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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Sept 12, 2024 21:09:45 GMT 1
Take up absolutely every check, scan, whatever that is offered to you. You are still relatively young. After the twelve months I have had and my future treatment still to come, I urge you all to be checked, checked, and double checked at every possible opportunity. Yes, take up every check, but if they want to put you on medication then all drugs have side effects, ask, do the reseaerch before just accepting. I knew someone who was prescribed cholesterol reducing medication and gave up the butter he had always enjoyed in favour of those manufactured spreads - but, for other reasons, he committed suicide - as with alcohol and other things "bad" for you, a little of what you fancy does you good. I've had loads of hospital checks, tests and medication over the last few years, basically just checking on stuff as i get over 60. As part of it I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, figures had moved from pre diabetic into the diabetic range though not crazily high. Had loads of advice on what not to eat and I tried to stick to it most of the time even though i didnt really like the stuff i was having to eat so probably didnt eat enough and was always tired. It also didnt really bring my blood sugar level down by very much. So went back to an occasional cake, few biscuits, chocolate but upped the exercise levels back up to what i did a few years ago (was always on the go doing something). Guess what, the readings started to come back down. And as I increased the bad stuff I was eating but was on the go most of the time my readings came back to being borderline diabetic. I now eat pretty much what I want, quite a lot of what a diabetic nurse would frown at. In my case a little (or quite a bit more than a little) has been better for me. Right where are those chocolate biscuits to munch at ...... |
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Sept 12, 2024 21:13:45 GMT 1
For all of you going through treatment at this time, I wish you all well. The NHS is getting a bad press today but my wife's recent experience of both primary and secondary care has been no short of excellent. Let's hope that Lord Darzi's report is acted on properly, this time around. As mentioned on a previous post that I've seen more than my fair share of GPs, Specialists and nurses etc these last few years. I've probably come into contact with maybe 200 or more NHS staff. Virtually everybody has been nothing short of excellent. It's not the staff that are the problem in the NHS at all, it's just the huge volume of pressure that the system is under. |
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Post by staffordshrew on Sept 12, 2024 21:20:58 GMT 1
Yes, take up every check, but if they want to put you on medication then all drugs have side effects, ask, do the reseaerch before just accepting. I knew someone who was prescribed cholesterol reducing medication and gave up the butter he had always enjoyed in favour of those manufactured spreads - but, for other reasons, he committed suicide - as with alcohol and other things "bad" for you, a little of what you fancy does you good. I've had loads of hospital checks, tests and medication over the last few years, basically just checking on stuff as i get over 60. As part of it I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, figures had moved from pre diabetic into the diabetic range though not crazily high. Had loads of advice on what not to eat and I tried to stick to it most of the time even though i didnt really like the stuff i was having to eat so probably didnt eat enough and was always tired. It also didnt really bring my blood sugar level down by very much. So went back to an occasional cake, few biscuits, chocolate but upped the exercise levels back up to what i did a few years ago (was always on the go doing something). Guess what, the readings started to come back down. And as I increased the bad stuff I was eating but was on the go most of the time my readings came back to being borderline diabetic. I now eat pretty much what I want, quite a lot of what a diabetic nurse would frown at. In my case a little (or quite a bit more than a little) has been better for me. Right where are those chocolate biscuits to munch at ...... I think the saying is 'there is more than one way to skin a cat'...  Disclaimer: It's not just diabetic nurses who would disapprove of skinning cats, do not try this at home!
To a large extent it's probably the sedentary lifestyles people lead these days that has upped the type 2 cases.
