Covid bonus!

[oscarandchloe]

Our grand children gave us a New Year present of Covid, husband first then 4 days later me. I battled through the NHS Test and Trace system to see if I needed an antiviral, got an initial phone back by a doctor after 24 hours who thought we should wait another 24hours but by the time I'd waited for him 24hours had passed I was feeling better.He said another doctor would phone me the following day. So 72 hours after the initial contact, I got the second doctor's call. Now I'm much better and the time in which the antiviral is effective is nearly over anyway.

NOW to my joy, he is Professor Wordsworth from the Oxford Hospitals Rheumatology Dept, the place that has treated my GCA and PMR. We agree the antiviral isn't needed now. He has my notes and goes through my treatment, notices I've had no sed tests, asks about Pred reduction and does a little weaning plan for me. We discuss the use of Alendronic acid and since I have a good DEXA result, is quite OK I don't take it anymore. He sees the Prof heading up GCA etc now only sends out a questionnaire to me once a year as follow up and sets about writing to my GP for support and regular blood tests. He sees I've recently had both my hips replaced, he's had his done too and we discuss how great we feel. He offers a help phone number which I must use whenever I'm worried about reducing (which I'm not!) And we part the best of friends. The best and worst of the poor NHS?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good to hear (well apart from the covid of course)…. I have a ortho surgeon who is also a good guy - and has been very helpful over the last year with an issue almost 3 years after surgery - when lockdown made it impossible for any follow up treatment.

From discussions with him, I think a lot are very frustrated at not being able to do their job properly during 2020/21….

[SheffieldJane]

A heartening story in the end.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Sounds a bright point in the dark hole of the NHS at present. They are desperately frustrated at not being able to to do their jobs, There is an excellent article in the Guardian today from someone filling in time as an HCA who wants to do medicine.

theguardian.com/society/202...

They are so busy fire-fighting they can't do their job ...