choose.

seven-day-weekend

droopsnout wrote: »

Yep. Makes sense.

I suppose we seasoned internet users are very quick to look everything up on the net. It's usually the first thing that happens here after a trip to the doc's!

I wonder, though, if you built up the language problem more in your head to be more difficult than it really would be. Tricky one. Would have been a great motivator to learn more Spanish, though. I learnt all sorts of nasty little words when I had a short spell in hospital here! lol

As a matter of interest (cos of my Mum's situation) how long will you have to wait between diagnosis and treatment?

Absolutely no idea droopsnout - I'm expecting quite a while, but will let you know as soon as I do.

As regards the language, you are probably right, but I remember when my husband was in Hospital Universitario de San Cecilio in Granada two years ago, it was so stressful not understanding properly. Our problem is, we can usually say what we want but don't always understand what they say back. My husband does not find it anywhere near as stressful as I do, which is why he was happy to have his operation in Spain. We did however have a bilingual speaker at the end of a phone, and used her services once, she spoke to the Dr on our behalf and then told us what he'd said.

seven-day-weekend

Thanks for your good wishes and encouraging words, Errata.

xx

droopsnout

Yes, understood, s-d-w.

Language is an absolutely fundamental part of our character and psychology, and when we feel it is weak, we feel ourselves to be powerless. Much is attributable, as you suggest, to each person's personality. Some are able to cope, others are overcome by feelings of helplessness and vulnerability.

I sympathise with you. Although I could cope OK here, and maybe even in Spain, I would feel the same faced with hospitalisation virtually anywhere else.

seven-day-weekend

Thankyou droopsnout for your kind words.

Merrywidow

Hi SDW - So sorry to hear of all the upset just when you were planning to return. Helped my Mum thru two cateract operations which were quick and simple. I remember the specialists telling us that the cateract had to "ripen" before he could operate which took some time - maybe 6 to 9 months but a little unsure now. Everyone is different of course.

I have the gut feeling that you are rather pleased you can stay for a while.

Broke an arm in Spain many years ago in Benidorm and a tourist rep was brought in to liase with the surgeon. She told me that I had only sprained it and left. I had x-rays and was later led into the plaster of paris department. When I recoiled the doctor said "It is a little big broken"! They did a good job tho and everything was fine 6 weeks later when the plaster came off. Dutch doctor said the x-ray showed a perfectly set and healed arm. Good luck.

seven-day-weekend

Thanks Merrywidow - you're right, I'm not altogether heartbroken about having to stay, although we would both like to be in Spain for the winter. Have to wait and see what the timescale is that I've got to wait.

droopsnout

Merrywidow wrote: »

Hi SDW I remember the specialists telling us that the cateract had to "ripen" before he could operate which took some time - maybe 6 to 9 months but a little unsure now.

Yes, the optician who initially diagnosed my Mum's cataracts asked her to return in six months, to see if they were ready for treatment. She did, they apparently are, and she is now waiting for an appointment with the eye people at a local hospital.

Merrywidow

Trust me SDW - its getting autumnal already. Come November you will be climbing the walls and wailing for Spain. Then again, Christmas will be approaching and I always find that a fun time. Surely you wouldn't need that much Spanish for a cataract operation. If they are in the early stages it could take a year for them to ripen. Don't you just love all of us getting our two penneth in, telling you what to do, LOL just shows we care.

seven-day-weekend

Merrywidow, it isn't just the operation, it is the procedure beforehand, where you don't know where you are supposed to be going or who you are supposed to be seeing, or why.

I remember while we were waiting for my husband's operation, he got a phone call to go to the hospital and we said 'is it for the operation?' and they said yes, so we thought he was going to have the operation. When we got there (two hours drive away), all he had to do was sign some forms and go home. So when I said is it for the operation, they read that is is it in connection with the operation.

Too stressful for me I'm afraid, although my husband was very calm about his (he was in hospital nearly two weeks and had excellent care).

So I'd prefer it in the UK where I understand what is going on.

Once I get a date to see the specialist, then if I remember rightly from the British NHS, I will have to wait several months and should be able to spend the winter months in Spain. As long as I am in the UK longer than six months in a year (and it's three already) I can maintain my UK residencey and therefore my entitlement to NHS treatment.