[Tengocity]

I've had a contrast from MRI in my shoulder and it was fine, except the needle was HUGE!

As for GPs. It's stretched beyond belief and I doubt anyone is going to get ideal care from the NHS. If you don't get Private Medical from your employer then I would suggest everyone with a decent income look in to it for themselves. I'd put it ahead of a new car for my family any day of the week. Who the hell can afford to wait years for a referral, same again for a diagnostic, and then again for an actual operation.

I struggled with a lower back and hip issue for a few years, which didn't imporve despite physio and chiropracter work. Used private healthcare to get an MRI, which showed a labral tear, and last week had it operated on and repaired with keyhole surgery. The surgeon said that it went very well and I don't have any bone or cartilage issues thankfully, as it was dealt with early enough. Another two years and it would have been a different story, and I'd be on my way to needing a replacement hip.

There is no way that I'd have got this on the NHS, and even if i'd have had to pay for it out my own pocket it would have been worth it.

[Watsey]

Although I've generally not had to wait long for NHS treatment once I'd been referred (angiogram; hernia repair), the quality of care is another issue.

The hernia repair hasn't been successful, and will need another consultation.

After my worst episode of lower back pain which lasted five weeks, confined me to the ground floor of the house, sleeping on a mattress in the lounge, (not actually sleeping because sleep is almost impossible when you're in excruciating pain), taking strong meds (including liquid morphine) round the clock every 4,5, and 7 hours, taking 20 minutes to get from the floor to a chair each day, screaming in pain at the slightest movement, and taking literally an hour to make a round trip of 20 feet each time I needed to go to the downstairs WC, I had a consultation at the pain management clinic.

I'd just weaned myself off the meds (and laxatives - opiates cause chronic constipation), just about managed to drive to the clinic, was using two walking sticks to get around (very slowly and painfully), had and went to discuss options for pain management if/when I had another episode in the future.

There were two practitioners - a guy who is a senior physiotherapist who really wanted to hear about the problems and to suggest things that could really make a difference, and a young lady involved in the 'new ways' of pain management.

Apparently a lot of pain is in the mind, and this can be used to manage the situation. The alarm bells are already ringing at the point. When she said "you're just going to have to think your way out of it" I was very clear in my reply..."I suggest you leave now, or I'm going to be very rude." He looked awkward, she left, and then we got into physio, core strength, losing a few pounds, sleeping positions, etc, which seem to have made a real difference. I've not had an episode since.

[danb1979]

Unfortunately it's a bit too late for insurance currently; but something I will look into in the near future

For now we're paying for it; we're fortunate that we've both got a decent income and solid savings too

At the end of the day, you can't take it with you!

Re care; when I was in A&E and then Preston hospital for a week; I was really looked after and couldn't have faulted them. I was on IV everything, couldn't sleep at all for the first few nights due to the pain (I'd collapsed my lungs I was breathing that shallow; had no idea until they gave me an MRI on the Sunday evening (admitted the Thursday before), and after that I managed to get some sleep etc

The overnight nurses (mainly Indian) were absolutely lovely and they really took care of all 5 of us in that ward

I was a giant to them apparently (albeit broken)

And then when I had to go in for my gallbladder removal op; in and out in a day at Chorley hospital; but again looked after really well. The anaesthetist and his colleague & surgeon all came to see me at bedside and talk me through what was going to happen etc and to discuss that I'd need a horses dose of 'Friday night special' as she called it due to my size haha

Honestly it absolutely floored me; the general I was given for my first op in May was fine; I'd recovered by the following morning

But the gallbladder op one (a more intrusive op obviously); it buggered me up for a good week!

So all in the NHS side has been fine; just my GPs are a shower of shit at the best of times

And now I'm currently private; it's a different world! The facilities are so much more better; but then again that's what happens when you pay for it...

You can see where the money goes & why they charge you so much!

[KRS_SN]

In the years gone by if a patient has a routine problem needing hospital, a referral would be done and they're seen in clinic in 3 months.
Now the wait is 18 months and sometimes come the 18th month its rescheduled again.

