My girlfriend is going to need surgery

[Scouzer]

My girlfriend has been diagnosed with Gall Bladder Disease. This will require surgery. She was diagnosed today. Her mom has had the surgery before, it isn't a major surgery, I think she's more worried about still getting to Europe.

We are supposed to be going to Europe in 54 days. The doctor says it is extremely unlikely that she will require a hospital visit when we are there, but it's possible. If she does need a hospital visit, it'd likely be just to give some Tylenol 3's and do some tests to ensure the condition has not abruptly worsened.

He said its not an urgent surgery, so it's also extremely unlikely that she'll get the surgery done prior to our European trip. He is NOT recommending she doesn't go, but is concerned if our health insurance will cover it.

So... will it? I'm reading the pamphlet, but I'm far from a lawyer. It seems to me she won't be covered as its a prior known medical condition that may flare up during our time there.

http://www.rbcinsurance.com/travel/pdf/policy-eng.pdf

That's the brochure. It says Unlimited dollar amount covered, but that doesn't mean much. We have the DELUXE PACKAGE.

I thank you all for any help, this is a huge bummer as you can imagine

 

[Flyback]

I don't know about whether it will be covered, but this stuck out:

Wherever you two end up traveling, make sure you have maps of the nearest hospitals beforehand (if you still go) in the event you ever need them.

Which countries are you going to?

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Flyback
I don't know about whether it will be covered, but this stuck out:

Wherever you two end up traveling, make sure you have maps of the nearest hospitals beforehand (if you still go) in the event you ever need them.

Which countries are you going to?

Britain, France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium.

18 days

 

[Flyback]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Flyback
I don't know about whether it will be covered, but this stuck out:

Wherever you two end up traveling, make sure you have maps of the nearest hospitals beforehand (if you still go) in the event you ever need them.

Which countries are you going to?

Britain, France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium.

18 days

Best of luck w/ her health and hope it doesn't get canceled. Sounds like one hell of a vacation.

 

[buck]

I had my appendix taken out 7 days before I was surfing in Costa Rica... No problems whatsoever ( first two days were a little sore).

It was Arthroscopic if that makes any difference.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Flyback
I don't know about whether it will be covered, but this stuck out:

Wherever you two end up traveling, make sure you have maps of the nearest hospitals beforehand (if you still go) in the event you ever need them.

Which countries are you going to?

Britain, France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium.

18 days

Since it was a prexisting condition that you know about, probably not?

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Flyback
I don't know about whether it will be covered, but this stuck out:

Wherever you two end up traveling, make sure you have maps of the nearest hospitals beforehand (if you still go) in the event you ever need them.

Which countries are you going to?

Britain, France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium.

18 days

Since it was a prexisting condition that you know about, probably not?

But it's non-urgent, and its just as likely to expect a hospital visit as a stomach virus it seems.

She has never been to the hospital before it previously. Just routine doctor office visits.

 

[RbSX]

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: RyanSengara

Originally posted by: Scouzer

Originally posted by: Flyback
I don't know about whether it will be covered, but this stuck out:

Wherever you two end up traveling, make sure you have maps of the nearest hospitals beforehand (if you still go) in the event you ever need them.

Which countries are you going to?

Britain, France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium.

18 days

Since it was a prexisting condition that you know about, probably not?

But it's non-urgent, and its just as likely to expect a hospital visit as a stomach virus it seems.

She has never been to the hospital before it previously. Just routine doctor office visits.

Doesn't matter, they will argue that you knew about if before you left and it would be covered by healthcare and your private insurance at home, and that they shouldn't have to pay for it because of that.

And they would probably win if you made any contest of it.

 

[Atheus]

I think the NHS in Britain will just treat you for free no matter who you are. They're like that. People fly here and 'suddenly discover' something is wrong with them just to get good treatment for free.

 

[Crucial]

If they are going to remove her gallbladder she will be in pain for at least a week afterwards. Not intense pain all the time but it hurts like hell if you cough or laugh. The day after you just lay around and don't want to move. After that sitting up is ok but watch out if you cough or laugh. Her bowels will be screwed up for awhile afterwards too. I has slimy loose stool for a couple weeks afterwards from my body getting used to the lack of the gall bladder.

When I had my surgery it was because I was in intense pain from gall stones. If that is what she has then it will suck if she gets these pains while you are gone. I would take care of it ASAP and be healed before you leave. Risking your health while in a foreign country seems very stupid to me. My doctor warned me that I could wake up with a 6inch scar in my side if the laproscopy method wasn't working. That would mean a lot longer recovery time.

Think about it. If she suddenly has to have surgery in a foreign country who says they will have the tools to do laproscopy? http://static.flickr.com/88/232760905_fb536e409f_m.jpg
Thats not me BTW

 

[Scouzer]

She gets bad pain from gall stones, yes. About once every 2 months. She takes 2 T3's, curls up, and it's gone in 2 hours.