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Post by zenfootball2 on Sept 13, 2024 11:44:52 GMT 1
For all of you going through treatment at this time, I wish you all well. The NHS is getting a bad press today but my wife's recent Very true experience of both primary and secondary care has been no short of excellent. Let's hope that Lord Darzi's report is acted on properly, this time around. As mentioned on a previous post that I've seen more than my fair share of GPs, Specialists and nurses etc these last few years. I've probably come into contact with maybe 200 or more NHS staff. Virtually everybody has been nothing short of excellent. It's not the staff that are the problem in the NHS at all, it's just the huge volume of pressure that the system is under. Very true, only poland has a lower ratio of GPs per 1,000 patients in Europe . In the last ten years the UK population has grown by five million People. The resources and staffing levels of the NHS has not grown to cope with it, the other issue is the backlog of treatments from COVID and the DNA rates.i used to work for mental health services and we had a DNA rate of twenty percent, I suspect that many health clinics have similar rates . |
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Post by northwestman on Sept 13, 2024 14:01:33 GMT 1
I'm 64 (turn 65 next March) and suddenly the NHS is taking a keen interest in me! I was sent the bowel screening kit last month (not the first time mind, I think it was the 3rd time) and now I've been invited for AAA screening and my GP practice also want to book me in for an MOT for when I turn 65! Oh and I can also have the shingles and flu jab from next Autumn. I'm glad that they are looking after me, I just wonder if there is anything else they want to screen me for! I think you'll find that both for the shingles and flu jabs the practice gets paid extra money for every one administered. Unlike the covid jabs where presumably they weren't. Hence the sudden interest in you. They were only prepared to administer the covid jabs here if I had the flu jab as well, otherwise i'd have to go to the Orthopaedic Hospital to have them. |
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Post by venceremos on Sept 13, 2024 14:04:35 GMT 1
I saw my GP on Tuesday morning about a skin lesion (I've had a couple of BCCs removed in the past), was given an urgent referral and was called yesterday to be offered an appointment that afternoon. That wasn't convenient but I had a choice of three different times this morning. Diagnosis all benign, happily, but a minor surgery to come. I don't know when that will be but a 3 day turnaround so far is impressive.
I'm tired of hearing the NHS, or Britain, or whatever described as "broken", as all sides of the political spectrum now do routinely.
Nothing is broken, we just need the will to improve.
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Post by Pilch on Sept 13, 2024 15:12:50 GMT 1
I saw my GP on Tuesday morning about a skin lesion (I've had a couple of BCCs removed in the past), was given an urgent referral and was called yesterday to be offered an appointment that afternoon. That wasn't convenient but I had a choice of three different times this morning. Diagnosis all benign, happily, but a minor surgery to come. I don't know when that will be but a 3 day turnaround so far is impressive. I'm tired of hearing the NHS, or Britain, or whatever described as "broken", as all sides of the political spectrum now do routinely. Nothing is broken, we just need the will to improve. maybe the NHS is in a £22B black hole somewhere dont ask about it though www.ft.com/content/7f686444-7036-4efc-82c5-971b0f3929fa |
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Post by staffordshrew on Sept 13, 2024 18:39:41 GMT 1
I saw my GP on Tuesday morning about a skin lesion (I've had a couple of BCCs removed in the past), was given an urgent referral and was called yesterday to be offered an appointment that afternoon. That wasn't convenient but I had a choice of three different times this morning. Diagnosis all benign, happily, but a minor surgery to come. I don't know when that will be but a 3 day turnaround so far is impressive. I'm tired of hearing the NHS, or Britain, or whatever described as "broken", as all sides of the political spectrum now do routinely. Nothing is broken, we just need the will to improve. You mean instead of charles? |
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Post by thesensationaljt on Sept 14, 2024 10:41:10 GMT 1
If they haven't already asked, they'll be discussing taking statins with you. I'd be very wary of statins. The dragon went for a check up They put her on them for no particular reason, and she suffered pains in her arms and legs. They decided she needed to see a consultant who put her on gabapentin. The side effects were very similar. On my advice she stopped taking bothof them. She was fine after. I was told a large percentage of people react badly to statins. www.drugs.com/gabapentin.html |
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Post by staffordshrew on Sept 14, 2024 11:12:49 GMT 1
If they haven't already asked, they'll be discussing taking statins with you. I'd be very wary of statins. The dragon went for a check up They put her on them for no particular reason, and she suffered pains in her arms and legs. They decided she needed to see a consultant who put her on gabapentin. The side effects were very similar. On my advice she stopped taking bothof them. She was fine after. I was told a large percentage of people react badly to statins. www.drugs.com/gabapentin.htmlYears ago The Telegraph doctor waged a campaign against their indiscriminate use in his column. As with all drugs, there can be side effects, so each person needs to weigh up the pros and cons for themselves. |
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Sept 14, 2024 13:07:53 GMT 1
If they haven't already asked, they'll be discussing taking statins with you. I'd be very wary of statins. The dragon went for a check up They put her on them for no particular reason, and she suffered pains in her arms and legs. They decided she needed to see a consultant who put her on gabapentin. The side effects were very similar. On my advice she stopped taking bothof them. She was fine after. I was told a large percentage of people react badly to statins. www.drugs.com/gabapentin.html+1 from me. I'm sure they are very useful in some cases but as I've posted above there are very real side affects and they seem to be randomly thrown out to people who probably dont need them. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2024 15:54:14 GMT 1
The one thing that comes through loud and proud on this thread is the amazing support that we get from the NHS.
