Pred 'the controlled drug' update

[Artnmusiclover]

Just to let you know... It's taken a couple of weeks, but at long last I have had a return call from the manager at my Surgery. She was very apologetic about the information given by the receptionist and explained its likely there's been a misunderstanding, probably due to so many chest infections being treated with steroids and obviously people requesting more as they weren't feeling any better. On my previous post, many suggested a lack of understanding about the many different uses of steroids, and it seems you were right. I was reassured they won't be 'trying to get me off steroids' and I am getting some more. Problem solved 😌 👏

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Good news - and let’s hope the receptionist gets her facts correct in future.

[Artnmusiclover in reply to DorsetLady]

Indeed! The manager said she would address it and I suggested more training

[Suffererc in reply to DorsetLady]

trouble is they are being asked and trained to answer queries when really they don’t know. Reception is reception not the doctors office

[Grammy80]

So good to hear!! We have to stay on our toes, don't we?💞

[Artnmusiclover in reply to Grammy80]

We certainly do 😁

[Grammy80 in reply to Artnmusiclover]

😄😉There have been times I felt the medical profession was out to kill me....so thankful for some good ones and a clear mind~!💞

[Artnmusiclover in reply to Grammy80]

😁...I thankfully have a decent GP and got to say the manager was extreeeemly nice 👍

[HeronNS in reply to Artnmusiclover]

It was amazing how nice the person at the other end of the phone was when my files got mixed up with another patient to the extent that a pharmacist was trying to fill someone else's prescription for me, convinced, I believe, that I was in early stages of dementia and didn't remember a visit to the doctor. Usually they are rather brusque these days.

[Artnmusiclover in reply to HeronNS]

😳....oh I bet they were nice!! That's terrible

[HeronNS in reply to Artnmusiclover]

It's funny, I'd put this out of my mind, and have a very good relationship with that doctor now (he was very new when this happened and I will never know who was responsible for the mix-up) but a Facebook memory popped up just a few days ago to remind me of this event from two years ago.

[Artnmusiclover in reply to HeronNS]

Glad to hear you have a good relationship now...it could have been nasty...10/10 for forgiveness 😊

[HeronNS in reply to Artnmusiclover]

it was a relief things worked out because the list of people looking for a family doctor in NS was high enough then, it's now 130,000 people (out of a population of 1 million).

[Artnmusiclover in reply to HeronNS]

Bet it was!! That's a lot of people...I'm being thick now but where is NS?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Artnmusiclover]

Nova Scotia - it says on her Profile bio as well.

[Artnmusiclover in reply to PMRpro]

Ahhh..of course...🙄

[HeronNS in reply to Artnmusiclover]

Oops, sorry. So used to tweeting with people from the ROC (Rest Of Canada) I just use our provincial shortcut unconsciously!

[Artnmusiclover in reply to HeronNS]

Aw my fault...should have checked your bio 😊 I suppose it's a lot easier than writing it all out

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I should jolly well hope so!!! Hope they have used it as a teaching opportunity ...

[Artnmusiclover in reply to PMRpro]

Me too!...I hope she sticks to her word (It might help that I name dropped..one of my friends was a Doctor at the practice before retiring) 😊

[123-go in reply to PMRpro]

… how not to be a jobsworth!

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

what a common sense attitude you have, a learning curve 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Suffererc]

Been part of it far too many times ... At the teaching end that is!

[Koalajane]

that is good news and yes more training is needed

[Artnmusiclover in reply to Koalajane]

Absolutely! It's scary how many people get so mixed up with different steroids! ..though before I knew them personally I probably thought a steroid was a steroid 😬

[Grammy80]

When I was in the hospital recently one day the nurse came in and said...."Here is your methotrexate !" I reacted...squealing..."I Don't take that, never have, and never will!" I pushed it away like it was hemlock. I guess they thought it was a good substitute for my Actemra!

Oh I'm so glad I survived the system!🤪

[Poshdog in reply to Grammy80]

So are we xx

[tempusfugi in reply to Grammy80]

Thank God the nurse said what it was!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tempusfugi]

They tried to smuggle a statin in by just handing me a tablet and were very reluctant to use medical terminology "it's for your blood" or something equally daft! I nearly ended up in a wheelchair after a week or two on them - I was justified in my reticence. The second time I was persuaded to try I had a massive flare, the repercussions of which I'm only just emerging from after a year!

[tempusfugi in reply to PMRpro]

God! That's just awful. So, more than obviously, statins don't suit you then? My cholesterol is up and I have a telephone appt next week with my surgery, who are bound to try to persuade me to go on statins (well, that's what I think, anyway). I can't do so because statins don't like Phenytoin and, although sans fit for nigh on 50 years, I wouldn't want to chance it!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tempusfugi]

My usual cardiologist was OK about me not taking any but the spare was insistent. She, combined with the numpty ward doctor who simply stopped my medication because "it wasn't doing anything" (that took nearly a week to get over the one day) means I am very reticent about going to the ED when the a/fib is playing up in case I come up against them again. The Actemra sent the cholesterol up further - so now I get another anti-cholesterol drug but no idea if it is working yet.

