AlanM Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Just an update on my Stuck in Sweden thread. Last Tuesday morning while still there I had a bit of a chest/arm pain which left me after about 30/40 mins. I decided I would have to get this investigated when I got home to UK. On Wednesday I had much worse pain, all of chest, back, arms and hands, especially the palms. I decided I had to go to hospital as there was no doubt it was my heart. Went to the closest hospital to where I was staying in Gothenburg which turned out to be a maternity hospital. However they bunged me in a taxi to the correct one. I was seen in Acute Dept (A&E ) and they put me on oxygen and a drip, bunged morphine in to me, stuck electrodes all over me and took a lot of blood samples. After some time - I am not sure how long they came back and said they were taking me straight to theatre. They had the paddles at the ready on the trolley so I knew I was in serious shit at this stage as they ran up corridors with me. They put a camera up the artery in my arm and had examined my arteries and heart and he said to me he was off to discuss results with his colleagues and would be back in a few minutes. He came back and proceeded to clear out my arteries and then ballooned the arteries to stretch them. Immediate relief from the horrific pain once he had done this. I got to watch all this on the monitors and it was all recorded on DVD which they gave to me before I left to give to the cardiologist in this country. Within 2 hours 30 mins of coming in to the hospital I was fixed and up in the intensive care unit where they supplied everything from joggies, pj's, totthpaste/brush and razor. This was about 6:15 Wednesday evening and about 8 o'clock the cardioligist came to discuss it all with me and told me to get up and start moving about because I was ok. I was kept in ICU until Saturday when another cardiologist came to release me. There is no permanent damage to heart or arteries, they are clearer than they have been for 30 years or more. I have no restrictions whatsoever and they said if I worked in Sweden I would be straight back to work. I flew hom eon Sunday. The residual pain from the op (which was minor anyway) has almost disappeared Would I have been so fortunate had this happened in the UK or would I be sitting on medication on a waiting list hoping I was called before the next attack. I feel I am lucky indeed that the volcano erupted when it did and delayed my return to the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Attero Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Wow. Strong. Nicely done however. I'm glad it went well for you. You are probably very right about our healthcare here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Scary, glad things worked out so well for you Alan, here's to a speedy recovery buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Really sorry to hear about your troubles bud. How good was that service though? Absolutely fantastic to hear how well you were treated abroad. Is the DVD a keeper? Good to hear you are on the mend Big thumbs up to the Swedish NHS equivilant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 I have given the DVD to my son to copy before I hand it ove to the cardiologist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Wow - good to hear you are OK. Over here I fear you'd be hearing the thud of soil being shovelled over your coffin. You could have been embalmed in your dogging pose though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 That's a stroke of luck. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Good to read that you are okay. IIRC Sweden does have a rather good health service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formatzero Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Good to hear you you got sorted bud,i have friend who moved to France and short time after she was diagnosed with cancer,she was taken straight away for treatment and has made a full recovery.She reckons if she had still been here she would have died waiting for treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Was it free or has your holiday insurance paid for it? Amazing service regardless if its free or not and yes I think you are lucky it happened while you were there Get well soon matey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porky1978 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Glad to hear you are feeling better bud. To the future!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilicos Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I don't believe you! Video evidence please:p Good to hear that you are ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Was it free or has your holiday insurance paid for it? Amazing service regardless if its free or not and yes I think you are lucky it happened while you were there Get well soon matey. I did not have the proper form with me so had to pay a initial charge 143.33 euros which I have reclaimed off the health service here. The insurance are waiting to see if the airlines pay compensation befor ethey pay anything with regard to the volcano enforced stay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooquicktostop Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Wow some story, glad you are ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky49 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Glad your ok and a speedy recovery. Our health system is rubbish Im having to wait 6wks just to see and ENT doctor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Just to stick up for our much maligned NHS, when I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness four years ago, it took eleven days from diagnosis to specialist to operation. They do not tend to f*** around when it comes to this stuff. They have been watching over me ever since very nicely thanks, and I have had no cause for complaint in all that time. I shouldn't need to say this but I will - you only hear of the worst case scenarios in the press. The tiny percentage where things went horribly wrong and someone fell off the radar or an op went tits up. Yes, the non-life threatening stuff takes time, that's due to limited resources and a focus on the important rather than the profitable cases. Anyway, most of the problems with the NHS is thanks to Gordo's box-ticking target bullshit culture and the complete bungling of every aspect the government has laid it's cold dead hands on. Oh and good old PFI as well, and privatisation, i.e. taking your taxpayer money out of the NHS and into the hands of multinationals. -Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vvteye Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 I have worked for the NHS for over 30 years and if this had happened here we would have given you a brand new heart, not patched up your old one All the best fella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogmaw Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 A very good place to have a heart attack! Yes the Swedish health system is good, but how does it get paid for? With VAT at 25%, Sweden is one of the highest taxed countries in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Great to hear you got looked after in Sweden and you're feeling better Mind you, when I was in Stockholm last August, I nearly had a heart attack because of their bloody prices!!! 