MEDICAL MATTERS

[PanBiker]

My go for the X-Ray machine at Airedale for me today.

Sally has her blood test results and they are more or less clear with only slight infection markers.

[Big Kev]

I've just registered with an online chemist for repeat prescriptions (a leaf out of Ian's book). Order in the app, delivered in the post.

[Stanley]

Touch wood, Well pharmacy and Park Road surgery are working like clockwork at the moment......

[PanBiker]

I heard from a neighbour that Whitworths in Barlick was queued right around the corner from Rainhall Road up onto Park Road. I believe they now have a dispensing pharmacist but are plagued with a backlog of work. Well does seem to be better now with new staff. Fortunately with the phone app I use you can elect to use whatever pharmacy you want when ordering meds. I will stick with online for the long term stuff but use local if I need immediate medication. My last immediate medication was directly from the hospital dispensary and issued after midnight!

[Stanley]

My friend Steve told me the same thing about Whitworth's.....
I forgot to say that I am glad to hear Sally gets a relatively clean bill of health from her blood test. Some good weather will do her a power of good. You can't beat Dr Green.

[Tizer]

The ophthalmology department at our local main hospital seems to have slipped into crisis. My cousin was supposed to have an appointment for treatment to a physical eye problem - it's thought to be a muscle or ligament causing her eye to drift out of line. The appointment times were wrong and nobody seemed to know what was going on. She works at the hospital and has filed a formal complaint.

Mrs Tiz went for a regular glaucoma eye check yesterday. She was asked to wait and given a leaflet to read to better understand what was to be done. She wasn't expecting any treatment and the leaflet was all about cataracts, not glaucoma. When she was called in they told her she was having Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty - a laser shone into your eye to improved drainage and lower eye pressure. She showed the doctor the leaflet she'd been given and he said it was a mistake. Also they should have warned her that she wouldn't be allowed to drive or operate machinery for a while after the trabeculoplasty. It's the same old story (only worse) - shortage of staff, shortage of funds, leading to mistakes etc.

[Big Kev]

Paulette has fared much better at the St Peter's Centre in Burnley today. She has had hearing aids fitted this morning, very impressed with how small and light they are and how improved her hearing is. I can't mutter under my breath any more as she can hear me

[Tripps]

By coincidence I watched an episode of "How do they do it" last night and the topic was modern hearing aids.

A Swiss company was in charge, and ear moulds were taken then scanned and converted into a 3D image - sent to Warrington, where a 3d printer made an exact replica, then back to Switzerland for the gubbins to be attached.

Very impressive - I'd probably benefit, but they were so small -I'd definitely lose them.

[Stanley]

I'd probably benefit as well but like you David, include me out.
However include me in for the Spring Covid booster. I have just booked mine at Well Pharmacy in Barlick. 14:40; Thursday April 20th. I shall do my veggie shopping at the same time.....

[Big Kev]

No fancy ear moulding involved, there's just a small 'tube' that sits at the entrance to the ear canal.

[Wendyf]

The ophthalmology department at our local main hospital seems to have slipped into crisis. My cousin was supposed to have an appointment for treatment to a physical eye problem - it's thought to be a muscle or ligament causing her eye to drift out of line. The appointment times were wrong and nobody seemed to know what was going on. She works at the hospital and has filed a formal complaint.

Mrs Tiz went for a regular glaucoma eye check yesterday. She was asked to wait and given a leaflet to read to better understand what was to be done. She wasn't expecting any treatment and the leaflet was all about cataracts, not glaucoma. When she was called in they told her she was having Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty - a laser shone into your eye to improved drainage and lower eye pressure. She showed the doctor the leaflet she'd been given and he said it was a mistake. Also they should have warned her that she wouldn't be allowed to drive or operate machinery for a while after the trabeculoplasty. It's the same old story (only worse) - shortage of staff, shortage of funds, leading to mistakes etc.

Didn't she know that she was getting the laser treatment Tiz? That seems very strange. I thought it was only offered when the drops start to fail!

[Tizer]

It had been discussed with her previously but that was some time ago and she hadn't been told they'd decided to do it. There was no discussion, that was the annoying part of it. She thought she was just going for a usual check up. Apparently they use a mixed approach, using drops or SLT or both. Both our medical and our pharmacy services are in a mess.

