• 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!

NHS - truly amazing service

AJB Temple

AJB Temple

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Had an issue - bleeding and blood clots in urine. Day 1.
Told doc (friend) on day 2, she saw me that morning.
Blood tests on day 3.
Referred to consultant on day 5.
Saw consultant on day 8.
Internal investigation via camera tube on day 10.
Haematology consultant appointment on day 12. (I knew her as it happens).
Pre op assessment on day 14 (today - took an hour), along with 13 blood samples. Zero hanging about.
Operation booked for 30 July or earlier if there is a cancellation (likely). Will include a precautionary chemo shot. Which will be within a month start to finish. I think this is amazing.

Message from the medical team is men are generally very slow at reporting problems. If you have an issue guys, tell your GP pronto. They get you onto the pathway very fast.
 
I was going to say...."good to hear"......but no. It's not good to hear that you've got issues. I hope you are dealt with well and the operation goes to plan. Best wishes from us both.
 
Adrian, I do not know what your diagnosis is but on Radio 4 today they were talking about an incredibly safe way of dealing with Prostate Cancer. no surgery, no radiology, no Chemo. The problem was not sufficient people (Doctors) know about it. A charity called Prost8 are trying to spread the word.
Very pleased to see the NHS at its best again. Without doubt they are incredibly fast when needed.
I totally agree talk to your GP they will move you along fast.
That said I have just signed up to a third operation to try and sort my problems. Nothing serious just annoying and when they operate they then say no woodworking for x weeks.
Best wishes
 
Mike G said:
I was going to say...."good to hear"......but no. It's not good to hear that you've got issues. I hope you are dealt with well and the operation goes to plan. Best wishes from us both.
Click to expand...
It will delay our visit Mike. Apologies.
 
PAC1 said:
Adrian, I do not know what your diagnosis is but on Radio 4 today they were talking about an incredibly safe way of dealing with Prostate Cancer. no surgery, no radiology, no Chemo. The problem was not sufficient people (Doctors) know about it. A charity called Prost8 are trying to spread the word.
Very pleased to see the NHS at its best again. Without doubt they are incredibly fast when needed.
I totally agree talk to your GP they will move you along fast.
That said I have just signed up to a third operation to try and sort my problems. Nothing serious just annoying and when they operate they then say no woodworking for x weeks.
Best wishes
Click to expand...
Thank you. It's not prostate with me (we think - but same area), though I heard the same interesting programme on R4. They said they will struggle with the hot and cold treatment over 10 years as few men will take the risk in blind trials. Understandable.

I am good friends with my GP and she says that many men just tolerate issues for a long time before finally speaking to a doctor. This makes outcomes worse. The only reason I posted this is to encourage men not to delay when symptoms appear. Luckily for me my wife is very sensible and supportive.
 
I wish you well and hope it's a quick and successful outcome.

The vast majority of people however are lucky to get an appointment quickly with any available doctor never mind their own nominated GP and I know many in exactly that situation. It's a postcode lottery. Not an issue of course if your GP happens to be a personal friend.

Personally I have no issues at all with our practice and do get a fast response because I don't insist on our own GP though I did manage to have a telephone conversation with him on Wednesday.

I agree that men in general don't rush to seek medical advice but I think that's changing because of all the media exposure.
 
Last edited:
Hope all goes well Adrian. My experience with the NHS and Prostate Cancer wasn't quite as rapid but from the initial discovery of a 'raised' (or enlarged) prostate by my GP (the same one I saw today ref blood pressure) to a Radical Prostatectomy to remove it was approx six weeks - Rob
 
AJB Temple said:
Had an issue - bleeding and blood clots in urine. Day 1.
Told doc (friend) on day 2, she saw me that morning.
Blood tests on day 3.
Referred to consultant on day 5.
Saw consultant on day 8.
Internal investigation via camera tube on day 10.
Haematology consultant appointment on day 12. (I knew her as it happens).
Pre op assessment on day 14 (today - took an hour), along with 13 blood samples. Zero hanging about.
Operation booked for 30 July or earlier if there is a cancellation (likely). Will include a precautionary chemo shot. Which will be within a month start to finish. I think this is amazing.