[Artnmusiclover in reply to PMRpro]

It will be interesting to know if they are working! What an absolute stressful faff!

[Artnmusiclover in reply to tempusfugi]

Finding this interesting as I too am encountering problems after a short time on statins 🤔

[Artnmusiclover in reply to PMRpro]

That's terrible!...it amazes me how much of this goes on..I think statins are the new 'wonder' drug though not sure for what reason 🤔...I too have been put on statins..i was offered them in my recent diabetic check with a nurse and I refused, i said I wanted to see my nice GP first. He advised because of my family history of heart problems and high cholesterol it would be wise..so I compromised and said I'd take the very lowest dose. Its awful you're still feeling the after effects, and has provoked me to think are they worth it? I've been ill since starting them..and as for restless legs and no sleep...thats another post!!

[Suffererc in reply to Artnmusiclover]

your family history of …. Did YOU have high cholesterol!!!!

[Artnmusiclover in reply to Suffererc]

EXACTLY 🙄 ... I did ask and was told 'its on the high side and given your family history I would advise them' ...to which I reluctantly asked him, albeit kind of personally (I like him and my doctor friend rates him) 'but you know I don't like taking any more medication?' and we agreed to start the lowest dose. Might have to review this due to having the worst night of Restless legs last night

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

mistakes are innumerable. My youngest had someone else’s ailments on her notes for years. Similar names but different ages. I was amazed the things she had had treatment for, the other girl I meant

[Artnmusiclover in reply to Grammy80]

🙈...flippin heck...bet her face was a picture...we do have to be on our toes don't we!

[Flivoless]

It seems to me that many (most?) people that take a receptionists job think that simply by working in a medical arena that they immediately, and magically, accrue vast medical knowledge. Perhaps the job appeals to a certain type?

[Artnmusiclover in reply to Flivoless]

😁...yep...isn't it strange how many have 'knowledge' in things that have taken years of study for doctors to learn 🤔

[borednow in reply to Flivoless]

Apparently we have 2 new receptionists at our health centre (the previous 2 having disappeared ??!!). One of the new ones "knows" another member of staff and the other one will diagnose you and recommend treatment, whether you ask or not. She isn't of course supposed to do that but apparently her success rate amongst those who, in desperation at not being able to get an appointment with the GP's, has been very successful!! You just couldn't make this up, could you?

[Flivoless in reply to borednow]

I despair😡

[Artnmusiclover in reply to borednow]

You couldn't make it up!! ....reminds me of the time I had Covid and rang for an anti-viral drug...the receptionist said she'd ring me back...(teatime on a Friday) she did and promptly told me my antibiotics were waiting at the Chemist 😡😡😡arghhhh

[tempusfugi in reply to borednow]

That's kinda hilarious, if it wasn't so frightening, borednow🤣😱

[Suffererc in reply to Flivoless]

very true 🤣

[tempusfugi]

No small amount of relief then, Artnmusiclover! I didn't realise they gave out so many steroids for chest infections. Whatever, thanks for keeping us updated😃

[Artnmusiclover in reply to tempusfugi]

I know...me neither...I was talking to my elderly neighbour yesterday who ironically is recovering from a chest infection and has been treated with steroids. They gave her 8 but she wasn't better and had quite a battle getting more! Thinking there might have been a lot of similar cases and a big demand for steroids

[tempusfugi in reply to Artnmusiclover]

Goodness, hope steroids don't run out in UK! We'll all be going to Italy, France or Spain to buy them in pharmacies, if so😎

[Artnmusiclover in reply to tempusfugi]

😁...I already fee like moving out of the UK without any more encouragement

[tempusfugi in reply to Artnmusiclover]

Let me know when you go and I'll be right behind you😁 Don't get me wrong, I love the UK but somehow Europe feels more tempting at the moment!

[Artnmusiclover in reply to tempusfugi]

Absoflippinlutely! 😁...I know what you mean...UK is in your heart but I do dream sometimes haha

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Artnmusiclover]

I keep looking and considering if I should think about coming back, At present, not until hell freezs over ...

[Artnmusiclover in reply to PMRpro]

😆...not only wise in the field of health I see!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Artnmusiclover]

I have 2 daughters and a grandson on the inside of the NHS - god help them!!!!

[Artnmusiclover in reply to PMRpro]

Oh dear! I feel for them! It's a shambles what's happening

[Suffererc in reply to PMRpro]

😂🤣😂🤣😂

[S4ndy]

My GP is used to me questioning him on the drugs and doses he wants to prescribe for me. He knows that my ultimate question is "so, given my set of symptoms, would you personally take this drug at this dose?" It's amazing how many times he had changed his mind and either not prescribed or chosen a different drug. I am probably considered a difficult patient but it's my body, my choice

[Artnmusiclover in reply to S4ndy]

Hear hear 👏 ...well done for asking, and as you say our bodies our choice! I never 'just take anything' without asking why I need it

[Suffererc in reply to S4ndy]

I have done that 😂🤣😂