Are you healthier enough to live in the PI's

[Clermont]

I thought I was last year, then after coming back home after six weeks tripping and not feeling well over there I went to the doc. Bowel cancer, full of old sh--, the Professor told me and within a few months the polyps were gone and so was most my bowel. Along with the diagnoses of bowel cancer the old Pro had picked up, a bit of lung cancer as well, and I went off to see the specialist, only a floater, we have to wait until it attaches itself to part of the lung before we can do anything with-it. I'd already had lung cancer and they'd cut the effected lob out, about 8 years earlier, technology had moved on, they'd caught it early enough this time and said it would be only Radiation.

On the 4 Th, I on was on my way ( 5 ) hr drive to get the final health clearance for the end of the months trip, 4 weeks over there, spend a bit of time with a few blokes I'd meet up with previous. Old Oscar decided I wasn't going, he'd pulled the plug on the ticker  and out of the blue I had a massive heart attack. From time of first feeling something wrong to time of last heart procedure was 5/12 hours, they also had to fly me 300 km.

Now I know a fare bit about the PI hospital system and you wouldn't even have made it to a hospital, so before you go over full time, it might be wise to check the ticker out.

[stevewool]

Thank you for posting this, no one knows what the future holds for us , we all may think we are healthy but we are all getting older and like you say making the Philippines your home and having all the insurance cover there is out there nothing is guaranteed.

I do hope you are feeling better in yourself if I can say that and I wish you well in your future .

[Tukaram (Tim)]

When people ask me about health care I always tell them that if medical care was a major concern - I would stay in my home country.  Even living next door to a hospital here, is too far away.  

I live an hour from the city. In any emergency, I am dead.  I know this, and accept the risk.

[Jake]

Damn Clermont, you're like a cat with 12 lives!  I'm not going to get religious on you but those are actual miracles -- you have been "declared" not ready to check out yet.  

Thank you for sharing this deeply personal struggles of your life and how you dealt with it like a tasmanian  devil.  We are also grateful that you made us seriously think about our own mortality and the diminishing qualities of life during our golden years.  

Respectfully Jake 

Edited October 14, 2019 by Jake
spel chek

[Arizona Kid]

2 hours ago, Clermont said:

I thought I was last year, then after coming back home after six weeks tripping and not feeling well over there I went to the doc. Bowel cancer, full of old sh--, the Professor told me and within a few months the polyps were gone and so was most my bowel. Along with the diagnoses of bowel cancer the old Pro had picked up, a bit of lung cancer as well, and I went off to see the specialist, only a floater, we have to wait until it attaches itself to part of the lung before we can do anything with-it. I'd already had lung cancer and they'd cut the effected lob out, about 8 years earlier, technology had moved on, they'd caught it early enough this time and said it would be only Radiation.

On the 4 Th, I on was on my way ( 5 ) hr drive to get the final health clearance for the end of the months trip, 4 weeks over there, spend a bit of time with a few blokes I'd meet up with previous. Old Oscar decided I wasn't going, he'd pulled the plug on the ticker  and out of the blue I had a massive heart attack. From time of first feeling something wrong to time of last heart procedure was 5/12 hours, they also had to fly me 300 km.

Now I know a fare bit about the PI hospital system and you wouldn't even have made it to a hospital, so before you go over full time, it might be wise to check the ticker out.

I hope everything works out for you in a good way. You sound optimistic and that's a good thing. 

[graham59]

5 hours ago, Tukaram (Tim) said:

When people ask me about health care I always tell them that if medical care was a major concern - I would stay in my home country.  Even living next door to a hospital here, is too far away.  

I live an hour from the city. In any emergency, I am dead.  I know this, and accept the risk.

That is exactly how I see it.  (I also do go for an abdominal ultrasound scan once a year, as I have a pre-existing  Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm. It only costs about p2000 here in the province, and they look at all the other abdominal bits and pieces too). 

I stopped smoking 5 years ago, and I think the old ticker is pretty good still (I'm 68 now)...but always a good idea to have it checked out.  

Edited October 14, 2019 by graham59

[Dave Hounddriver]

11 hours ago, Clermont said:

Now I know a fare bit about the PI hospital system and you wouldn't even have made it to a hospital, so before you go over full time, it might be wise to check the ticker out.

It is good to hear that you pulled through with a good attitude.  Definitely good advice here.  Best wishes for a healthy future.

[Kuya John]

Some very sound advice from Clermont.

What a fighter, I have the deepest respect for you matey.

At 73 years of age, I've already decided living in the Philippines is not an option for me personally.

However I envy those who have had quality time there, I love the place, well the provinces that is,

I've had some great trips, but have also been hospitalised a couple of times, nothing major thank God.

Clermont, I wish you the best of luck for the future, your positive attitude is to be admired.

[Clermont]

A few of you have stated if it's to be it's to be , all good and well, but through many a trial and tribulation in my life, I don't think that I've ever backed down and chucked the hands in the air and said I'm ready. No and I don't believe anyone would lay back and say my numbers up, a little part of the grey matter kicks in, it's called self preservation, nothing else. What I was writing about was get your ultra sounds done, ex rays, blood tests, and if anything is crook fix it before going over. Still go over but don't be complacent,  just make sure your tests are done at a reputable hospital. The doc told me, it's not like the old days, these blood test, ultras sounds, CT scans are marvelous and their looking into how this slipped through the extensive testing I'd just been through. I don't cry over spilt milk so I wont  be wanting answers.   she's still out of my reach.

[earthdome]

Glad to hear you are on the mend. Quite the triple wammy. Funny how cancer and heart problems often go together. Both my brother and I had a similar experience, heart and cancer health problems at the same time. For me I have been cancer free for over 9 years and my heart hasn't given out yet.