Canadian Health Care

lassie11

er/pr+ not supposed to drink?!?!?  I never heard that! How many sacrifices can a person make? I don't drink a lot, but it would be a shame to feel guilty when I do. Shutting my eyes, shutting my ears, not paying attention to that one!

konakat

My onc says wine is OK in moderation.  So, cheers!

I'm very excited that I'm going to meet Sharon and Michelle next week -- seems like returning to Ottawa is turning out to be a good thing!  Yah, yah, I know, you told me so... 

pk0199

Okay  maybe I am reading things wrong, but PIP states alcohol is not good for er/pr+BC, this is not the first time I have seen that, am I misinterpreting?

barbe1958

I think it's because it promotes weight gain and it's the weight gain itself that's not good....

pip57

No, its because it increases estrogen.  Some people avoid it completely.  I choose to limit my wine although I am already past my limit for December!

konakat

Haha PIP!  I count on the chemo/tamox/AIs to counteract the estrogen and all my vices.  Might not be scientifically sound but it works for me.  I can rationalize anything.  A friend gave me two bottles of wine.  Since they're a gift the Rules of Life According to Lizzie says they are healthy, probaby chock full of vitamins -- wine is made from grapes after all. 

lewing

I've cut way back on my wine drinking, but increased the quality.  That strikes me as a reasonable compromise.

Linda

crazy4carrots

Drinking less, but enjoying it more!  Sounds like a plan......

rinna40

I've read somewhere that one glass of red wine a day helps with the SEs from radiation, so I'll partake in a little red wine for the next few weeks.

pip57

Chocolate, wine and coffee.  They are the vices that I will continue to enjoy...in moderation...of course!

Bren-2007

Hi My Canadian Buddies,

   My vices ... coffee, chocolate and a smoke .. preferably at the same time!

   Gals .. please have a glass of whatever you're drinking for me .. I gave it up a long time ago, but could sure use one about now.

Peace and be well ...

Love,

Bren

konakat

Hi Bren -- the next sip of red wine is for you.  Hope you're OK?

Bren-2007

Thanks Elizabeth .. huge big hugs!

I'll catch up in the morning.

Bren

pk0199

Thanks for the info on alcohol. Since I don't drink much at all, I think I will keep on with the amount I do drink. I can go months without anything or have 1 a week so I think I am safe! Might have to take up more drinking though if this snow and wind doesn't stop!

crazy4carrots

pk -- too bad you can't send all that snow westward to Vancouver and Whistler, where they really need it!

As for alcohol:  I think there are oodles of things we could consume (and probably do!) that can promote the development of estrogen, but as I understand it, the main concern about alcohol is that our poor livers have to work that much harder, considering the other medications we most likely are taking.  But I wonder if a "nightcap" is more onerous on the liver than a weak sleeping pill......hmmmm.  The nightcap sure tastes better!

When I was going through chemo, my onc told me I was only allowed to have a "wee glass" of champagne if I were going to a special celebration.  Well, with taxotere I sure didn't feel like going to any celebration, let alone having champagne LOL!

Hugs to all, Linda

barbe1958

I kind of made a deal with God the night before my surgery that I would stop drinking. Don't remember what His side of the deal was, but I've kept up my side. Hasn't been difficult or anything, but I thought it would be as we had wine EVERY night. I guess it wasn't really that important to me. I'm lucky. I know people just go crazy trying to stop smoking...

Bren-2007

Do you Canadian gals have a system for dental and eye coverage?  Even with insurance, Tim's new lenses and frames cost $330 the other day.  The exam was $250 and that was covered since his deductible was met for the year. 

Barbe .. I had to go without a smoke for a while recently .. and it was really hard.  Hats off to all those who can and have quit.

