Please, I need your help urgently in a health care matter !

Ali9bpm · Post by **Ali9bpm** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 1:02 pm

Hi,

I don't know from where to start or what to say. I am scared and very confused.

Some weeks ago, I took my wife to the doctor (General practitioner) at one of the public health care centers here in Joensuu, and did some blood tests. The results were not good, and because of that the doctor had a discussion with a specialist (Hematologist) in the main hospital and they instructed us to do some more blood tests, and we did. Once again, Unfortunately the results were not good.

Because my wife doesn't speak English at all, The doctor is contacting me and updating me about the status. So, Yesterday she called and told me that they afraid that my wife has some kind of Thalassemia or Cancer, However, They are not yet sure and they need to carry on analyzing.

If, God forbid, Anything happened to her I might not be able to live.

I am posting here NOT to complain about anything at all. Although, I have some communication problems with the doctor and the nurses (I don't speak Finnish), But, The doctor has been very kind and helpful.

The problem is that Joensuu is a quite small city and there is a real difficulty communicating in English with doctors and nurses in both (The main hospital and the health care centers).

My question is: Can I demand immediate genetics tests and other advanced tests to find out?

I'm feeling very uncomfortable with the situation, It is a heavy experience for me especially that I am hiding this matter from my wife.

I don't want to be rude to the nice doctor who is trying to help us, But at the same time she is a general practitioner and not really a specialist as she told me by herself. Besides, I really don't want to waste time waiting.

As a person with KELA card, Do I have the right to take my wife to the main hospital and demand an immediate appointment with a specialist in this field and do all the necessary tests immediately? Or should I wait an update from the general practitioner ?

Please, Help me. I am freaking out and I don't know what to do.

**Sponsor:**

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:44 pm

It seems to me that your doctor is fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. He will do whatever is necessary to help your wife.
He can open doors that you cannot. If you "demand an immediate appointment with a specialist" they will laugh at you and ignore you. And they will consider you a foreign panic maker. But if the doctor says "serious and urgent" they will treat you quite different.

misnomere · Post by **misnomere** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:02 pm

I'm very irritated and disappointed by all the members of this forum.

A needy guy who has politely asked for a help because he's in a serious situation and more than 70 views and no one of you jerks offered any useful help, this is extremely disgraceful, and all I can say to all this forum members shame on you.

The are many fools on this forum who post useless topics and most of you will comment and share your useless thoughts. I really have a hard time understanding why no one of you has the decency to offer some help to the asker.

@Ali9bpm
Sorry to hear about your situation.

1- Do NOT listen to rinso.
2- I lost a very close member in my family because of misdiagnosis and delay in treatments. Therefore, Make sure to book an appointment with the doctor ASAP, and tell her politely that you demand immediate appointment with a specialist and ask for immediate tests.

I hope all the best for you and for your wife.

fonduekid · Post by **fonduekid** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:19 pm

To the OP:

I have had a few visits to the doctor's, hospitals here in Finland (Helsinki, but I guess the Finnish doctor's are pretty much the same everywhere).

As one of the above post's mention, if the doctor is doing his job, I would say, stick with his/her words - I have realized the doctor's here in Finland to be much much better than many other countries I have been in. This was the view also of my colleagues in my lab (I am a researcher at the Univ of Helsinki, with connections to the Neurology dept., at the hospital). Basically just trust your doctor and DO NOT PANIC. It won't help you.

If you're not convinced, try to get in touch with doctor and ask them to clarify your doubts, worries, concerns - I personally know the doctor's here are very patient in giving you all the info you need. If there is any language issue for communication, try to find a common ground. Demanding (also in general, considering the polite Finnish society) won't necessarily get you what you want.

And by the way, a GP *WILL* refer you to a specialist when they finish their preliminary investigation or if they suspect anything that needs a specialist visit right away. So, don't panic. (the same happened for me for an issue I had.. a GP, followed by a specialist, followed by a minor Op... now recovering well and fine!).

