MEDICAL MATTERS

[Big Kev]

Nothing broken, keep taking the paracetamol. Muscle spasms apparently.

[PanBiker]

Good news Kev better than being strapped up.

[Wendyf]

Have you been seen yet Kev? Oh, just realised we had turned a page. That's good!

[Sue]

Hope it settles quickly.

[Big Kev]

I am gingerly taking some Ibuprofen but only on a full stomach. P carefully applied some Tiger Balm and I have had a couple of paracetamol too, I'm still very aware of it but the spasms seem to have stopped. Sneezing and coughing are to be avoided and I have a dining chair, next to an armchair, so I can pull myself up without putting too much strain on my back muscles. Gentle full inhalations were recommended every hour to avoid a chest infection, they are a bit uncomfortable but better than the alternative. P is going to pick up some Ibuprofen gel tomorrow so I can stop the tablets and I've postponed Friday's physio appointment. Other than that everything is 'fine and dandy'
Conclusion is, 12 days after the original injury, Dr Google was correct with the treatment I was giving myself and I could have saved myself 4 hours, sat with some of Burnley's finest, at the urgent treatment centre. We live and learn.

[Stanley]

Kev, don't forget Comfrey and Arnica oils, both definitely work well on stuff like cracked ribs and my shoulder. They didn't call Comfrey 'Knitbone' for nothing. Perfectly legal, they can't touch you for it.....

[Stanley]

It's been forecast for a while but see THIS BBC report of a 70% rise in flu cases in under 5s and I have heard a separate report on the news of a 40% rise last week in all flu cases.
The predictions look to be turning out to be right and this is not good news for a nation that has quite a bit on its plate.

[Tripps]

It's hard to keep up isn't it. I was surprised to hear that it is almost exactly one year since the Government was agonising about locking down again - especially near to Christmas - due to the new variant Omicron. Sajid Javed was Health Secretary.

Now it's as if there is no danger from Covid at all and life has returned to something like 'normal'. It's not hard to be a sceptic since at the peak of the panic- I knew no one who had the disease, and yet now everyone seems to have some sort of infection.

Show me as puzzled (again).

[plaques]

Covid in China has a new variant Dr John Campbell reports its spreading with a rate Ro between 10 and 18. No built in resistance or vaccines appear to stop its spread. People become able to transmit the infection from day one and up to ten days. Fortunately it appears to be relatively mild unless you are otherwise medically compromised.

So ask yourself 'Do you feel lucky punk?'

[Tripps]

Interesting as always. Very generous offer to download his books FOC as PDF's/.

He says the 'new variant BF7 (BA5.2.1.7) is incredibly infectious and there will be no escape for anyone in China. It will inevitably become endemic. Fortunately it seems to be milder. However he is silent on the prospects of it travelling here. I guess it's unavoidable - maybe here already I wouldn't be surprised - and especially in view of this Local connection plus the enormous number of Chinese students in Cambridge, and the rest of UK.

[Stanley]

Perhaps it's the 'severe colds' that seem to be abroad at the moment. Has anyone said whether our current tests pick it up?
Later.... See THIS BBC editorial piece about We Streeting the Labour Shadow Health Minister. What was not mentioned is that he has survived Kidney cancer. I learned this while listening to 'profile' on R4 this morning at 05:45. Well worth a listen....

[Big Kev]

A few days of just 'gentle' movement, slow deep breaths every hour, paracetamol and some ibuprofen gel seem to be having an effect. The intercostal muscles are no longer going into spasm when I sneeze/cough/move or breath deeply, it's still painful when I do these things but without the 5 minute spasm that was accompanying them. I have had two full night's sleep too which is a bonus.
Today's safety tip is; don't fall down the back steps with shopping bags in both hands

[Stanley]

Just to cheer you up Kev, there is an even more long lasting failure in the rib cage. If you damage the gristle that holds your rib cage together at the front. I did it once and Arthur Morrison called it a 'click rib'. He said it would take months to heal and he was right! (LINK)

[Big Kev]

Just to cheer you up Kev, there is an even more long lasting failure in the rib cage. If you damage the gristle that holds your rib cage together at the front. I did it once and Arthur Morrison called it a 'click rib'. He said it would take months to heal and he was right! (LINK)

I can't access the link without accepting the site's cookies (I chose not to) so looked for 'clicking rib' elsewhere. It does sound painful. I have some of the symptoms associated with it but it's early days yet.

[Stanley]

You get very aware of sneezes and coughs!

[Stanley]

Would you believe that after going to the surgery last month and pointing out that one of my scripts ran out I was told it would be sorted. It hasn't and I still have no script. I don't ask much but is a simple matter like a repeat prescription not within the bounds of possibility? These scripts have been a problem for over six months and it gets wearing!

[PanBiker]

I have the My GP app on my phone and I just order any repeats through that. They usually get authorised same or next day depending when I put the request in. You can nominate your pharmacy as well or choose one of the online ones. You can also book appointments and other stuff. Saves a lot of messing about.

[Big Kev]

I have the My GP app on my phone and I just order any repeats through that. They usually get authorised same or next day depending when I put the request in. You can nominate your pharmacy as well or choose one of the online ones. You can also book appointments and other stuff. Saves a lot of messing about.

Same here but through the NHS App
All very straightforward

Screenshot_20221221-111955.jpg

The app can be accessed on a PC too https://www.nhsapp.service.nhs.uk/

[PanBiker]

I have that one as well Kev, they work in tandem or independently. Aren't smartphones wonderful? You have the best of both worlds as you can still use the surgery for their services if you need to visit but for repeat prescriptions I find it a lot more convenient. My GP lists all medications I have had including the stuff I was prescribed before my surgery.

[Stanley]

But even the smartest phone and app can't give you a prescription which hasn't been sanctioned by the doctor. That's the problem.

[PanBiker]

The doc still has to OK the repeat prescriptions, you just put a request in via the app and they are either authorised on the same day or the day after. Just like handing one in at the surgery. It then goes off to your nominated pharmacy and bobs your uncle. I asked for a repeat on Monday and it was authorised yesterday and is on it's way to me now.

[Wendyf]

I believe that Stanley is trying to explain that some items don't get put onto repeat so you can't order them on the app or anywhere else. A new prescription has to be written by a doctor each time and it takes some effort to get that changed!

[PanBiker]

Would you believe that after going to the surgery last month and pointing out that one of my scripts ran out I was told it would be sorted. It hasn't and I still have no script. I don't ask much but is a simple matter like a repeat prescription not within the bounds of possibility? These scripts have been a problem for over six months and it gets wearing!

Unless I have missed something, I read this as a reissue of a repeat prescription.

I think if you reorder a script that has expired it will probably trigger a call from the doc or automatic reissue if your records support that you still need the medication.

Trying a different approach can't be any worse than what Stanley is experiencing through "normal" channels.

[Tizer]

We signed up on the Patient Access web site LINK and they contacted our doctor and set everything up so we now order prescriptions on their site. I thought older people could also get them delivered to their home?

[Tripps]

I'm increasingly findig threads I want to contribute to, but refrain from doing so due to the probability of being misunderstood. This is one such.

I can't resist of course - Let's ask the Tony Benn questions - The privatisation of the NHS proceeds apace.
There is no clue as ownership on their main website - though their use of the NHS Logo implies they are a part of it.

Who runs Patient Access?
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited
PATIENT ACCESS is provided by Egton Medical Information Systems Limited("EMIS"), a company registered in England with company number 2117205 with a registered office address of Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA.12 Sept 2022

Not a lot of informatuion here Patient Access - Egton Medicalfor Egton Medical I don't see what their income is for instance, and who pays them.