A "wee" glass of champagne ... what the hell is that?  Like an eyedropper full!

peace and hugs,

Bren

lassie11

No - we do not have a universal system for dental and glasses. We have the option of buying into an insurance plan or paying on our own. Often such insurance plans are available from our place of employment.

crazy4carrots

Hi Bren:  Most employers include something called "supplemental health insurance" in their benefits package, which usually includes dental, vision, drugs, chiropractic etc.  At age 65, the Canadian version of Medicare takes over, but doesn't include dental.  Some of us who retired early were able to carry over our employer's supplemental coverage (which we pay for out-of-pocket, but it's cheaper because we have the same rate as the large group coverage rate).  Anyhow, that's my experience (oh yes, no deductibles with my plan; DH is over 65 so the plan nicely covers his dental).  By the way, our health insurance companies didn't disappear or go belly-up when single-payer came into existence here.  They just got stronger, by branching out into other areas in the financial arena......

As for the eyedropper of champagne-- yep, I think that's what she meant .

Hugs, Linda

barbe1958

Bren, OHIP used to cover eye exams but doesn't now. We pay $60 for an exam and can sometimes swing that into partial payment for glasses depending on what optical place you're in. I paid about what you did for my bifocals with designer lenses and non-scratch, non-glare.

A "wee" bit is a Scottish saying so it depends on how much Scotch you have in you! hehehehehe

rinna40

I do wish OHIP still subsidized Chiropractic care, as that became quite expensive for me after they pulled out. I also wish there was some supplementation for Naturopathic (sp?) care. I'm also really glad that I did have great Health benefits through work. It covered my Neulasta shots (I heard they were about $2000 a pop and I had six of them). Through work I was also allowed to bank my sick days. I've been off work since March, and I am still getting paid like normal. OHIP is great, but life is definitely easier if you also have added benefits through work.

barbe1958

We can't bank our sick days, so I was "lucky" enough to have my surgery at the end of last year so I could be off work for the 2 weeks through Christmas and New Years utilizing the 3 stat holidays paid and my sick pay! Whew!

I agree with the Chidropractic care as well. It is proactive to get that care (as well as massage therapy!) and would benefit the load to OHIP for bigger problems!

konakat

The neulasta shots cost have me worried.  We're no different than the US when it comes to prescriptions, chiropractors, optometrists, etc.  We need that insurance through our employers or private insurance (if we're lucky to have it before we need it -- too expensive now for me).  I'm a bit worried about this -- no insurance for prescriptions.  Maybe I'll have to go on disability to get in the Trillium drug plan until I get a job.  Or refuse to give myself the shots and get them done at the hospital so they're free?  I guess I'll find out everything tomorrow when I see my onc and hopefully a social worker who knows how to work the system.  BTW -- I'd gladly pay more taxes to have true universal care -- everything covered.

barbe1958

You don't have to be on disability to go on Trillium. Trillium is based on your income...you pay a deductibe amount they decide on and then $2 per prescription or something like that. I tried it one year, but my deductible was $3,600 and the paperwork was incredible so I gave up. Fortunately I have a drug plan now. Not all drugs are covered under drug plans though, so having one doesn't mean Neulasta would be covered. Get the low-down tomorrow and let us know.

konakat

That's great -- my income for this year sucks so it should be OK.  What a relief, thanks Barbe!

barbe1958

Keep EVERY prescription invoice that the pharmacy staples to the bag. You'll have to provide them all! I had $6,000 worth of them, thank God I kept them. Got to pay only $2per presscription for about 2 months, so I did save about $1,000 so I guess it was worth it....

Anonymous

Konakat,

Neulasta has a program (victory program??) that will pay the difference between your insurance and the cost of the drug.  It is not income dependant.  I am sure your SW will get it organized for you..

konakat

That's great -- thanks thisisme!

rinna40

When I started my chemo, I had an appointment with the Drug Nurse (not sure what her official title was) and she told me that if I wasn't covered for Neulasta then there was a program in Ontario where she could get nuprogen covered ( not as convenient as it is 8 shots instead of 1). I had my shots done by home care, which I had because of my wound not healing, but I think in Ontario you can get weekly home visits from home care when you are going through chemo.  Good luck tomorrow, Konakat.

covertanjou

Hello everyone!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  

I put up the Xmas tree today, and it looks beautiful!  I love the holidays!  I am spending Xmas Eve with my husband, my kids, my parents, siblings and many nieces and nephews, and I am having my husband's family over for Xmas Day.  How much weight do you think I will gain....lol.  

What are your plans?