A couple of weeks ago, I wasn't feeling too great. I was all stuffed up and I felt like I hadn't had a good night's sleep in weeks.
But I'm the type of person that would rather struggle through a day of work than call in sick. I'd rather slap a smile on my face and head into work. The thought of being at home sick is not one that I enjoy to say the least. It's the unproductiveness of being at home sick that really gets to me.
Mind over matter, right?
And I've been known more than once or twice to ignore my stuffed up nasal passages a little longer than I probably should. On top of that, I'm not a big fan of taking drugs unless I absolutely need them. I'd struggle through a headache for days before I ever took a Tylenol and I'd have a cold for weeks before I ever saw a doctor.
If I ignore it, it will go away, right?
Plus, I'm a believer that sometimes it is good for our bodies to have the opportunity to build up immunity ever now and then, rather than stuffing it full of drugs at the first sign of a symptom.
But sometimes my theory is wrong. The problem is that sometimes our bodies aren't capable of fixing themselves on their own. Sometimes, our bodies need a little extra help.
So after being told numerous times to go to the doctor, I finally went last week. And the problem with going to the doctor after you've waited too long is that once you get there, you may just get a lecture. I have heard on more than one occasion that "If you aren't feeling well, then you should come in and see me."
You would think that I would learn. But I haven't. Well, at least not quite yet.
The verdict was what the doctor called "a severe sinus infection" and thanks to a dose of antibiotics, I am feeling much better.
But why I really started to write this column was because I came across something of interest the other day. Something for those times when your body isn't capable of fixing itself.
There is a new Specialist Directory for residents of Saskatchewan and as far as I am concerned, it is a really great option for patients requiring that additional type of help. The tool is used to help family doctors and their patients find potential surgical options.
Say you are waiting to see have a knee scope. Click on the lower body of the 'website patient' and then select knee arthroscopy. More than 45 specialists pop up along with their contact information. Not only can you sort them by specialist, health region or location of surgery, but the interactive directory gives you access to additional information.
It tells you the wait time for the first appointment, the number of non-emergent cases that were completed, the number of patients on the waiting list, the percentage of patients waiting over 12 months, and even whether the doctor is willing to meet with patients using telehealth.
And what do you do with this information? Well, it's supposed to be a way in which patients and doctors can weigh all of the options before making a decision. Anyone who has waited for a specialist knows that it can take some time depending on the emergency of the situation and the reputation of the surgeon.
In fact, the Government of Saskatchewan states that "52 percent of patients waiting longer than 12 months for surgery are distributed among 10 surgeons. Some patients on a very popular surgeon's list wait two to three times longer than those referred to another surgeon in the same speciality."
So what does that mean? Well, the directory gives the patient options. Those that are willing to travel may choose to have surgery in a location different than their nearest centre or where they would typically be referred to. With approximately 200 Saskatchewan surgeons doing 2,600 procedures, patients can find a doctor almost anywhere.
Is it working? Apparently. Since its inception at the beginning of 2010, the number of patients waiting more than 18 months for surgery has dropped by 57 percent. Not only that, but the number of patients waiting more than 12 months has dropped by 44 percent.
So, if you are waiting for a surgery or have one coming up, the website is worth a look. You can find all the information you need to be self informed of your surgical options at www.specialists.health.gov.sk.ca.