Message from the medical team is men are generally very slow at reporting problems. If you have an issue guys, tell your GP pronto. They get you onto the pathway very fast.
Click to expand...
No biggee TBH. Blood in urine always a red flag = uber fast treatment.

Hope all goes well
 
Best of luck and speedy recovery.
My buddy a few days after retiring peed some blood. Went to his doctor who sent him to a specialist. He got a heavy ten courses of high dose chemotherapy after which the specialist operated and removed his Prostrate and Bladder. At the same time made a Neobladder from a section of his small Intestine to replace the old one. He has had some healing problems (scaring in the Neobladder) but is alive three years after and going strong. He says no matter how minor it seems get it checked out.

Pete
 
CT scan today - to check kidneys mainly. I could have had it a few days ago if I didn't have other appointments.

Thanks for well wishes. Chin is very much up. Posting was simply to encourage people not to hang about. I have been guilty of that in the past. My parents generation are of the "don't trouble the doctor" school.
 
Same expressed here as by others Adrian - and a speedy recovery from whatever procedures you have to go through. Good to hear you have an NHS service, and doctors, that act pretty quickly - unfortunately not the same for everyone.

I've had issues myself in the 'nether' regions but shall I just say *speed* after a first appointment was not forthcoming... a number of other appointments - and different doctors - finally got the ball rolling to find a cause... ans some treatment. The treatment not having cured the problem after some time on the medication for. A return visit is intended soon.

That said... about three weeks ago I spat out a small bit of blood. Not over concerned but decided to contact the medical practice. Had to complete an online form, available for filling in *from* 7am... various tick box questions to go through before submitting.

Because of mentioning the blood, I feel, I had an appointment with a doctor I'd not seen, or heard of before, that morning. Took the spital/blood sample along - he was interested! Used his stethoscope to check my chest/breathing, prescribed amoxicillin (3 x5 days) and an appointment for a chest x-ray. I had the x-ray yesterday...

Another instance... blood sample/low iron count... *my* doctor prescribed iron tablets (3 month period) and a FITs test (similar for bowel cancer screening). Apparently they found a trace of blood... NHS Bath contacted me for further checks - colonoscopy - to be done at Sulis hospital. Told: "Should be contacted very soon - within 2 weeks"!

Three weeks later I received a phone call to discuss when to go in to Sulis. I mentioned during that call that I was getting concerned that I'd not been contacted sooner and was told that they (Sulis) had received the referral that morning! I was asked when had been contacted by the RUH, said the date, the nirse I was talking to went to check and thrn came back to tell me "the delay woulbe mentioned"... Thankfully the outcome was nothing ominous found but... NO contact from my doctor about this!

Apologies for the long post regarding my experience with the NHS in my area.
 
Very sorry to hear that Frank. I know it is a postcode lottery. I hope it all turns out well for you. Positive attitude helps a lot I think.

I'm exceptionally fortunate in that my very :D straight talking female doctor is a good friend (so she doesn't soft soap me and I am nt coy with her) and my haematology consultant (also female) is good friends with my GP (they trained together) and now with me. They are both coming to dinner with husbands soon. Plus NHS Kent (Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone) is superb. Brand new CT and MRI facilities 15 minutes drive away.
 
Hope things continue well for you. Just posting to add my positive NHS experience..

A couple of months ago i had some gut pains that were relatively mild but went on too long. Contacted the doctor and had the appointment and nothing obvious wrong. Blood tests were suggested and i was asked when I last had a PSA test - I said never - so I had one of those too. Tests were 2 days later. Next day doctor calls and says my PSA is a tad high. Normal range (from memory so could be wrong) was a low number like 2 to a maximum of 6.5. i was 6.75. Meanwhile my original problem had gone away on it's own. About a week or 10 days later I was in a MRI machine at the local hospital. Another week after that and the all clear - age appropriate enlargement and no lesions. Struck me as all very efficient.

