Long time no post!

[JulianJ]

Can't remember the last time I posted, but I think I had started on my 5.5mg taper.

Well, for me it all went well, no issues and I even seem to ache a little less, but that could be anything.

Well on Monday I started my 5mg taper

Still got some horrid pains in my knees, but I'll live with that, it's not the joints, just something messing me around.

The chemist I use set up a system to text when your script was ready, didn't sign up for it, but then SWMBO collected a scrip she did, What a nightmare, early and late and now I've lost my week in hand for my blood preassure tablets.

I'll just have to ask the doctor for some extra when I speak to him in a few weeks.

Anyway onwards and downwards, slowly of course.

[SheffieldJane]

Well done JulianJ for getting well past the 7 mg sticking point. My pharmacy that is attached to my GP’s surgery also, in an effort to be helpful, got all manner of things wrong. New pharmacist appointed and suddenly a gold star service, including early prescriptions for going on holiday. Long may it continue, so it can be done.

[JulianJ in reply to SheffieldJane]

Lucky you, I 'm trying for an early script. Won't know until the day it needs to be picked up.

It was all a money saving excercise, the scripts made up in a central location and then delivered to the pharmacies.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to JulianJ]

Result - CHAOS! I like our system: phone the GP during office hours, tell her what you need. Most scripts are then sent by her to the pharmacy of my choice - for me to collect as and when. No receptionists or other bodies to negotiate - patient to doctor direct.

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

My surgery seem to have GPs with outgoing only phones, they do not seem to work for patients calling in! The GP has to phone you, to get a phone call from a GP can take several days. The good thing is I can reorder prescriptions on line which is great except they seem to take a day or two to check the computer system and forward the prescription to the pharmacy. You can choose your pharmacy although I cannot guarantee that would work except for the one opposite the surgery. They told me that steroid prescriptions are sent by fax for security reasons. I heard that the NHS is one of the largest purchasers of fax machines and also pagers. Probably because no one else uses them any more.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Businesses in Italy have to have a secure email address for official stuff - which you pay for of course. The UK has so much to learn from other EU countries about how the gubmint can make money...

[Marymon in reply to PMRpro]

Secure lines are used by legal firms to transfer money, etc.,

NHS spent millions ‘updating’ their system two three years ago. That didn’t work.

My surgery has same system as Julian’s. I suppose cost is bourn by them. With four pharmacists to process scripts, then walk next door to independent pharmacy. Waste of time.

Learnt the lesson, I told GP who makes sure I get a script from him on my monthly visit.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Yep. How many layers do we need to negotiate just get the medication!

[JulianJ in reply to SheffieldJane]

Well I had my regular call with the doctor last week.

Needed mor 5mg 2.5mg and 1mg tablets, Asked if I had to pick up the perscription, but this time it was a no, sent direct to the chemist again

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wouldn't DARE do something like that without asking him indoors!!!!

[JulianJ in reply to PMRpro]

I nearly swore when she did it, but I managed to stop myself. I should have sent the stop text, things may have worked better then.

[bunnymom]

I am at 5 and have been having lots of knee and lower leg pain. A friend who is a physical therapist said it's my muscles screaming for pred. She told me to do a runners stretch and hamstring stretch and the pain quickly leaves. Hope this is helpful for you.

[JulianJ in reply to bunnymom]

Streatching does help relive the pain and makes walking a little easier. I still look like I have stiff legs and flat feet when I walk!

[bunnymom in reply to JulianJ]

Well there is that part 😀

[HeronNS]

Living out here in the colonies I have no idea what you are talking about, except it was something bad.

[peace_lover in reply to HeronNS]

SWMBO = she who must be obeyed 😉😀

[HeronNS in reply to peace_lover]

Yes, but I don't understand about the prescription.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

I think Julian had decided NOT to opt to have automatic prescription renewal and had kept the responsibility "in house". His wife had accepted the generous offer on the part of the practice without asking him.

The concept is fine - until it goes wrong - providing you only have a couple of meds but with polypharmacy they all come up for renewal at different times. When you do it yourself you can tell them you need everything now rather than spreading over weeks and can request it a good couple of weeks before the first is to run out. At least - that's what I do! And slowly - you build up a stock of the others...

