Abdullah Mohibuddin
I have been living in Canada for the last 2 years. By this time, I have spent two summers and two falls. I came across the beautiful scene while travelling during fall season. The simplicity of a colourful maple leaf in a sun beam personifies exactly how it feels to be a proud Canadian.
Before my arrival in Canada, my Indian-Canadian friend with whom I worked in Hamburg Aircraft Manufacturing Company in Germany about 40 years back told me that I would have a ten years' long life if I would be in Canada. I thought it was just a joke as he was pointing to the average lifespan of Canada (that is, 81 years), whereas in Bangladesh it is only 57 years.
But it was not just a joke when after landing in Canada, I came across this experience by myself. After landing here, we had to look for Family doctor as everything about healthcare is rooted through Family doctor. Family doctor will send you to specialist (if applicable).
As a senior citizen, I had to go through a thorough medical check-up. I was lucky to get a Family doctor who is a German-Canadian. My relatives and Bangladeshi friends always joke about it. I always prefer to get in touch with Germans as I had spent 7 years in Germany to complete my Engineering degree including 2 years' job with Lufthansa.
May I brief you a little bit of healthcare system in Canada? Each Province has its own policy and guideline for healthcare. Canada's natural health insurance program, often referred to as "Medicare", is designed to ensure that all residents have reasonable access to medically necessary hospital and physician services, on a prepaid basis.
Role and responsibilities for Canada's healthcare system are shared between the federal and provincial governments. Provincial government is responsible for the management, organization and delivery of health services for their residents. Health Canada believes that prevention and health promotion can hold healthcare costs down and improve quality of life in the long term. The mission and vision of Health Canada are for Canada to be among the countries with the healthiest people in the world.
During my routine check, my Family doctor Dr Rueffer sent me for a chest X-ray. Here in Canada, X-ray is done by Imaging. So there is no need to carry the X-ray plates.
After two days, I got the call from him and he told me that there is spot in my chest. So he sent me for CT Scan to Waterloo hospital. Again, after two days, he informed me that there is nothing wrong in my chest, but there is spot in my kidney. So he referred me to a Kidney specialist - Urologist. This Urologist came from Russia and after seeing CT Scan, he told me that I have a tumor in the kidney. He told me that he is not a specialist for partial removal, he then sent me to another Urologist specialist in London, Ontario. London, Ontario is about 11/2 hours drive from Waterloo.
I met the doctor in London, Ontario. After examining me, he told me that he needs another CT Scan in St Joseph Hospital in London, Ontario. In next week, I went to see this doctor who showed the tumor. This doctor whose name is Dr Pautler is a specialist in Urology and an expert of partial removal of the kidney.
He told me that as long as I am healthy, I should go for surgery as early as possible. The complication will arise after 5 years when the blood will flow through the urine. Dr Pautler suggested me that he will do this surgery at London University Hospital where the latest medical equipment and instruments are there. I found that London University Hospital is one of the best hospitals in Canada.
I was waiting for a call from this Urologist's clinic. The call came and I was told to report to London University Hospital for briefing before surgery. On that briefing day, the nurses revived my health history, current medication and normal activity. Blood, ECG and X-ray were done. I was told not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the surgery and also told to clear bowel as clean as possible in order to reduce the chances of infection after surgery. Then the nurse handed over to me the "Patient Information" all about my surgery (pre & post-surgery).
The type of treatment that I and my doctor have chosen is called a Nephrectomy and in my case it is partial removal of the affected part of the kidney. On the day of surgery, I went to the hospital reception at 6 a.m. From there, a nurse took me to a special room where I wore a patient gown and also put on TED stockings. What is this TED stocking? It is a thigh high stocking that helps bring the blood back up to the heart while the patient movement is restricted during surgery and after surgery. Is it not a new thing? But a Bangladeshi doctor friend told me that they have this also in Bangladesh hospitals.
Anyway, as I was preparing to wear the stocking, the Anesthesiologist came to me and asked me what sort of anesthetic will be given to me. I had no idea of PCA (Patient Control Analgesia) and chose that.
My partial kidney surgery took a long 41/2 hours. When I woke up after surgery, I never felt that I had gone through a long surgery. On my request, my entire family came to PACU room to see me and after that I was transferred to the hospital room.
I was treated in the hospital like a VIP. After my arrival at the hospital room, immediately, a nurse came to me and introduced herself. A nurse works in the hospital from 7.30 a.m to 7.30 p.m and another starts duty from 7.30 p.m to 7.30 a.m. She works on toes. On next day after the surgery, I was walking in the hallway with the help of the nurse. I was drinking water only on that day. The next day, dietician came and told me how she would plan my food intake. On 2nd day, I was given juice only and after drinking that, I started to vomit. I became a little nervous. But the nurse brought immediately some medicine and gave me. I became all right -- how wonderful.
Dr Pautler, the Urologist used to come and see me. He told me that I was doing fine with my blood work and positive sign of healing the wound. By the way, I learnt to say the pain by number -- from 0 to 10. The number 10 is the highest number for severe pain. Each morning at 6 a.m, a team of 3 Urologists would come and wake me up. Their team leader would brief me about the status of my health and expected date for discharge. Many gadgets were round me. On 4th day, I was discharged and they handed over me with Discharge Instructions.
Visitors were always welcome. There is no time limit. They say that visitors are important to the patients. Just wash your hands before entering a patient's room and when leaving the room. Alcohol based hand rubs are available through out the hospital (not like in our country taking the shoes off).
My main aim is not to tell people about my surgery, but to inform all how much we (in Bangladesh) are behind and backward in healthcare. I had the experience to stay a night at New York hospital, USA during my flying career with BIMAN Bangladesh Airlines. It was miserable.
The standard of London University hospital could be compared with that of Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore. But you have to pay a huge amount of money in Singapore, whereas in Canada you are not to.
I am indeed indebted to Canadian Healthcare. That is why, I agree with my Indian-Canadian friend that I will remain healthy by living in Canada. The health prevention is the word that counts in Canada and of course, another words - 'Caring for you'.
In case someone in Bangladesh is interested to know more about partial kidney surgery, you may contact Dr Pautler, S E Pautler Medicine Professional Corporation, St Joseph's Healthcare, London.ON. N6A 4V2, Canada or you can e-mail to me (
[email protected]). As a Urologist, he is one of the best that I can recommend.
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The writer is a retired DC10 Flt Engr of BIMAN-Bangladesh Airlines and former President of FENA, now residing in Waterloo, Canada. Email:
[email protected]
