Doctors appointment

[old man]

16 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

And I think we both know just how much they chat about the patients at coffee break!

How very dare you, in sin u ate that?

[mel b3]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

It certainly does.

I am lucky to be served by a good one.

But the horror stories of using Covid to slow things down and of course the receptionists who must have spent minutes undergoing their medical training!

Oh for the luxury of even being able to get through to a receptionist.  I just get the large amount of calls message , then get cut off.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

6 minutes ago, mel b3 said:

Oh for the luxury of even being able to get through to a receptionist.  I just get the large amount of calls message , then get cut off.

Hey Mel, just ring my practice, you'll be able to speak to a charming lady receptionist!   

[mel b3]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Hey Mel, just ring my practice, you'll be able to speak to a charming lady receptionist!   

Does she know anything about bad backs ?, I'm desperate enough to try anything 😁.

Just before the pandemic kicked off , you couldn't get an appointment at my doctors surgery for love nor money , yet they had a huge banner outside saying that they had spaces for more patients. 

I might open a doctors surgery at my house , the NHS could send me a few hundred quid for every patient that signs up , and I could set up an answerphone messaging system telling everyone that I'm too busy to see anyone . I'd be able to afford a private doctor  , and no patients would be any worse off than they are now .

[TIGHTCHOKE]

6 minutes ago, mel b3 said:

Does she know anything about bad backs ?, I'm desperate enough to try anything 😁.

No, but she does know a Doctor who will happily prescribe the pain killers I need.

Just before the pandemic kicked off , you couldn't get an appointment at my doctors surgery for love nor money , yet they had a huge banner outside saying that they had spaces for more patients. 

Simple money making stuff, same as the Dentists continually do.

I might open a doctors surgery at my house , the NHS could send me a few hundred quid for every patient that signs up , and I could set up an answerphone messaging system telling everyone that I'm too busy to see anyone . I'd be able to afford a private doctor  , and no patients would be any worse off than they are now .

Now that Sir is a wonderful idea. You could open NON Surgeries all over the place and make an absolute fortune, as you say you could then go to BUPA or even Harley Street!

 

[harrycatcat1]

Just an update, doctor rang, lots of questions,  recommended a head scan and a trial on Amitriptyline. She said not many other options because of my angina medication. Thanks to everyone for their support. 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

1 minute ago, harrycatcat1 said:

Just an update, doctor rang, lots of questions,  recommended a head scan and a trial on Amitriptyline. She said not many other options because of my angina medication. Thanks to everyone for their support. 

Great, something actually happened and things are progressing.

[discobob]

I made a comment on a local town Facebook Group about trying to get through to our surgery - didn't mention the actual one as we have 3 or 4 in the town.

To my surprise, a couple of days later I received a phone call from the doctors on my landline - I always use a mobile for my calls so it couldn't have been them registering missed calls.

[harrycatcat1]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Great, something actually happened and things are progressing.

Thanks 👍 

[Walker570]

18 hours ago, mel b3 said:

Nev only lives up the road , I'm sure he'd pop round and sort that out for him 😉. 

Yep no problem I have a couple of tons of logs need moving up from my wood into our log store.

 

Ref migraine....it ain't funny and some folk suffer more than others. In my teens I had them bad with sickness etc etc it laid me low for a day or more however over the years I have semed to have them much less and when I suddenly have the fuzzy eyes I take a couple of anadin get set in an easy chair pull the blinds and shut eyes and an hour later can return to normal duties although feeling a bit rough but no headache.  I know of a couple of folk who get laid low for a couple of days.

Persistent, then you should press hard for some attention as no doubt there is some underlying problem that needs sorting.  Worth spending a couple of hundred getting a private consultation. Your life is worth much more.

[7daysinaweek]

1 hour ago, harrycatcat1 said:

Just an update, doctor rang, lots of questions,  recommended a head scan and a trial on Amitriptyline. She said not many other options because of my angina medication. Thanks to everyone for their support. 

Triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitritan and several others)  are contraindicated with angina. If you are responsive to the Amitriptyline ( excluding red flag causes with the scan) it may be prescribed up to 4-6 months with a reducing dose towards the back end. Good to hear you getting sorted. In most cases these 'maladies' are of no serious cause for  concern. (Obviously not making less light of how debilitating these conditions can be) Around 4% adults per year consult their gp for headache as primary presenting complaint so this will give you an idea of the prevalence.

atb

7diaw

@mel b3 . I'm a cluster headache sufferer 

 

I feel for you mel, cluster headaches make up the smallest proportion of headache diagnoses, like migraine they can stop you in your tracks. Oral triptans are not indicated in cluster headache, nasal triptans are but are not always effective. Great that 02 works for you, for some o2 is a complete no, no and may need referral to neurology.

