Ailments, Aches & Pains. (Let's hear them here)

[DAVIDW 1,681]

Your cold must have spread over these pages DJ.

Have sympathy as have exactly the same symptoms (plus wanting to sleep a lot) and started about the same time a week ago . 

Paracetamol seem to help a bit .

 

[DJ360 6,721]

Well on Monday, after a week of this nonsense, I thought it was easing.  I stopped coughing up green stuff and just coughed up white froth.. but this morning, after another night of coughing.. it back to the green stuff.  I make that 10 days now.. which seems a bit long for a cold. Give it another couple of days and if no improvement I'll get mesen checked aht..  Bleddifedupwiyit...

[denshaw 2,871]

A cold can last a fortnight, or even two weeks.

[DJ360 6,721]

A fortnight I can take.. but TWO WEEKS!!!??? 

 

[denshaw 2,871]

Might even take 14 days.

[DAVIDW 1,681]

If it's any consolation DJ I'm still the same as you , it won't shift . Feeling washed out by day and coughing in the evening , (fortunately not through the night). 

Hope it clears up before the grandkids descend next week !

[DJ360 6,721]

So do I.  I want this gone so I can get my flu jab and then start my fitness programme ..  11 st slender muscular bronzed adonis by the time I go to Cancun in March....

[Brew 5,408]

Stop whatever it is you're taking DJ, you're hallucinating!   

[DJ360 6,721]

Still hallucinating, but I've almost stopped coughing..  13 days and counting.

 

Incidentally, my new NHS surgery for which I had such high hopes..  sent me a text over a month ago explaining that there are at least two forms of Flu Vaccine this year, basically for over 65s and under 65s  and that I should wait to be invited to make an appointment.  So I've just received a text inviting me to make an appt.  I go to the online appt system and it says 'Under 65 and in at risk group'.  That's it. I'm 69 and in an at risk group.  something doesn't add up...

[denshaw 2,871]

Just phoned the Doc, can't get in for 12 days, good job it's nowt serious.

[sue B 48 1,226]

I don't know what Doctors you are with Den but I had to wait two weeks. 

[philmayfield 6,115]

I’ve just been to Newark Hospial for a hip x-ray. I put £3.50 in the parking meter (over 1 hour). It took me longer to get undressed and redressed than did the x-ray. Probably 7 minutes in all. I feel I’ve been cheated! The doc told me on Friday p.m to contact radiology. Come anytime they said!

[loppylugs 8,427]

It would have cost you more than that in Co-pays and deductibles here Phil.  Thats why I avoid them as much as I can.  It may cost me one day but I'm past caring.

 

I guess there's still summat to be said for the national 'elf.

[philmayfield 6,115]

Well I don't wholly believe in private medicine where you can jump the queue (that's my bit of socialism). I'll get my hip diagnosis on the NHS to ensure that if I do decide on private treatment they won't try and sell me something I don't need! I've done well this week - a blood sample, a flu vaccination, blood pressure test and an X-ray - plus a medication consultation last Friday. It's the first time I've ever felt really wanted!  And it's curry night at the Mayfield household tonight followed by burger night tomorrow - it's not all bad!

[carni 10,094]

Ah Phil, First the pain then the pleasure. Enjoy your curry and burgers.

[LizzieM 9,507]

We’ve paid into a Private Health Insurance scheme for over 30 years and every year when we receive the renewal documents we umm and arrh about cancelling it but so far we’ve hung onto it.  Each year the monthly premiums rise quite substantially because of our age and because of the claims they’ve paid out.  My husband has had his money’s worth from it over the years ........4 heart procedures which eventually cured Atrial Fibrillation, prostate cancer radiotherapy and associated treatments and just a few months ago he had a total knee replacement. However when I had to have major surgery twice in the past 2 years my consultant preferred to operate at QMC because he said there was better aftercare than at the private hospital and if anything went wrong I’d have to be taken to QMC in an ambulance anyway.  Even my,still regular, private consultations with him have to be paid for by me, the private health insurance won’t cover that.   We don’t look upon ‘going private’ as jumping the queue.  While we’re paying to see a doctor at a Private Hospital we’re freeing up appointments in the NHS hospitals.   The main benefit for us really is being able to choose when to have consultations and treatments.   The thing is, when there is an emergency the only place to go is an NHS hospital, we’re  very lucky in this country.  

 

[philmayfield 6,115]

15 hours ago, LizzieM said:

We’ve paid into a Private Health Insurance scheme for over 30 years and every year when we receive the renewal documents we umm and arrh about cancelling it but so far we’ve hung onto it.  Each year the monthly premiums rise quite substantially because of our age and because of the claims they’ve paid out.  My husband has had his money’s worth from it over the years ........4 heart procedures which eventually cured Atrial Fibrillation, prostate cancer radiotherapy and associated treatments and just a few months ago he had a total knee replacement. However when I had to have major surgery twice in the past 2 years my consultant preferred to operate at QMC because he said there was better aftercare than at the private hospital and if anything went wrong I’d have to be taken to QMC in an ambulance anyway.  Even my,still regular, private consultations with him have to be paid for by me, the private health insurance won’t cover that.   We don’t look upon ‘going private’ as jumping the queue.  While we’re paying to see a doctor at a Private Hospital we’re freeing up appointments in the NHS hospitals.   The main benefit for us really is being able to choose when to have consultations and treatments.   The thing is, when there is an emergency the only place to go is an NHS hospital, we’re  very lucky in this country.  

