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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: BEERMAN]
#44303
03/08/2015 02:57 AM
03/08/2015 02:57 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 5,861 Bradenton, FL
Winterstale
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Posts: 5,861
Bradenton, FL
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BEERMAN said: Sitting by a late night bonfire but I'll chime in... last year I had a terrible ear problem, never had a wax problem before but a medic had me lie on my side and poured peroxide in my ear, let it sit for a couple minutes, then rolled over and let it drain, did the trick <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" /> Yup - if you can get your hands on some hydrogen peroxide, that's what I would suggest as well - let it sit in the ear until it - literally - starts to bubble when it reacts to the wax.
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: Kristin]
#44307
03/08/2015 09:22 AM
03/08/2015 09:22 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,761 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I would suggest going to the doctor at the hospital. It's not the cost like in the states. When I had a huge problem like that, the doctor's office used a warm solution of something to dissolve the wax plug. There is an ear wax removal kit that they sell here in the US also, with a thing to pump water or liquid into the ear. It is a VERY uncomfortable experience to have an ear plugged with wax, I know. Hope he gets it resolved soon.
Carol Hill
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: SteveInMD]
#44309
03/08/2015 09:38 AM
03/08/2015 09:38 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
sail445
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SteveInMD said: I've always had better luck with rubbing alcohol than hydrogen peroxide for ear trouble. When I was younger I had to flush out my ears with rubbing alcohol after every swim or I would likely get an ear infection. I carry a dropper bottle full when heading for the BVI. I've never had a wax problem with my ears but have used alcohol after diving or if I had an ear ache. I wouldn't know if alcohol would be effective in loosing up organic wax.
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: CaptSharky]
#44311
03/08/2015 11:00 AM
03/08/2015 11:00 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951 St. John, USVI
RickG
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Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
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We had a very good experience at the clinic on Virgin Gorda with my daughter's ear problem. The doctor there had seen a lot of divers and the visit was quick. $20 for the office visit. The pharmacy was onsite and the prescription cost about $1.50. Better, faster and cheaper than home.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#44312
03/08/2015 11:01 AM
03/08/2015 11:01 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,170 Rincón PR
casailor53
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Carol_Hill said: I would suggest going to the doctor at the hospital. It's not the cost like in the states. Actually, since the new Pebbles Hospital opened recently, costs have gone up astronomically as well as a two tier system. Not saying not to go to the hospital just do not believe it is going to be cheap.
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: casailor53]
#44313
03/08/2015 12:04 PM
03/08/2015 12:04 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
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Unfortunately the fee schedule for non-belongers at the new Peebles is at US or higher levels.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: GlennA]
#44314
03/08/2015 12:33 PM
03/08/2015 12:33 PM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 138 Ontario, Canada
henryv
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Posts: 138
Ontario, Canada
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When my wife had an ear infection last year we ended up at the Eureka Medical clinic in Roadtown. The doctor was first class and the cost very modest. I suggest you give them a call. Henry
Henryv
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: Annoddddd]
#44320
03/09/2015 10:31 AM
03/09/2015 10:31 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,170 Rincón PR
casailor53
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Posts: 1,170
Rincón PR
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Annoddddd said: Another agree with Eureka in Roadtown and right across the hall from the pharmacy.
In January I had used peroxide in my ears as "prevention" and it actually caused otitis externa (swimmers ear) 1) agree that Eureka is a pretty good clinic. They actually own Bouganvillea Clinic now, as well, although Robin Tattersall is still slightly involved. 2) for years i put a few drops of a half-and-half alcohol and vinegar in my ears after exiting the water to prevent swimmers ear. A nurse in STT looked in my ears years ago and asked if I was a divermaster. I said I dove a fair amount but was not a divemaster, and did spend a lot of time in the water. She said that I had fungus in my ears, that it did not cause pain, but could lead to deafness. I told her about faithfully using the alcohol/vinegar mix and she told me that while that guarded against bacterial infection, it did not do anything to counteract a fungal infection. She recommended that I change my mix to thirds - alcohol/vinegar/peroxide. As usual, YMMV.
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: casailor53]
#44321
03/09/2015 02:20 PM
03/09/2015 02:20 PM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826 Tortola, BVI
LianeLeTendre
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Tortola, BVI
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I would also recommend Eureka Medical Clinic.
My niece's boyfriend was just released from Peebles Hospital Saturday afternoon. He had some sort of unidentified back issues and was in a lot of pain. The doctor thought it was muscular.
In three days, he was never moved out of the emergency ward, never had a shower and there was no TV in that part of the hospital.
My niece had a heck of a time getting him signed out as they were supposed to leave on Friday. They to cancel their flights home and rebooked for Saturday. Still the hospital wouldn't release him in time for their flight. She had to cancel the flights a second time and rebook for Sunday. She finally got him released on Saturday afternoon and they arrived home in Calgary last night. They left for the airport at 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning and arrived home at 12:20 this morning. She had planned the second set of flights so that they would travel over a period of 2 days in order to make it easier on her boyfriend. At least he would have had a full 12 hours to rest and lie flat on his back had they been able to stick to the plan. I'm sure travelling for more than 18 hours straight couldn't have been very easy for him.
Total hospital bill was about $4,500.00 for three days. That was for his stay, pain drugs, a CT scan and 2 or 3 physiotherapy visits. There were no MRI's or X-rays. Oh and they also charged for filling out his insurance paperwork.
