Hey there Loladear! Sorry to hear about your predicament. I totally know where you are coming from. I feel like I´m living in the world of `Pleasantville´& `The Stepford Wives´sometimes. Being a foreigner here is not easy. And help is more about knowing the right people. Or sharing your frustrations with other expatriates. I am a 39 year old male. I do not share your health concerns. But I can suggest that you have a chat to my Aussie friend. She just had a baby here in Oslo about 5 months ago. You can find me at facebook. Under Mark Sheedy (Norway). And I can stear you towards somebody who might be able to chat with you. Maybe point you in the right direction. Cheers and chin up!

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Hi there, look I had a lot of the same problems whilst pregnant in NOrway. They only gave me a scan at 15 weeks since I was bleeding. They refuse to do it. The thing about the Norwegian system is that it is a system, all for the goverment. It is about saving money. I moved to another country and got private health care for virtually nothing and delivered by C -section. In norway they did not want to give me a C-section even though I had problems with my first delivery. They just follow the book. So I would sugest that you go to UK for a scan if that is what you need to do because no amount of shouting, crying or begging will make them change the way they do anything. I wish you all the best and good luck. I had many more problems whilst pregnant in Norway and liturally moving country was a deciding factor because of all the issues.

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I would have suggestion to all whom are complaining about this wonderful country, GO BACK HOME than. Norway is the most incredible land to live, with extremely good health system. I also came from another land, Canada, and I love to live here in Oslo. My son, whom is Canadian, and whom had bad injury as visitor, got incredible care in Ullevål hospital. He would never got the same in North America. And noone even checked his insurance, the person goes first, money after... if ever. Perhaps it is you, the problem, not5 the system. Again, if you do not like it here, Get out and stop complaining.
Zuzana, Oslo

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The isssue here is that sometimes the system here in Norway is a little bit on the hard-to-believe-wake-me-up-am-i dreaming kind of scenario. Yes, I´ve been medically treated quite well in the past. At the legevakt on several occasions and at a private clinic. But being a male pregancy issues do not affect me personally. But if youre a woman or a human being, it wouldn´t hurt to try understanding how frustrating this lack-of-consideration AND empathy is for `loladear´. Or any other foreigner who is a little concerned for their well being.

I am of the impression that your son was in an emergency situation. So I would assume that medical attention was a little bit more instant in his case.

You don´t have to do the math to know that every country has good AND poor medical standards and practices. Even Australia is no saint in that department. But don´t you think an expecting mother has the right to be scared and frustrated when she has experienced nothing but a lack of empathy or compassion. It´s an important time of her life. And if she has concerns, how hard is it for somebody `professional to make her assured that àlt er in orden´?

Like many places in this fast, and rapidly impersonal world, Norway IS a beautiful place. With so many amazing and positive things going for it. But that doesn´t mean its perfect. And even you admitted that Canada isn´t either. When it comes to government infrastructure there is always room for the improvement and ammendment of policy.

In my case (and this is why I feel I can express my thoughts) I have quite severe asthma. And MY personal doctor here in Oslo (whom I had to pick from a government list) was not available any day or time after 3pm. And changing doctors on `the system´is not that straight foward. So I had to go to an after hour clinic, as I work in a barnehage from 7:30-4:45pm. That cost me 900kr (almost AUD $200). The doctor was unable to prescribe me the proper strength medication I normally take, as Norway has imposed a tiered-strength-of-medication policy. So she could only trial me on the weakest strength. And then suggest I see her another time for a stronger dose (more money for nothing/double handling). Tell me exactly how that is a good, efficient and cheap system? The above scenario does not affect you. But it doesn´t takle a dummy to see that it´s an antiquated process.

Very happy for your son. I hope he is recovering well. But he isn´t the pregnant one here. And I expect he doesn´t have asthma either. So in his case all was fine. But this isn´t the case for many. Norwegains included. Believe me, they complain too. And so they should.

This site is all about discovering the pros and cons of moving and living in a place that is NOT home as we know it. And there are all kinds of forces that bring us here. Sometimes choice is not one of them. Maybe the act of compromise is. This site is about becoming and being expatriates.The feedback on Expat Exchange helps people to make informed and educated decisions. And it´s nice to have a touch of honesty from people who DO have the information people crave. Sometimes good things are said. And sometimes not so good. But it´s better to give people real human insight, than to sanitise our experiences. Honesty hurts. But the truth is far better.

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Thank You SO MUCH everyone for your help, save for the whiny Zuzana, "yellow" who decided to put their nasty ignorant bit in below. I feel so much better and it's so good to hear others have had the same struggles....
(Mark, I found you on facebook and i think i sent you a message? perhaps i forgot? Out of Norway at the moment on a much needed holiday!) Thank you all again!

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Hi Loladeae, glad you are feeling better. By the way for the record of yellow -zuzanna, I would like to mention that I am originally Norwegian So if you want me to go back to my home country then forget about it. I actually live in Beirut and they are so welcoming, I have travelled the world lived in 8 different countries and my own country is the one I was never welcome in because they are so racist and because I was like an outsider to them. So as for the middle east my children speak 3 languages at the age of 3 and 5 and people love kids here. In Norway when my daughter was 1 people would not even wave to her. My C section cost me 1500 US $ private health care. Private hospital room with Dr's who all trained in the States and France. I tell you what if Norway is a first Class country compared to Lebanon (please do not make negative comments on this conuntry if you have never been here) then give me 3 class any day. I go skiing in winter enjoy great beaches and roman ruins in summer with welcoming people and great schools and health care do why should I bother to go back to a place where the basics are not there they only pretend it is. Sorry but Norway is all about false marketing. I also have astmah and had problems getting appointments to get basic medicine that keeps me breathing. The pharmacy will not even sell ventolin over the counter whilst you are having an attack infront of them without a perscription. Now I do not want to scare anyone off Norway but I enjoy going for a visit. I enjoy the food but even for this Norwegian it is too much to handle. Loladear, health care is UK is better (I lived there too) so I would travel back and forth so you get the best treatment for yourself XX

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Ops sorry for the typos wrting this in the dark trying to put my kids to sleep. Realised you mentioned US not UK was reading too fast.

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Go to Volvat or check out another private clinic where you are. I know how they train doctors here and there are reasons the public system is iffy. If you get up to the level of specialists, they seem to train more internationally, so they can be good. I got lucky when I needed my gallbladder removed. Surgery (if you check out the doctor) is paperwork free and very cheap. But if you have problems, you need someone good as a regular doctor.

Unfortunately, the way the fastlege system works, foreigners who move here almost inevitably get the worst options. That is because the good ones have their quotas filled and only the incompetent ones have openings for new patients. It's like getting your hair cut as a walk-in. If they can fit you in easily, it's because no one else wants them.

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