So what is Toronto (pronounced 'tawrana'?) like?

Lots of tall buildings and lots of people.

Actually, the pronunciation is more like "Toronno" ... at least for this native Torontonian. 

Good luck to you Alex...hope you find some answers/relief soon.  We always have to travel to the city for specialists...a couple hours each way.  City maps were a pain and now that I can google directions it's made it so much easier. 

Alex - I hope this works for you. I am lucky in that I have never been ill enough to warrant travelling to another city for treatment. I do, however, know several people who have to do it on a regular basis.

I have had to travel many times for medical treatments. remember to save all your receipts for travel and accomodation as they can be used as a tax credit.

I pronounce it "Tronna".

Sending you healing thoughts Alex, and a pain-free resolution of your illness. Sounds like you have good care.
When I was a kid, we travelled to sick Kid's hospital in "tahronno" three times a week - about an hour away. This went on for several months before I was better.
For entertainment, check out the mayor, Rob Ford. He's always calling 911 'cause reporters frighten him.

Yeah, that's it, Ninja ... "tahronno" :)

Well i am on the train going back to Ottawa. Tablets and wifi make the Trip seem to go by so much faster. Why would anyone wantnto take a car to Toronto i wonder.

Anways after having sevral tests and type of examination i have a diagnoses and a treatment. I am so happy. Boy the peopel in Toronto seem so much friendlier and kinder than those on Ottawa.

Wow arriving in Ottawa 4 hours and ten minutes after leaving Toronto by train.

I pronounce it "Tronno"

Good to hear Alex.

Next time you're in Toronto I will buy you a Pepsi.

Oh?

Rich blessings.

---

MC jae

i heard that there are streets in Toronto that are paved with irony and populated by live-in satirists...

there's apparently one street that has everything, from jews being hit, Christians oppressing christians and wanton 50's faggotry being burned by Joe Camel...

such a collection of towns :3

glad you have a diagnosis Alex.  Sorry that I wasn't aware you were in Toronto 

Pinga

Well this time due to the pain I am in when sitting I was not in any shape to see anybody.  AFter being on the train I was very uncomfortable. 

Howerver the HIV specialist I see in Ottawa. who swore that it had nothing to do with HIV or an oportunistic infection is very unhappy, and does not want me seeing another HIV specialist, and will likely refuse to see me, so I will liklly be heading to Toronto for basic care as well as treatment of the fungal infection I have.  

I do not know yet what I will do, as it costs a lot to go to Toronto.  The specialist in Toronto had said he can arrange for me to go to Kingston.  They see a lot of people from Ottawa, because of many problems with the Ottawa Hospital.

Personnaly I would like to fight to have good HIV care in Ottawa. What is happening now is many gay men are traveling to Toronto for care, but in the long run, this means the Ottawa Hospiytal Immunology clinic is see a disportionate number of poor people, drug users, and mothers, who are both unable to travel to Toronto on a regualr basis, and to demand better care in Otytawa. Which means Ottawa will continue to go down hill. 

If I need emergency care I will still need to go to Ottawa.

THe hospitals in Ottawa have had problems, from extreely large percentage being spent on admin, to lost medical records., bad or no communications between doctors, and a refusal to implement the ODA or the AODA.  People who fight learn that they end up with paiud back, because the admin like to blame the staff, who than essentiasl "work to rule with the patiuents who speak out"  

It was made worse when they merged all the hospitals into one. So not only has administration costs gone up, but it means any lawyer you works with disabiulity, or mediacal issue are usually in a conflict of interest.  The hospital is so big now, They, or a spouse, or an adult child will either be a patient, volunteer, or staff, which puts them in a comnflict of interetst. Thus unlike in Toronto there is no one to stand up for patients when doctors, or admin makes mistakes, and even when they  are not mistakes but basic negligence.

This is a long standing problem, I know one women in my church who had a brain tumour that was frst misdiagnosed, than badly treated that she now goes to Montreal. Howevr she had to fight for that right. I can go to Toronto or Kingston, without a fight as they are in the same province.

I would prefer to fight for better care in Ottawa, but there is also the "Ottawa Problem"   Many people who live here do not see it as their home, and it affects the ability of the community to respond from everything like community groups, churches, hospitals, etc,   Many say it is not only because people do not identify as being of Ottawa, but that civil servants bring their ethos to play when involved in the community. That they like to run things as if they are wiorking in a big beaurecracy, and thus are incombered by this. Putting limiltations without taking advantage of being in a smaller organisation. I hate to give in and say Ottawa hospital is not my responsibilty, but I could die without proper medical care and treatment.

Alex,

are you sure you aren't a Tibetan Lama or Awakened Critter or something?  Man, are you aware of a lot of social games :3

I wonder how much longer before you achieve Nirvana, if you haven't already achieved it?

One nice thing about traveling by train is walking around. I would suggest you walk to the bathroom or whatever every 30 minutes to stretch your legs.

I remember when they used to let the train for "tranna" to London after the ex get overloaded. We stood the two hour trip or sat in the aisles. No longer. Now everyone needs a seat for safety reasons.

But it was fun

Seeing numerous specialists can cause issues. I suppose one option would be to arrange for the "tranna " doc to send his reports and plan of care to your local team for implementation.

Maybe broach the idea next time.

It may be though that with a higher gay and IV drug using population in the 80/90s that the hospitals here just became a bit more flexible about HIV care.

But hospitals anywhere become pretty bureocratic and cumbersome If you have found a person that you like , who treats your issues, maybe just go with it, saving your receipts as you go.

Also I wonder if the Toronto aids committee has funds that can be asked for related to seeking health care. I am not at all aware of what they do with money they raise but it might be worth seeing if there is money that can be asked for.

It's a New York Wanna be, with a tinge of Los Angelus.

(2 of 7 places wherein I've pleasantly worked)