Hope things get better and good luck.

network_engineer · Post by **network_engineer** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:35 pm

Hi,

If at all, you need additional referral or even a second confirmation - try the private clinics.

Kind regards.

Logic · Post by **Logic** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:41 pm

misnomere wrote:I'm very irritated and disappointed by all the members of this forum.

A needy guy who has politely asked for a help because he's in a serious situation and more than 70 views and no one of you jerks offered any useful help, this is extremely disgraceful, and all I can say to all this forum members shame on you.

We all sympathize with the OP but if we simply don't know the answer then we shouldn't advise him with wrong answers.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:48 pm

misnomere wrote:A needy guy who has politely asked for a help because he's in a serious situation and more than 70 views and no one of you jerks offered any useful help, this is extremely disgraceful, and all I can say to all this forum members shame on you.

Well how about the fact if there isn't anything useful to say? What I am irritated is an idiot like you posting useless drivel.

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Like this - Totally useless. Don't you have the decency to keep quiet if you don't have anything intelligent to say?

1- Do NOT listen to rinso.

And why not? The OP seems to be in capable hands - in the public sector. If he wants a second opinion via the private sector, that would be the other viable path - but an jerk like you never brought that up, so how about you keep your stupidity to yourself?

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:24 pm

misnomere wrote: A needy guy who has politely asked for a help because he's in a serious situation and more than 70 views and no one of you jerks offered any useful help, this is extremely disgraceful, and all I can say to all this forum members shame on you.

Thanks - and what exactly is the useful advice us non-medical professionals should have given when the OP does does not describe what is actually the problem related to the medical care they have got. We know some blood test has been made, and that they got results yesterday, indicating perhaps cancer or something else possibly serious. Nothing more specific, and the only thing about the next step offered through the public channel is that they will make more tests - which seems quite reasonable if they do not have a diagnosis. So what is the "healthcare process" problem, they asked you to come for the further tests next month, or what?

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 11:51 pm

WTF!?!? Wife has possible cancer and no-one seems to bother to inform her.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:07 am

Ali9bpm wrote:Hi,

I don't know from where to start or what to say. I am scared and very confused.

Some weeks ago, I took my wife to the doctor (General practitioner) at one of the public health care centers here in Joensuu, and did some blood tests. The results were not good, and because of that the doctor had a discussion with a specialist (Hematologist) in the main hospital and they instructed us to do some more blood tests, and we did. Once again, Unfortunately the results were not good.

Because my wife doesn't speak English at all, The doctor is contacting me and updating me about the status. So, Yesterday she called and told me that they afraid that my wife has some kind of Thalassemia or Cancer, However, They are not yet sure and they need to carry on analyzing.

If, God forbid, Anything happened to her I might not be able to live.

I am posting here NOT to complain about anything at all. Although, I have some communication problems with the doctor and the nurses (I don't speak Finnish), But, The doctor has been very kind and helpful.

The problem is that Joensuu is a quite small city and there is a real difficulty communicating in English with doctors and nurses in both (The main hospital and the health care centers).

My question is: Can I demand immediate genetics tests and other advanced tests to find out?

I'm feeling very uncomfortable with the situation, It is a heavy experience for me especially that I am hiding this matter from my wife.

I don't want to be rude to the nice doctor who is trying to help us, But at the same time she is a general practitioner and not really a specialist as she told me by herself. Besides, I really don't want to waste time waiting.

As a person with KELA card, Do I have the right to take my wife to the main hospital and demand an immediate appointment with a specialist in this field and do all the necessary tests immediately? Or should I wait an update from the general practitioner ?

Please, Help me. I am freaking out and I don't know what to do.