Re getting an appointment. If you cannot get through to your gp have you tried ringing nhs 111 and asking for a out of hours gp /extended hours gp access appointment? They should be able to arrange this, they have national pathways to facilitate appointments to oors gp centres/hubs and UTC (GP/ANP led urgent treatment centres) out of hours. Explain that you have tried to get through to your gp and cannot. 

Hope you get sorted.

atb

7diaw

P.S Avoid that ginger. 

 

Edited January 6, 2022 by 7daysinaweek

[harrycatcat1]

15 minutes ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Triptans (sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitritan and several others)  are contraindicated with angina. If you are responsive to the Amitriptyline ( excluding red flag causes with the scan) it may be prescribed up to 4-6 months with a reducing dose towards the back end. Good to hear you getting sorted. In most cases these 'maladies' are of no serious cause for  concern. (Obviously not making less light of how debilitating these conditions can be) Around 4% adults per year consult their gp for headache as primary presenting complaint so this will give you an idea of the prevalence.

atb

7diaw

@mel b3 . I'm a cluster headache sufferer 

 

I feel for you mel, cluster headaches make up the smallest proportion of headache diagnoses, like migraine they can stop you in your tracks. Oral triptans are not indicated in cluster headache, nasal triptans are but are not always effective. Great that 02 works for you, for some o2 is a complete no, no and may need referral to neurology.

Re getting an appointment. If you cannot get through to your gp have you tried ringing nhs 111 and asking for a out of hours gp /extended hours gp access appointment? They should be able to arrange this, they have national pathways to facilitate appointments to oors gp centres/hubs and UTC (GP/ANP led urgent treatment centres) out of hours. Explain that you have tried to get through to your gp and cannot. 

Hope you get sorted.

atb

7diaw

P.S Avoid that ginger. 

 

Thanks 👍 so they will "ween" me off it in 6 months if it works 🤔 

[7daysinaweek]

1 hour ago, harrycatcat1 said:

Thanks 👍 so they will "ween" me off it in 6 months if it works 🤔 

Your response to the trial, concordance, side effects and a degree of clinical judgement will be dependant on the duration of your treatment, may be off it a little sooner than 4-6 months. Amitriptyline can take a good few weeks getting to a therapeutic level.

atb

7diaw

[harrycatcat1]

1 hour ago, 7daysinaweek said:

Your response to the trial, concordance, side effects and a degree of clinical judgement will be dependant on the duration of your treatment, may be off it a little sooner than 4-6 months. Amitriptyline can take a good few weeks getting to a therapeutic level.

atb

7diaw

Thanks 👍 

[mel b3]

14 hours ago, 7daysinaweek said:

 

@mel b3 . I'm a cluster headache sufferer 

 

I feel for you mel, cluster headaches make up the smallest proportion of headache diagnoses, like migraine they can stop you in your tracks. Oral triptans are not indicated in cluster headache, nasal triptans are but are not always effective. Great that 02 works for you, for some o2 is a complete no, no and may need referral to neurology.

Re getting an appointment. If you cannot get through to your gp have you tried ringing nhs 111 and asking for a out of hours gp /extended hours gp access appointment? They should be able to arrange this, they have national pathways to facilitate appointments to oors gp centres/hubs and UTC (GP/ANP led urgent treatment centres) out of hours. Explain that you have tried to get through to your gp and cannot. 

Hope you get sorted.

atb

7diaw

P.S Avoid that ginger. 

I'm one of the lucky ones with clusters . It took years to get diagnosed,  but as soon as it was , i was sent to a neurologist,  and the specialist nurse was straight on it . The injection worked very well for me , but the heart attack feeling side effects were pretty unpleasant  , when the oxygen came along , that was even better(as long as I get to it on time). My clusters seem to have stopped now , but the specialist nurse said that if they ever get too serious again , she can do the neck operation herself now , in a few minutes with a local anasthetic , while you sit in her examination room .

I've not gone down the 111 route , as I don't think that it's serious enough , I can't really walk at the moment,  but I know that given time , it will get better .  I've got plenty of cocodamol , but I was hoping to get gabapentin (sp) from the doctor , as that really helped when I hurt my back a few years ago , I felt unpleasantly stoned , but it kept the pain away until my back healed.

You can't buy ginger around they parts anymore . Apparently,  the world supply of ginger never makes it any further than Norfolk for some reason.

 

I'm very glad that they're getting you fixed up Harry,  headaches can really mess your life up mate , and they're a complete misery. 

