Slap on the wrist

[ChrisinNam]

Our really helpful and understanding Nurse Practitioner ordered all kinds of blood tests and I went to give the blood yesterday. This morning I got a message from one of the doctors, via the receptionist, telling me that all blood tests were fine, the symptoms I have are due to the steroids. And to reduce slowly. This doctor obviously doesn't know that I still get nasty pains from the hip girdle if I stand for any time, or walk more than from one end of the house to the other, or bend to dead-head all the Welsh poppies in my garden. And she doesn't know either, that I've been trying to reduce the steroids for long enough, as people on this site will probably know. Talk about getting a slap on the wrist from the doctor!!! The Nurse Practitioner probably got one, too. Thanks for reading my rant.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'd hope the blood results are fine - all the ESR and CRP being normal means is that the pred is doing its job. I sometimes boggle at the lack of understanding I come across ...

[ChrisinNam in reply to PMRpro]

I was listening to Radio 4 earlier, and there was a piece about older women (especially) being either mis-diagnosed, or poo-pooed when complaining of UTI symptoms (which I have done many times). Just because the dip-stick test doesn't pick up an infection, doesn't mean there isn't one there. The same with PMR, I'm sure. Our NHS is wonderful when it comes to hospital care, but some of the GPs really need re-educating.

[123-go in reply to ChrisinNam]

GPs aren't specialists in everything but I firmly believe that if they have a patient in their care whose condition is unknown or unclear to them they should do some research-duty of care! 🤷‍♀️

[piglette in reply to 123-go]

It is reckoned that 40% of patients do not have a proper diagnosis when they first go to see their GP. If they come back the GP knows they should spend a bit more time checking and even referring. I suppose a lot get better by themselves and don’t come back of course.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Only 40%????

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

That is what the doctors admit to !!

[ChrisinNam in reply to piglette]

They're not going to admit to more of that, are they?

[SheffieldJane in reply to ChrisinNam]

I often have bladder irritation that is not due to infection but medication though.

[SheffieldJane]

There is a tool with a long handle that you can get from garden shops to dead head your poppies. I heard your justifiable rant!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm getting a lot of thought about the low back/hip girdle/bending/standing thing maybe being greater trochanteric pain syndrome that is exaccerbated in some people with PMR:

physio-pedia.com/Greater_Tr...

[ChrisinNam]

Thank you all for your replies. Very much appreciated.