Lisa,
We have free health care in Canada (some Provinces pay a small monthly or yearly fee) but to see a specialist or surgeon you need a referral from a family doctor. And the wait times are anywhere from 6 months to a year. If it was an emergency you would be seen fast but otherwise you wait. I was lucky with the current surgeon I go to. She had just moved to the city, new graduate, so I got in right away before her clientele built up.
I don't know why she doesn't consider it important. To me you need all your fingers to function, pick up things etc. My little finger does not bend down and if I push it down it pops back up. If I try to pick up objects it doesn't want to grip, gets in the way etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolyn
shelley, what do you mean you are still bleeding? Do you have a drain or is it that the incision won't close?
Can the doctor that you just have surgery with, refer you to another rehab doctor?
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My incision line has four to five small openings, small gaps (not deep) that continue to ooze blood. I keep it covered with gauze pads and check it every few days for infection, keep it clean. The surgeon told me that maybe I had a reaction to the dissolvable stitches and then told me she is not concerned. I had the same type of stitches with my first surgery (another surgeon) and never had this problem. I saw her at the beginning of June and go back the first week of July. No answers otherwise as to why this is going on.
This current surgery she didn't put a drainage tube in which makes me wonder if that caused a problem. Previous surgery she did and I never had problems.
As for the rehab doc and surgeon... the surgeon didn't refer me to the rehab doc. My old family doctor, who I no longer see, referred me to her. When I continued to have problems with my arm, the rehab doc eventually referred me to the surgeon, but I had to pull teeth to get a referral.
The rehab doc I only see every 5 months. Right now I want to see another surgeon. Eventually I plan on trying to get a referral to another rehab doc.
I also phoned the surgeons office and asked for copies of my operating reports for both surgeries. I told the receptionist I keep copies of my surgeries in a medical file and was told it shouldn't be a problem. I didn't mention about switching yet, want to wait and see. They will be for my file but also if I decide to see another surgeon I wanted copies to take with me.