Nursing, life and trying to understand people

I have spent over 20 years nursing and 10 of them as a Hospice nurse. I love my job and the patients I look after. They are at the very end of their lives. I still feel sad when my patients die and understand the sorrow of their relatives and friends. Medicine has come along way and advances are happening all the time.Tests have become the norm now. In the old days you went to your doctor and he/she would either mix up a bottle of sweet tasting medicine, take your blood pressure and if high, smile and tell you to take it easy or send you for an appointment at the local hospital.Now it's all changed and as soon as I enter the waiting room there is a blood pressure machine waiting for me to check my own pressure, usually causing me to start worrying as if I'm not already worrying even before I arrive at the surgery? As I enter the doctors room, limping from the pain of my stubbed possible broken toe. The doctor asks what my Bp numbers are, I say," I have stubbed toe!" "Ah!" said doctor," That is caused by your high Cholesterol". "No, it's because I stubbed my toe on the table leg". "Right you need a full fasting blood test"," No I need you to look at my toe", "Right" said my doctor as he is still looking at the computer screen, "how about next Thursday?" "What about next Thursday and what has that to do with my toe?" Doctor "a blood test next Thursday and cut down on salt all fat and I'll get you on Statins and as your here we will sort out your high blood pressure. Now! that's sorted, let's see you toe" One very happy doctor, one very unhappy me.

This did happen, I gave the statins back to pharmacy, took the blood pressure tablets and got my toe strapped up.

[MikePollard]

Wow!

What a breath of fresh air - best post for a very long time!

We have care homes full of old folk being statinised to death. It has been clearly demonstrated that statins and old ladies (men also but especially women) are a very bad mix (Kendrick, Ravnskov, Graveline etc).

Throw into the mix a diet high in carbohydrate and low in saturated fat and you have the perfect storm - dementia; increasingly being described as type 3 diabetes.

[sandybrown]

Hello,

Very true! my experience, waiting for ticket number to come on the screen, go into GP's room, GP is asking questions, looking at the screen and the printer! I am on statin (20mg), asked can I go down to (10mg), the response came back (10) micro grams! which is (mcg). Asked the question, why? Is random blood sugar test is 5.3 and fasting blood test on my right hand is 7.3 and on the left hand is 8.6. Is fasting lower than random? There are some good points as well.

Do I need to see a specialist? NO. As my numbers are low and I am not on medication.

Have been to life-line screening to get a better understanding on my health.

[patch14]

If my GP doesn't look me in the eye and just studies his computer screen I make sure I am there as short a time as possible and make another appointment with another GP in the practice. Mind you, it always seems to be the locum or the newly qualified GPs who don't seem to have the people skills that are needed. The partners that have been there for years are much more clued up about the patients on their books, take time to talk to them and to listen (a VERY important people skill in my book) and not quick to prescribe unless all other avenues have been explored.

Tickets? Sounds like your are queuing at the deli counter at your local supermarket!! Our GP pops his head around the door of the waiting room and calls your name! Old fashioned but much more personal!!

Bala, did your GP actually say that you don't need to see a specialist because you are NOT on medication? But you are on statins!! What are they? Sweets????????????????