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Type 2 Rant

numan43

numan43

Well-Known Member
Messages
262
Location
Glasgow
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
l am now sick to the back teeth of going to docs and being suspicious of every bit of advice given because of cost to nhs. This morning I asked if a knee and wrist brace would help me regarding weak joints after stroke and was given the " hmmmmm no it wouldn't help" spiel with shifty guilty eyes look.
He may be correct but after the cost saving advice about no need to monitor blood and being put on generic drugs my doubts about treatment are growing.

All I ask is honesty in telling patients whats best for them no matter the cost as some may well self fund.

Does anyone know the cost of an honest private diabetic specialist
 
Oh @numan43 I can't answer your question but you've made me feel better! Last year I was told at least four times by health professionals that I cost too much, that 'people like me' are so expensive Im now totally paranoid every time I go to the GPs!! It's strangely comforting to know that I'm not the only one and my paranoia may be justified!!
 
mrspuddleduck said:
Oh @numan43 I can't answer your question but you've made me feel better! Last year I was told at least four times by health professionals that I cost too much, that 'people like me' are so expensive Im now totally paranoid every time I go to the GPs!! It's strangely comforting to know that I'm not the only one and my paranoia may be justified!!
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The next time a doctor tells you that you cost too much, ask them what their salary is and if you cost more than them. You could also point out that without peolpe like you, they could be considered surplus to requirements along with aforementioned huge salary. You are in effect their customer/employer, something that they seem to have trouble realising sometimes.
 
When the wife was last in A&E with a possible broken anckle.. She was left to walk home (up hill for about three quarters of a mile) with no crutches ..not even a tube grip bandage.. No X-ray... She got home by walking on her hands and knees it took her hours, and now she has problems with her knees .. The sad thing is she begged the ambulance people to just let her go home as she was very close to home at the time of her fall, but they said it looked broken and she had to go to the hospital...
Sometimes I really do believe we have no health service .. The wife at the time was told that they no longer give out freebies for people who don't need them .. Wish we had not returned the crutches from when she had pins and plates put in her anckle:(
You rant away .. Your not alone :)
 
numan43 said:
l am now sick to the back teeth of going to docs and being suspicious of every bit of advice given because of cost to nhs. This morning I asked if a knee and wrist brace would help me regarding weak joints after stroke and was given the " hmmmmm no it wouldn't help" spiel with shifty guilty eyes look.
He may be correct but after the cost saving advice about no need to monitor blood and being put on generic drugs my doubts about treatment are growing.

All I ask is honesty in telling patients whats best for them no matter the cost as some may well self fund.

Does anyone know the cost of an honest private diabetic specialist
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Numan, I have no idea what was going through your GP's head when he answered your question, but having had several knee injuries in my time, I can recall asking my Orthpaedic surgeon, many moons ago, if I should be supporting my knee, in an attempt to stop straining and tearing various ligaments. His response to me was a very clear and resounding "No". His rationale was that the knee, in a healthy state, is held together by the ligaments and tendons, with the muscles allowing the appropriate movement in the joint. As we move around, walk, and exercise, we build/tone up the muscles and ideally keep the structure in tip-top form. Using a support/brace could allow the structure to become "flabby", because it wouldn't be getting the "exercise" it needs, meaning it actually weakens.

I know that was a bit of a ramble, but I might be inclined to ask if there was any physio have or exercise you could to strengthen the joint. When it comes to joint health, it can be a case of "use it or lose it", I'm afraid.
 
Hello. I've just read through this thread and I must say I am horrified at some of the experiences you have had to endure. @chri5 that is an excellent response. I cannot imagine how you felt @mrspuddleduck when that dreadful comment was made. @AndBreathe what you have said about exercise and physio makes perfect sense. I have been lucky so far in my experience of hospitals and doctors but I have a feeling this could just be a matter of time.
 
I have been doing physio on the affected joints for a year now but my wrist is very weak and my knee just buckles at times, I think I'm stuck with these problems
 
Have you tried a gyro ball for your wrist, they cost about £8, your physiotherapist should give you exercise for your knee to do at home.
 
numan43 said:
I have been doing physio on the affected joints for a year now but my wrist is very weak and my knee just buckles at times, I think I'm stuck with these problems
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I had some tendon issues in my hands about 10 years ago. It was coupled with tennis elbow.

Doc was, as usual, useless.
'Rest it' she said. This was back in Wales, when I lived there.
As a self employed person, living from my keyboard, this was almost impossible for me.

OF course, her advice was kind of right. Rest would have cured it. But I couldn't rest. Single at the time. no public transport past the house. No grocery delivery option. Had to drive. Had to work... (although I admit that if I had an employer, and sick pay, and a sick note, I would have rested it FULLY)

I did two things. Firstly got myself a wrist brace (nearest mobility shop. the ones that have motorised wheelchairs, boosting armchairs, etc) I chose a wrist brace from their catalogue, and the staff measured me for the fit. Only wore it in the short term, but it was really helpful because it restricted certain movement enough for the tendons to heal.

