MEDICAL MATTERS

[Stanley]

David, I tried to listen to Sonia on Marianna Spring but had to abandon it. A journalist slagging off other journalists. I note the poke about relying on the BBC but at least on there I know the enemy. With this lady I have no references at all. So I ditched it.
PS, I think Sonia has an exaggerated view of the power of her 'gatekeepers' that is if she means power over me.
It occurred to me later that one of the reasons why I don't feel the need to interrogate my sources like you do is because I believe that the pressure to 'find things out' and give instant opinions in the 'news' is a flawed process at best. I feel more comfortable with narratives and opinions that have been mulled over by historians for a long time. 50 years minimum!

[Tizer]

I have an appointment coming up next month for vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus which affects very young children and elderly adults. It was offered by our local surgery but for adults it's only available if you are aged 75 to 79. Can anyone tell me why adults older than 79 are ineligible? I've searched the Web and can't find an explanation. Perhaps it's simply shortage of funds, but treating infected over-80s could well cost the NHS and social services more than it would to give them the vaccine. Lack of joined up thinking?

[Tripps]

"A 67-year-old man has become the first person in the UK to try what doctors hope will be a revolutionary new treatment for lung cancer - a vaccine that tells the body how to fight and kill the disease.
It uses the same mRNA technology as some Covid jabs to give instructions to the immune system.
The early-stage trial in which Janusz Racz is taking part will check the shot is safe.
Some 34 research sites in seven countries, including University College London in the UK, will recruit 130 patients to try it.

If that's as effective as the mRNA "vaccine " that I had four times before catching the disease in a precaution observing hospital, then I don't think I'll bother. In fact I'm absolutely sure I won't.

Simple Dave says - is it a "vaccine" or a "treatment"? If it's a "vaccine" then why not give it to everyone and prevent the disease. Hush child. . . . - take no notice of him

[Stanley]

I remember my old doctor, Arthur Morrison, once telling me that once you passed 80 years old You were more likely to survive procedures than those who are younger. Something to do with the fact that if whatever it was hadn't got you by then you probably had some in-built immunity working for you. Very reassuring!

[Tripps]

Those who expressed admiration for the BBC 'Counter Disinformation' correspondent Marianna Spring recently, should watch this latest video from John Campbell. He has been off piste for a couple of weeks, but is now back to this very important topic.

[Stanley]

I tried to listen David but failed.... All I can say is that I am surprised he is surprised to find out that the government was censoring the media. I thought that this was a given in the modern world and that we make allowances to recognise it. I remember having the same reaction when I read the Crossman Backbench Diaries.......
So sorry David, I disregarded Mr Campbell and got on with my knitting.

[Tizer]

So sorry David, I disregarded Mr Campbell and got on with my knitting.

Me too!

More important, at least from my recent experiences, is the terrible state that our dentists have got into. We all know that that we've been forced to go private and pay huge sums for even having one look inside our moths. I've ignored texts from my dentist's surgery telling me I'm due for my 6-monhly check-up - I've never had one of those and only need an annual check (I do look after my teeth). I've also ignored their texts telling me my 6-monthly `hygienist' appointment is long overdue - I don't need or want any of those expensive add-ons. All I want is what, until recently, I had from my dentist of the last 20 years (and the ones before him) which is check my mouth, teeth, gums and scrape off any plaque (and there is little of that due to my obsessive teeth cleaning regime).

However that dentist, a lovely chap who had become a friend, has retired and so I had to sign up with a new one and they're all private. So yesterday I went for my annual check up. £67 for 20 minutes. She looked in my mouth, poked about a bit then told me my gums are receding (as everyone's gums do as we get older) and told me to see the hygienist twice a year. I told her I've never needed one of those and don't want one now. She didn't do the light scrape that I've had in the past, so I didn't get much for my money.

While we waited for our appointment an elderly lady came in to make an appointment. They gave her a date and time and asked her to pay. She was shocked at the price and said so. But she had no choice and she had to dig out a credit card. Dentists (and vets too) now realise they can charge a lot because these days you can't get out your wallet or purse and say `Look, that's all I've got' because they just say `Put your credit card in this machine' and it's too late, you've been robbed!

Sorry if that's a rant but I feel very strongly about it,

[Big Kev]

We're fortunate that we still have an NHS dentist. £26.80 for a checkup every 9 months for me.