So I see these cohort of patients who should ideally be seen by a specialist in 3 months every 2-3 months until that 18th month and try my best and the hospital won't see them quicker and the patients get frustrated and think I'm at fault as when they ring the hospital they're told see your GP when I ring the hospital answer is sorry can't see them sooner. This isn't a barb at my hospital colleagues as I'm not in their shoes.

Basically the workload of complex chronic issues needing specialist care which would normally have been seen at hospital is being managed by us now increasingly and this isn't great for us or the patients but it is what it is and outwith our control. There isn't any pay uplift for this extra work either and it's risky as if the patients come to harm you hold the can though you know your'e up against the system.

Most of us from the past are used to abuse and trundle along trying to do our best whereas younger colleagues are choosing to take a different view of their worth and work ethics .

One final point of relevance here...
musculoskeletal problems and pain are 2 areas which are linked to each other and the NHS is very ill equipped to deal with this. To illustrate this a person with back/knee pain.
Decides to go private, gets surgery/injection/s etc at month 3 problem solved.
Within the NHS it would probably be months of painkillers review by a physiotherapist scan months after then review by a consultant then a lesser possibility of surgical options offered followed by pain killers etc..

'GP's are terrible' really doesn't cause any offence...you're primed for that by the mail etc since a decade or more. Reading about the suffering that watsey and danb1979 are undergoing is what causes more grief. BTW in most cases unless you live somewhere remote you can choose another GP surgery. This can be beneficial both ways.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Unfortunately it's a bit too late for insurance currently; but something I will look into in the near future

For now we're paying for it; we're fortunate that we've both got a decent income and solid savings too

At the end of the day, you can't take it with you!

Re care; when I was in A&E and then Preston hospital for a week; I was really looked after and couldn't have faulted them. I was on IV everything, couldn't sleep at all for the first few nights due to the pain (I'd collapsed my lungs I was breathing that shallow; had no idea until they gave me an MRI on the Sunday evening (admitted the Thursday before), and after that I managed to get some sleep etc

The overnight nurses (mainly Indian) were absolutely lovely and they really took care of all 5 of us in that ward

I was a giant to them apparently (albeit broken)

And then when I had to go in for my gallbladder removal op; in and out in a day at Chorley hospital; but again looked after really well. The anaesthetist and his colleague & surgeon all came to see me at bedside and talk me through what was going to happen etc and to discuss that I'd need a horses dose of 'Friday night special' as she called it due to my size haha

Honestly it absolutely floored me; the general I was given for my first op in May was fine; I'd recovered by the following morning

But the gallbladder op one (a more intrusive op obviously); it buggered me up for a good week!

So all in the NHS side has been fine; just my GPs are a shower of shit at the best of times

And now I'm currently private; it's a different world! The facilities are so much more better; but then again that's what happens when you pay for it...

You can see where the money goes & why they charge you so much!

Whether it's insurance or self pay I think the point is, don't let the idea of a "free" NHS option, or a mentality that one shouldn't have to pay for it oneself, be the mindset. I know too many people distractedby how they think the world should be, rather than making the best decision based on how the world actually is.

You absolutely cannot take it with you, and beyond food, warmth and shelter, I can't think of anything better to spend money on than your health, or the health of your nearest and dearest.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

'GP's are terrible' really doesn't cause any offence...

It's a shame that you guys are put in that situation though. It's a system that sucks, but the individuals on both sides take the brunt of it.

I heard an interesting analogy about the NHS recently... most people think it's an elephant, whereas if you look closely, it's actually a swarm of insects, shaped like an elephant... good luck with managing that!

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

It's a shame that you guys are put in that situation though. It's a system that sucks, but the individuals on both sides take the brunt of it.

Yeah ...think that something is advertised and promised as an all you can eat 5 star buffet and in reality there's water, breaded fish and some tatties in stock. There's barely enough to feed the truly hungry and keep them alive. And you're the waiter...in the frontline and responsibe for customer satisfaction.