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Okay, thanks for explanation. I didn't even know this was a "thing". Seems like it's better here, I wonder what will happen if they ever get around to bringing in universal pharmacare, apart from much wanted lower drug costs.

[JulianJ in reply to PMRpro]

I have a repeat for some of my tablets, but not the pred. That is done on a regular basis.

2 issues:

1. The chemist changed the way they issue scripts without telling people.

That meant I was a week "late" picking up my regular script and was told the repeat would be 4 weeks from the pick up date. Earlier in the same chemist I was told I should have 7 days in hand. The weeks change destroyed the weeks worth of blood pressure tablets I had!

2. The doctor had told me that due to GDPR, they couldn't send a script to the chemist. Seems that issue has been resolved

[Hidden]

We can repeat prescription and make doctors appointments online, and the patient access scheme is brilliant, I get my test results at the same time as my doctor. With all the bad publicity regarding our NHS I'm amazed that I can just ring for an appointment for a blood test and ask for what needs to be tested, no hassle.

[MamaBeagle in reply to Hidden]

Me too! After 17 years abroad 2 in Spain and 15 in France I had heard all the woes of the NHS. But I've been more than pleasantly surprised. Doc really good, health centre very efficient. OH just had a new knee done - first one in France. Of the 2 experiences the UK wins hands down. Just saying.......

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MamaBeagle]

It does vary though - a lot!

[MamaBeagle in reply to PMRpro]

How true!

[Ladybird25 in reply to MamaBeagle]

That’s great to hear. I work in the NHS, and although things can go crazily wrong, they occasionally get it right.

Talking about prescriptions, my GP practice and pharmacy have an electronic system and everything works really well. Using the Patient Access web site linked to my GP practice, I request the repeat prescription of my choice and 24 hours later my package is waiting for me to collect from the pharmacy of my choice. They’re even beginning to recognise me, and reach for my package as I walk in through the door. So far, so good...

[piglette in reply to Ladybird25]

My surgery use the Patient Access system, if I order my repeat prescription on a Thursday, it is not checked off by the surgery until the Monday, so I can pick it up on Tuesday if in stock, otherwise I have to wait until Wednesday or Thursday. The computer bit is fine, it is the human bit round that takes the time.

[Hidden in reply to piglette]

We are told allow 4 days excluding weekends which would make that about right, if you go earlier our pharmacy will make it up there and then anyway.

[piglette in reply to Hidden]

I can have computerised repeat prescriptions, which have been refused a couple of times due to computer errors, but pretty useful otherwise. I can make appointments with doctors but very limited on the times, if you are happy with them fine. I cannot make an appointment with a nurse though. My doctor has to check my test results before I can see them but as soon as they have looked at them I have access, I do not have any comments they make on my progress though, I have to ask for a printout. I do find it a million times better than the good old days, but there is a long way to go.

[Hidden in reply to piglette]

Ah yes you cannot see the comments which would be most interesting of all, still the rest is progress considering just a few years ago you would not even be allowed to see your notes.

[piglette in reply to Hidden]

I think in 2020 we are supposed to have more information such as notes. Should be interesting.

[Hidden]

So happy to see you are doing well Julian!!!! My GP and the Surgery's Pharmacy are ALWAYS messing up my scripts! It's a nightmare! I feel like I'm picking up a script for Heroin!!!! They are so suspicious and questioning! Hope you continue to feel good!!!!!

[morrison]

I just hAve a repeat prescription. Tick what I need for that month. Put it into the chemist. There with 24 hours. Pick it up done. Simple. Never had any problems. Possibly just jinxed that one

[piglette in reply to morrison]

I have a repeat prescription printout with my meds, but it has to go to the surgery to be signed first. They then pass it over to the pharmacy and I can then pick it up a few days later. I find it easier to do it on line as I do not have to go to the surgery to give them my prescription order I can sit at home and do it.

[JulianJ]

Well my dive for five didn't co to paln, well is ther really a plan!

THe aches and pains in the shoulders, arms and bck/neck increased and I decided that adding 2 mg was better than waiting for a full on flare.

Now just starting to get back to 6