[Stanley]

And I will say what I always say, I was so lucky that Mr Pinder took all my teeth out and gave me pot gobblers!
You can take 'em out and inspect them whenever you want! And don't be put off by horror stories about false teeth. If they are made and fitted properly they don't cause any trouble. I've had mine for 65 years and the top set are original!
(They tell you now that you need an inspection every year and a new set every five years...... They LIE!)

[Stanley]

I've just had fun syringing my ears..... Quite a good crop of wax. Not a definitive clean-out but definitely a great improvement!

[Tizer]

Something I failed to mention above. All the dentists now want you to sign up to a subscription with them that takes a regular payment from your credit card. So you're paying them even when not using their services. I'll bet the veterinary practices do the same now. We didn't sign up and are on a conventional pay per treatment method but they don't advertise it and try to get you subscribed.

[Big Kev]

And I will say what I always say, I was so lucky that Mr Pinder took all my teeth out and gave me pot gobblers!

I consider myself lucky, apart from a bridge at the front (snapped a tooth off when Paulette tried to assassinate me when she left the washing maiden at head height ) and one molar extraction, I still have all my own.
I briefly had a plate, with one front tooth on it, when the bridge work was underway, I found I couldn't speak with it in as the roof of my mouth was a different shape

[Stanley]

Still clogged, I will be keeping up the ear drops......

[Stanley]

I am getting fed up with being deaf but am being patient and keeping up with the ear drops..... But it's time there was an improvement!

[Tizer]

Are you using Otex hydrogen peroxide drops to break up the wax? And has it passed its use-by date?

[Stanley]

I think you may have hit on my problem Peter! But I shall persevere as I am getting some movement now!
(I've chucked all the old stuff out and am using fresh BP grade olive oil.)

[Tizer]

I found Otex to be more effective. When it comes into contact with ear wax the peroxide component breaks down to release oxygen gas and the bubbles break up the wax, which then is dispersed in the glycerol component and washed out with water.

[Stanley]

I have taken your advice and am going to order some on line as it is almost certain to be cheaper than the chemists in Barlick charge....
( Done, ordered and cheaper!)

[Tizer]

Remember my previous advice. Once you've first taken off the screw cap to open the little plastic bottle and put drops in your ears don't screw the cap back on until you've removed the plastic ring left sitting around the neck of the bottle. If you leave that ring on then the cap doesn't seal effectively and the peroxide can more easily break down and limit the life of the drops. A cunning wheeze by the manufacturer perhaps?

[Stanley]

Just seen the update Peter. Will do. I always take those rings off as a matter of course......

[PanBiker]

I received a text yesterday from the surgery to say that I should make an appointment for my next Shingles vaccination. Never had one so this would be my first! I rang this morning and after determining that I met the criteria for the jab the receptionist said she would have to check with the nursing staff that hey had stock of the vaccine? She said she would ring me back and arrange an appointment if they had the wherewithal.

My only question, why send out the text if they can't deliver the goods?

[Tizer]

A sad event this afternoon. Mrs Tiz regularly attends a local Country Dancing group session run by one of our neighbours in the church hall down the road. Just before the end of the session an 87-year-old lady fell down on the hard floor and it was obvious from the angle of her leg that she has broken or dislocated her hip and couldn't be moved. The main hospital is only about half a mile from the church and Mrs Tiz rang for an ambulance and explained everything and emphasised the urgency. The response was that there is a list of people waiting for ambulances and they can't send one until her turn comes round. They couldn't, or wouldn't, say how many were on the list and how long she might have to wait.

In the meantime Mrs Tiz called the local GP surgery which is just the other side of the church's car park so they could at least get some immediate medical help and perhaps something to relieve the woman's pain. The surgery said they couldn't send anyone. It's almost unbelievable.

Mrs Tiz has returned home and the couple who run the dancing group have stayed with the lady until help arrives. It's horrible when there's nothing you can do to help someone in that lady's state. Our medical services are obviously in meltdown and some very urgent action needs to be taken. The moral is: don't get ill and don't get damaged.

[Wendyf]

That is so upsetting Tiz.

[Stanley]

We all knew it was bad but an account like that drives the situation home like a sledgehammer. We no longer have a functioning health service. That's the bottom line. Peter is right, don't require help of any sort because the chances are it isn't there.....
Remember them all saying over and over again, 'Safe in our hands!'. They lied.....

[Tizer]

Mrs Tiz has just shown me a text she received this morning and written overnight from Beverley who runs the dancing group. It says that the lady is now in a hospital bed and ends `Please don't call me back because it's 3.46 am and I'm just going to bed'. It turns out the lady lives alone and Beverley had to stay with her and provide information etc.