1) As a general rule, it is wise to trust the doctor who initially diagnosed the problem and speak to them about your concerns instead of posting here.
2) Now that you have posted, you have 2 choices: Call your GP and tell her your concerns and see what happens. Other options is that IF you have any insurance, you can go to a specialist But before you go, you need to know what kind of specialist will be able to diagnose the condition ( Maybe some help from your General practitioner ).
3) Check with your GP and also your conscience if it is really wise NOT to inform of the condition to your spouse. You both need to face the truth and so better earlier than later..
4) Just understand that the system has already processed the "condition" of your spouse. so going to another hospital might not help in this case.
5) In situations like there, you need to be the strength and so go back to step (1) and have a frank talk with your doctor instead of posting things here and seeing what different advices people give.
Most of them will not help you anyways as the ball is entirely in your court.
Good luck !! Hope things work out!

atas · Post by **atas** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:10 am

+1 to Upphew.

Although I believe the OP doesn't want to tell his wife anything until there is a definite diagnosis. I hope for the best.

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:57 am

Upphew wrote:WTF!?!? Wife has possible cancer and no-one seems to bother to inform her.

Oops, I missed that part...

(All right, there is one obvious problem with the care then)

Ashken · Post by **Ashken** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 1:10 am

Regarding the diagnosis of the doctor, since it was been conducted twice already, there might be a possibility that it is correct. However it will always be best to seek a second opinion from another practitioner.
I have had some blood issues as well just several months ago but of course it's kinda different from this case. At first, I didn't believe the result from the first doctor as my general medical check up conducted just a year prior to this diagnosis did not suggest that I have that blood issue, so I went to another doctor for another blood test, and the result is almost the same (RBC,WBC,platelet counts, etc.., things that I don't really understand).
Knowing actually that you are sick is somehow depressing but then knowing it yourself would help you cure yourself as well. I followed all the advises of both doctors, took in medicines that were prescribed, ate the recommended foods, avoided other things that could worsen it and had another blood test after some months and happy to say that my condition improved.
So I believe it would really be best to talk to the practitioner who had conducted the test, confirm results or seek second opinion from a specialist, and tell your wife about it. (Sorry, don't know anything about KELA as I just arrived here).

rinso · Post by **rinso** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 8:39 am

Ashken wrote:However it will always be best to seek a second opinion from another practitioner.

The problem with second opinions is which to trust if they differ. Are you sure the first diagnoses is wrong and the second right?
In this case the OP has some problems communicating with the doctor which adds to his uncomfortable feeling.
But the test were carried out twice and the doctor consulted with a specialist so it is not a stand alone diagnoses.
And finally they want to continue testing.
To me it doesn't indicate a need for second opinions.

Some weeks ago, I took my wife to the doctor (General practitioner) at one of the public health care centers here in Joensuu, and did some blood tests. The results were not good, and because of that the doctor had a discussion with a specialist (Hematologist) in the main hospital and they instructed us to do some more blood tests, and we did. Once again, Unfortunately the results were not good.
However, They are not yet sure and they need to carry on analyzing.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 9:14 am

Of course there is no need, except that of the human nature. Ostrich-People want to ask around for answers until they hear the one they want to hear, the rest of the time they are head in sand offering their ass to the gods to pound at surprise. And not telling bad news means there is no bad news. The Yes-Yes-Cultures work like this, they always say yes-yes when they should have said no and saved you time, instead they didn't want to hurt your feelings and said yes-yes... Finland is more of a No-Pisoff-Culture.

Another cultural aspect is the doctors ego. In some countries the person has such a big ego they can't confess they're stupid and don't know and invent things, or doctors stick to a diagnosis even its incorrect in fear of "losing face" or somesuch. In that kind of cultures it is quite normal to ask a second opinion, as you do not trust a yes-yes egomaniac. Finns again trust - sometimes even too much - that the people doing things know what they are doing.

A healthy disbelief is good, but shopping around for only good answers is not.

What the OP might benefit is try to find a fluent translator (kela does provide some assistance to this), even over the phone.

And telling the wife.. meh... they don't know what it is, thalassemia is not one thing, its a family of weird blood figures, and not a cancer but genetic. If they suspect thalassemia, they'd go through family history, but if you're off a yes-yes culture you don't have a clue.

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