Secondly, I went to a chiropractor, who was bloomin marvellous. Paid for it myself, of course, but he made an astonishing difference.

I realise that your situation is quite different from mine, but I do question sometimes whether those of us born within the NHS are sometimes blinkered by it.
 
Brunneria all I ask is to be told the options regardless of cost, ok I may not be able to afford treatments or drugs that elton john could but for goodness sake let me decide what i can and cant afford
 
I think you are being slightly unfair on your GP, the general rule at present is no need for type 2 to test, so no need to give meters (shortsighted view that hopefully will change, maybe someone should started a Change.Org campaign, I'm sure it would reach 100,000 signatures quickly) same with generic drugs if they work as well as branded then why burden NHS with the extra cost, also it gives drug companies something to think about.
Most of us in the UK will not have a private diabetic specialist as once again NHS cover that (though the only time I saw one was in hospital 2 years ago).

Don't know cost of private diabetes specialist, but about 5/6 years ago my son went to a private neurologist it cost £175 for appointment, £80 for report.
 
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Shar67 said:
I think you are being slightly unfair on your GP, the general rule at present is no need for type 2 to test, so no need to give meters (shortsighted view that hopefully will change, maybe someone should started a Change.Org campaign, I'm sure it would reach 100,000 signatures quickly) same with generic drugs if they work as well as branded then why burden NHS with the extra cost, also it gives drug companies something to think about.
Most of us in the UK will not have a private diabetic specialist as once again NHS cover that (though the only time I saw one was in hospital 2 years ago).
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not testing when you are type 2 and on full dose of gliclazide and following a lchf diet is downright dangerous.
 
Shar67 said:
I think you are being slightly unfair on your GP, the general rule at present is no need for type 2 to test, so no need to give meters (shortsighted view that hopefully will change, maybe someone should started a Change.Org campaign, I'm sure it would reach 100,000 signatures quickly) same with generic drugs if they work as well as branded then why burden NHS with the extra cost, also it gives drug companies something to think about.
Most of us in the UK will not have a private diabetic specialist as once again NHS cover that (though the only time I saw one was in hospital 2 years ago).

Don't know cost of private diabetes specialist, but about 5/6 years ago my son went to a private neurologist it cost £175 for appointment, £80 for report.
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i dont think its unfair on gp to ask for the best advice for patients health whatever the cost either with nhs or self funding
 
The way you worded the rant was you asked for things and cost is mentioned, a GP cannot tell you there is a better option than NHS as they are the employer, can you imagine him/her saying I cannot give you a meter but Bayer do a reasonably priced one you would be thinking do Bayer give them backhanders, if you ask for a private referral a GP will ask who you want to see. At present the advise GPs give have to be within NHS, they don't give diet advice as they need to refer you to a dietician hence the vague you need to lose weight but not how you are going to do it.
 
numan43 said:
then i was correct in assuming that the gp is putting his salary before his patients best interest
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Numan - Whilst letting off steam on here helps, it isn't going to change anything in your relationship with your doctor.

Have you considered going to see your GP and explaining how you feel, or alternatively writing to him? I don't mean telling him you think he is prioritizing poorly, as far as your treatment is concerned, I mean telling him you would like to know when you would be best served by something not currently available in mainstream NHS.

If you do that, you will have a better idea of what's actually going on, because they will have to answer you; either verbally or in writing. But, one thing is for certain, you shouldn't be angry in your approach to him. In my experience, that rarely helps.
 
sorry to everyone for venting, I'll shut up now and get on with it, goodnight x
 
numan43 said:
sorry to everyone for venting, I'll shut up now and get on with it, goodnight x
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I wasn't telling you off Numan. It was a genuine suggestion, and could be helpful. Whilst I like my current usual GP, I still do my own research and challenge things she might suggest to me (like the dreaded statins conversation). It doesn't always feel great, but I work on the assumption that it's not good to leave the surgery more bewildered and frustrated than when I arrived, and also I think it's good to keep them on their toes. ;)
 
AndBreathe said:
I wasn't telling you off Numan. It was a genuine suggestion, and could be helpful. Whilst I like my current usual GP, I still do my own research and challenge things she might suggest to me (like the dreaded statins conversation). It doesn't always feel great, but I work on the assumption that it's not good to leave the surgery more bewildered and frustrated than when I arrived, and also I think it's good to keep them on their toes. ;)
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no no AndBreathe , wasn't referring to you, I was just frustrated with my inability to get my thoughts across concisely , I value your input into many of my posts and concerns
 
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