Best Posts in Thread: Recommended Surgeon?

It's always a problem diagnosing something that is on-and-off but, I assume, if the doctor has checked the physical structure of your heart and it appears to be okay then the causes might be external. Two factors can be stress (as you stated) and alcohol. Age is also, unfortunately, another factor - but we can't decrease that one!

Perhaps for peace of mind you could go to Cebu or Manila for a second opinion. Worrying about a heart condition is, in itself, another stress factor.

There is always the possibility to return home to avail of the NHS but it seems that being non-resident (? for 5 years) could result in having to pay the full costs (it appears that being a non-citizen and residing there a few days counts for more than 60 or more years of being a resident citizen and having paid a lot in NI contributions!).

I think that for 'belt-and-braces' safety I would consider both the pacemaker and statins (especially if my cholesterol levels were high). Better to have it and not need it ... as the saying goes.

Hope you get this sorted soon.

 

Just come across this posting.
Some people obviously feel that local or indeed Philippine Hospitals are to be avoided.
I can't speak of experiencing such an operation in Philippines, but I have had two hernia operations in UK.
The first one was in my 40's, this was the newly introduced "Keyhole surgery ", however it was new to the Surgeon too!
It took six weeks before I was well enough to return to work.
The second hernia operation in my late 60's was done by the conventional older method.
This too, took six weeks, before I was able to regain full strength and flexability again.
To add to this, I would say two factors determine the recovery time, one is where the herina lies and second being, a persons ability to control the pain.
With pain relief it makes it more comfortable, however the other factor to remember is, pain relief can cause constipation, which then causes pain!
( just a tip, make sure not to strain yourself when toileting, after the operation) a mild laxative helps there.
Some people recover faster than others, but avoid heavy jobs for at least six weeks.
Hope that this advice helps, good luck for the forthcoming op;

 

Unfortunately here the "Can you recommend" falls on deaf ears as few will risk your life or well-being.

I have no personal experience of the procedure but found these on the internet:

https://www.medijump.com/hernia-repair-procedures-in-cebu-philippines

https://filipinodoctors.org/item/jovelyn-tan-amodia-md-general-surgery-cebu/

However, if I was asked to put my life in the hands of a doctor here, I would do so for Doctor Tan (?Henry Tan) of Holy Child Hospital. He specialises in micro-surgery so I am not certain if he would perform a hernia op - but he may give you a name.

 

Your doctor seeing the arrhythmia on your ECG would explain them prescribing a pacemaker. Your doctor would need to know if a single chamber or dual chamber type is best for your arrhythmia and your echo seems like the most obvious ways to determine what type. Your blood work was normal which makes statins precautionary to a heart attack I suppose . Elevated cholesterol, particularly LDL, would have explained the statins. Would lowering cholesterol with statins reduce stress on the heart and lessen the need for a pacemaker? I do get mild muscle cramps from Atorvastatin but for the past two years I no longer have spells where I felt too tired to do anything. Unfortunately my Tinnitus also got better and is no longer blocking out the neighbors.

 

I can't speak on local surgeons. I did have the surgery 18 years ago in the USA. It was an outpatient procedure so I went home the same day. I was required to have someone to drive me home due to the anesthesia. If they don't recommend a driver, I do. A couple days of Tylenol was enough for the pain, barely. I went back to work after two weeks but it took me about four or five weeks to regain full flexibility.

 

I might have got the 5 year rule NHS confused with paying taxes over the previous 5 years if you return to the UK within 5 years. The tax situation is, as per usual, very complicated.

But I recall reading about having to prove you really have returned permanently to the UK (parts of the rules may be different for Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and this link informs about that:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-the-nhs-when-you-return-to-live-in-the-uk

So a citizen cannot return for a short visit just to avail of the NHS and then go away again ..... they seek proof of permanence in "the ordinary residence test" (although I think that could be done via a short-term rental and then reversed after having treatment!).

They treat expats as aliens when they return. Better to go back by inflatable boat.

 

I gave up on my cardiologist. I have got irregular heart beats, not all the time but when it happens I feel poorly. I have had different test including lung, ECG, echo, and blood work test. The Dr can't diagnose what's wrong and she suggesting a pacemaker or Statins. I have blood test every year and all is in the normal range.
One thing I forgot to tell the Dr is stress (living here). Driving, roosters, barking dogs (my own) loud when they bark in the house.
I was just as stressed living in the UK (Ignorant next door neighbours) who thought it was okay to party until 5 am.
Ah well at least over here they stop the noise at 2 am.

 

You might try searching https://nowserving.ph/ Start with GENERAL SURGERY then pick a location.

 

It may be necessary to go even further! Talking to someone about this very subject today, I was told of a senior surgeon in the country who said he could go to any hospital within the country and receive the best attention (because of his status).

However, he was not willing to have surgery here and so travelled to Singapore.

 

What I can do is recommend from personal experience. DONT use hospitals in Dumaguete! Cebu doctors or Chung wa right across the street.