• Hi all and welcome to TheWoodHaven2 brought into the 21st Century, kicking and screaming! We all have Alasdair to thank for the vast bulk of the heavy lifting to get us here, no more so than me because he's taken away a huge burden of responsibility from my shoulders and brought us to this new shiny home, with all your previous content (hopefully) still intact! Please peruse and feed back. There is still plenty to do, like changing the colour scheme, adding the banner graphic, tweaking the odd setting here and there so I have added a new thread in the 'Technical Issues, Bugs and Feature Requests' forum for you to add any issues you find, any missing settings or just anything you'd like to see added/removed from the feature set that Xenforo offers. We will get to everything over the coming weeks so please be patient, but add anything at all to the thread I mention above and we promise to get to them over the next few days/weeks/months. In the meantime, please enjoy!

Another disservice by the NHS.

News ?? .. I only ever catch up when I can't sleep .. get up at 3 or 4 or whatever an go to the workshop and have bbc news 24 or whatever it is that is the only thing on !

News is depressing .. and best avoided :)
 
Pinch":uop3d30b said:
is there anything in this thread which has jumped out to you (excluding my off-hand silly jokey stuff) as a potential issue relating to either Rich, Jimmy or me? I know this isn't your field, but I thought I'd ask anyway.
Click to expand...

Hi Pinch - sorry for being so late back to you in response to your question - work has me flat out at the moment and I haven't had chance to respond. I cannot give a specific answer to your question as I am not a medic, but I would offer the following as a general comment (and mild rant after having read it back, but this is not aimed at this thread or individuals in it but rather at society in general):

The NHS is a wonderful institution. You can go in with any complaint, real or imagined, and they will do their best to help. They may not know what is wrong with you, or only be able to hazard a wild guess, or it may be blindingly obvious. They will work with information supplied by the patient (often ambiguous and incomplete), perform their own tests, and come to a most likely conclusion and treat accordingly or refer on to someone else who hopefully knows a bit more about something that is not 'general'. What the NHS is not, is a definitive method to cure all ills. Treatment is a 'best guess' or trial and error in most instances. Drugs are not 'one compound to treat one symptom' either, and may have varying effects, effectiveness and outcomes in two identical presentations. Pain and discomfort are subjective, no two cases are identical and phenotype (physical presentation) can be similar or identical for disparate underlying causes.

The NHS is under resourced, tries to do too much, and is often a scapegoat and/or political football. It suffers from an 'instant cure want it all now' clientele, ambulance chasing lawyers, and a depth of 'management' that would be excessive in any other field. It will make mistakes. Try serving 60 million people and expecting not to is nonsensical. Add on top of this a rapidly advancing evidence base for medicines and treatment, corporate greed by drug companies, vested interests and treatment options which are always shades of grey rather than black and white. The NHS in my view is doing its best in the face of overwhelming odds.

Sure, medics don't help themselves on £120k consultant salaries and private practice top-ups then striking for higher wages or being expected to provide a 7 day service, but by the same token most of the NHS is staffed by poorly paid nurses and allied healthcare professionals who take care of humanity at its lowest ebb. It won't be the consultant that faces the belligerent drunk at 2am in A&E with a skinful inside him and a face full of glass, or cleans up the vomit, or consoles the grieving relatives of a child killed in an RTA, a death due to cancer or treats all as equal no matter what the behaviour of the patient.

I understand why patients get cross/angry/litigious when things don't go their way in terms or treatment, recovery or outcome. But nobody in the NHS is setting out with that as a game plan. Every health professional I have ever worked with has always wanted to help/treat/cure as their driving force. Of course some have massive ego's and arrogance you could bounce rocks off, more than we would like to admit. And many I wouldn't want to socialise with, but none have deliberate intent to cause harm. Mistakes can and will happen and despite what TV and the media portray, medicine is very far from an exact science and we are damn good at coming up with new ways to confound advances - antibiotic resistance being a major case in point that is now becoming a pressing issue.