I now think my original pains were wind!
 
I'm of a mind that when you get to over 45 then blokes should have a routine PSA test - whether there are symptoms or not. And the petition for this to be done should be signed for it to happen - just as the ladies get tests for their 'bits' and all for as Bowel Cancer.

I went with symptoms (time before PSA testing!) but not taken further. Some time later went again... Probably about the 4th time (could have been 5th? ) I eventually got the PSA testing. High reading, MRI/CT scan eventually, enlarged prostate, prescribed Tamulosin - interfered with BP meds (Losartan). Eventually the Losartan stopped because Tamulosin had a similar BP control factor... My doctor/PB nurses can't help get my BP under control! Now on Tadalafil and Finasteride... - part of the reason I'm needing to discuss meds with my/a doctor at the medical practice...

@Robert - I did nearly laugh out loud at your closing line... I thinking your glad for those 'wind' pains... 😎. Hopefully your doctor will be getting you to have an annual PSA testing 🙏🙂
 
Accipiter said:
I'm of a mind that when you get to over 45 then blokes should have a routine PSA test - whether there are symptoms or not. And the petition for this to be done should be signed for it to happen - just as the ladies get tests for their 'bits' and all for as Bowel Cancer.
Click to expand...

I have a different opinion Frank as the test is unreliable and I understand that something like 70% of men with an enlarged prostate don't have prostate cancer. Everyone is going to have an age related increase in prostate size eventually, if we live long enough. General screening with an unreliable test doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Hopefully the more reliable tests being researched will come on board before too long.

I have 2 friends who both had invasive tests and have suffered because of it. Another neighbour who had his prostate removed two years ago only to discover it wasn't malignant and he has suffered badly post opp, He was back in for a repair only 3 weeks ago.

As an aside, what issues did you have with Losartin and Tamulosin? I take both together without any apparent problems.
 
Hi @Lons 🙂

Understand what you mean Bob and can see both sides re testing. I'd still like to see something being done to find prostate cancer sooner with it being, so I'm seeing mentioned, the main cancer in men leading to deaths.

It could be a test is done on a two year basis as with bowel cancer? Or even an initial one at around 45+ and, depending on the result, then 4 or 5 years if the 1st test comes back as zero at that time?

Of course... the main hurdle probably would be those not going for the test when notification of appointment given - as with many women for screening of breats or cervical cancers... Many men put of getting tested when the initial 'known' possible symptoms arise... mind, not every doctor seems to want to go further - as in my case when I started with symptoms 🙃. Recently been hearing of a new treatment (Focal Therapy) for those diagnosed with prostate cancer that will be used by the NHS - already being used in *some* NHS areas... so, that's good news.

The issues with the two meds... as you'll know, Losartin is for BP control. Tamulosin - in treatment for the prostate - also has an affect on lowering BP. It also has a side affect, as it seems does the Tadallafil, which is rather unpleasant in the morning: wrenching... trying to clear the throat... quite unpleasant and off putting for others - understandably.

I was taking the Losartin in the morning and Tamulosin before going to bed/sleep - to lessen the *possible* affect of these lowering my BP too much. Sadly, taking both - even as I'd been advised - lowered it too much and I was having dizziness when getting up from the bed in the morning or from a sitting position, crouching and rising 😫.

Over a period of time, the last two years, I've seen a number of BP *nurses* at the medical practice and each time of them testing me they've said my BP is too high. I've taken my own tests, at home, and presented the readings, to again be told "too high".

Before coming off (having it removed) the Losartin, I'd offered to reduce that dosage by taking half a tablet - so 5mg instead of 10mg *for example*... made no difference. I even suggested trying a quarter dose (2.5mg) but was told such a small amount wouldn't have any affect at all - even with the Tamulosin affecting!

When I asked one of the BP nurses for some guidance for what to take or do she said "Take more SALT"..... I wasn't taking/adding any additional salt to my food - if I had, for example, a take away of fish and chips I'd not have them add ANY salt or vinegar and only add vinegar when at home. Always being told no salt, butter, full fat milk, bacon etc., etc... to lessen a heart attack or stroke!

