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International Assistance Any topics relating to traveling or communicating with international treatment locations are here.


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  #11  
Old 04-13-2016, 03:22 PM
Stonewall_Boris Stonewall_Boris is offline
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We went through our credit union. My wife did the transfers. As I recall one to ONZ and one the the hospital in Hattegin.
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  #12  
Old 04-13-2016, 06:25 PM
Tom B. Tom B. is offline
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Default Thanks

Cool. I mainly noticed the huge difference between the exchange rate that Google shows and the rate used by Bank of America. Banks are making a killing on this.
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2002 - leg symptoms after ice skating lessons
2005 - DDD diagnosis - mainly at L3 - S1 (L1/2 not good either)
X-rays, 2 MRIs, EMG, mylegram/CT scan, discogram/CT scan, 2nd discogram
3 ESIs, nerve root injection, PT, chiropractic, SED at L5/S1 - qualified success
February 9, 1016 - stood up from chair - left leg and pelvis numbness and tingling, moderate lumbar pain
X-rays, MRI, CT scan, discogram/CT scan, mylegram/CT scan
ESI
April 26, 2016 - L3 - S1 3-level ProDisc-L
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  #13  
Old 04-13-2016, 09:27 PM
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Fathub Fathub is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom B. View Post
Thanks, Boris. How did you transfer funds?

I've been researching how currency exchange works. It really seems to be a bank scam. And I'm not using this word lightly. It appears that occasional travelers like us are routinely ripped off by banks. So, with a little searching, I found TransferWise. There are probably other similar companies. Has anyone here had experience with TransferWise? I haven't signed up yet, but probably will.
IF you think the 'exchange of money' is a scam or rip off Tom, you should try and book a flight on a plane around Christmas or Spring Break......airlines double and triple the price of a ticket for absolutely no valid reason......except to take advantage of people needing to travel in the season and time of year. "Oh great, it's gonna be really busy, let's gouge the crap out of the public since they can only travel now". Basically illegal in any other industry.

Do you homework and take advantage of the many, many ways to do it economically AND safely (part of what your paying for).
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  #14  
Old 04-14-2016, 08:04 AM
Tom B. Tom B. is offline
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Thanks, Fathub. One thing I'm going to have to look at is connecting to destination via train or plane. I've been to Europe twice. The first time, we connected from Frankfurt on a plane. The second time, we just got on the train, which I think was much easier.
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2002 - leg symptoms after ice skating lessons
2005 - DDD diagnosis - mainly at L3 - S1 (L1/2 not good either)
X-rays, 2 MRIs, EMG, mylegram/CT scan, discogram/CT scan, 2nd discogram
3 ESIs, nerve root injection, PT, chiropractic, SED at L5/S1 - qualified success
February 9, 1016 - stood up from chair - left leg and pelvis numbness and tingling, moderate lumbar pain
X-rays, MRI, CT scan, discogram/CT scan, mylegram/CT scan
ESI
April 26, 2016 - L3 - S1 3-level ProDisc-L
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  #15  
Old 04-14-2016, 08:48 AM
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Romakis Romakis is offline
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Default travel in Europe

Travelling by train in Western Europe is easier and cheaper in my experience. Lived there for 3 years.
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  #16  
Old 04-14-2016, 10:42 AM
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Fathub Fathub is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom B. View Post
Thanks, Fathub. One thing I'm going to have to look at is connecting to destination via train or plane. I've been to Europe twice. The first time, we connected from Frankfurt on a plane. The second time, we just got on the train, which I think was much easier.
If your going to Bertagnoli, he has a 'driver' that picks you up in Munich (airport) if you choose to use him and he runs you on the Autobahn to Straubing/Bogen and then you can walk one block from Bogen hotel to the Hospital. He'll run you around on the 2nd week taking you to Straubing (my recommendation on the town square) and back for checkups. He's a bit pricey but when you in a lot of pain/discomfort, WTF wants to be buggering around with the sashaying around on a train. Peter's got a C class Mercedes and never forgets a time or place to get you there.
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  #17  
Old 04-14-2016, 04:25 PM
annapurna annapurna is offline
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Laura and I were cheap and took the train each time we went to Bertagnoli but Laura had me to shlep stuff around for her. When we went, you had to change trains and occasionally the time between arrival and departure of the two trains was rather tight. The driver might fall in the list of things that would be worth paying for if you were traveling on your own. No need to rush off the train in hopes of not missing the transfer.

We actually stayed in Bogen, not Straubing. That was too many years ago for any advice we'd give to be really useful but both towns work for both the patient and any accompanying person.
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  #18  
Old 04-18-2016, 10:37 AM
annapurna annapurna is offline
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Laura mentioned another point about traveling to get ADR surgery alone: you can make the travel acceptable, but you should also make sure your home will work for you if you're going to return to a situation where you have little help. Getting the house prepared for someone who's going to be in surgical recovery and healing took us several days and some real thinking and planning such that Laura didn't need to lift or otherwise stress her spine to do daily activities of life.
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Laura - L5S1 Charitee
C5/6 and 6/7 Prodisc C
Facet problems L4-S1
General joint hypermobility

Jim - C4/5, C5/6, L4/5 disk bulges and facet damage, L4/5 disk tears, currently using regenerative medicine to address

"There are many Annapurnas in the lives of men" Maurice Herzog
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  #19  
Old 04-21-2016, 05:52 PM
Cheryl0331 Cheryl0331 is offline
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Default the way I see it

bank fees are small coin for the investment Thankfully our bank only charges a flat rate of $35.00 for the wire. Be advised; some credit unions cannot do bank wires; at least not internationally.
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2007 fusion @ C4-6 peek cages, failed due to long term use of cox-2 inhibitor
2008 revised C4-6 donor bone, plate & screws
2009 fusion with Roi-C @ C3-4
2015 MRI & CT mjr ddd @ C6-7, segmental kyphosis at C7-T1, 2-level M6-C prosthesis by Dr. Clavel Barcelona Spain
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  #20  
Old 04-21-2016, 11:19 PM
Tom B. Tom B. is offline
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Default Thanks Again

Thanks, guys, for the advice. I think we're sold on using the driver.

I hadn't thought about chores around the house afterwards. My wife is an occupational therapist, so I may have to put her to work.

About currency exchange, from what I've learned, using banks will cost you thousands vs. hundreds using TransferWise or other similar companies. I think this is something that wasn't available just a few years ago. Thank goodness for Google. Just look up the exchange rate, then look at the rate Bank of America uses. You'll be shocked.

The other thing I found is that Capital One cards don't have any foreign transaction fee. And credit cards in general have good exchange rates.
__________________
2002 - leg symptoms after ice skating lessons
2005 - DDD diagnosis - mainly at L3 - S1 (L1/2 not good either)
X-rays, 2 MRIs, EMG, mylegram/CT scan, discogram/CT scan, 2nd discogram
3 ESIs, nerve root injection, PT, chiropractic, SED at L5/S1 - qualified success
February 9, 1016 - stood up from chair - left leg and pelvis numbness and tingling, moderate lumbar pain
X-rays, MRI, CT scan, discogram/CT scan, mylegram/CT scan
ESI
April 26, 2016 - L3 - S1 3-level ProDisc-L
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