Be logical, be thoughtful and consider what might be affecting your condition. Try eliminating foods from your diet. Stick to sensible alcohol limits. Get some exercise. But recognise that advice from a medic is 'general' advice in almost all instances, rather than 'specific' to your individual case. Too many people fail to realise this and then get upset when the general advice doesn't apply. I am not saying you or anyone else in this thread falls into that category, but at the end of the day we all have a responsibility to try and do our part to make ourselves feel better. I am also aware that many in this and other threads have also praised the NHS and its abilities.

Apologies for the mild rant! As a scientist I often come off worse in comparison to medics, but I do think the NHS as an institution comes in for a large amount of undeserved stick and needs our support rather than our blame.

I am now going back to work!

Steve
 
A BIG thank you Steve for that .

Unfortunately, it sums up why I don't bother going to the GP any more :-(

I have friends and family working hard in the NHS, as respect it and them.

I think the GP level lets it down. So for me, it's google/ Forums/self education :(
 
Steve, what can I say ?

:text-goodpost:

That has to be one - if not THE - best forum post of the year. Well-reasoned and succinctly put. It deserves a much wider audience.

Roger
 
I agree with Roger, thanks Steve

The NHS is a bit like the BBC. You really have to live elsewhere in order to appreciate quite how good they are.
 
Andyp":1oicn7tf said:
I agree with Roger, thanks Steve

The NHS is a bit like the BBC. You really have to live elsewhere in order to appreciate quite how good they are.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting comment, Andy. One always had the impression that the French health service was really good.
 
Hi Steve. I agree with the chaps, excellent post and a huge thanks for taking the time to share!

I was mainly asking about the ailments, but I do understand this isn't your specialised area - it was a mere punt in asking. As far as the NHS is concerned, I agree with you - it is a wonderful institution. This is why I'm in mixed emotions about the whole thing, which I mentioned in my opening post. In my view and I'm no expert, the main issues with the NHS are the management and admin staff. I've never had any actual issues with any of the medical staff. My wife has worked for the NHS in the past and she's still indirectly involved. Over the years, she's witnessed many careless mistakes, irresponsible waste of medicines and much more. If just these small elements were taken care of more efficiently, the funding pot would be much healthier.

The problem I have at the moment is head over heart. My heart is in your post and my head is angry. I'm angry because my life over the last few years has suffered emotionally, physically and financially because one person five years ago failed to forward on a confirmation letter of diagnosis and treatment plan, and of course, not forgetting a mix up of emails from hospital to GP's surgery - which still unclear.

I suppose, when your own life has been affected unnecessarily, it hurts. When I reflect on the last few years and see how I've struggled along with normal living and working stuff (not to mention the actual everyday symptoms), how it came close to splitting up my wife and me, how it's affected my emotional and physical relationship with my wife (let alone myself), how it doubted her confidence in me, how my parents have worried and so the list goes on... it's very upsetting. This is all because of a variety of careless unnecessary mistakes.

As far as suing goes, I haven't decided what I'm going to do and I won't decide until things have settled down. I most likely won't do anything, but I can't guarantee that at the moment.

It's very clear your heart is with the NHS and I understand that completely. I know the NHS are treating millions of people all the time, I understand that too. I understand they're human beings and mistakes are inevitable, but the managerial salaries and the continuous careless mistakes don't go together well. I'm sorry, but that's how it is in my head at the moment.

I hope you understand.

Cheers,
Paul.

PS: I forgot to mention although I mentioned this in previous posts; I have changed my diet many times and explored other avenues - with no change to symptoms. My alcohol intake is as recommended and only at the weekends. I have started to excersise more since being on the new treatment plan. Before this, everything was a chore and was becoming more and more difficult. If I started this treatment plan 5 years ago as I should have, life for me would have been wonderful. Since being on the plan in the last few weeks, life has already vastly improved. I'm almost my former self again - It's fab!
 
