You hear a lot of complaining about the health care system in Canada. From my PoV there is not a lot to complain about. This is after a cancer diagnoses about a dozen years ago. The team that saw me through that experience were phenomenal. They were affectionately referred to as my dream team. The cost outside of a public health system would have been in the million dollar range.
The system does work under triage, so if someone needs attention more than you expect to be bumped. There is also the demand on resources so you may be seen quicker outside of a heavily populated city for example. So it was for me today in Lunenburg.
For the last 4 days there had been a pain in my starboard hip. As mentioned in previous posts living on board a boat introduces one to all kinds of exercise and body strains that one does not encounter on the hard. My feeling was that it was something like that or straight out rheumatism.
After two nights of little sleep and the beginnings of the fourth day with a pain still there it was decided to try out the emergency room of the local hospital.
Arrived there pretty early in their day and was first triaged as to what the ailment was exactly. They then asked me to take a seat in the waiting room. It was not much more than 10 to 15 minutes when they called me in to see the doctor on duty. He sent me down for an X-Ray of my hip area so as to be able to better diagnose what was happening.
After returning from the X-Ray there was a small wait until the doctor appeared again and suggested that it may be an inflamed muscle of the hip which was then pressing on a nerve to cause the deep pain. He prescribed me two medicines. One to deal with muscle swelling and another muscle relaxer.
Got my taxi driver, Bobby, to drop me off at the the drug to get the prescription filled. It cost $29 for both prescriptions due to me getting the senior's deal. All of that for $29?! Who can complain about such a system? Though some will.
Returned to Makina and took one of the muscle relaxer/painkillers and in no time was passed out. Awoke after a good nap with the pain almost totally gone.
This did not change the fact that there was a swim platform to get re-attached; however a sick day was declared and another day reserved at the Wharf. Besides the wind was forecast to be even lighter tomorrow so it could wait another day.
With the pain now under control decided to take advantage of being able to sit comfortably to play some Ashes of Creation and relax.
It should be mentioned that although this is June 2nd the diesel heater is still being used to keep the cabin nice and cozy. This late summer is unbelievable. So glad for the heater's installation.
Hopefully tomorrow both the weather and my hip pain will be compatible to get the swim platform attached and then move back out to the mooring on Wednesday.
A listing of my sailing posts:
@novacadian/categories-of-novacadian-s-sailing-seasons
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