Successive governments appear to be frightened to raise taxes to truly support our health service whereas I feel that most taxpayers would be happy to pay more if the money was guaranteed to go to the NHS.
Imagine living in the USA where there are hundreds of thousands of bankruptcies and people forced to live on the streets due to health industry debt( in the US its not a health service its a profit making industry)
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Post by staffordshrew on Sept 14, 2024 19:09:18 GMT 1
The one thing that comes through loud and proud on this thread is the amazing support that we get from the NHS. Successive governments appear to be frightened to raise taxes to truly support our health service whereas I feel that most taxpayers would be happy to pay more if the money was guaranteed to go to the NHS. Imagine living in the USA where there are hundreds of thousands of bankruptcies and people forced to live on the streets due to health industry debt( in the US its not a health service its a profit making industry) Difficult to forgive the last government for the cynical cut in National Insurance to try to get a few votes. |
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Post by zenfootball2 on Sept 14, 2024 20:09:46 GMT 1
I saw my GP on Tuesday morning about a skin lesion (I've had a couple of BCCs removed in the past), was given an urgent referral and was called yesterday to be offered an appointment that afternoon. That wasn't convenient but I had a choice of three different times this morning. Diagnosis all benign, happily, but a minor surgery to come. I don't know when that will be but a 3 day turnaround so far is impressive. I'm tired of hearing the NHS, or Britain, or whatever described as "broken", as all sides of the political spectrum now do routinely. Nothing is broken, we just need the will to improve. I'm glad they were benign, I hope everything work out for you. |
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Post by zenfootball2 on Sept 14, 2024 20:14:20 GMT 1
The one thing that comes through loud and proud on this thread is the amazing support that we get from the NHS. Successive governments appear to be frightened to raise taxes to truly support our health service whereas I feel that most taxpayers would be happy to pay more if the money was guaranteed to go to the NHS. Imagine living in the USA where there are hundreds of thousands of bankruptcies and people forced to live on the streets due to health industry debt( in the US its not a health service its a profit making industry) Very true, anyone who has spent time in the US ,it's really shocking . |
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Sept 14, 2024 23:57:56 GMT 1
Just as an aside to this thread but very much related also, has anyone heard anything about Covid jabs this autumn?
This time last year every news headline was about it, how important it was that you all had it. Lots of folks i know didnt, didnt get it either. Now it seems (the headlines) to have dropped off the news media radar completely.
So is it going ahead this autumn then?
Are they expecting the take up to be far less than during the hype?
Have folks decided to not bother?
Just all seems to be very quiet given that we are almost halfway through September now
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2024 6:03:05 GMT 1
Just as an aside to this thread but very much related also, has anyone heard anything about Covid jabs this autumn? This time last year every news headline was about it, how important it was that you all had it. Lots of folks i know didnt, didnt get it either. Now it seems (the headlines) to have dropped off the news media radar completely. So is it going ahead this autumn then? Are they expecting the take up to be far less than during the hype? Have folks decided to not bother? Just all seems to be very quiet given that we are almost halfway through September now Supposed to be happening according to NHS England for certain groups. |
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Post by ThrobsBlackHat on Sept 15, 2024 7:30:43 GMT 1
Because my Dad had a heart bypass at 58 and prostate cancer at 56 I'm supposed to have a range of tests from the age of 40. I find it a bit odd that the onus is on me to remember them and book them and in some cases remind them why I've been told I need them.