I no longer get the dizzy spells when getting up from a laying or sitting position or if I crouch and stand - as I was before. I add salt - more than I used to BUT not overly - to the meals. I also now have full fat milk on cereals and in tea and butter on toast at the weekend.

I had a blood test on Thursday and two results received so far are that my cholesterol is fine and the test for diabetes shows blood sugars in normal and below the pre-diabetic range. About 3~4 years ago I was told I was pre-diabetic...

Sorry... more than you asked for but feel it all goes hand in hand with the BP and meds 🙃.
 
It seems like that drug combination (with which I am familiar) does not work for you Frank. I'm wondering if weight is an issue? I too had hypertension and was pre-diabetic, and by far the biggest factor for me was weight. I decided to deal with it and lost about 45 kg over a period of a year. The consequence of that was that Losartin and Doxasosin in combination, resulted in BP crashes, leading to unpredictable instant fainting, often when out and about. Potentially dangerous. I've maintained about 90-92kg for the past circa 18 months (I'm 6' 2" so this is OK for my height) and BP is in the 120/76 area, low cholesterol (I eat plenty of butter!). Allergies have diminished substantially. Far better mobility and little joint pain, though some damage done is irreversible. In my case, getting weight and fitness under control has been very beneficial.
 
@AJB Temple

Thanks Adrian.

In my case weight wouldn't appear to be a problem... I'm 5ft 7"~8" and weight 83~85 kg clothed - not been advised to loose weight but I'm slowly trying to - at 75+ *I* feel I should because of the (not so big) "man boobs" that 😟... 🙂. My problem on fitness is my knees so running is not in there. I'm possibly on the brink, re BMI, but they've not told me to loose weight.

Although my bloods results are, apart from iron, no cause for concerns, my doctor missed one thing when I kept going to see him regarding 'lethargy'/fatigue and such. He kept on about low iron - not anemia - just low iron... where was I loosing blood...

I did a bit of "Google 'ing" etc., and came across thyroid link - due to the omeprazole (I'd been asking the doctor if omeprazole and, possibly, the other meds would cause my fatigue and such - but he'd skirt round it).

When I spoke with him again, re the low iron count, I asked what my thyroid count was - he said "oh! It's a bit low"... so prescribed Levothyroxin 50 micrograms 1st thing in the morning, 30-60 minutes before any food. Sleep disturbance during the night because of the prostate was something I'd thought but not a low thyroid. Why should I be the one coming up with thyroid issue 🤔 😕

I see omeprazole as my problem medication because of the length of time I've been prescribed it - or derivatives of - for 20+ years.

*When I told my doctor that he just said "Do you really need to take it" 😳 - prescribed 20mg daily, 1 x10mg morning, 1 10mg evening. **He didnt say "I'll get you checked out to see if you need to still be on them after all this time"... 🤔😠

So... for about the last 3 months I've reduced the omeprazole to one 10mg in the morning, after breakfast, with my Artovastatin and the other two - also reduced because of the 3 month period for taking the Ferrox iron tablets - 60-90 minutes after taking the Levothyroxin so the omeprazole isn't affecting the Levothyroxin.

Still get some acid reflux but not as much as when I first cut back. I introduced Gaviscon after other meals which has helped - now just "when needed"... So, a return to speak with my doctor, as I've completed the iron tablets and had the bllod test last Thursday, to say to him "Yes, I need it" but that he needs to arrange monitoring for coming off it - or a suitable replacement if I can't.

I've recently, a week ago, introduced a Magnesium supplement, (nutrition geeks 'Glycinatr 3-in-1, Magnesium Glycinate, Malate & Citrate)... gradually 1 at night to the recommended 2 - and feel some benefit from doing so... slept better last night, no waking to go to the loo. I'm also going to introduce a vitamin B Complex supplement. So, need to cover these with him - or whichever doctor they give me an appointment with 🤔

I could so do with having a doctor like you have 😊... 💯 %...
 