A quick update - things are moving on... 8-)

I went to see the neurologist last Monday and he told me I have a lot of symptoms which would normally suggest early stages of Parkinson's or MS, but, as my physical examination went very well, he's pretty much ruling this out now, although he is still booking me in for an MRI brain scan for confirmation. He also said the examination showed him my eyes 'judder' when following a moving object (could be time for an eye test) and I have a slight tremor in my left hand. I did tell him they won't find much in my brain :lol:

I always get delayed thought with stuff and last night was the first time I thought about what he said and then started googling things since Monday and oh boy, it's scary! Didn't sleep much last night thinking about it, but I'm not going to worry about it now - I'll wait for the scan results. I'm just glad my physical examination was good. 8-)
 
I was wondering how you were getting on.

I guess it can be scary if you dwell on it ..
try to keep positive, and just wait and see.

one of the reasons I stay away from the doc's ! .. I don't wan't any bad news ! :lol:
I think I have "ostrich syndrome" ! :lol:

Wishing you all the best though ... :)


I tried a new brand gluten free pita bread yesterday .. and I've been useless today ! :?
 
Tusses":2vhpzzx2 said:
I was wondering how you were getting on.

I guess it can be scary if you dwell on it ..
try to keep positive, and just wait and see.

one of the reasons I stay away from the doc's ! .. I don't wan't any bad news ! :lol:
I think I have "ostrich syndrome" ! :lol:

Wishing you all the best though ... :)


I tried a new brand gluten free pita bread yesterday .. and I've been useless today ! :?
Click to expand...

My wife has virtually given up on so-called 'gluten-free' stuff. Mind you, I bet that if you look at the ingredients you will find one of these three 'criminals'.

Soy(a) lecithin
Xanthan gum
Guar gum
 
RogerS":2ccuo50n said:
Tusses":2ccuo50n said:
I was wondering how you were getting on.

I guess it can be scary if you dwell on it ..
try to keep positive, and just wait and see.

one of the reasons I stay away from the doc's ! .. I don't wan't any bad news ! :lol:
I think I have "ostrich syndrome" ! :lol:

Wishing you all the best though ... :)


I tried a new brand gluten free pita bread yesterday .. and I've been useless today ! :?
Click to expand...

My wife has virtually given up on so-called 'gluten-free' stuff. Mind you, I bet that if you look at the ingredients you will find one of these three 'criminals'.

Soy(a) lecithin
Xanthan gum
Guar gum
Click to expand...

Having said all that, the M&S range is pretty good.
 
I used to be a great bearer of 'ostrich syndrome' - until I met Mrs P :lol:

That's a real shame about the pitta bread. It must be a minefield for you. :x What did you have in the bread?

My bowel stuff is doing brilliantly. I'll be down to just 1 steroid per day on Saturday for 3 weeks and then that will be it - on with the Asacol. I pray this continues the good progress.
 
Paul
in the pita .. I call it a fake kebab :) some meat salad and hot sauce
nom nom nom :)
I used to love kebab and chips !

Rog
I hardly ever try the "gluten free" any more, as it always gets me !
Wifey means well, and brings me some to try if she sees a different one ..
So I feel obliged to try it !..
plus I crave for something nice to eat ! :lol:

I haven't tried the M&S stuff yet .

what does your Wife have for anything bread like ? or flour ?
I find Dove Farms flour tolerable .. and make pancakes with it :)
about the closest I get to bread !
Not too bad with pizza type topping too :)
 
Glad you are feeling better Paul :)
I hope it continues to improve !

From what I've read .. the bowl plays a huge part in mental health !
so hopefully, when it gets better it will improve all round :)
 
Tusses":175891p2 said:
Glad you are feeling better Paul :)
I hope it continues to improve !

From what I've read .. the bowl plays a huge part in mental health !
so hopefully, when it gets better it will improve all round :)
Click to expand...

Cheers chap! 8-)

Cor, I bet Christmas is a nightmare for you..... :x
 
Paul, glad to here things are going well. I learnt a long while ago never to look up symptoms in a medical book. You can end up suffering from everything. I also try never to look things up on google.
 
Andyp":23682q9k said:
Paul, glad to here things are going well. I learnt a long while ago never to look up symptoms in a medical book. You can end up suffering from everything. I also try never to look things up on google.
Click to expand...

