Professionals

[bluecurlylegend]

Do any Nurse or Doctors read these forums ? You never hear from them.
When I was in the motor trade service industry, I spent a lot of time on the various forums for the particular vehicle we were interested in.
You can learn a lot from forums, not just technical stuff, but how customer/victims perceive situations.
I found them very valuable.

 

[therower]

My wife is a nurse. She cares for elderly/ end of life patients.
Diabetes forum, Alzheimer's forum, Dementia forum, Heart disease forum, urology forum and any other forum that might be applicable for patients on the ward that week.
I could suggest it but strongly suspect I know the answer if I was to suggest she did a bit of " homework ".
Personally I think it would be better if we as patients visited there world and had a better understanding of how difficult we can be as patients.

 

[bluecurlylegend]

My wife is a nurse. She cares for elderly/ end of life patients.
Diabetes forum, Alzheimer's forum, Dementia forum, Heart disease forum, urology forum and any other forum that might be applicable for patients on the ward that week.
I could suggest it but strongly suspect I know the answer if I was to suggest she did a bit of " homework ".
Personally I think it would be better if we as patients visited there world and had a better understanding of how difficult we can be as patients.

I'm sorry, I'd no right whatsoever to compare the complexities of caring for humans with the much more simple task of fixing cars. And I have nothing but admiration for so many of the professional in the health trade. You know what it's like, bad news is always the loudest and travels further and faster.
A common remark in garages after a well reported NHS ****-up was " Aye, try that in the motor trade and see what happens...thae medicals can just bury their mistakes !"

 

[pleinster]

My wife is also a nurse working mainly in care of the elderly. I don't think the motor trade comparison is too wacky. Indeed, while I think society does need to value its nurses more, I think it also has to value a lot of people more. From what I can gather of her experience...and my own...its like any other job in as much as there are good and bad, dedicated an complacent, enthusiastic and disaffected, organised and sloppy, grafters and skivers. I have to say that I found this in teaching too. People who still think that those who work in caring for others or in education others are responding to a deep calling are, sadly, delusional. Some are vocational...yes...and many do a fantastic job...others really are just doing a job (some very well, some not so well). We should not be critical if most would give up their demanding jobs tomorrow if they won the lottery...why should they be any different? That said, we should admire and respect those who get in there and do the job shift after shift after shift whether they love their jobs or not. As for these professional carers going on sites like this when they are not grafting their backsides off...I think that's asking a bit much for most...coming on here to read all our concerns! And, I am sure, if I was health professional looking at some (completely understandable) comments on this site...letting us lot know I was online would be the last thing I
would open myself up to ! Good plumber or bad plumber, I don't think I'd want to advice people on their drains in my down time...let alone defend the bad advice of other plumbers.

 

[kimlala]

I am going to go one step further @pleinster and @therower, my experience (and only my opinion) nurse practitioners are amazing, and caring, (in most cases more aware than doctors, and their empathy levels surpass the MD). Again, this is my opinion. Most doctors have a "God Syndrome" whereas, they know all and will not hear anything new, or that has or can be solved by diet or exercise. They are overwhelmed and burned out, existing on outdated info. Thank God for Nurses! Experienced this first hand with the birth of my second daughter. Doctor wanted to perform C-section, due to prior C-section (not to mention about an additional $7000.00 in charges the doc and hospital would net). I research my incision, and learned I could have a normal birth, due to my incision from first birth. At 7 months I changed to midwife/nurse practitioner. The time and care she spent with us surpassed my expensive doctor (well known and recommended by insurance co.) Bravo to both your wives. I know this might be a bit off the topic, but the nurse is the one who handles and takes care of everything.

 

[noblehead]

Do any Nurse or Doctors read these forums ? You never hear from them.

Perhaps if their specialist interest is diabetes then there may be a few, but for a GP or Nurse who treat all ailments & conditions it will likely be a different story, with the many conditions that they deal with on a daily basis they'd spend all their spare time on forums if they were to read all of them.

Also to many it would be a like a busman's holiday, after a long shift the last place they would want to visit is a health related forum.

 

[donnellysdogs]

My old diabetes consultant lists it on her interests...
my diabsfes educator suggests the forum.
A nurse at an old diabetes centre told me she viewed it.
A person I know always tells me not to write too much on here as my health people can view it. Do I care they can view?? No. I write the truth about my expereiences. Its true I am totally identifiable because of my cancer and stomach. I speak the truth though, I dont hide anything from them or from anybody and I tell the truth.

