Moving down under

[Jeff Summers]

Hello. I'm taking a job assignment in Newcastle Australia this summer for 3 years. My INR is very stable, and I get checked every 8-12 weeks. Any Aussies out there care to share with me how your doctors track your INR? How often do test/do lab work etc? What does it cost? Thanks in advance.

 

[sue943]

You don't say where you are from. It is worth checking to see if your country has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia, that might well affect medical costs.

check out this site...

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/ozhealth-visitors

 

[aussigal]

Hi Mate!...

yes we are a developed country!

we even have real doctors and big hospitals and stuff!

now seriously...
I am sure you will find our medical services available to you excellent

one of the locals who has climbed the mountain will be able to give more info on INR testing etc...I am still in the waiting room...

Give "foxxy74" a buzz he is in Brisbane just up the road from Newcastle!..theres prolly some members here from the Sydney area..I just cant remember who,.,,


Rossssss we need a special list so us Aussies can keep track on who is around...got any ideas?... we are hiding in amongst you Americans

 

[hensylee]

Jeff, we have several members in Australia but I don't know how often they check in.

Aussiegal, a couple years ago I found a thingy about Australia and posted it in here somewhere. It was hilariously funny. Maybe someone can find it and put it here.

Jeff, I envy you. I once talked to an American who spent (with his growing family) years in Australia, loved the country and really didn't want to come home (his company sold out or shut down). It sounded so peaceful, beautiful and desirable. Enjoy it and please tell us about it.

 

[hensylee]

Found it!

Found it!

For our Down Under family

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The questions below about Australia, are from potential visitors. They were posted on an Australian Tourism Website and the answers are the actual responses by the website officials, who obviously have a sense of humour.


Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK).
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks? (Sweden)
A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.

Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)
A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia?
(USA)
A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not... oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.

Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)
A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is...oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.

Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? ( UK)
A: You are a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round? (Germany)
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)
A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.

Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)
A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.

Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)
A: No, WE don't stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)
A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)
A: Only at Christmas.

Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)
A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)
A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first
__________________

 

[aussiemember]

Down Under

Down Under

Hi Jeff,

I just found this wonderful site so am a newbie here- I'm from Australia - Melbourne, Victoria. - I'm currently in the waiting room also so don't know anything about INR testing - but am very happy to answer any questions you may have about our medical system in general - and also any other Aussie questions you may have. Hi also to aussiegal - good to see a "familiar" face in here

Mitral Valve Prolapse
Moderate to Severe regurgitation
In waiting room

 

[aussigal]

Hi Aussiemember ...

Welcome
feel free to Pm me...we need to stick together or at the very least all get to know each-other!

we need our own corner where we can keep our Kangaroos , Koalas and Dingoes safe from tourists...LOL


I am still laughing my head-off at the post from hensylee....

funnily enough we actually really do have Kangaroos in our neighborhood they play golf with the locals...ROFL!

BUT it was the "drop-Bears" that really had me in stitches.....

ohh and dont forget our SHARKS !

 

[Arpy]

INR testing in Orrstraylya

INR testing in Orrstraylya

My INR is very stable, and I get checked every 8-12 weeks. Any Aussies out there care to share with me how your doctors track your INR? What does it cost? Thanks in advance.

Step 1: You take the newspaper to the doctors
Step 2: You determine the highest winning margin of the biggest sporting event the previous weekend
Step 3 : Divide the margin by the number of players
Step 4 : Multiply by the number of first born females on your maternal side for the previous 4 generations
Step 5 : Divide by the number of cans in a carton of beer that you bring with you to the doctors
Step 6: Thats your INR result.

saves all that pricking of arms with those pointy thingys

Payment wise : You take the equivalent cans to your INR result out of the carton and the doctor gets the rest and you call it squits.

.
.
.
Just taking the piss Jeff - just breaking you in for when you get here mate. Our doctors test INR just like every other doctor on this planet. Blood clinics and pathology labs are in abundance. For us taxpayers it is part of our medicare contribution and costs us nothing per visit (or some places charge a small fee). Dont know about reciprocal agreements though. Turnaround time is within a working day such that you go in prior to 10:00am and get the result that evening .

 

[Karlynn]

Step 1: You take the newspaper to the doctors
Step 2: You determine the highest winning margin of the biggest sporting event the previous weekend
Step 3 : Divide the margin by the number of players
Step 4 : Multiply by the number of first born females on your maternal side for the previous 4 generations
Step 5 : Divide by the number of cans in a carton of beer that you bring with you to the doctors
Step 6: Thats your INR result.

saves all that pricking of arms with those pointy thingys

Payment wise : You take the equivalent cans to your INR result out of the carton and the doctor gets the rest and you call it squits.

Why do I feel ridiculous laughing so hard when I'm all by myself!!!!

 

[Jeff Summers]

To all--I'm glad that you have all had some good laughs at my expense. I forgot what a playful group you all are! To the 'true' aussie's out there, I am aware that Australia is not some third world country. If that was the case my company wouldn't be moving me there. I just thought you might be of some help. I hope the first time I do my test it involves the beer equation. Oh so while we are at it, when you flush the toilet does it swirl clockwise or counterclockwise? Is kangaroo the other white meat of Australia, like pork is here? Seems weird that you can actually eat kangaroos, especially if they golf with you, is there some open range thing with kangaroos downunder? I do appreciate the rules regarding dogs and quarantine-no rabies in Australia. Wow, we got all sorts of bad pet diseases here. Thanks again!!

 

[Arpy]

Maaattte!

Maaattte!

when you flush the toilet does it swirl clockwise or counterclockwise? Is kangaroo the other white meat of Australia, like pork is here? Seems weird that you can actually eat kangaroos, especially if they golf with you, is there some open range thing with kangaroos downunder

Flushing toilets ??? You grabs your spade and the date roll and head out the back mate!

The golf courses have tees for Pros, Men, Ladies, Roos. They get a reduced rate on the membership given that they both cut the grass on the first 9 and fertilise on the back 9

Trust me - I'm from the government I'm here to help

Jeff I'm sure you and your family will enjoy your stay - wrong side of the country but!

regards

Russell

 

[aussigal]

Yes jeff...I agree with Arpy...You need to come WEST to visit us in Perth...


Especially have to go to Rotto to see our lil mini Kangaroos ( Quokkas) they are really cute!


just tell your boss you need a week over in the west for training-purposes or research or anything! ...cant come all the way to Aus. and only see half the country!

We look forward to meeting you!

as a teaser for beach-lovers check out my avatar...that beach is less than a mile away from my house!

 

[kurli]

Newcastle girl!!

Newcastle girl!!

Hi there, my name is amy, I live in Newcastle Australia!!
Please contact me if you have any questions about anything to do with the area, I have lived here for about 10 years.
The best Cardiologist in town is DR Gary Warner. He is in the suburb if Hamilton. He has looked after me since I was about 15 years old and saw me through my pulmonary valve replacement. Although there is a great hospital The John Hunter who do heart surgery I was sent to sydney to St Vincents hospital. Sydney is only about 1.5 hours drive from Newcastle.
Do you know which suburb you are moving to? Newcastle is fairly big with many different areas - city, beach, bush, vinyards. You name it we have it.
Please feel free to email me at [email protected] im sure I can be of help to you.