The surgery would be AFTER Europe in all likelihood. She can't get in sooner.

 

[Crucial]

I guess my condition must have been worse. It started with pain that felt like horrible gas one night and a week later I was laying on the floor crying it hurt so bad. Vicoden would only dull the pain of 1000 knives in my back and side. I was getting jaundice from the bile blockage and the Dr scheduled me for early surgery the next day before his other surgeries. Has she had an ultrasound? Maybe her stones are much smaller than mine were.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: Crucial
I guess my condition must have been worse. It started with pain that felt like horrible gas one night and a week later I was laying on the floor crying it hurt so bad. Vicoden would only dull the pain of 1000 knives in my back and side. I was getting jaundice from the bile blockage and the Dr scheduled me for early surgery the next day before his other surgeries. Has she had an ultrasound? Maybe her stones are much smaller than mine were.

Yes she got her ultrasound results today, hence the diagnosis. The stones are small, but there are many.

It is definitely not as urgent as yours was.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

My grandmother had her gallbladder removed (scoped) and was fine within a week... she was tough though, but I expect you've got plenty of time assuming you can get the procedure scheduled soon.

 

[theknight571]

Can't you just get some T3s to take with you?

Won't they perfrom the surgery before the trip?

My wife had it done and she was back to work in 2 weeks...(there were some minor complications due to the condition her Gall Bladder was in, so she spent a week with a "drain" to prevent fluid buildup...otherwise she would have been back in a week)

<--- not a Dr. nor am I at a Holiday Inn Express.

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: theknight571
Can't you just get some T3s to take with you?

Won't they perfrom the surgery before the trip?

My wife had it done and she was back to work in 2 weeks...(there were some minor complications due to the condition her Gall Bladder was in, so she spent a week with a "drain" to prevent fluid buildup...otherwise she would have been back in a week)

<--- not a Dr. nor am I at a Holiday Inn Express.

No they won't perform the surgery before the trip. It's non urgent, low priority.

 

[aberdeen5]

Originally posted by: theknight571
Can't you just get some T3s to take with you?

Won't they perfrom the surgery before the trip?

My wife had it done and she was back to work in 2 weeks...(there were some minor complications due to the condition her Gall Bladder was in, so she spent a week with a "drain" to prevent fluid buildup...otherwise she would have been back in a week)

<--- not a Dr. nor am I at a Holiday Inn Express.

He lives in Canada

 

[eits]

i should really start getting better at reading legal/insurance stuff... i'm totally worthless at that i'm thinking of just hiring one of my lawyer/business friends to do all that for me haha

 

[CaptainGoodnight]

Just wondering, did your doctor give you an estimate on how long she would be on the waiting list?

 

[eakers]

Since she hasn't required an emergency trip to the hospital yet, I think it will be fine. Go and have fun.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

national healthcare FTL.

our english friend had gall bladder issues and it took them almost a year to schedule her for surgery

 

[Scouzer]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
national healthcare FTL.

our english friend had gall bladder issues and it took them almost a year to schedule her for surgery

It'll be about 6 weeks. A little bit not comparable.

 

[chcarnage]

I think you'll be fine but I'd ask her doctor for a document which lists her diagnosis, prescriptions and the contact data of the doc or his hospital.

Tylenol aka paracetamol is a relatively cheap over-the-counter-drug in Europe (at least in Switzerland, Germany and the UK). Like in the US, it comes in 500mg doses.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_paracetamol_brand_names

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Scouzer
My girlfriend has been diagnosed with Gall Bladder Disease. This will require surgery. She was diagnosed today. Her mom has had the surgery before, it isn't a major surgery, I think she's more worried about still getting to Europe.

We are supposed to be going to Europe in 54 days. The doctor says it is extremely unlikely that she will require a hospital visit when we are there, but it's possible. If she does need a hospital visit, it'd likely be just to give some Tylenol 3's and do some tests to ensure the condition has not abruptly worsened.

He said its not an urgent surgery, so it's also extremely unlikely that she'll get the surgery done prior to our European trip. He is NOT recommending she doesn't go, but is concerned if our health insurance will cover it.

So... will it? I'm reading the pamphlet, but I'm far from a lawyer. It seems to me she won't be covered as its a prior known medical condition that may flare up during our time there.

http://www.rbcinsurance.com/travel/pdf/policy-eng.pdf

That's the brochure. It says Unlimited dollar amount covered, but that doesn't mean much. We have the DELUXE PACKAGE.

I thank you all for any help, this is a huge bummer as you can imagine

I would be very surprised if any overseas travel health you purchase would cover that.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: buck
I had my appendix taken out 7 days before I was surfing in Costa Rica... No problems whatsoever ( first two days were a little sore).

It was Arthroscopic if that makes any difference.

Did you need any medical attention while in Costa Rica?