Seasons greetings

Hi Everyone

I hope the holidays have been kind to you.

I'm currently dealing with tonsillitis which I've had for weeks now. I've just about finished my 3rd pack of antibiotics and looks like I will need to get the repeat. ugh. My sugar has been going nuts. I've been getting a lot of hot flushes with fever. I've been adjusting my insulin dosages although not a lot of success as yet. I think until this infection takes a hike I'm going to be struggling.

I've decided to do the Optifast shakes to replace a couple of meals per day. I'm doing this because of the weight gain this year from all my medication adjustments. I'm not feeling very comfortable. Those that have read my posts previously would know I have a restricted diet. I'll see how I go... the main aim is not to gain more weight as I'm still increasing my medication dosage on one of my meds.

I'm also trying to get help for one of my medical supplies for another condition I have. The cost will be approx $7000 per year if I'm following directions from my specialist. I'm grateful that at least I get help with diabetic supplies. At the moment I'm not sure I'll get any help with the $7000.

That's the latest from me. Wishing you all a happy new year.

Arab Horse said:

Season's greetings to you and all the others on here.

I am so sorry to hear you are struggling and to not be able to afford your medication is terrible. We are so fortunate here in the UK to get our drugs on prescription; diabetic medication and pensioners is free. So many people constantly moan about the NHS and throw a hissy fit if they have to wait long in A&E but it is one of the best things we have here in UK

I waited ALL NIGHT in A&E when I had a badly infected hand and then had IV antibiotics. I was cold and hungry but they were very busy.and there were other more urgent cases; I always think how lucky we are. I hope people here reading your post think the same.

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Yes, you are fortunate to have a good system there in the UK... although I realise it is no doubt under stress too. Here it's a mixed bag of free health care, some help with subsidies given, and no help at all. It's not until you get sick that you get to learn what is covered and what isn't. It's not like you get to choose what health conditions you have and how to treat them. It's always disappointing to learn that you can't get any help when you need it. Some things I think hang on this is basic and why doesn't anyone cover it? What's more, why is it so expensive? To be honest I'm not going to be able to afford the medical supply if I can't get help as I already have high medical costs. It will be a case of me not doing as I'm told by my specialist and possibly suffering the consequences. I'm being told I don't have an option which is all fair and well, except I need to be able to afford it as well.

Arab Horse said:

Mep, can you try a "go fund me"? I know people do it for their animals!!!

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Thanks for the suggestion I wouldn't do that though as too many go fund me pages circulated here already... also this is an ongoing expense I'm talking about and not a one off. I will need to pay that every year for probably the rest of my life. I'm trying to get help through another govt scheme. Fingers crossed they will help... they already knocked me back already and this is the 2nd attempt. They take a considerable amount of time to decide (last attempt it took them 8 months to tell me I don't qualify). I'm going to try my health fund again as they won't give me an answer over the phone and told me they will take my original receipts regardless if they'll help or not... which I'm not happy about as will need to keep original receipts in case I need them elsewhere. It is frustrating though.

Oldvatr said:

Missed you @Mep hope thing work out for you this year. Welcome back on the boards,

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thanks I hope you have a good 2019 too.

Simha said:

Wow...and to think I considered Holland to be an expensive country to be sick in.
We pay around 123 euro's per month in healthcare premium and 385 euro's annual excess as well as less and less meds covered by your health insurance. GP visits are insured as well as any service the GP practice provides.

But this is beyond comprehension. That does make healthcare only affordable for the rich.
Lived in the UK for 10 years, pre-diabetes. But was on other meds and just paid the then 90 quid for the certificate and that was that.
GP services are getting a bit like the UK situation here. But still.

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Yes luckily my GP is not charging me. Although that only happened since he reduced my working hours. Prior to that he was billing $75 a short consult or $105 a long one.... of which I can claim approx half back through our medicare system... the difference is my expense (same for everyone else here) I'd still have to be paying that if my working hours hadn't been reduced. We do have some GP medical centres here that don't charge except they are fully booked most of the time and also docs aren't as experienced and visits are kept short. At least with my doc he is very experienced and takes time to help... I've been seeing him since 2005 too.

Update: I'm still dealing with tonsillitis and so far about 9 stones have come out. I just got told yesterday I also have a UTI as well. My doc is of the opinion I need to get a tonsillectomy. I have 10 days worth of antibiotics to take then have to see doc after another test. He'll make the decision about referral back to my ENT. I've also got a couple of deficiencies too with Vit D and iron. I have to book an iron infusion soon. My hbA1c was 7.3 which could be better although most of the time for that I've had tonsillitis.