Worried about a friend...

[CodeCat]

I have a very good friend who lives in the US, in a small village. He's been getting dizzy spells, went deaf in one ear and seems to have balance problems too. He also told me he passed out a few times. It started a few weeks ago and hasn't gone away since. I'm really worried about him.

But the problem is, none of his family really has any money at all. They don't even have a health insurance. The staff at his school just says he's faking it and won't listen to him. And he doesn't have enough money to see a doctor. But I'm really scared of what will happen if it's left untreated. What if it's a very bad ear infection, or worse? What if it's cancer?

If this doesn't get checked out, it might be fatal. But he doesn't have the capability to get it sorted because without health insurance in the US they'd rather let you die than treat you if they know they won't see any payment for it. I'm afraid to ask people for money to help him out, but I don't really know what else I can do.

What can I do? What can he do? Please advise me on this.

[Luke B.]

There should be something like a street clinic or something, like a charity doctor thing? Because thats sounding really scary.

[Arloest]

All I can say right now is it sounds like he might have Ménière's disease ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meniere%27s_disease ).

[Astro]

But four young oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat --
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

[Rooster]

My suggestion to him is to go to the local teaching hospital's free clinic.

God bless the NHS. It may be slow, but it's for all.

[CodeCat]

He lives in the middle of the desert in Arizona. So I don't know how easy it even is for him to get to a free clinic.

[jent]

I know this may not help him too much in the short term but I would recomend he get health insurance ASAP. It is so important in the US to have it, just to live. It is really sad but I have seen several families goo 100% poor due to not having health insurance.

Sorry to hear about your friend, I can't think of much that has not already been said. Except that if it is really serious then it is probbably worth the debt to go to a doctor and find out what is going on. Also if he has any friends that are vets or doctors I recomend having them give an examination. Also don't laugh that I included vets in there because a vet is closer to a real MD than most people recognize (i have lots of both in my family).

[Astro]

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more --
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

[Tom Flapwell]

They have my prayer.