I avoided GP for decades Frank as I think once they get their hooks into you you've had it. 😉 So apart from Omeprazole which was at my request as I'd suffered reflex for years and watched a good friend die from esophageal cancer caused by reflux then having knee X-rays in 2016 I was fine until at 70 I needed a basic medical to keep Cat C on my driving licence. BP was mid 140s but false as I have white coat syndrome, no probs for the licence but the doc persuaded me to try taking Amlodipine as the goalposts had moved and need to be below 140. Tried hard to get me on statins but I flatly refused and they've stopped asking now and my record states "refused statins".
I insisted they change the Amlodipine when I discovered I have A-fib as that med can be the cause in 1 in 100 patients. So I take 4 regular pills a day which is 4 too many as far as I'm concerned.

I have to take an extra pill (Colchicine) over the next four days, maximum of 12 in total and it comes with dire warnings of it being toxic. Reason is that whilst my knees are worn out the pain is caused by calcium crystals (pseudogout). Apparently I'm too common to get proper gout though the doc assured me I haven't missed out 'cos it's just as painful.

Life was far simpler in the old days when if you had to see a GP it was always your family doctor and at short notice.
 
Lons said:
BP was mid 140s but false as I have white coat syndrome, no probs for the licence but the doc persuaded me to try taking Amlodipine as the goalposts had moved and need to be below 140. Tried hard to get me on statins but I flatly refused and they've stopped asking now and my record states "refused statins".
I insisted they change the Amlodipine when I discovered I have A-fib as that med can be the cause in 1 in 100 patients. So I take 4 regular pills a day which is 4 too many as far as I'm concerned.
Click to expand...
My BP is about 140ish and when I saw my doc on Friday he prescribed me an additional med to gradually bring it into the130 range, mentioning that he has some patients on five meds daily to control it. I also took Amlodipine for a few years but one of the side effects of that drug is swollen ankles, so he switched me to Felodipine which does the same job but doesn't have that side effect.

I can't tolerate statins of any sort, having tried about four different ones as they were a trigger for insomnia - Rob
 
I would be careful substituting Gaviscon for omeprazole Frank, as it can mask acid reflux that is still doing damage to the oesophagus (this according to original specialist Prof, Bailey). I was misdiagnosed with oesophageal cancer 25 years ago, though it turned out to be Barratts. In my case I had a congenital defect in the valve between oesophagus and stomach, which, when finally discovered, needed a Nissen Fundoplication operation to create a false valve as reflux was massive. This valve was recently renewed and the consultant this time monitored reflux and discontinued the anti-reflux drug. Barretts had reduced to a smaller area. Reflux nil currently.

By the way BMI in the traditional sense has been re-worked for older people and deviates from WHO advice. Google Smart BMI.
 
Amlodipine... sounds familiar 🤔... think that may be another drug they put me on at some point in the past Bob... I really want to reduce the number of drugs I'm taking... hence the "chat" with the doctors 🙄 😉. Omeprazole (and others of that ilk) were prescribed for the hiatus hernia... and the episodes of vomiting which probably caused the hernia in the first place. Pity the medical profession didn't look at that bit before I got the hernia 🙄. Only went to see someone if I felt it really warranted doing so.

The statins... prescribed by a female doctor I've NEVER seen...? How does that work? I was reluctant but took them anyway. Could have been a different one at the start rather than the Artovastatin 😉. Taking a slow approach for coming off/reducing the Omeprazole. The same hopefully after the chat with the doctor 🤞.

I've had the x-rays for the knees - about 4~5 weeks ago now... no follow up yet from the physio nurse I saw at the practice about 7 weeks ago...

Sorry to hear about your knees... I'd agree about the old days of seeing the family doctor with his own surgery rather than today's grouping together of a number of doctors working from a large centre. So many jobs a doctor did back then are now farmed out to nurses - not saying they aren't very capable of doing it - but a doctor would take the blood sample at the time of him seeing you rather than having to make an appointment which could be a fortnight from after seeing the doctor! Thing is... I don't miss the long queues in the waiting room area - nor extra time if he/she got an emergency call 😎
 
I'm certainly being careful Adrian, on the Gaviscon front. About two weeks ago I was taking it after each meal - 10~15ml and not the amount stated on the bottle. Now, into my 3rd week, I only take a small amount after the evening meal.

