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struggling big time

lindijanice said:
I think you have probably hit the nail on the head, Ally, saying that your meds and diabetes are clashing....It may take a bit of time before you feel the benefits of the increase in your meds from the Psych, so be kind to yourself re: bgs in the meantime. As someone suggested and I think you would agree that it would be good to get back to the basics of the diabetes and keep testing, try to tweak your diet a little bit each day and take a deep breath and remember "this too shall pass"! We all want to have great bg reads but life gets in the way at times and we have to remind ourselves that this diabetes thing is a marathon, not a sprint....Blessings/Hug/L
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I am starting all over again.
 
I have just received a letter from my surgery with an appt for a blood test on 13th February. With a title saying blood test for long term illness. This has to be for my diabetes. I was not due for a blood test until October as I have it annually. I am only assuming here, it's strange to come 8 months before it should. So just assuming again, that possibly my psych has said again about having them done every three months.
On Monday I will call the surgery to check it is the HbA1c blood test. If it is then the appt with the DN on the 7th seems stupid to go before the test. So will cancel the 7th and try and rebook for after the blood test done x
 
Good idea @ally1 but be careful you can get an appointment with the DN soon after the blood test. You don't want to end up at the back of her waiting list again. I wouldn't cancel the DN appointment until you know when you can see her.

I wonder if it would be better to ask if you can have the blood test BEFORE the DN meeting - if you explain why this is important they may push you in earlier. After all, blood tests take a few minutes, not hours!
 
If only there were centres where people who need it, like Ally could go. Some form of mild counselling for those that don't require a full blown mental illness service just someone professional and sympathetic to talk to, to help and not to judge harshly. I feel it would help so many people to manage whatever their condition is, how can anyone concentrate on self help of their condition when they are suffering with some degree of mental health illness? I know it's cloud cuckoo land with budgets and all of that but I liken it to drugs abuse, tackle it at the start instead of waiting until a person is in dire straits. Surely they would save so much money.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Good idea @ally1 but be careful you can get an appointment with the DN soon after the blood test. You don't want to end up at the back of her waiting list again. I wouldn't cancel the DN appointment until you know when you can see her.

I wonder if it would be better to ask if you can have the blood test BEFORE the DN meeting - if you explain why this is important they may push you in earlier. After all, blood tests take a few minutes, not hours!
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Good idea, I will phone on monday
 
KK123 said:
If only there were centres where people who need it, like Ally could go. Some form of mild counselling for those that don't require a full blown mental illness service just someone professional and sympathetic to talk to, to help and not to judge harshly. I feel it would help so many people to manage whatever their condition is, how can anyone concentrate on self help of their condition when they are suffering with some degree of mental health illness? I know it's cloud cuckoo land with budgets and all of that but I liken it to drugs abuse, tackle it at the start instead of waiting until a person is in dire straits. Surely they would save so much money.
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I totally agree with you.
 
ally1 said:
I totally agree with you.
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Ally - Is where you live like everywhere else these days and have what seems like a million charity shops on the main street?

I'm just wondering if you have a Mind charity shop at all? I'm not thinking you might want some retail therapy (our Mind shop is actually a furniture shop), but more they might know of local groups where you might get some day to day support.

As an individual, I'm not a great "groups" person, but I do attend my local Diabetes UK group and I get a great deal from it. I don't necessarily mean diabetes related stuff, but I have met some fantastic people and done some stuff I'd never have done otherwise.
 
DCUKMod said:
Ally - Is where you live like everywhere else these days and have what seems like a million charity shops on the main street?

I'm just wondering if you have a Mind charity shop at all? I'm not thinking you might want some retail therapy (our Mind shop is actually a furniture shop), but more they might know of local groups where you might get some day to day support.

As an individual, I'm not a great "groups" person, but I do attend my local Diabetes UK group and I get a great deal from it. I don't necessarily mean diabetes related stuff, but I have met some fantastic people and done some stuff I'd never have done otherwise.
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The small town nearest to me doesn,t have a mind charity shop, the next town, to be honest, I have no idea. I will look into it
 
