Twitter Thread: Woman Discovers Lump, Iceland's Healthcare Pulls Through

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mattstaff
Sep 14, 2020 9:00 AM EDT

Mary Robinette's story about her experience with discovering an ominous lump on her body, and then being able to get the help she needed in Iceland, speaks volumes to the healthcare situation back in America. Sounds like a visit to Iceland to get medical attention could actually be worthwhile. 

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  • 01
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal e @MaryRobinette When I lived in lIceland, I found a lump. Ihad no idea how to navigate finding a doctor, so I went to our show's production manager. Me: I found a lump. Can you help me find a doctor? PM: Just go to the cancer center. Me: Okay. How do a get a referral? PM: What's a referral? 7:09 PM 6/3/19 Twitter Web App
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 02
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette After I explain what a referral is, he looks baffled. PM: Just go to the cancer center. Me: But.referral? He shrugs and hands me the phone number to the cancer center. I call and explain. CC: A lump, ah yes. You should come in. Me: Don't I need a referral? CC: A what? 7:09 PM 6/3/19 Twitter Web App 192 Retweets 2,432 Likes
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 03
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette Having accepted that I don't need a referral, I say, "How do I make an appointment?" CC: An appointment? Yes, we can do that if your schedule is very busy, otherwise just come in. Me: I don't need an appointment? CC: You found a lump! You know your body, yes? Come in. 7:09 PM 6/3/19 Twitter Web App 186 Retweets 2,682 Likes
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 04
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette Sol go. The nurse checking me in apologizes because, since I'm not Icelandic, l'll have to pay for the visit. It's 3 krónur. That's 3 dollars at that point. I pay and sit down to wait. CC: Kowal? Me: Already? CC: You found a lump. 7:09 PM 6/3/19 - Twitter Web App 187 Retweets 2,638 Likes
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 05
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette She escorts me into an examining room and palpates the area. CC: Yes, that does feel like a lump. Let's do a mammogram. I prepare to hear about making an appointment for that. CC: I'm sorry, but it's across the hall. Do you mind following me? 7:09 PM - 6/3/19 Twitter Web App 163 Retweets 2,211 Likes
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 06
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette I've been in the building for about twenty minutes at this point when I'm strapped into the mammogram WHICH HAD WARMERS -- and she does her thing. CC: There is something there, you are right. I want to see it with an ultrasound. And then she leads me next door. 7:09 PM 6/3/19. Twitter Web App 161 Retweets 2,380 Likes
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 07
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette She does the ultrasound and when we're finished, she tells me to get dressed and to meet her in the waiting room. Ihead out to the changing room, put my top back on, and walk out to the waiting room. sit down to wait. CC: Kowal? Me: Already? CC: It is only cyst. 7:09 PM - 6/3/19 Twitter Web App
    via @MaryRobinette
  • 08
    Text - Mary Robinette Kowal @MaryRobinette Forty-five minutes after walking into the Icelandic Cancer Center and 3 krónur poorer, I had the answer. In the US, a similar lump took two weeks and three different office visits. I think about this every time I have to fight with medical insurance in the US. 7:09 PM - 6/3/19 - Twitter Web App 792 Retweets 6,206 Likes
    via @MaryRobinette

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