That said the care and response times I've had are nothing short of exceptional.
I just wish I was in a system where I got the reminder.
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Post by ogil on Sept 15, 2024 9:36:00 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control.
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Post by ssshrew on Sept 15, 2024 10:32:49 GMT 1
I would absolutely second that.
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Post by thesensationaljt on Sept 15, 2024 10:55:57 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control. Keeping cancer under control is the best a few of us can wish for. There is no cure for my cancer. To be fair to Shrewsbury NHS they did their best. It's just that they ran out of drugs, the myeloma is very aggressive. I'd updated my will and arranged my funeral details, I didn't want Juan of those services that droned on for ages, (Juan hymn, Bread of Heaven), then I got the chance to go on a trial at the Christie in Manchester. It kept the cancer at bay for 21 months, I haven't said anything on here until now, but my cancer is coming back. Never fear, I've been asked to go on a "first in humans trial". It means I've got to spend 3 weeks up there in hospital, because they don't know how my body will react. I was getting sick of the Mall Deeves anyway. The dragon said they'd probably tried the drug, (SAR445514), on a monkey, now they want to try it on a pig. |
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Post by zenfootball2 on Sept 15, 2024 13:22:52 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control. Keeping cancer under control is the best a few of us can wish for. There is no cure for my cancer. To be fair to Shrewsbury NHS they did their best. It's just that they ran out of drugs, the myeloma is very aggressive. I'd updated my will and arranged my funeral details, I didn't want Juan of those services that droned on for ages, (Juan hymn, Bread of Heaven), then I got the chance to go on a trial at the Christie in Manchester. It kept the cancer at bay for 21 months, I haven't said anything on here until now, but my cancer is coming back. Never fear, I've been asked to go on a "first in humans trial". It means I've got to spend 3 weeks up there in hospital, because they don't know how my body will react. I was getting sick of the Mall Deeves anyway. The dragon said they'd probably tried the drug, (SAR445514), on a monkey, now they want to try it on a pig. I'm sorry to hear this. |
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Post by ssshrew on Sept 15, 2024 13:44:45 GMT 1
We will all wish you well and success with the treatment. I am on treatment rather than cure now but we plough on don’t we. It’s why I am so emphatic that everyone should get themselves checked for anything that is offered.
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Post by venceremos on Sept 15, 2024 13:55:39 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control. Keeping cancer under control is the best a few of us can wish for. There is no cure for my cancer. To be fair to Shrewsbury NHS they did their best. It's just that they ran out of drugs, the myeloma is very aggressive. I'd updated my will and arranged my funeral details, I didn't want Juan of those services that droned on for ages, (Juan hymn, Bread of Heaven), then I got the chance to go on a trial at the Christie in Manchester. It kept the cancer at bay for 21 months, I haven't said anything on here until now, but my cancer is coming back. Never fear, I've been asked to go on a "first in humans trial". It means I've got to spend 3 weeks up there in hospital, because they don't know how my body will react. I was getting sick of the Mall Deeves anyway. The dragon said they'd probably tried the drug, (SAR445514), on a monkey, now they want to try it on a pig. Wishing you all the best, JT. |
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Post by venceremos on Sept 15, 2024 14:00:04 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control. All best wishes for that to continue working for you. I'd never had a PSA test but knew I ought to so I asked for it to be done when I had a blood test during a routine health check. All ok thankfully but the point is it can be that simple for anyone to ask for PSA to be checked if you're having a blood test anyway. |
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Post by kenwood on Sept 15, 2024 14:30:03 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control. Keeping cancer under control is the best a few of us can wish for. There is no cure for my cancer. To be fair to Shrewsbury NHS they did their best. It's just that they ran out of drugs, the myeloma is very aggressive. I'd updated my will and arranged my funeral details, I didn't want Juan of those services that droned on for ages, (Juan hymn, Bread of Heaven), then I got the chance to go on a trial at the Christie in Manchester. It kept the cancer at bay for 21 months, I haven't said anything on here until now, but my cancer is coming back. Never fear, I've been asked to go on a "first in humans trial". It means I've got to spend 3 weeks up there in hospital, because they don't know how my body will react. I was getting sick of the Mall Deeves anyway. The dragon said they'd probably tried the drug, (SAR445514), on a monkey, now they want to try it on a pig. I wish you all the best JT . I do like sound of your wife , I like her sense of humour👍 |