[KRS_SN]

I had an MRI of cochlea once for tinnitus. This was pre pandemic. All was normal.
The noises were strange what a racket as if there were many wooden sticks being beat against a wall.
OP you'd have had your egfr(kidney function) checked if in the last 90 days that's sufficient to ensure you'll clear the dye naturally.
There is a tiny chance of anaphylaxis but they're set up to deal with this with epipen etc should this happen and hopefully it won't. And hope you don't have ANY metalwork in your body if you do..tell them

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

I had an MRI of cochlea once for tinnitus. This was pre pandemic. All was normal.
The noises were strange what a racket as if there were many wooden sticks being beat against a wall.
OP you'd have had your egfr(kidney function) checked if in the last 90 days that's sufficient to ensure you'll clear the dye naturally.
There is a tiny chance of anaphylaxis but they're set up to deal with this with epipen etc should this happen and hopefully it won't. And hope you don't have ANY metalwork in your body if you do..tell them

Yup; the MRI machines do make some wonderful noises...

Watch the video(s) on YT of them being tested without the outer casings on; they spin at some speed

There are videos of them showing what happens to metal objects in the room too and they're not stuck down!

Nope; no metal in my body thankfully

[danb1979]

Just out of the CT scan.. Contrast made me have a hot flush and a weird metallic taste in my mouth.

Only just fit too. Had to have my arms over my head to get it around me and that's not fun with 2 buggered shoulders from years of lifting haha...

Just the MRI to go now

Least I'll be warm for the weekend

[xenon]

Not a fan of MRI as I'm a bit claustrophobic but they're a great non-invasive tool. I used to be a service engineer on them many years ago and no - you don't want to have any metal around....

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by xenon

Not a fan of MRI as I'm a bit claustraphobic but they're a great non-invasive tool. I used to be a service engineer on them many years ago and no - you don't want to have any metal around....

Fortunately I'm not claustrophobic. Issue is I tend not to fit but have been told with this being a private hospital that theirs fits all sizes...

We'll see

[xenon]

The one I had was made for my size but still not a fan.... Good luck.

[danb1979]

Out; done & dusted

The contrast has given me a proper hot flush; still feel like I'm burning up now...

I just fit into the MRI; they had to guide me in (shoulders) to make sure I stayed on the bed

Should have the results back in 2 weeks; just need to get the pain management doc appointment sorted now - that got cancelled on Monday & haven't had an update yet

[martin10chk]

Originally Posted by danb1979

Out; done & dusted

The contrast has given me a proper hot flush; still feel like I'm burning up now...

I just fit into the MRI; they had to guide me in (shoulders) to make sure I stayed on the bed

Should have the results back in 2 weeks; just need to get the pain management doc appointment sorted now - that got cancelled on Monday & haven't had an update yet

Well all the best. It would be nice if they can give you some good news this side of Christmas.

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by martin10chk

Well all the best. It would be nice if they can give you some good news this side of Christmas.

Cheers Martin

Min is 2 weeks due to the backlog (private & NHS) I'm pencilled in for 20th in case they have it done, but realistically it'll be 3rd Jan unfortunately

You'd think going private & paying would speed it up; but nope

Bad day today unfortunately; horrendous pain and couldn't get away from it. It's eased off a touch after a hot bath and will take 4th & final dose in 30mins and then I can get to bed & try and get some sleep...

[danb1979]

So to update this; results back and say the consultant surgeon last night

Fortunately both scans showed no other issues; all internal organs healthy etc. Showed a slight niggle with a disc in my lower back; but they said it's a very old issue as the way it's healed/scare tissue etc shows that it's nowhere near recent

This is good as it means nothing untoward is going on, causing the pain I'm having

So I'm now booked in on 03rd Jan 2024 for my operation and that'll be 3-4 weeks recover; great timing as we're off to The Highlands beginning of Feb for 2-3 weeks!

The most painful part will be paying for it