Pesronally I think many want to forget diabetes and their job when they get home...and enjoy time with family and friends. If they do, it would be limited time on here.

 

[therower]

Hi @bluecurlylegend . No need to say sorry. I actually understand your idea. Assuming that we narrowed it down to DSN's and diabetic consultants viewing Diabetes forums then that would make sense. My concerns though would be:
These people would maybe have to stay incognito. Making it known that they were " specialists " would eventually lead to people constantly seeking advice, advice they wouldn't be able to give. Forum rules and I'm sure medical ethics as well.
I personally have visited/ joined other forums and if I'm perfectly honest there are some that I wouldn't a HCP basing there treatment of me on information gathered from these forums. Even this forum, which I think is No 1 and the best, has aspects and trends that I wouldn't want a HCP assuming was best for me.
Rightly or wrongly I believe the forum should be for diabetics to discuss and debate living with diabetes ( people non-diabetic but nonetheless affected included ).
But hey it's only my opinion and that's the beauty of it being a forum.

 

[JohnEGreen]

My brother in law ended up leaving his job as an educational psychologist in Manchester because of the stress of regular harassment on the street by parents wanting to discuss their children's cases. I think any health professional on a forum would quickly end up in a similar possession if they were to openly post as a health professional I know I wouldn't be keen to do so if I were one..

 

[bluecurlylegend]

Aye, that was a bit dumb, wasn't it ? Expecting professionals to make their presence known ? I certainly wouldn't expect that for all the reasons listed above. I think that donnellysdogs is the kind of answer I was hoping to see.
But really, what are we doing to our medical professionals....especially nurses....that they just have no energy left after a shift ?
We're driving them too hard ! And it's against our own well-being. Tired people don't work well !
I used to use certain motoring forums...admittedly anonymously...just to follow the myths and downright lies that frequently spring up when non experts start talking. I never replied on the forums but when my customers raised some of the points with me I could give them an honest,truthful and considered answer. If nothing else I put their minds at rest, but usually saved them a pile of money.
So maybe my question should have been, how many of you out there know of any medical professionals, particularly diabetic specialists, who read these forums ?

 

[DCUKMod]

There are a number of health care professionals who are members of this forum; both participating and not, however they each likely visit for differing reasons, just like the rest of us.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

The diabetic educator lady I see knows about the forum, I mentioned last year that I have picked up a few bits and pieces that been useful.

She said that she visits every now and again when she has time.

As for my GP, I do not think he has the time to visit here. I mentioned in passing that I come here. He was non committal in his reply and was more interested in fixing the problem I came into see him about.

At $60.00 a visit I was quite happy that he did fix my problem, and did not get into a conversation about the relative merits of the forum good or bad.

 

[Jaylee]

Aye, that was a bit dumb, wasn't it ? Expecting professionals to make their presence known ? I certainly wouldn't expect that for all the reasons listed above. I think that donnellysdogs is the kind of answer I was hoping to see.
But really, what are we doing to our medical professionals....especially nurses....that they just have no energy left after a shift ?
We're driving them too hard ! And it's against our own well-being. Tired people don't work well !
I used to use certain motoring forums...admittedly anonymously...just to follow the myths and downright lies that frequently spring up when non experts start talking. I never replied on the forums but when my customers raised some of the points with me I could give them an honest,truthful and considered answer. If nothing else I put their minds at rest, but usually saved them a pile of money.
So maybe my question should have been, how many of you out there know of any medical professionals, particularly diabetic specialists, who read these forums ?

Hi,

Lol, this thread seems to keep referencing "car forums?"
I'm a member of one.. (Jap imports.) We have reputable affiliated (approved.) dealers & parts suppliers look in on a regular basis.. With the members giving specific feedback of experience.. (There are also a few eBay no no warning listers too!)
It's a similar comunity to DCUK. Looking out for eachother..
Their reputation is built through the forum of this particular vehicle, this includes converters (to campers.) under sealers, (the Japanese don't salt the roads, unlike the UK.) insurance companies & panel beaters..
Though, it does tend to be "office hours" they might log in..

Just over a year ago I sold a vehicle after 11? Years of ownership & went for a newer replacement with an importer affiliated with with a good rep to the forum. I wasn't disappointed. (A pleasant transaction.)

Regarding HCPs who may or may not be members here, or check DCUK out? We don't happen have the same luxury of choice. It's just a "post code lottery" who you meet walking through the door at an appointment...