[oldypigeonpopper]

1 hour ago, mel b3 said:

I'm one of the lucky ones with clusters . It took years to get diagnosed,  but as soon as it was , i was sent to a neurologist,  and the specialist nurse was straight on it . The injection worked very well for me , but the heart attack feeling side effects were pretty unpleasant  , when the oxygen came along , that was even better(as long as I get to it on time). My clusters seem to have stopped now , but the specialist nurse said that if they ever get too serious again , she can do the neck operation herself now , in a few minutes with a local anasthetic , while you sit in her examination room .

I've not gone down the 111 route , as I don't think that it's serious enough , I can't really walk at the moment,  but I know that given time , it will get better .  I've got plenty of cocodamol , but I was hoping to get gabapentin (sp) from the doctor , as that really helped when I hurt my back a few years ago , I felt unpleasantly stoned , but it kept the pain away until my back healed.

You can't buy ginger around they parts anymore . Apparently,  the world supply of ginger never makes it any further than Norfolk for some reason.

 

I'm very glad that they're getting you fixed up Harry,  headaches can really mess your life up mate , and they're a complete misery. 

Hello, sorry to hear Mel, back pain is really tough, what's this ginger you mention ?

[harrycatcat1]

17 hours ago, Walker570 said:

Yep no problem I have a couple of tons of logs need moving up from my wood into our log store.

 

Ref migraine....it ain't funny and some folk suffer more than others. In my teens I had them bad with sickness etc etc it laid me low for a day or more however over the years I have semed to have them much less and when I suddenly have the fuzzy eyes I take a couple of anadin get set in an easy chair pull the blinds and shut eyes and an hour later can return to normal duties although feeling a bit rough but no headache.  I know of a couple of folk who get laid low for a couple of days.

Persistent, then you should press hard for some attention as no doubt there is some underlying problem that needs sorting.  Worth spending a couple of hundred getting a private consultation. Your life is worth much more.

Yes, because of the fuzz in my head I'd not thought of a private consultation, if these tablets don't cure it I will seriously consider that route, you are right thanks 👍

[mel b3]

1 hour ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, sorry to hear Mel, back pain is really tough, what's this ginger you mention ?

Ditchman is the pw guru when it comes to the use of medical grade ginger .  I'm sure he'll be along shortly to advise(disturb your mind) you 👍.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

1 hour ago, mel b3 said:

Ditchman is the pw guru when it comes to the use of medical grade ginger .  I'm sure he'll be along shortly to advise(disturb your mind) you 👍.

Ditchman the Ginger Guru!   

[oldypigeonpopper]

48 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Ditchman the Ginger Guru!   

Hello, Ah I understand now

[7daysinaweek]

10 hours ago, mel b3 said:

I'm one of the lucky ones with clusters . It took years to get diagnosed,  but as soon as it was , i was sent to a neurologist,  and the specialist nurse was straight on it . The injection worked very well for me , but the heart attack feeling side effects were pretty unpleasant  , when the oxygen came along , that was even better(as long as I get to it on time). My clusters seem to have stopped now , but the specialist nurse said that if they ever get too serious again , she can do the neck operation herself now , in a few minutes with a local anasthetic , while you sit in her examination room .

I've not gone down the 111 route , as I don't think that it's serious enough , I can't really walk at the moment,  but I know that given time , it will get better .  I've got plenty of cocodamol , but I was hoping to get gabapentin (sp) from the doctor , as that really helped when I hurt my back a few years ago , I felt unpleasantly stoned , but it kept the pain away until my back healed.

You can't buy ginger around they parts anymore . Apparently,  the world supply of ginger never makes it any further than Norfolk for some reason.

 

I'm very glad that they're getting you fixed up Harry,  headaches can really mess your life up mate , and they're a complete misery. 

Hi Mel

Sounds like you had a time of it.

Headache can come with an array of symptoms and are categorised into headache without underlying condition and headache with underlying condition. 

The following headache are seen as no underlying condition. Tension headache is the most prevalent, followed by migraine, then a very, very small percentage resulting in cluster headache. Unfortunate that the medication made you feel like that. As with many medication the side and adverse effects only become apparent on exposure to the drug. Triptans can make some, unfortunately, such as yourself feel 'awful.' For others not.

Glad to hear that the 02 works well and that there are other options should your symptoms worsen. 

Ahh back pain!

Make sure you keep well hydrated using the co-codamol which is a weak opiod to avoid getting bunged up. Lots of different medications have a place in a 'stepwise approach' with pain. Gabapentin can cause that feeling, like tramadol among others can give some the 'heebie jeebies.'

Seen a few people today with new headaches, new back pains. You have my empathy.

Hope you and Harry better soon.

 

Ahh yes the ginger, best you avoid that 'fiery tincture'. 

atb