The NHS is wonderful!

[Merry_Widow]

Just had my first conversation with my dietitian. He is going to give me support for at least four sessions and more if needed. He has given me proper advice, made good suggestions. He's going to contact my GP to take me off lansoprazole and get me a test for bile acid, plus he's going to recommend a probiotic to try. I feel like a load has been lifted off my shoulders.

So hang in there - I had to wait quite a long time for this appointment and it was only on the phone, which I don't really like, but it was worth the wait. Don't give up if you're in the same position. It takes the NHS a while to get round to you because they've no staff or money, but it's worth it when they do make contact.

[As1992]

I'm glad for you but I unfortunately haven't had such a wonderful experience with the NHS about my ibs and other unrelated health conditions. Neither have not been resolved till this day. I've had to go privately now to further investigate my conditions and I must say I've got more answers more than from the NHS.

[Merry_Widow in reply to As1992]

Yes, it's variable, isn't it? I'm in tears at the moment trying to deal with my GP surgery. The (wonderful) dietitian wants me to stop Lansoprazole, but I have to have a phone appointment with my GP to get their "permission". I know I don't actually need their permission, they can't force me to take the things, but that's the way the system works. Why the dietitian and the doctor can't talk to each other I don't know, why do I have to be involved at all?

So yesterday I phoned the surgery and the receptionist gave me a choice between waiting till 20 March or phoning today at 8 am for an appointment today. Phoned at 8 am, 34 people in queue, by the time I got to the top all the appointments were gone. I explained, again, to the receptionist that I am seeing the dietitian in two weeks time and I need to stop the lansoprazole now.

Fortunately she was sympathetic and has given me an appointment tomorrow afternoon, but it's just pot luck who you get to talk to.

I'm glad you're getting the answers you need and hope all goes well with you.

[ANB80]

Like As1992, I am glad for you. However, my experience of my NHS dietitians is completely the opposite to yours, sadly. I have seen 2 different ones, and both have been almost useless. I have very unique health conditions that contradict each other and significantly reduce what I can eat. So, I needed a dietitian to help me. All they did was send me a load of bumf in the post for me to figure it all out myself. Any questions I have don't really get a proper answer. And the advice they give is just generic.

[Merry_Widow in reply to ANB80]

That's awful. I have had exactly that experience in the past, so I was really pleased to find a good dietitian this time. I'm having problems with the GP surgery, though.

Unfortunately you need the stamina to pursue these things - and obviously when you're ill that's one thing you don't have. I've found my daughter very helpful as she is able to talk to the medical people better than me. I've had her recorded as my carer on my notes so they can't refuse to talk to her.

I realise everybody isn't able to call on a relative or friend. There should be a service called PALS at the hospital where the dietitians were based: nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospita... They should be able to help but its all a bit of a lottery, depends on what your local people are like.

I wonder if there are any local forums like this? I'm finding this very supportive but a local one would be able to advise us on the situation where we are. I've obviously been lucky in my local area and other people not so much where they live.