I am reluctant to post because both you and I know our views differ significantly on the health care available in Canada.
However, your posts are heart breaking. I have faced a similar health crisis (yet, I acknowledge different) with my husband over the last two weeks - no need to list the details here but involved two four day hospital stays, inter-spaced with a very ill man sent home on homecare (antibiotic IVs, blood thinner shots, etc.), an allergic reaction, a subsequent collapse, and a 911 call. I have never been so utterly scared in my entire life. All this being witnessed by my four very young children only made this health crisis much more traumatic than anything I have EVER experienced - and one I hope my children will never experience again. Similar to your description, my husband's illness (an extensive and aggressive infection) took a 5km daily runner, fit, non-smoker, not a diabetic, not over-weigh, no risk factor whatsoever, energetic guy to someone who needs to lean on a shopping cart to make the rounds in the grocery store for a few basic items (his choice to go, he wanted to feel alive again), or simply exhausted by a very short walk to down the street. He is only expecting to be back to 100% in 6+weeks. He remains clear of IVs at home now, but continues to take exceptionally high doses of antibiotics. Not quite sure how long it will take me to recover from watching my husband convulse on the floor as I desperately called 911.
My message, however, is different - the Canadian system got him well. He was seen by so many specialists, and had so many specialized tests in the last few days (3 ultrasounds to rule out leg clots, a CT scan to rule out lung clots with enhancements (and I thought of all of you here on the AN site!), liver function tests to rule out permanent liver damage, cardiac monitoring to rule out a heart condition). He has gotten everything (for free, as we both know).
Like you, we are partially forced to rely only on the 'assigned' doctors. I did contact a distant family member in the medical professions in very significant roles (who did get involved, and did agree the treatment was more than adequate) and had back-up plans for other medical contacts if we felt we didn't have proper progress. However, my husband and I felt he was receiving great care so didn't pursue a third opinion.
So, my point of all this. I strongly believe the Canadian system works.
1) Do you have a private medical clinic in Edmonton. I am a pseudo-member of Medcan, a private clinic in ONtario. (look it up on Wikipedia - I read the description and it is accurate). My firm offers as a benefit an annual health assessment - I always follow-through. I don't have year round coverage as I would have to pay for that. [Medcan diagnosed (or at least triggered the referral to the ENT) my AN due to the unilateral hearing difference.] While these are all Ontario (OHIP) doctors, they are paid to spend time with you. I have learned more from my Medcan appointments than I have from most of my GP consults as they are paid to talk to you, paid to answer your questions. Does Edmonton have a simliar program? Would it be helfpul to gather ALL Jim's medical records and get an appointment. Great thing about private health care, no QUEUES!!!! HOwever you pay for it dearly. I know I could have gotten my husband's records and gotten a Medcan appointment and had someone walk him (me!) through every single test result so we knew the reasoning (or the lack thereof) for the explanations provided. I know we would have also gotten the referrals (and queue bumps if, and only if, required to see specialists). Calgary (3 hours south, same province, for the rest of the board) has these type of services - the prices are very high compared to the Ontario clinic. My parents have this type of medical coverage/care and provide great support tothem. (My mother needs a lot of hand holding that public care cannot simply provide.)
2) Can you get a referral to a specialist in Calgary or even a consult into the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. As I have mentioned here before, both of my parents are cancer survivors (breast cancer, double mastectomy and prostate cancer, Gleason 9 ... supposedly very rare and very poor 5 year prognosis) and both treated by Tom Baker. Both of my parents are exceptionally happy of the care they received at that hospita (and my father is now 6 years post surgery and is doing AWESOME!)l. They could have easily gone to the US - but got the care they needed in Alberta.
Even while in the depths of this crisis, I found humour and thoughgt of your Jim (my husband is a Jim too). AFter the 911 call, the fire trucks arrived and ambulance arrived, I met a somewhat older yet very cool guy who was obviously the captain/team lead of the fire squad. He asked me so many questions while the paramedics attending my husband (whose condition was improving at this point) about my husband's health (I messed up his birthday, and aged him 3 years!). He was a big burly guy with a very kind voice - and I thought of your Jim, who must have walked into many homes of 911 calls to distraught families, and provide comfort by just talking (and even cracking a few jokes) through the ordeal.
Bless you and Jim as you walk down this path. Push for the answers you need.
Ann
