Hi Chaps (chappetes?), it’s me again. I just thought I’d drop a quick blog post out to say that I had my blood tests two days ago and for once St Barts was very quick.
It took one and a bit hours to have an appointment with a doctor, and then go and get my bloods done. Compare this to the three hours I have often experienced and I was pleasantly surprised.
My appointment was at 9am, I know to get in early before the backlog builds up, and I waited to see Prof Gribben, but alas he seems to have deserted me. Instead I had a different doctor, for the second time. I can only take this to mean I am no longer a priority for someone senior, which is good news. The doctors have always been incredibly professional, and now it seems the admin might finally be catching up. This is a welcome change, as this is the only area of the NHS I have had a reason to compain about.
So my doctor was actually quite hot this time, a blond lady in her 40’s. She put Jo behind a curtain and asked me to lay down. Liking a strong woman and being used to obeying one I did so. My heart gave a little flutter at her probing, especially the groin check (for the glands and lymph nodes I should point out) but she was as professional as I have come to expect from my appointments and her cool clinicians touch was something of an anticlimax.
She said my spleen had not grown and that I seemed to be in good health. I confirmed a lack of spleen pain and we both left on a happy note.
Then, with this done, I went to the appointments desk (a new initiative, would you believe they had the overstretched admin on the floor taking appointments before, this and a couple of other changes have made the world of difference to the speediness and organisation on the haemo/onc ward).
Then the blood tests were taken in a new record time. So say it was speedy was an understatment, I have taken longer at a cashpoint. There was no small talk though. In, a little prick, and then it was all done before I really noticed. Much like my teenage years.
Now we wait. Hopefully I will get the blood tests results soon. That said I may get my bloods from another test I had yesterday first, even though it was a day later. Private healthcare always runs quicker, if you (or someone else) pays. I’ll tell you more about that trip and why I needed it next week, don’t worry it wasn’t bad 🙂
spleniclymphoma 
My Canadian hospital experience has been great. Blood sampling wait times are between 5 and 10 minutes and they can have the analysis done in an hour or two for the doctor’s meeting. Lately the appointments have been separated by days because they know I can do multiple visits easily.
I’ve been switched to a nurse practitioner for the last several visits because all that’s needed is a quick check of blood counts, palpation and a few questions. I’m usually only waiting 5 minutes for the NP. I’ve been plugging parking meters for only a half hour because it’s been so reliable. My favourite cross-border humorous comment is that the biggest cost of cancer treatment in Canada is the parking, $2.20 per visit.
I’m now 5 years into remission. I think I just missed the actual anniversary date and things are going fine for now. I was told to expect a long remission because my freakishly huge spleen had reduced back to normal after one chemo session, a sign that the malignant cells were killed of quickly and hopefully more thoroughly in the successive cycles.
Hi John, I thought I had replied to this but hadn’t posted it for some reason. Great news on the spleen, I hadn’t realised one session could have such a positive effect, were the doctors surprised? How has remission been, do you still need to get tested every few months, or do you have a pass on that? Canadian hospitals sound good, ours are good too, it’s just sometimes the wait is longer than we would like! $2.20 for treatment is a good deal though!
My hematologist was a little surprised at the fast remission. I was skeptical, and I still am. My spleen is still big but just a little over the normal range. I imagine it’s all wrinkly from having been stretched. That may be the best I can expect.
I had 3 month checkups but I opted for 6 months two years ago. There’s still some anxiety and false symptoms before visits, extending the frequency was a good idea.
I also had maintenance rituximab every 3 months for two years. That’s known to prolong remission.
The biggest complaint about Canadian health care is wait time. But if you ask a person who is waiting a long time for a procedure if they would travel to the US (two hours away) and pay they say no. So clearly we are willing to exercise patience instead of cost.