My doctor did prescribe another med for the relux/heartburn...Famotidine, 20mg (1 to be taken alternate days or 3 times a week). I didn't like the listed side effects so haven't taken it. He didn't say STOP taking the omeprazole...!? Or continue and take the Famotidine also as prescribed!? 🙄 Another reason for the chat 😉... I'm 'aware' regarding oesophageal cancer possibilities - hence when I had the small bit of blood in my 'spital' clearing my throat (a side affect of the prostate drug) one morning and getting to see a doctor... who didn't seem that interested in the blood spital only to prescribe the amoxicilline (after hearing something in my right lung?) and wanting a chest x-ray? Oh! And to say come back if I get more blood again... 🤷🤦

ADD: I've just looked up "Barrat's disease"... and will add this to the list of topics to discuss with the doctor. I'm not sure of when I last had an endoscopy... but would have hoped it would have been detected then? Another for the list 😀
 
Hi Frank
Having a medical family they try to bully me and occasionally succeed.

Amlodipine. I'd been on that for nearly 6 years and didn't question it until the A-fib a few months ago. Mentioned it in a telephone conversation with a female GP who I'd never met and she was adamant that it couldn't be a cause so when I went to see her next day I took in the edvidence of possible 1 in 100 side effects but she'd already looked it up after the 'phone call and shrugged it off, :rolleyes: Didn't argue about changing though.

Statins. Were first "offered" to me during my annual checkup by a young Asian locum who said "I'm going to prescribe because I like to put my patients on statins". I was a little abrupt and said "no I'm not having them and in any case you're not my GP". She wasn't amused. :ROFLMAO:

My X-ray results were available and discussed with a GP after 10 days, by 'phone again and I'd already booked a tel app with the MSK unit which happened last week though that was a waste of time as he thought the call was for my previous rotatorcuff shoulder injury and I had to read out the X-ray report to him. He said a face to face physio wait is 6 to 7 weeks but I'm booked on to a group OA course on 31st where they'll assess my knees at the end. I've requested copies of the X-ray images via Medico Legal which can take up to a month to process.

I'm not concerned at the minute but would seek a private opinion if I had to. A couple of hundred quid can get things moving rapidly in the NHS if necessary and sometimes money well spent as was the case for my wife on two occasions.
 
Sadly Bob... a 'private opinion' is not an option for me with present circumstances. Should I have a lottery win of a substantial amount or an Omaze house with the extra dosh then it would be difficult 😎.

Let's just say my pension savings contributions didn't pay the amounts I was lead to believe 🙃😠
 
Thanks Bob for pointing me in the direction of results via the NHS app...

Just checked for the knees x-rays and, apparently, left knee is "all satisfactory" while right knee is "All satisfactory: Moderate OA changes" - doesn't help me with the difficulties and 'discomfort' of getting up from a low position: crouching or laying down type of thing...

Other comment from the individual that checked the x-ray on each knee is: "no need to contact *the practice*..." What about contacting the patient? 😡. Guess I'll have to add that to the growing list - meanwhile use ibuprofen gels...
 
Accipiter said:
Sadly Bob... a 'private opinion' is not an option for me with present circumstances. Should I have a lottery win of a substantial amount or an Omaze house with the extra dosh then it would be difficult 😎.

Let's just say my pension savings contributions didn't pay the amounts I was lead to believe 🙃😠
Click to expand...
Yes Frank it depends on individual circumstances and like everything else in life is unfair.
With one of my wife's operations it was a choice of wait 18 to 24 months when at the time she could hardly walk and couldn't get a shoe or boot on her foot in the middle of winter so likely have her in a wheelchair, or find a substantial amount of money for the operation. You can sacrifice many things but health is more important than anything else.