Cheers Andy and yep, I've just learnt that one chap - blinkin ailments! :x :lol:
 
Tusses":2qcvv7d0 said:
Pinch":2qcvv7d0 said:
Cor, I bet Christmas is a nightmare for you..... :x
Click to expand...

I do the cooking, so not too bad
Roast dinner if fine .. careful with the gravy, and no stuffing !

no mince pies though :( :lol:
Click to expand...

I have 2 sets of cooking equipment .. to avoid cross contamination .. but No.1 son decided to be Veggy .. so 3 sets of crhistmas cooking to do ! lol

TBH, I love cooking, and just make a day of it :)
 
Yes, I'm normally on cooking duties Christmas Day. 8-)

Trouble is, when I'm about to serve, I'm already stuffed and half cut :lol:

Or used to be - not anymore. It was the way I was brought up you know - my family were a right boozy crowd. We used to fill the pub on Christmas Day. It was a reet blast. 8-)
 
I think I know what you mean... Mrs P won't let me use the same 'whatever' when serving our meals - one for veggy and t'other for meat stuff - cor, it's quite a bore :| :lol:
 
Tusses":1iau232j said:
....
what does your Wife have for anything bread like ? or flour ?
....
Click to expand...

Well, she only makes cakes and uses Doves Farm flour as you do. For bread, she uses the M&S gluten-free stuff.
 
Rod":x1g9hjwt said:
I've used Doves Flour for bread making - why/how is it good for your wife?

Rod
Click to expand...

Because she is, like Tusses, coeliac. Doves Farms do gluten-free flour.
 
Hi everyone .. I thought it appropriate to return here, after not posting for a while.

Since november, I've been getting worse-erer very quickly.
It got to the stage where I had extreme fatigue and no concentration.
I couldn't work effectively, lost orders etc. etc. Havent paid the mortgage this year at all :o

It all came to a (the) head a few week ago, when I got up in the night for the loo, and filled the pan with a horrible smelling black/pruple sticky mess of part digested blood :cry:
I phone 111 , and within 5 minutes the ambulance was here
So , rushed to A&E . Endoscopy showed duodenal ulcers that were bleeding.
They cauterized bits, clipped bits, injected adrenaline etc. and thought they had stopped the bleeding.
after 4 days of obs they let me go home. I thought nothing of it. Didn't even consider if it was serious or not ... loads of people get ulcers .. right ? !

2 days later, same again .. back in A&E. Up to the gastro ward, another, this time lengthy endoscopy. Worse this time. afterwards, the consultant (who actually did the scoping) came to see me. He told me he did his best, but it was really bad. the worst he had worked on. His face told more than his words, and you could see he was worried I wouldn't make it. :(
Several hours later a team of surgeons arrive at my bed and star telling me about different procedures they reccomend, starting with "embolizing" one of the major vessels by one ulcer, that if compromised would be a "catastrophic bleed" (ooh err ! :shock: ). If they did it now, I'd loose the blood supply to part of my gut. If they didn't, and it bled, then basically I'd be a goner very quickly :?
All VERY scary stuff !
My consultant wanted to do another scope before going down the surgery route, so 24 hrs after the 2nd scope, I had my 3rd. All looked reasonably good. some "oozing" of blood, but mostly stopped. another clip, some more adrenaline and a full spray coating of some stuff , can't remember the name of that one.
The night I had the 2nd scope, I had 2 IV lines in, 3 blood transfusions, hourly obs' ,omeprazole infusion for 4 days solid, tranexamic acid to aid blood clotting, other smaller bags of drugs, a bag of iron ... liquid diet for a week ...
slowly my consultant became more confident. He told me he had a few sleepless nights over me. but I could now start to eat solid , but soft food. Next day any food. day after that, I could go home.
I'm on double dose opmeprazole for 4 weeks when I go back after a blood test , hopefully to get the all clear.
Until then I have to take it easy .. no arguments from me there 1 I still feel like the walking dead ! the feeling that if it bleeds again, that's it .. game over .. a very weird and worrying feeling !