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Sept 15, 2024 14:45:49 GMT 1
I would urge all blokes over 50 to get a PSA test. I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer 16 years ago at the age of 51 after visiting my GP with an unrelated issue. I had brachytherapy which got rid of the cancer. Unfortunately it returned a few years ago and I am now on Hormone Therapy which is not a cure but keeps the cancer cells under control. All best wishes for that to continue working for you. I'd never had a PSA test but knew I ought to so I asked for it to be done when I had a blood test during a routine health check. All ok thankfully but the point is it can be that simple for anyone to ask for PSA to be checked if you're having a blood test anyway. It is easy to ask for PSA bloodtest via your GP. But if you have had one in recent years they may well try and put you off due to costings. So either insist they add it on or go to one of the ones that get set up that get advertised on social media (they usually just ask for a donation towards the costs). |
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Post by zenfootball2 on Sept 18, 2024 15:29:47 GMT 1
All best wishes for that to continue working for you. I'd never had a PSA test but knew I ought to so I asked for it to be done when I had a blood test during a routine health check. All ok thankfully but the point is it can be that simple for anyone to ask for PSA to be checked if you're having a blood test anyway. It is easy to ask for PSA bloodtest via your GP. But if you have had one in recent years they may well try and put you off due to costings. So either insist they add it on or go to one of the ones that get set up that get advertised on social media (they usually just ask for a donation towards the costs). Iv just booked mine ,I had to be assertive and persistent, as my GP was not keen, he reasoning for this was, I'd had one in ,2018 , I said your as supposed to have one every two years, he then said , there is no national screening for prostate cancer and you have no symptoms, and that three quarters is false positives and you then need a biopsy. I said I would rather have a false positive than not test for it at all For anyone having one, for 48 hours prior to having the PSA you are not do vigiours exercise or have sex as it can lead to a false positive. |
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Post by Minormorris64 on Sept 18, 2024 15:50:45 GMT 1
The one thing that comes through loud and proud on this thread is the amazing support that we get from the NHS. Successive governments appear to be frightened to raise taxes to truly support our health service whereas I feel that most taxpayers would be happy to pay more if the money was guaranteed to go to the NHS. Imagine living in the USA where there are hundreds of thousands of bankruptcies and people forced to live on the streets due to health industry debt( in the US its not a health service its a profit making industry) Difficult to forgive the last government for the cynical cut in National Insurance to try to get a few votes. Why ? you do realise the phallacy that NI goes directly towards the NHS, National Insurance is just more TAX and goes into a great big pot called TAX |
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Post by GrizzlyShrew on Sept 18, 2024 18:08:49 GMT 1
It is easy to ask for PSA bloodtest via your GP. But if you have had one in recent years they may well try and put you off due to costings. So either insist they add it on or go to one of the ones that get set up that get advertised on social media (they usually just ask for a donation towards the costs). Iv just booked mine ,I had to be assertive and persistent, as my GP was not keen, he reasoning for this was, I'd had one in ,2018 , I said your as supposed to have one every two years, he then said , there is no national screening for prostate cance and you have no symptoms, and that three quarters is false positives and you then need a biopsy. I said I would rather have a false positive than not test for it at all For anyone having one, for 48 hours prior to having the PSA you are not do vigiours exercise or have sex as it can lead to a false positive. For anyone like me who cycles a lot it's best to keep off the bike for a few days before as well. It seems sitting and compressing the prostate can often increase the numbers. |
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