ally1 said:
I have just received a letter from my surgery with an appt for a blood test on 13th February. With a title saying blood test for long term illness. This has to be for my diabetes. I was not due for a blood test until October as I have it annually. I am only assuming here, it's strange to come 8 months before it should. So just assuming again, that possibly my psych has said again about having them done every three months.
On Monday I will call the surgery to check it is the HbA1c blood test. If it is then the appt with the DN on the 7th seems stupid to go before the test. So will cancel the 7th and try and rebook for after the blood test done x
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So if you see dn on 7th will she refer back to your diabetes results 8mths ago? How silly are they. Yours were better 8mths ago but if no reference for them since a yr before that I'd be tempted to still see dn to discuss 8mth ago improved result but tell her you expect new blood test to be uncontrolled and expect more so with increased psychy med.
I'm hoping she will see you more regularly starting on 7th
I know you are trying to help NHS spend less by one less dn appointment but I think she needs the full picture not just your recent one hun.
See her on 7th and again after blood test results, insist on it. She cannot help without tests to back it all up, unfortunately.
Stick to 7th dn appointment. If an A.M appointment with her there is nothing stopping her doing your bloods at same appointment hun.
Have you been advised to fast for blood tests?
 
ickihun said:
Samaritans do a walk-in service during office hours.
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Thank you for that.
To be honest, am not interested in the walk in service but nice of you to suggest it.
Have phoned once years ago and all I got was yes, umm.
I know they don,t offer advice, mainly a listening ear.
 
ickihun said:
So if you see dn on 7th will she refer back to your diabetes results 8mths ago? How silly are they. Yours were better 8mths ago but if no reference for them since a yr before that I'd be tempted to still see dn to discuss 8mth ago improved result but tell her you expect new blood test to be uncontrolled and expect more so with increased psychy med.
I'm hoping she will see you more regularly starting on 7th
I know you are trying to help NHS spend less by one less dn appointment but I think she needs the full picture not just your recent one hun.
See her on 7th and again after blood test results, insist on it. She cannot help without tests to back it all up, unfortunately.
Stick to 7th dn appointment. If an A.M appointment with her there is nothing stopping her doing your bloods at same appointment hun.
Have you been advised to fast for blood tests?
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I have never been advised to fast for blood tests. DN appt is at 2.10pm, found out its the usual 10 mins appt. Yet I said to the receptionist that I felt I needed longer. I just feel like saying, sod the surgery
 
ally1 said:
I have never been advised to fast for blood tests. DN appt is at 2.10pm, found out its the usual 10 mins appt. Yet I said to the receptionist that I felt I needed longer. I just feel like saying, sod the surgery
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Did you see what happened to me? I was 4mins late for a 30min appointment so new receptionist gave my appointment away even though I called ahead. I was fuming. Don't want to go back as I shouted at her and I'm embarrassed about my reaction... Coming off tramadol.

If I do mine will you do yours?
You will get another appointment from your nurse after this 10mins one. She should arrange it with you at end of your 10mins.
Just see this 10min appointment as a start hun. We all know you need more and so will she. They don't get paid a huge amount most is so they can help people. She can help you hun. This is where she is definitely needed.
 
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ickihun said:
Did you see what happened to me? I was 4mins late for a 30min appointment so new receptionist gave my appointment away even though I called ahead. I was fuming. Don't want to go back as I shouted at her and I'm embarrassed about my reaction... Coming off tramadol.

If I do mine will you do yours?
You will get another appointment from your nurse after this 10mins one. She should arrange it with you at end of your 10mins.
Just see this 10min appointment as a start hun. We all know you need more and so will she. They don't get paid a huge amount most is so they can help people. She can help you hun. This is where she is definitely needed.
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The appointment on Wednesday is with the DN that's a 10 minute appt. The blood test next week is just the blood test which the blood lady does so just in and out. I will call the surgery around 10 because before then, it's almost impossible to get through.
 
ally1 said:
The appointment on Wednesday is with the DN that's a 10 minute appt. The blood test next week is just the blood test which the blood lady does so just in and out. I will call the surgery around 10 because before then, it's almost impossible to get through.
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I've watched this new receptionist and she was letting the phone ring, but not now. Someone must have complained. She used to stick the call after picking up straight on hold. Every call. Even when no one in waiting room.
We aren't daft but counterproductive in her workload. Also complaints send patients away and less money for my GP...then no job. I don't think she sees it that way thou. She doesn't like answering the phone, that one! She may be in the wrong job?
 
ickihun said:
I've watched this new receptionist and she was letting the phone ring, but not now. Someone must have complained. She used to stick the call after picking up straight on hold. Every call. Even when no one in waiting room.
We aren't daft but counterproductive in her workload. Also complaints send patients away and less money for my GP...then no job. I don't think she sees it that way thou. She doesn't like answering the phone, that one! She may be in the wrong job?
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My surgery receptionists are all terrible
 
ally1 said:
My surgery receptionists are all terrible
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I think they all are. Recently booked my foot check and a1c. Nurse called me back to move it forward three weeks as "receptionist had not allocated enough time".
 
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