The staff (at all levels) were all very nice and very helpful, but it took a looong time for paperwork to be processed. He is seeing his doctor in Calgary today as there was ultimately no understandable diagnosis and he is still in pain, though it is more bearable than when he was first admitted.
They were very lucky as their health insurance plan will cover most of the costs, including the 2 extra days at the hotel for my niece and 2 extra days for the car rental.
Without a really good insurance plan, you are pretty much in a bad situation cost wise. I can't imagine what all the extra costs would have totalled had it been something serious, requiring lots of tests and a longer stay. I can see how people could be financially ruined by something more serious while abroad.
My niece was smart enough to insure her flights as well. It cost her an extra $100.00 but saved them thousands in the end.
Something as simple as a muscular back strain could well have cost them over $10,000.00 just because they weren't at home. It's really pretty frightening.
I urge all visitors to make certain you have good insurance coverage when visiting. Hospital care isn't inexpensive in the BVI.
Oh and one more thing. Despite the fact that their health insurance company said they would guarantee the hospital would receive payment, the hospital wouldn't sign him out or complete the paperwork until his bill was paid. So my niece and her boyfriend had to come up with the funds and will be refunded by their insurer when they finally get their luggage back from the airline … because of course, that has gone missing. So perhaps it would be best to pay the hospital to provide copies of all your receipts and carry a copy in your purse or wallet.
You should also be aware that there are no wheel chairs at the airport.
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: sail445]
#44324
03/09/2015 05:46 PM
03/09/2015 05:46 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 34 NorCal
jimp1234
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Posts: 34
NorCal
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There's been a number of good suggestions for ear wax removal (in the states any drug store has "Debrox" or equivalent). However if he's in pain and he's been doing a lot of swimming/snorkeling it's likely he's got an ear infection which will require an antibiotic. My ENT has prescribed the antibiotic ofloxacin when I've suffered from this. Btw, I also have a prescription for mometasone which is used daily and keeps wax build up under control.
Last edited by jimp1234; 03/09/2015 05:50 PM.
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: sail445]
#44325
03/09/2015 06:18 PM
03/09/2015 06:18 PM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
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Traveler
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Posts: 8,530
Ya never know...
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Hospital has instituted a new rate system. Local pricing and a special "out of town rate" (3x-5x the locals rate) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />. That's why I don't travel there without AirEvac/Medical insurance. I think it cost me $130 for 2 weeks, worth it for the peace of mind and also because your insurance (US) will probably only pay "out of network" rates. My insurance broker also mentioned that if you ever get treatment out of the country, be sure the hospital/provider designates it as "emergency treatment" or you'll have a long row to hoe trying to get reimbursed(at in or out of network rates) these days.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: LianeLeTendre]
#44328
03/10/2015 04:50 AM
03/10/2015 04:50 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826 Tortola, BVI
LianeLeTendre
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Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 826
Tortola, BVI
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As an update, I received the following message from my niece: We saw the doctor this morning and he read the medical report and saw the meds he was prescribed and giggled. He said the "narcotic" they gave him is a very old form of Demoral. He said he hasn't seen it for over 18 years.
He said he needs to stop taking all the pain meds and stick to the anti-inflammatories. He checked his reflexes (pretty basic) and he had no reaction in his left leg at all. In fact, he has very little feeling in that leg at all. He is hobbling around trying to adapt to it. The doctor sent us for xrays to make sure he didn't damage anything in the knee area itself.
He's ordered an MRI as he said the injury is likely disc related which is cutting off the feeling in his leg. He is sending him to physio to get him started on healing. They have advised him not to work for the next 2 weeks at least.
So it would appear the muscular diagnosis is in question and apparently, no reflex test was done on his knee while he was in the hospital. Had that simple test been done at the hospital, perhaps a disc injury may have been suspected. On the flip side, had either of the two doctors who treated him done the reflex test, he would probably still be at the hospital waiting for an MRI and paying way more than they could have managed to scrape up to get him out of there. The hospital wouldn't release him or sign his insurance forms until the bill was paid. Being able to board the flight was conditional upon having the hospital release form. Had the hospital bill gone much higher, they would have been between a rock and a hard place. They just bought a house so are pretty cash strapped. Their vacation was carefully planned well in advance and they did everything on an economical basis. All in all, it was not a great way to end their vacation. The good news is that at least he is home, being taken care of and they don't have to fork out any more cash for his treatments. His insurance thankfully covers all of it.
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: LianeLeTendre]
#44329
03/10/2015 06:06 PM
03/10/2015 06:06 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,423 New Jersey, USA
DanS
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Posts: 1,423
New Jersey, USA
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Being able to board the flight was conditional upon having the hospital release form. Holy cow, seriously? This was a commercial flight, not some kind of medical evacuation, right? So does this mean that the hospital contacted the airport or airline, and arranged to deny boarding? Dan
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Re: In Tortola now. Need suggestion for ear prob pleas
[Re: sail2wind]
#44331
03/10/2015 08:09 PM
03/10/2015 08:09 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 826 Redmond, WA
MrEZgoin
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 826
Redmond, WA
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I'm guessing it's an airline condition of allowing you to re-book a flight for medical emergency.
M4000 "Lio Kai"
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