No doctor available: advice?

[Φρανκομβριτ]

So I know better than anyone when you're sick and you don't know what's wrong you should go to a doctor.

Problem is, I'm broke, and I'm out of my home province, which refuses to reciprocate health care like the rest of them.

I've been sick with a pretty bad cold for the past 2 weeks, but now I'm bringing up blood with my fleghm and in my coughing, and I can't afford the 500$ to go to see a doctor.

Does anyone have any advice as to what might be something I could do instead?

[Jupiter]

Have you already tried some "home" remedies that you thought would help? Have you been playing an instrument that involves your mouth, recently?

[Φρανκομβριτ]

I've been eating garlic with lemon juice, gragling with vinnegar and honey, but not sure what else to do.

I don't play any instruments lol, all I could think of when you said that was oral sex though. And no, none of that for a very long time either.

[Maverick]

Realistically, you can either go back home early or wait it out until you leave Cody's. But really there isn't much you can do as far as at home stuff... you really need a doctor. You're obviously not dead yet but I wouldn't do anything that would put you in bankruptcy. If you can, call your doctor in Quebec.

[MartyG]

There's no clinic in your area? I guess not or you wouldn't be asking here. Communities that don't provide basic health care in an affordable setting need to get their act together.

I like Maverick Anthony's suggestion for calling your doctor in Quebec. You can run your symptoms by him/her....and maybe get a prescription.

I'm certainly no doctor....but blood in the phlegm is not something I'd want to let go...

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Realistically, you can either go back home early or wait it out until you leave Cody's. But really there isn't much you can do as far as at home stuff... you really need a doctor. You're obviously not dead yet but I wouldn't do anything that would put you in bankruptcy. If you can, call your doctor in Quebec.

Thanks Anthony. Unfortunately coming home early isn't an option either, as that's almost expensive as a doctor here. I don't even have a doctor in Québec, our system is fucked, but I can take the greyhound to Montréal when I get home and go to a walk in clinic. I was hoping there may be some home remmedy, but I guess I'll just ride it out.

There's no clinic in your area? I guess not or you wouldn't be asking here. Communities that don't provide basic health care in an affordable setting need to get their act together.

I like Maverick Anthony's suggestion for calling your doctor in Quebec. You can run your symptoms by him/her....and maybe get a prescription.

I'm certainly no doctor....but blood in the phlegm is not something I'd want to let go...

We do, acutally, there is a hospital in this shitty rural town, but as I stated, my Québécois health care is not valid outside my province, so I have to pay up front for all services outside Québec. It's a slightly fucked up system.



I'm not incredibly worried yet, as it's light red colour, not dark, so hopefully that means it's coming from my throught somewhere and not my lungs. I'll go to Montréal as soon as I get back I guess. Thanks for the advice!

[Maverick]

Thanks Anthony. Unfortunately coming home early isn't an option either, as that's almost expensive as a doctor here. I don't even have a doctor in Québec, our system is fucked, but I can take the greyhound to Montréal when I get home and go to a walk in clinic. I was hoping there may be some home remmedy, but I guess I'll just ride it out.
Quitting or cutting down in smoking is probably a good idea too.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Quitting or cutting down in smoking is probably a good idea too.

lol, you sure you're not a doctor?

I've been pretty good while I'm sick. Only 1 - 2 packs a day now :)

[Maverick]

lol, you sure you're not a doctor?

I've been pretty good while I'm sick. Only 1 - 2 packs a day now :)
That can be a hell of a lot better... I mean it doesn't take a genius to link together smoking and coughing up blood. The doctor is already going to tell you to quit smoking. If you're not going to even attempt to do that then you're wasting everybody's time and your money. Otherwise you're just a fat person complaining they can't lose weight with a Big Mac in their mouth.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

That can be a hell of a lot better... I mean it doesn't take a genius to link together smoking and coughing up blood. The doctor is already going to tell you to quit smoking. If you're not going to even attempt to do that then you're wasting everybody's time and your money. Otherwise you're just a fat person complaining they can't lose weight with a Big Mac in their mouth.

I've come down from 3 1/2 - 4 a day, I'd say that's an improvement. I'm not claiming it's good, but it's a start, especially in 2 weeks.

Of course a doctor will tell me to quit. No doctor will advise against quitting smoking.

If it was linked to smoking, I'd think it would have started months ago when my smoking increased. I will mention your comments to the G.P. when I see them

[ImCoolBeans]

Are there any urgent care centers in the area? I don't have health insurance currently (I'm American) and I had to go to the doctor last month because I was more or less in your position. I had a cold/cough that progressively got worse and turned into bronchitis. If your bringing up a lot of phlegm it's probably not just a cold - that sounds more like bronchitis or possibly the early stages of pneumonia - I'm not a doctor and I'm just speaking from personal experience, but when I had pneumonia I brought up a little blood with a cough sometimes. When you're coughing chronically your throat and lungs take quite a bit of wear and tear from it (still not good). Back to what I was saying about urgent care facilities; when I had to go see a doctor I went to one of them because a visit at a regular doctor's office would have been considerably more, and a trip to the ER would have broken the bank. They're all over the place here (urgent care centers), but I don't know if you even have them in Canada. Look into it a bit, if there are any in the general area it might be a little more affordable.

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Thanks for the advice. That sounds quite possibly what it is.

In canada, everyone is supposed to have a family doctor which is covered by each province's health plan. Walk-in clinics sound similar to these "Urgent care clinics", which are also covered by each province's health care, as well as ER visits. The only time you need to pay up front is if you're from outside of Québec seeking health care in Québec, or if you're Québécois seeking health care in any other province. All other provinces have agreements with each other and will pay each health provider for their services.

I think my best plan of attack here is to see the doctor when I'm home

[MartyG]

Yikes OP....4812 Posts....plus ICQ AOL MSN Skype links....

How do you find time to be sick :)

Seriously....not meaning to preach; my Dad died of emphysema as a direct result of excessive smoking. It might not happen to you; right?

[Φρανκομβριτ]

Yikes OP....4812 Posts....plus ICQ AOL MSN Skype links....

How do you find time to be sick :)

Seriously....not meaning to preach; my Dad died of emphysema as a direct result of excessive smoking. It might not happen to you; right?

Lol I've been here for way too long, that's how! Back when ICQ, AOL, YIM and MSN were actually used! Just because your sick doesn't mean you can't continue your daily life, it just becomes a pain in the ass!

I appologise for your loss. It very likely could happen to me, or any other smoker. It is one of the risks we accept when we continue to smoke. If I were to be diagnosed with any smoking related disorder the only person I would blame is myself.