[PanBiker]

I forgot to say that I am glad to hear Sally gets a relatively clean bill of health from her blood test. Some good weather will do her a power of good. You can't beat Dr Green.

Only half the story though. She is still waiting for her X-Ray results which the doc hasn't looked at yet. She still has the hacking coughing fits but they are abating slightly. The two and a bit months of this has left her with fatigue, even after minor effort.

I got a call yesterday from one of the practice nurses who told me my X-Ray done at Airedale showed that my chest is now clear of infection. She was also ringing to book my annual blood test which is later this month.

[Wendyf]

It had been discussed with her previously but that was some time ago and she hadn't been told they'd decided to do it. There was no discussion, that was the annoying part of it. She thought she was just going for a usual check up. Apparently they use a mixed approach, using drops or SLT or both. Both our medical and our pharmacy services are in a mess.

Will you keep me updated with how she goes on please?

[Tripps]

I'm watching 'Saving Lives in Leeds'.

All the medical staff, including the operating theatre surgeons, are wearing the same type of basic mask that I used to go shopping.

I don't 'get it'.

[Stanley]

I've noticed that as well in all the medical facilities (Not many!) that I have visited. Could it be a matter of cost?

[plaques]

Still keeping watch on Dr John Campbell and his Australian pall Professor Robert Clancy. Their discussions are getting a bit too complicated for me but compared with the silence and previous misinformation we have received from our experts they seem to have a lot going for them.

[Tizer]

It had been discussed with her previously but that was some time ago and she hadn't been told they'd decided to do it. There was no discussion, that was the annoying part of it. She thought she was just going for a usual check up. Apparently they use a mixed approach, using drops or SLT or both. Both our medical and our pharmacy services are in a mess.

Will you keep me updated with how she goes on please?

I'll do that, Wendy. Remind me if I forget! Her next appointment is in 6 weeks time. At the visit she tested 15 and 16 before the SLT, 13 and 15 after it but the doctor said she shouldn't expect an immediate effect. The intention is to prevent the pressure continuing to rise. Also he said pressures vary during the day and for other reasons so any single test may not be typical. (With my former scientist hat on I have to say that would appear to undermine the value of the test results!)

[Wendyf]

Thanks Tiz. Did it make her eyes sore? It sounds like the drops were working well for Mrs Tiz, those pressures look quite low to me!

[Stanley]

I think I've mentioned elsewhere that I have a Covid booster booked for Thursday April 20th at Well pharmacy in Barlick. Booked on line after an advisory text message from the NHS.

[Tizer]

Thanks Tiz. Did it make her eyes sore? It sounds like the drops were working well for Mrs Tiz, those pressures look quite low to me!

The SLT didn't cause any pain or discomfort. However she already had constant redness around the eye due to the drops.

[Stanley]

Those drops they put in to dilate the pupil are the main reason I have ditched the annual test and rely on my optician's test. I can't believe that something that is put in your eye and hurts so much isn't harmful!

[plaques]

An up-date on the covid -19 front.

Sweden has stopped all their state sponsored vaccine programmes. Individuals can get them on a Doctor's recommendation.

The UK has restricted the programme to the over 75's. plus some vulnerable groups.

America have no restrictions covering all age groups from over 6 months to no age limit.

Questions are being asked what are the risk / benefits when the current Omicron variant is so mild and that people with multiple vaccine or natural infection have a 99% resistance. Concern is growing is that the mRNA vaccine has a lot of unknows and by pushing the covid antibody levels to excessive amounts may not be a wise thing to do. The worry by many research groups is that Politics and Big Pharma have taken over the programme on what is basically a world wide experiment.

As said in previous posts our UK Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance are keeping a very low profile with no explanations about what and why they are doing.

[PanBiker]

Sally got her X-Ray results just about a week ago and they now want her to have a scan. Not sure if that will be a CAT or MRI, waiting for the appointment. She is still coughing and has bouts which wear her out. She get fatigue just from walking into town and back. A couple of months ago she was walking five miles or more regularly!

I got a text from the practice nurse at the surgery to say my BP returns are normal.

[plaques]

Sally got her X-Ray results just about a week ago and they now want her to have a scan. Not sure if that will be a CAT or MRI, waiting for the appointment.

I can't see any advantage in doing a CAT which after all is enhanced X-rays unless they want greater coverage. I would be happier with a MRI for more soft tissue detail.
I'm not an expert on these things so feel free to ignore this post.