Re: Boston, where to go in case of afib episode

September 23, 2004

> Hi,

>

> I live in Belgium but will be leaving for the USA, Boston in about a

> week.

> I will be staying there for about two months because my husband is

> going to work there.

> I have had open hear surgery at the age of 18. I have been

> experiencing afib episodes for 4 years. I am currently on Tenormin

> mitis and Tambocor when in afib.

> What can I do when I am in Boston and my afib strikes me. Where can

> I go (I know med costs are really high in the USA) ? I do have a

> private insurance but would like to know what you can recommand?

Maura, Boston has Massachusetts General Hospital ( " Mass General " ), one

of the finest hospitals in the world, and where the Atrial

Fibrillation Foundation (www.affacts.org) is headquartered. That's

where I'd head if I had a problem.

Since you mention open heart surgery, I am not sure how serious your

overall heart situation is. It it is serious, or, if your only

current problem is afib, but you expect to need hospital attention,

perhaps you should phone the office of a doc at Mass General before

you leave and let them know you are going to be a temporary visitor

for a couple of months (in case they are full up with full time

patients) and would be happier having an advance contact there rather

than just showing up at the ER if something happens. Although I am

sure you would get very good care at the ER, and I'm sure they would

have access to a good cardiologist or EP very quickly if you needed

someone beyond an ER doc.

I couldn't find your med Tenormin mitis on the web on an English site,

so I am guessing it is a European med only, possibly a beta blocker.

Be sure to bring extra and keep it in a couple of places (not just one

bunch in your checked baggage) in case some is lost or stolen. Ditto

for other meds, although Tambocor is available in the U.S.

Bring copies of your prescriptions in case Customs needs verification

of your meds (I have no idea if this is necessary, but I assume they

are generally going to go overboard when checking people coming into

the country.)

I am trying to remember something I saw recently on the news about new

checks on visitors even from European countries, can someone chime in

here? Was it that they are going to be fingerprinted? Call your

local American embassy or counsulate to be sure you have all the

paperwork, etc. you need. (Welcome to a county in deep division

politically, and where civil rights are going out the window,

unfortunately.)

Anyway, you will have a lovely time in Boston. It is one of the

greatest cities in the world, and you will be in time for seeing the

autumn foliage in the New England countyside, an experience not to be

missed. Try to fit in a drive thru the foliage areas when the leaves

are changing color. And there are many historic places to visit in

Boston and in the surrounding communities. Be sure to take a tour of

the city in one of the duck vehicles that go on land and also in

water, see http://www.bostonducktours.com/

September 24, 2004

>...As for Boston itself we are making huge plans too.

> Anyone know about special events around Halloween? This is a day

> that is not really celebrated in Europe, not the way the Americans

> do and I would love to experience it the " American way " ???

Non-Halloween, if you get here in time, drive south to Providence and

take in Waterfire, centered around bonfires set along the Providence

river in the evening. I think the last one this year is October 9th

http://www.waterfire.com There is always music at Waterfire.

As to Halloween, kids in the neighborhood may go in costume door to

door for handouts of candy. Supermarkets tend to have lots of candy

displayed starting a few weeks before so people can stock up for this.

If you don't want to participate and you are renting a house, just

turn off your porch light. Of course, for safety's sake, check who's

there before you open the door, esp. at night. In my area, this

starts about dusk and ends around 8:30 pm to 9 pm. (I never can

remember from year to year if this is Halloween eve or Halloween, help

me out, peeps.) Some areas don't do this, for safety's sake, or

because they don't have a lot of children, and may instead have

Halloween parties (sometimes primarily for kids) at some local venue.

Here are some links of guides to Boston Halloween events, but I don't

know which year they're for, so check before going to an event:

http://boston.about.com/cs/funinthecity/a/halloween00.htm

http://boston.about.com/cs/livinginthecity/tp/TP_Halloween.htm

September 24, 2004