2 ice creams.... £9!! How much??? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Just to stick up for our much maligned NHS, when I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness four years ago, it took eleven days from diagnosis to specialist to operation. They do not tend to f*** around when it comes to this stuff. They have been watching over me ever since very nicely thanks, and I have had no cause for complaint in all that time. I shouldn't need to say this but I will - you only hear of the worst case scenarios in the press. The tiny percentage where things went horribly wrong and someone fell off the radar or an op went tits up. Yes, the non-life threatening stuff takes time, that's due to limited resources and a focus on the important rather than the profitable cases. Anyway, most of the problems with the NHS is thanks to Gordo's box-ticking target bull$#@! culture and the complete bungling of every aspect the government has laid it's cold dead hands on. Oh and good old PFI as well, and privatisation, i.e. taking your taxpayer money out of the NHS and into the hands of multinationals. -Ian The NHS is not all bad, a few years back my dad had some arrhythmia and went to the hospital on the 22nd of dec; on Christmas day they took him in for a quad bypass. 8 days later he was back home and has been happy ever since. imi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 A very good place to have a heart attack! Yes the Swedish health system is good, but how does it get paid for? With VAT at 25%, Sweden is one of the highest taxed countries in the world. nothing wrong with paying tax if it each citizen benefits from the services that are on offer, be it healthcare, education, jobs, etc..... Unfortunately wouldn't work in the UK (in its current form) due to the corrupt & lazy society that we live in (obviously not everyone, but enough to ruin it for everyone). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanM Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Just to stick up for our much maligned NHS, when I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness four years ago, it took eleven days from diagnosis to specialist to operation. They do not tend to f*** around when it comes to this stuff. They have been watching over me ever since very nicely thanks, and I have had no cause for complaint in all that time. I shouldn't need to say this but I will - you only hear of the worst case scenarios in the press. The tiny percentage where things went horribly wrong and someone fell off the radar or an op went tits up. Yes, the non-life threatening stuff takes time, that's due to limited resources and a focus on the important rather than the profitable cases. Anyway, most of the problems with the NHS is thanks to Gordo's box-ticking target bullshit culture and the complete bungling of every aspect the government has laid it's cold dead hands on. Oh and good old PFI as well, and privatisation, i.e. taking your taxpayer money out of the NHS and into the hands of multinationals. -Ian Don't disagree with that, as stated many moons ago I lost my eyesight twice and had great service from the NHS till this day with that problem BUT I have a neighbour who has been waiting for the procedure I have just had since November 09, she is on heavy medication and severe restriction on what she is allowed to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 Just to stick up for our much maligned NHS, when I was diagnosed with a life threatening illness four years ago, it took eleven days from diagnosis to specialist to operation. They do not tend to f*** around when it comes to this stuff. They have been watching over me ever since very nicely thanks, and I have had no cause for complaint in all that time. I shouldn't need to say this but I will - you only hear of the worst case scenarios in the press. The tiny percentage where things went horribly wrong and someone fell off the radar or an op went tits up. Yes, the non-life threatening stuff takes time, that's due to limited resources and a focus on the important rather than the profitable cases. Anyway, most of the problems with the NHS is thanks to Gordo's box-ticking target bullshit culture and the complete bungling of every aspect the government has laid it's cold dead hands on. Oh and good old PFI as well, and privatisation, i.e. taking your taxpayer money out of the NHS and into the hands of multinationals. -Ian +1 very much so. After having a stomach ulcer where I lost 4 pints of blood and then 4 weeks later having a baby where the missus had to have a c-section then recovering from that with the care that we got because of our tax system I have undying thanks, respect and thoughts for all those in the NHS. Even though my mum has worked in the NHS for 40 years it was the experiences in the last 2 months that opened my eyes to what a great care system we get. Other countries you'll be paying £100-150 per person (Inc children) for that care on top of your taxes per month. Yes you do hear horror stories but as Ian has said it's always the media blowing up the worst. There's some hugely compassionate people in our healthcare system and they're doing a stellar job with what they've got, even with the government crippling/stifling them in places. I'm glad you're ok Alan, lucky and glad you had the sense to go to the hospital rather than shrug it off and it couldve taken a dry sudden turn for the worse. Hope the cardiologist is impressed and all is OK now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradleyh_15 Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 the main thing is that your still hear and that your on the mend as much as can be! its kind of cool you got a dvd of it all though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supra dan Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 must have been a scary experience alan, glad to see you are ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.