Not very happy with the NHS

[Thirsty]

A fine rant, but I have to disagree with you about Alcoholics Anonymous. Not only is the AA program largely ineffective (only around 5% of people who take the AA route remain sober) but they also give some advice which is downright dangerous.

Whatever some AA fanatic may tell you, stopping drinking abruptly can be fatal; it very nearly killed me, causing a massive seizure and cardiac arrest. Anyone dependent on alcohol needs professional care whilst withdrawing, not a load of religious claptrap.

OK, my experience with AA is limited. A friend of mine - who used to have a big drinking problem, swears by them, and reckons that they saved his life. He quit completely, and about five years on he hasn't lapsed. I don't know about their dubious advice, but he isn't religious and although the religious angle is there he didn't find that it got in the way of the rest. However, I guess that it all depends what type of personality you are, and on what the attitudes of the local group are.

I shall rephrase my advice. If people have a serious drinking problem then they should seek out some sort of counseling or self-help group. Although giving up overnight might not be a good idea, most alcoholics should aim to quit completely as quickly as possible.

If people have a serious drinking problem, (and many don't realise they do until they try to quit), they should seek help from their doctor. Generally, a short course of treatment with chlordiazepoxide (librium) makes withdrawal safe and relatively painless.

AA helps a few to remain sober, but many alcoholics run straight to the pub after their first meeting and never attend another. Big books, higher powers, serenity prayers, the twelve ridiculous steps... definitely not for the majority.

Anyway, do carry on talking about diabetes.

:wink:

 

[martinbuchan]

Having known many doctors who are overweight and/or heavy drinkers or smokers, I'd like to see how disciplined they'd be at self-managing diabetes!

HBA1C 5.9% and I am an orthopaedic surgeon (and fat, but not a smoker). Lost 2 stone since easter and reduced insulin by one third.

Neighbour is a type 1 , a paediatrician and her HBa1c ranges 4.7-5.6%. I think doctors have the best control when they take insulin themselves.

However, we do get special access to diabetologists and blood tests when it suits us.

The original post still makes me wonder where the NHS is heading if the idiots are in charge.

 

[ally5555]

well here is a good one on the welsh news tonight . A young man has lost 20st and now weighs 17st but they have estimated that 4 stone is prob the loose skin . He needs an op to remove it but the idiots in charge have said he needs to have a normal bmi and that would mean 12-13st but if the excess skin weighs 4st then his real wt would be 9st! NHS is run by idiots!

 

[popps]

Hi all,
Yipeee! At long last I've made some progress. Today I received a list sent to me by the NHS of opticians in my area who perform diabetic eye screening, one of which is my regular optician. This should have been sorted out by the first nurse who spoke to me following diagnosis in June, but it wasn't. In fact she told me that DESMOND performed the retinal test, and the foot check, etc.
:evil:
My optician cannot fit me in for an appointment until 23rd October, but at least I'm getting somewhere. I had to give my NHS number and HI Identifier over the phone. Does anyone know whether this service is free, given that I've been referred by my practice? The second nurse I spoke to said it was, but I don't know who to believe/trust anymore.

 

[sofaraway]

yes the digital retinal photo is free and should be done yearly. also the general eye sight test is free also.