My wife is spending tonight in the St. Augustine Hospital in Antwerp.
Debbie woke up just before 5 this morning rolling around, moaning from unbearable pain in her lower abdomen. A couple of hours later, pain medication, hot baths, and ice packs had done nothing to alleviate it.
We called a pharmacist friend from our Belgian church, and he recommended we take her to St. Augustinus hospital's emergency room. We know where most of the hospitals in Antwerp are located (Stuyvenberg, St. Elizabeths, Middleheim, St. Vincents, Jan Panfijn, Universtaire, etc.,), but this was one we'd never heard of. Turns out it is about three blocks from Middleheim hospital, about a half-hour bus-ride away from our apartment, way down on the south side of town.
The Belgian medical system, although totally socialized, provides what I consider to be excellent medical care. Less than five minutes after walking in the front door, she was already in a treatment room getting her vital signs checked. Three minutes after that, they were drawing blood and inserting an IV. Within 15 minutes of walking in the front door, we were talking with the doctor.
The doctor ordered a CT scan, and within 10 minutes they were taking Debbie up to the radiology department. I went to get a snack at the cafeteria and before I could get back, they had completed the scan and she was back in the treatment room!
Fifteen minutes later, we had a positive diagnosis: kidney stone, absolutely classic, showing up beautifully on the scan.
They put her on an IV drip of medication intended to relax the tube where the stone is lodged, hoping it will loosen and come out where she can pass it. They admitted her for the night, and put her on some really good pain medication, which is making her high as a kite. If the stone isn't out by morning, they plan to surgically remove it. Either way, they expect her to be able to fly home on our scheduled flight Wednesday.
The hospital seems every bit as competent and offering quality care as anything we've seen back in the states. They have a few different customs (for example, astoundingly little paperwork, they let you keep your own clothes on, friends can bring in your favorite food and drink, etc.) but in general, the quality of health care seems excellent compared to the U.S.
I took DJ back to the hospital this evening on the bus to bring her a more comfortable housedress and stuff.
We owe a debt of gratitude to our Belgian friends, Mark and May Schiltz, who not only selected a great hospital, but actually took us there in their car, and visited with Debbie again in the evening, and then drove DJ and me back to our apartment, saving us time waiting on the bus.
The hospital room is costing (get this!) a whopping 75 euro per day! At the current exchange rate, that's about 99 dollars per day! That's NOT our part of the bill with insurance picking up the rest -- that's the whole hospital bill! And the doctor is prohibited by law from sending a "supplemental" bill for physician's services! If this had to happen, I'm kinda glad it happened in Belgium!
Naturally, at the moment, neither of us cares much about what the bill will be. Her smile in the photo belies the heavy intoxication she's under from the pain medicines in the IV drip. I wish I could say she's resting comfortably, but unfortunately, while the medication is helping numb the pain, I know she's definitely not a happy camper tonight. I sure hope she passes the darn thing soon so she'll be more comfortable.
The really good news is that she doesn't have any infection yet, no fever, no kidney failure or damage, and there is no sign of any other problems. Hopefully she'll be home (in our flat in Antwerp) in time for supper tomorrow evening.
1 comment:
That was fun to read your account of the hospital visit vs. Debbie's account of the event. Similar of course, but interesting to note what (and how) you write compared to hers.
I hope she feels better soon... and yeah, amazing "fees" - what a deal!
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