It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

kangoora

crv1963 wrote: »

I had the Flu jab a few days before so probably a bit late- I'd advise anyone to get it but if Flu strikes- drink lots of fluids, take regular Pain relief and rest as much as possible and stay away from others so you don't spread it!

I'm trying a new tack this year. For as long as I can remember I rarely suffered from flu/colds etc and, if I did get them, very rarely was i affected for more than 24-36 hours. It used to annoy my wife something rotten that I'd be sick as a dog but 24 hours later I was fine again as any cold used to hit her for a minimum of a week.

For the last two years I had the flu jab and have never been so sick in my life. 2 bouts of tonsilitis, a bad case of flu, innumerable small colds etc.

This year I'm giving the jab a miss and seeing how it goes.......

Sea_Shell

I finally went for an "old lady" swim today...head firmly above water in case of a coughing fit. Did 30 mins and then sat in the steam room for 10 mins.

My ears are still blocked, which is annoying, as everything's muffled and tinnitus'y. Hope they'll clear up soon.

When would you try and get to see GP, another week, if they stay like this? I've read that prolonged inner ear pressure can damage the nerves and it can become permanent!!!

Ganga

ffacoffipawb wrote: »

Brrr -4C today. Glad I no longer have to go to work.

Shouldn't be up at this hour really. Just putting the heating on ...

Pre set the timer,saves geting up early and when you do get up the house is warm:rotfl:

JoeEngland

cfw1994 wrote: »

I’m hoping not to see the wrong side of 9am on freezing mornings when I’m retired, never mind 5:54am :rotfl:

One thing I don't miss at this time of year is scraping ice off the car windows and waiting minutes for the blower to de-mist the windscreen.

bluenose1

Seashell - never sure myself when appropriate to go to Doctors, though would avoid going and let it run it's normal course unless in a lot of pain. The NHS Site says wait 3 weeks. I take paracetamol and ibuprofen when full of cold. And totally smother my nose in lip salve if blowing nose a lot.
Saves a stinging nose and the Rudolph look.

Sea_Shell

bluenose1 wrote: »

Seashell - never sure myself when appropriate to go to Doctors, though would avoid going and let it run it's normal course unless in a lot of pain. The NHS Site says wait 3 weeks. I take paracetamol and ibuprofen when full of cold. And totally smother my nose in lip salve if blowing nose a lot.
Saves a stinging nose and the Rudolph look.

Thanks, yes have been drugged up and have been using Vaporub as a lip salve and (external) nose balm. Really has helped, Rudolph averted!!

Maybe I'll try making an appointment (on line only...always a challenge), as no doubt there won't be any available in the next week or two (or 3) anyway!! If it clears up I can always cancel.

Sea_Shell

Earliest on-line Non emergency appointment available...…...6th January 2020!!! So I've booked it, as it will be serious if they haven't cleared up by themselves by then!!!!

There's still the option of ringing up for an emergency appointment....but it isn't....yet!!!

I went through the on-line NHS 111 service, and they say "contact your GP today or tomorrow"

Anyway, I think I've derailed my own thread enough now.

Brilley

I have worked in a GP Practice, (non clinical), and it always surprises me that people are not aware of GP routine waiting times. It is well publisised that due to ongoing GP shortages practices have been in "crisis" for years and I would think the average wait for most routine appointments would be anything from 2 weeks at the absolute best, but more typically 3/4 weeks, and this is made worse over the "higher demand" Winter Period. It would help if people didn't go to see a GP with a routine cold as there is nothing they can do that you can't do for yourself (...pharmacisits can help), and most cold cycles probably last a week.
Also medically well researched that flu jabs do not cause colds etc....I think a common urban myth.

Health inevitably becomes more of an issue once retired. I went for years / decades and never went near a GP surgery (apart from work), once retired I seem to be going every few months!

nigelbb

Brilley wrote: »

I have worked in a GP Practice, (non clinical), and it always surprises me that people are not aware of GP routine waiting times. It is well publisised that due to ongoing GP shortages practices have been in "crisis" for years and I would think the average wait for most routine appointments would be anything from 2 weeks at the absolute best, but more typically 3/4 weeks, and this is made worse over the "higher demand" Winter Period. It would help if people didn't go to see a GP with a routine cold as there is nothing they can do that you can't do for yourself (...pharmacisits can help), and most cold cycles probably last a week.
Also medically well researched that flu jabs do not cause colds etc....I think a common urban myth.

Health inevitably becomes more of an issue once retired. I went for years / decades and never went near a GP surgery (apart from work), once retired I seem to be going every few months!

This all depends on the GP practice & how well staffed & managed they are. In many practices same day appointments are still the norm. It’s depressing that even someone who has worked in a GP practice accepts & sees as normal long delays for appointments rather than blaming government policy & underfunding over the last 9 years.

BTW pretty much all areas now how an Urgent Treatment Centre where you can just book in & be seen by a GP just like you would attend A&E for a more serious problem. Indeed many areas have the UTC co-located with A&E with a single registration process & streaming to the best service.

Suffolk_lass

I went to see one of our practice doctors a few years ago and she was clearly so stressed that I asked her if she was OK - she opened up and told me about just how stressful and pressured the job is. We are at a critical point now where that career choice is so unattractive to qualifying doctors that they are electing to choose other paths. It also goes some way to explaining why many are leaving and why there is such a high suicide rate among the profession. Funding started it, I agree but a combination of factors (including the maximum size for pension pots) and the pressures are making it so much worse.