General Chat

Gwyn, OH will be going to see her GP next week, but the Cardiologist indicated that annual ultrasounds would probably suffice.

The Freeman hospital here changed my aspirin to clopidogrel and I was told it has far fewer side-effects than aspirin They also changed my simvastatin to atorvastatin. (Neither of these had anything to do with the abdominal aortic aneurysm I was in for! - successfully tied up!)

Dear Allan

Hello

Hope your good lady wife feels better very soon.

Take gentle care
Lots of god wishes to you both
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Thank you, Elizabeth

That's good news then Allan. I had an echocardiogram 5 years ago, more for reassurance than any need, and they picked up a mitral valve slight leak on that! It wasn't even a bad enough murmur for the doctor to be able to hear it with his stethoscope. No treatment was needed and I was told it was unlikely to become a problem and like Joy said, many of us are born with them or walk around with them without even knowing. At least with annual monitoring, they will be aware of any change if there is any.

Thanks, Ann

Good news about your OH hope she continues to be okay Barbra :-)

I'm sure she will be, thanks Barbra. OH wasn't feeling ill or anything when the diagnoses came through, she just didn't want to take any medication for her high cholesterol level

I myself think we should all pay something towards prescriptions even if say half we get it all free just now
Allan how do people go on in OZ saw you pay for scripts what about operations & ongoing treatments do you have insurance to pay is there age limit were it's free Barbara

Barbra, prescriptions in Oz cost $40.00 per item, $6.50 if you have a pension or other health care card. You cannot claim the costs back on Insurance.

You can take out private Health Insurance to cover Hospital and dental charges, BUT that still does not cover you for all the costs. For example women giving birth in a private hospital are finding that they have to cough up up to $2000.00 to cover ancillary costs.

Treatment in Public Hospitals is free.

A visit to the Dr costs about $70.00 part of which is refunded by the Government. Even with private insurance you cannot claim the difference.

If you have a welfare card of any description most Dr's 'Bulk Bill so that there is no charge.

Dental work is not free and is nearly entirely private (there are a few exceptions) and extremely expensive. They offer no concessions. :-(