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 😌 👏
Pred 'the controlled drug' update: Just to let you... - PMRGCAuk
Pred 'the controlled drug' update
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Artnmusiclover
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DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Good news - and let’s hope the receptionist gets her facts correct in future.
Indeed! The manager said she would address it and I suggested more training
trouble is they are being asked and trained to answer queries when really they don’t know. Reception is reception not the doctors office
So good to hear!! We have to stay on our toes, don't we?💞
We certainly do 😁
😄😉There have been times I felt the medical profession was out to kill me....so thankful for some good ones and a clear mind~!💞
😁...I thankfully have a decent GP and got to say the manager was extreeeemly nice 👍
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.
😳....oh I bet they were nice!! That's terrible
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.
Glad to hear you have a good relationship now...it could have been nasty...10/10 for forgiveness 😊
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).
Bet it was!! That's a lot of people...I'm being thick now but where is NS?
Nova Scotia - it says on her Profile bio as well.
Ahhh..of course...🙄
Oops, sorry. So used to tweeting with people from the ROC (Rest Of Canada) I just use our provincial shortcut unconsciously!
Aw my fault...should have checked your bio 😊 I suppose it's a lot easier than writing it all out
PMRproAmbassador
I should jolly well hope so!!! Hope they have used it as a teaching opportunity ...
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) 😊
that is good news and yes more training is needed
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 😬
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!🤪
Thank God the nurse said what it was!
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!
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!
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.
It will be interesting to know if they are working! What an absolute stressful faff!
Finding this interesting as I too am encountering problems after a short time on statins 🤔
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!!
your family history of …. Did YOU have high cholesterol!!!!
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
🙈...flippin heck...bet her face was a picture...we do have to be on our toes don't we!
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?
😁...yep...isn't it strange how many have 'knowledge' in things that have taken years of study for doctors to learn 🤔
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?
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
That's kinda hilarious, if it wasn't so frightening, borednow🤣😱
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😃
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
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😎
😁...I already fee like moving out of the UK without any more encouragement
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!
Absoflippinlutely! 😁...I know what you mean...UK is in your heart but I do dream sometimes haha
I keep looking and considering if I should think about coming back, At present, not until hell freezs over ...
😆...not only wise in the field of health I see!
I have 2 daughters and a grandson on the inside of the NHS - god help them!!!!
Oh dear! I feel for them! It's a shambles what's happening
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 
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
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