 

I still think private medicine is jumping the NHS queue. It’s the same consultants who work in the NHS  and were trained in the NHS who do ‘moonlighting’ in the private sector when they could be working in NHS hospitals. When I ran a company I instituted free private medical insurance for all the key staff and their immediate families but this was out of self interest in getting them back to work promptly in cases of illness. I’ve not subscribed to private insurance since I retired and it would depend on the circumstances if I decided to pay for treatment. As far as I can see, if it’s that urgent, you get a prompt response from the NHS and private medicine only gives you a private room and unrestricted visiting at a premium price.

[Jill Sparrow 10,304]

I would never belittle the NHS. It does a sterling job on a shoestring...a shoestring which might be a little longer if it could successfully address the thorny issue of wasted money. Sometimes, however, it takes too long to deal with a potentially serious problem and private consultation is the only option.

 

I was forced to take this route with my mother who, as a result of a degenerative illness, could no longer empty her bladder. The GP didn't want to know but eventually agreed to refer her to Clay Cross Hospital to see a urologist. We heard nothing. The bladder was full and I was concerned about urine backing up and causing renal failure. A private consultation resolved the situation. Several weeks afterward, we received a letter, offering an NHS appointment with an apology and explanation that the GP had sent the referral to the wrong place!  If we had waited for that, mum would have died 6 months earlier than she did.

[philmayfield 6,115]

26 minutes ago, Jill Sparrow said:

I would never belittle the NHS. It does a sterling job on a shoestring...a shoestring which might be a little longer if it could successfully address the thorny issue of wasted money. Sometimes, however, it takes too long to deal with a potentially serious problem and private consultation is the only option.

 

I was forced to take this route with my mother who, as a result of a degenerative illness, could no longer empty her bladder. The GP didn't want to know but eventually agreed to refer her to Clay Cross Hospital to see a urologist. We heard nothing. The bladder was full and I was concerned about urine backing up and causing renal failure. A private consultation resolved the situation. Several weeks afterward, we received a letter, offering an NHS appointment with an apology and explanation that the GP had sent the referral to the wrong place!  If we had waited for that, mum would have died 6 months earlier than she did.

But shouldn’t you go to casualty or call 111 under such a circumstance. Surely casualty wouldn’t turn you away? 

[Jill Sparrow 10,304]

She needed to be catheterised and, believe me, no one wanted to know! See your GP was the response from everyone I spoke to and you can't bundle an immobile and traumatised person into the car and let them sit in A&E for hours...well,  not if you have any compassion, you don't.

 

The GP didn't have much time for the elderly ill. I told him in no uncertain terms what I thought of his attitude. Apparently, he's now the palliative care lead! God help them!

[philmayfield 6,115]

It seems to be getting past your GP or their receptionist is the biggest hurdle. Once you're in the system it starts to improve. Everyone at my surgery including the docs are part timers. I think they get paid too much.

 

[denshaw 2,871]

7 minutes to answer the phone is not good service.

[nonnaB 4,894]

I agree with Jill .

A lot depends on the situation at the time. In a way I don't agree with private care but thats the situation here , either you pay or wait months for an appointment that can't be dealt with in A&E.  I have had private consultations and had treatment "con la mutua" ( equivalent to NHS)At the moment I'm still under the protection in oncology who keep me content for 3 months at a time. Tomorrow I have a MRI thanks to a private dr who put me on the correct track whilst my own dr gave me pain killers saying that they were what the antalgic clinic started off with, and didnt do anything but make me sick.I paid for the callout and consultation but don't pay for MRI.

You have to weigh up the situation whether you can wait for the NHS or get relief quickly.

[loppylugs 8,427]

I've read the previous posts with interest.  They all make valid points.  Some how it would seem that there is no system totally satisfactory to any of us.

 

The US uses a so called totally private system.  They react to any mention of a system similar to the UK or Canada as if you are advocating a form of extreme communism.  They conveniently forget that all is paid by insurance companies who are obviously a for profit organization.  So you now have an expensive middleman berween you and your doctor even to the point where they can dictate what treatment they will pay for and what they will not.  Folks also forget that even private insurance companies are speading the costs over a large number of subscribers many of whom do not make a claim.

 

Many doctors complain of the red tape involved in getting paid by these companies.

 

At the age of 65 medicare kicks in.  This is a form of government insurance similar to the UK.  It doesn't cover everything so it is still advisable to buy a so called Medicare Advantage plan from an insurance co. to cover the things Medicare does not.  This all adds an expensive layer of beaurocrisy..  You could still end up with a bill for over $5000 in a given year if you needed expensive procedures.  Many don't have that kind of money kicking around.

 

That's enough from me as this post could get long and end up being a lot of moaning.  I have been blessed thus far in my life by decent health.  I am on no meds, and I keep away from the whole system as much as I can.

 

Seems like Veterinarians have the best deal.  No insurance, you can get almost an immediate appointment and you pay for services when rendered.  Even if you do complain about the price.

[loppylugs 8,427]

55 minutes ago, denshaw said:

7 minutes to answer the phone is not good service.

Same everywhere, Den.  Here its a robot answering machine that wastes your time with an announcement about office hours followed by "Press one for Spanish Two for English etc.  If you ever get to a human being you've forgotten why you called in the first place.