I requested and received some 10% ibuprofen gel from the practice which does help a little even if just a psychological effect.
 
Lons said:
Yes Frank it depends on individual circumstances and like everything else in life is unfair.
With one of my wife's operations it was a choice of wait 18 to 24 months when at the time she could hardly walk and couldn't get a shoe or boot on her foot in the middle of winter so likely have her in a wheelchair, or find a substantial amount of money for the operation. You can sacrifice many things but health is more important than anything else.

I requested and received some 10% ibuprofen gel from the practice which does help a little even if just a psychological effect.
Click to expand...
If it came down to my wife needing medical treatment and having g the waiting time you've given for your wife I'm sure I'd be looking at the cost of private treatment and how to fund. No question. If for me... I'm probably just going to 'struggle on' - unless *family* did something 🙃.

The ibuprofen I've got is from a chemist... couldn't say what strength without going upstairs to get it and check... haven't asked if there's stronger available from the doctors. Will do when the time comes 😉
 
Hi Frank
Usually over the counter stuff is 5% so you should ask for some 10% from the GP especially if you don't pay for prescriptions. It is more effective. Can you not just request via on line contact from your GP practice?
 
Thanks Bob 👍

Unfortunately not. It's a bit of a rigmarole with having to complete the on line form.

There's a section - once you've completed the questionnaire for what you want to see/speak to *someone* (doctor or nurse - they devide which you'll be referred to! ) about - to leave a message to give more details. I'll have to use that bit to say what I want to speak to my doctor (some doctor) about.

They'll then email/text to say if I've got an appointment to see/discuss further - whether it's a face to face appointment (on X day/time) or if it'll be a telephone appointment - at X time on X day... not necessarily the same day of filling in and submitting the form.
 
AJB Temple said:
I would be careful substituting Gaviscon for omeprazole Frank, as it can mask acid reflux that is still doing damage to the oesophagus (this according to original specialist Prof, Bailey). I was misdiagnosed with oesophageal cancer 25 years ago, though it turned out to be Barratts. In my case I had a congenital defect in the valve between oesophagus and stomach, which, when finally discovered, needed a Nissen Fundoplication operation to create a false valve as reflux was massive. This valve was recently renewed and the consultant this time monitored reflux and discontinued the anti-reflux drug. Barretts had reduced to a smaller area. Reflux nil currently.

By the way BMI in the traditional sense has been re-worked for older people and deviates from WHO advice. Google Smart BMI.
Click to expand...
Nissan Fundoplication? Isn’t that one of those new hybrid cars ? 😀
 
Accipiter said:
Thanks Bob 👍

Unfortunately not. It's a bit of a rigmarole with having to complete the on line form.

There's a section - once you've completed the questionnaire for what you want to see/speak to *someone* (doctor or nurse - they devide which you'll be referred to! ) about - to leave a message to give more details. I'll have to use that bit to say what I want to speak to my doctor (some doctor) about.

They'll then email/text to say if I've got an appointment to see/discuss further - whether it's a face to face appointment (on X day/time) or if it'll be a telephone appointment - at X time on X day... not necessarily the same day of filling in and submitting the form.
Click to expand...
You get a day AND a time ?😱. Luxury!

I filled in the form early Monday. 13th. Old man night time syndrome been kicking in for a month or so. Could be slightly enlarged prostate but equally could be one of several other possibilities. Mid-morning the triage has processed my form. Telephone consultation on the 28th….over two weeks away…’some time in the morning’. I really don’t see what that is going to achieve. One thing is for certain. If the GP I speak to simply says ‘I’ll prescribe you Tamsulosin’ then we will have an interesting conversation regarding medical ethics.
 
Lons said:
have to take an extra pill (Colchicine) over the next four days, maximum of 12 in total and it comes with dire warnings of it being toxic.
Click to expand...
Colchicine is indeed a nasty chemical, Bob. It interferes with cell replication. If you find bruises/cuts seem to be taking yonks to heal, don't 'phone the G. P., camp out in their reception until they see you and address the issue.
 
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