Well, I’m sorry that you broke your elbow, but I am also grateful that it’s allowed you to share your experience with all of us. For me, I think the area of medical care is the most concerning, simply because not feeling or being well is stressful no matter where one is, and then to be unfamiliar with the process and language simply adds to that. I think maybe it’s the idea of feeling isolated or unable to communicate urgent concerns that’s at the root of my nervousness. At any rate, it’s reassuring to read your experience and be able to have an example that shows a bit of the process including the attention to communication and the fact that you made a connection with the lady who shared your room.
So glad you came out of surgery feeling good. What an adventure. Let the fun begin for you two. Looking forward to the continued saga of the Algarve Axe mystery. Stay safe & be well.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It adds to my (perceived) confidence in the medical picture in Portugal. And I'm glad you remain under the watchful eyes of a medical professional as you recover from your surgery :) Two sentences particularly resonated with me: **Rather I always worry when I don't know what to expect.** This is how I feel about moving to Portugal. I can't picture what life will be like, the day-to-day activities and the social life. Stranger in a strange land. Yet I still plan to move ahead. The other sentence **I now know that we can live here … for the rest of our lives.** That statement makes me very happy and hopeful--happy for you two, but hopeful for my own future. Have a great time in Loulé.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and happy vacation :)
I’m not at all surprised you had a great experience there - people in the US who haven’t traveled much seem to be afraid of healthcare in other countries, and yet I never felt uncomfortable with it traveling full time for almost 4 years. I found it to be a whole lot less expensive and a lot more personal.
I just reread your closing and wanted to add what I left out. "I now know that we can live here … for the rest of our lives. We really don’t need to return to the States. This can be our home." That's a very big deal indeed. I am very happy for you and Denise, and I get that the medical care you received was key in bringing you to that realization. I am glad that you don't "need" to return to the U.S., and that you have found that Portugal can be your home. Bravo, I say. You chose well.
I so appreciate how much detail you share of your experiences in Portugal. It brings us into your life there in such an intimate and layered way. Needing medical care in a foreign country can be very unnerving, and needing surgery would be particularly so. Being able to walk through your experience with you as you have laid it out here is very reassuring, as well as very interesting. I am relieved that you are on the other side of your surgery, and like Scott, and others I am sure, was struck by your closing, "I now know that we can live here … for the rest of our lives." That's quite a statement, and a very big deal! Hooray for that!
We don’t have the luxury equipment or hospitals you have in the States, but we have very good doctors who give you personal care and attention. I do hope you get better soon and that everything will be ok.
Thank you for giving us an inside look at the Portuguese medical/hospital system. Did you mention the cost associated with the surgery? Did your private insurance cover it?
Well, I’m sorry that you broke your elbow, but I am also grateful that it’s allowed you to share your experience with all of us. For me, I think the area of medical care is the most concerning, simply because not feeling or being well is stressful no matter where one is, and then to be unfamiliar with the process and language simply adds to that. I think maybe it’s the idea of feeling isolated or unable to communicate urgent concerns that’s at the root of my nervousness. At any rate, it’s reassuring to read your experience and be able to have an example that shows a bit of the process including the attention to communication and the fact that you made a connection with the lady who shared your room.
So glad you came out of surgery feeling good. What an adventure. Let the fun begin for you two. Looking forward to the continued saga of the Algarve Axe mystery. Stay safe & be well.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It adds to my (perceived) confidence in the medical picture in Portugal. And I'm glad you remain under the watchful eyes of a medical professional as you recover from your surgery :) Two sentences particularly resonated with me: **Rather I always worry when I don't know what to expect.** This is how I feel about moving to Portugal. I can't picture what life will be like, the day-to-day activities and the social life. Stranger in a strange land. Yet I still plan to move ahead. The other sentence **I now know that we can live here … for the rest of our lives.** That statement makes me very happy and hopeful--happy for you two, but hopeful for my own future. Have a great time in Loulé.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and happy vacation :)
I’m not at all surprised you had a great experience there - people in the US who haven’t traveled much seem to be afraid of healthcare in other countries, and yet I never felt uncomfortable with it traveling full time for almost 4 years. I found it to be a whole lot less expensive and a lot more personal.
Impressed!!!
I just reread your closing and wanted to add what I left out. "I now know that we can live here … for the rest of our lives. We really don’t need to return to the States. This can be our home." That's a very big deal indeed. I am very happy for you and Denise, and I get that the medical care you received was key in bringing you to that realization. I am glad that you don't "need" to return to the U.S., and that you have found that Portugal can be your home. Bravo, I say. You chose well.
I so appreciate how much detail you share of your experiences in Portugal. It brings us into your life there in such an intimate and layered way. Needing medical care in a foreign country can be very unnerving, and needing surgery would be particularly so. Being able to walk through your experience with you as you have laid it out here is very reassuring, as well as very interesting. I am relieved that you are on the other side of your surgery, and like Scott, and others I am sure, was struck by your closing, "I now know that we can live here … for the rest of our lives." That's quite a statement, and a very big deal! Hooray for that!
We don’t have the luxury equipment or hospitals you have in the States, but we have very good doctors who give you personal care and attention. I do hope you get better soon and that everything will be ok.
Thank you for giving us an inside look at the Portuguese medical/hospital system. Did you mention the cost associated with the surgery? Did your private insurance cover it?