Surgery and PMR? : How important is the fact that... - PMRGCAuk

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Surgery and PMR?

Loco99 profile image
15 Replies

How important is the fact that you have PMR relevant to hospital treatment and surgery?

I am on a low dose of Prednisolone and recently had abdominal surgery. According to my GP’s surgery notes I don’t have PMR at all but it has been recorded on the NHS database and I get extra Covid vaccinations.

I know I have PMR and take 5mg Prednisolone daily . Which notes would the surgeons refer to? If any?

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Loco99 profile image
Loco99
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15 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

I’d be wanting to know why your GPs surgery doesn’t have you listed as having PMR,.

As you’ve been on this forum for 11 years, and have PMR and presumably been on Pred for the same amount of time then who has been prescribing meds - and treating you?

Before you had surgery I’m hoping someone on arrival/on the wards discussed your meds - if so then surgeon would have been aware because they would be detailed on your hospital notes.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

WHY does the GP say you don't have PMR? On what grounds have they been prescribing pred?

I would hope that the hospital would take a history from YOU where you get it correct! I don't think the hospital has access to the GP notes though they would have a referral letter if they referred you to hospital for the surgery originally.

Bcol profile image
Bcol in reply to PMRpro

I think on the Patient Access app and maybe the NHS one there is a box you can tick which makes your full history and notes available to medical staff. Certainly the last few times I've had procedures/consultations in hospital they have had full access to my notes/information. The fact they have been accessed is also recorded on the app. Seems to make a lot of sense to me.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol

It does make sense, but I think it’s a bit hit & miss… depends on what permissions the GP surgery allows patients to access and what system they use.

Bcol profile image
Bcol in reply to DorsetLady

I suspect it just highlights what a brilliant surgery we have. I rang them at 08:00 yesterday morning, appointment f2f, my choice, with doctor at 10:00, 15-20 minute excellent consultation, reffered on to Orthopaedics specialists and an increase in Pred for a couple of weeks to test something out. The pharmacist was also there observing. Blood tests this morning. It's really sad when I read the comments on the forum, everyone's experience should be like the one I/we get. The Doc is pretty fed up with everything that's happening as well.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol

Yes we are lucky….as I’ve said before I don’t need much from mine nowadays…. so not sure if they’d be as prompt as yours, but at least all the staff are very pleasant and helpful.

Stills profile image
Stills in reply to Bcol

That’s amazing service at your surgery, how it should be and how it used to be. Where did it all go wrong?

Bcol profile image
Bcol in reply to Stills

If only we could answer that question and I don't think it's just about politics either. It's been the same at our surgery since we've been here and didn't change, even through Covid.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Stills

I think that it very much depends on who is running the surgery - and an awful lot have been merged or taken over by outside companies rather than being privately run by partners. Few younger doctors have the money to buy into a partnership now - they come out of uni with a massive debt around their necks already, if they take on a mortgage for a house that is it. Vast numbers of NHS staff and GPs have retired in the last 5 years because of our age - all my friends who were doctors are retired now and a lot of younger ones have headed for Oz or NZ for a better life/work balance.

Stills profile image
Stills in reply to PMRpro

It’s so depressing though and worrying for the future. I’m filled with worry and dread for my sons and grandchildren and mankind as a whole. I think I need to give myself a stern talking to as I already feel weepy all the time with the dreadful state of the world.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Stills

Switch your TV news off!! I have had a 2+ week break from the news! I was away for a week and just watched rugby in that time and when I came back it was wall to wall Middle East. I just couldn't take it at this time of the year, it is 2 years since OH died. I stuck to rugby and my usual UK progammes I record online so I skip everything but the actual programme.

There is not a lot we personally can do about the world so I think it is fine for us to look after ourselves and our mental health rather than add to it. I can't say anything going on at present surprises me so why all the politicians are so surprised at what has happened does seem strange. The carving up of Europe in 1921 by the Allies led directly to WWII - what's happening now has parallels. No learning from history.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to DorsetLady

And whether what the GP practice fed into the digital version is accurate - and we know that all too often it isn't.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro

Ah yes, human error is always a factor… some times it’s only a minor problem, but unfortunately sometimes it’s a major one.

Yes it is difficult time of year for you… and it always will be.

Like you I skip much of the news, and record many programmes rather than watch live…. it can become too much some days…

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

The key thing is that they know you take 5 mgs of Pred daily because of them assessing potential cortisol requirements during your operation and infection risks. Everything else has been said. Good luck with the surgery, I hope it is a complete success.

Loco99 profile image
Loco99

I’ve had the surgery and had complications, I didn’t get into a ward prior to the operation., I was in a passage in A&E! one month later (yesterday) the GP’s receptionist eventually let me speak to a real doctor on the phone! He said as aside, there is absolutely no record of you having PMR on our computer. He just couldn’t find it. I eventually found a mention of it the pharmacist’s notes from five years ago.

It certainly isn’t prominently displayed. Perhaps the hospital would have deduced from my medication that I had PMR but I’m sure there are other conditions treated with Pred. I was quite ill when I was admitted but luckily I remembered which medications I had been taking and was conscious.

I don’t even know where to start! This is one of many problems with my notes and files caused by bad or non existent data capturing and note taking. They seem to be almost totally incompetent as far as that’s concerned.

As a friend said, you couldn’t make it up! We are changing to another practice within the next few days before they kill us off!

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