So, I put it on this thread, as the Doc says I would have had the ulcers for a long time, and it could very well have been the cause of my digestive problems, rather than coeliac. As time went on, more and more foods were causing me problems. I'm already feeling sooooo much better.
I'm sticking to the gluten free until I get the all clear, but I'll start introducing different food after that, and see how I go.

The cause .. NSAID's , Ibuprophen/Diclofenac, type pain killers, that I've been prescribed for over 20 yrs .
I'm never to have any of those ever again !
They've also tested for H.pylori, a bacteria that can attack the gut lining. I've not had the results for that yet. If positive, then it's a combination of antibiotics to get rid of that one. then a re-test, as it's quite resistant.

All very scary !

I still won't be posting much here for a while, as I need to figure out how to start earning again and paying off the mortgage arrears.
I've already decided not to do what I was doing before, the cheap wholesale craft shapes .. high volume small profit type stuff, crap customers and stressful.
I'm planning on more artistic/creative, higher end, higher price wooden (or other materials) things.
Still , I have a few weeks to plan it !

So that's me up to date :) Taking it one day at a time......



oh, and I must add, the staff at the hospital were truely excellent ! can't fault them at all.
After all .. they saved my life :D can't say better than that !
 
All sounds very dramatic! Good to know that you are now on the mend.

Maybe consider a regular job and build up the arty side in spare time? just a thought to a low stress recovery plan.

I'm booked in for "top end in" endoscopy this week to see what they find. Not expecting anything major but I have become dependent on Nexium for stomach comfort for a few months now so thought it was time to get it sorted.
NHS are brilliant with all Mrs9fingers ailments and have just finished gluing her head back on with spinal fusion with nuts, bolts and bone grafts etc. So now she is sorted out for a bit, there is a time slot to see how I am getting on.

Good Luck

Bob
 
Bloody Hell, Tusses....you've been through the ringer there, mate. Delighted that you are on the road to recovery. Scary there for you, I'll bet. Jeepers.

Carpe Diem. Carpe Diem.
 
RogerS":z2v0lfko said:
Bloody Hell, Tusses....you've been through the ringer there, mate. Delighted that you are on the road to recovery. Scary there for you, I'll bet. Jeepers.

Carpe Diem. Carpe Diem.
Click to expand...

:text-+1:

Diet is very important when dealing with the gut and what it can convert to waste material.
(no booze, no beer, no beer .....)

Hope you recover soon.
 
Its good to hear from you, take it very easy.
Glad you have now found out what was causing the problems, I wish you a full recovery.
Finding some low stress work would be a good step forward, take care of yourself.
 
Thanks for letting us know Tusses. Sounds scary for you and the family. I can't begin to imagine the added stress of not earning and having to pay a mortgage in those circumstances.
I hope you get better quickly.
 
Wow, sounds terrifying mate. Glad to hear they've finally got to the bottom of it (no pun intended!) and you can hopefully start getting your life back in order.

All best pal and look forward to when you're back here regularly.

Cheers
Mark
 
I think you have to take a certain amount of responsibility for your own health. In the case of the OP's problem he was told by a specialist consultant exactly what his problem was. It's odd the GP disagreed but providing him with a copy of the original diagnosis written by the consultant should have set him straight. If it had happened to me and there was any disagreement I would have written to the consultant. I too suffer with a similar condition.
 
wow ! thanks for all the comments and good wishes :-)
It was a bit of a scare !
As for getting a stressless job .. ? is there such a thing ?
I haven't worked for anyone else for over 20 yrs.
I'm 49 soon BTW. From what I hear, it's not so easy to get a job approaching 50 ?
I guess stacking shelves in Tesco should be stress free .. not really me though !

At the moment, I'm sorting my stock that's built up over the years, and I'll be selling it off.
That should keep me going for a bit.
Also, I have far to many "project" cars .. the older I get, the less chance there is of ever doing them all .. so selling a few of those should clear the mortgage arrears.

Still ticking off the days on the calandar for the all clear :-)
Then I can get stuck in again, ... being mindful this time to keep things in a direction I want to go.

Thanks again
Rich
 
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