All Systems Go

Alwayshope, remember that from next month, to look out for the 'Bleary-Eyed British Tourist', they like it if you leave a saucer of Ouzo and a plate of Moussaka.

Well I do, anyway!

I was in Cyprus last month and I saw a couple of Hoopoes.  Only ever saw them in Africa before.

Hope everything goes ok tomorrow at the hospital.  Sounds like the Greek hospitals are very good.

We have a sounder of wild boar but they keep well away from people and lot of snakes on the local moorland but remembering," i can sometimes" how it was 30 years ago, it's sad how much has disappeared, I don't know the Greek health system, is it all private or is there some kind of national health system alongside, but it makes a lot of sense to have a psychologist available for people with certain mental health conditions. I see 2 a cognitive psychologist who i think see's me as a curiosity as he's never come across my condition before, acquired aphantasia with no cause, and an emotional one who i see at Maggie's.

Eddie

Steve, I was in Scotland and a deer ran in front of the car, so i swerved so as not to hurt it, was only doing about 20 mph, but hit a rock with the corner of the chassis slowing down and the car, only 6 months old, was a write off, vowed never to swerve for one again, instead do what the experts say and speed up as it;s safer for you, never seen one on the road since, how do they know.

Eddie

There is a national health system in Greece but, like the UK system, it is understaffed and underfunded. There are a lot of private doctors and hospitals so they have to be competitive e.g. our urologist charges 40 for a full examination. Things like the PSMA PET CT cost 60 Euros at a private hospital because the national health system subsidises it to the tune of 90%. Full blood tests 10Euros. If we relied on the NHS then there are delays e.g. our area currently has no oncologist due to sickness which means that people with cancer have to travel to Athens for treatment at the NHS hospital - not ideal. We choose to be treated privately because our medical oncologist is excellent (actually trained at the Royal Marsden), and is based at a hospital which is considered in the top 5 in Europe. Luckily he also has a clinic in our nearest town only an hour away. We chose a different hospital for radiotherapy because it has the best machines in Greece but the doctors work together between the hospitals and share all the records. Effectively we are treated at different hospitals which are dependent on who has the expertise in that field but the cost is subsidised by the state to the tune of how much the treatment is deemed to cost in the NHS, and we just pay the balance. If you have to stay away from home for treatment then the the cost of travel and accommodation can be claimed back but it is a hassle and not worth the aggro. 

Has the system changed since your move to Greece, and if so is it for the better, sounds similar to Australia's, which has a very basic NHS so nearly everyone pays into private healthcare which looks like where we are heading, which is great if you can afford it, and awful for those that cant. How are you both doing tonight, do you have to prepare for tomorrow or just try to keep things as normal as you can, I'm taking a friends daughter for chemotherapy on friday and i'm already nervous even though she's going to be fine, sleep well, both of you.

Eddie

Things are pretty normal, just trying to get more protein into him. Veg and fruit restricted from what we would normally eat, but then we do normally have a very wide range. He is now on antiemetics 3 times a day so hopefully he will have a better experience tomorrow. Off out for the morning to different mall for coffee and 'parking' - a bit more upmarket, then back to the holiday home for a meal he is allowed to eat. Sleep in the afternoon then off for second session at 17:45. Had to get a COVID test done today - negative.

I would say the NHS system has deteriorated in the last 20 years.

Normal is great sometimes, Glad he's on antiemetics, I was just about to offer some advice, then remembered who i was talking too. Looks like you have planned a lovely day tomorrow, are you looking to buy anything in particular or just browsing i hope the whole day goes well for you both.

Eddie

A bread maker would you believe. Ours gave up the ghost last week. I am gluten intolerant and we can't buy gluten free bread out here yet so I have to make my own. Hubby needs his new underwear and I think I might also splurge on something lacy and feminine (just to make me feel good - but too much information, down boy).

We can all do with advice at times so don't hold back, particularly if you have some ideas on insomnia - here I am at 4:30am, wide eyed and bushy tailed. At least the tortoise has stopped rustling about in the undergrowth and stopped his amorous grunting.

Morning Alwayshope, bread makers are great, I have a panasonic  with a timer delay so bread is nice and warm for when you get in and an ingredient dispenser so no need to take the dough out to add any extra's and makes jam and yoghurt too. If lacy underwear makes you feel good why not and you can never give too much information, it helps us guys when we buy these things for our partners, our maybe even for ourselves, not naming any names. I do a relaxation course at Maggies, which you can do online, which helped with my sleeping and restless leg, as did the sleepio app, A few of my friends swear by meditation. though don't take what the "experts" say as gospel, i find a hour on the laptop just before bedtime helps too. though maybe going 18 months on 2 hours a night just caught up on me. hope the tortoise going quiet is due to a happy ending, best wishes to you both, hope the new outfit makes you feel great and hubby sails through treatment.

Eddie

Hello AH - I suffer really badly with insomnia. I have been trying camomile tea this last 4 nights result 3 nights of waking up just one to go to the loo and 1 dreadful night. 76% success so far but the one sleepless night left me feeling much worse than usual! I am limiting caffeine, too - none after lunch time. I’m trying not to use ‘screens’ in the evening. It’s amazing , though, how long the body can continue with so little sleep, isn’t it?

incidentally we have a pet tortoise! He’s been a member of the family for 45 years! I refer to ‘him’ but he might be ‘she‘? our sons bought him with their pocket money and left him with us when they left home!