Have You Avoided The Doctor?

I phoned 111 a couple of weeks ago as I thought I was having signs of a heart attack on it's way! The phone back doc was very thorough and when I answered no to all his questions I decided against going on for a check.

I still get the tingly arm feeling heavy spasmodically but I also have tingling numb feet most of the time and a numb feeling in one ear occasionally, hey ho, what will be will be lol.

I ignored tell tale symtoms of an infection. Very silly, as I became very poorly, very quickly & was very close to being sent to A&E. Im still now not quite 100%. Iv also still got to attend hospital on Monday for a scan which I'm rather nervous about.

Because of severe back pain (I do have a back condition - but it was worse than usual) my chiropractor recommended that I see the doc and potentially get an MRI. Discussed this with the doc when she phoned and we decided that I should wait until after this is over (ha, ha, I wonder when that will be!) so am still waiting but don't want to go to a hospital and catch anything nasty!

My mum was called in to the GP to get a blood test and to take her vitamin b12 injection

As some people on LD know, I had a bleach burn on my face around 4 weeks ago and it got infected.

I went to see the pharmacist (which I really didn't want to do) and he didn't seem that fussed. Told me to take antihistamine and apply aqueous cream.

I'm not sure whether staying away from the GP was a good thing or not. All I do know is that it has been one of the most stressful things I've had (and I've been through some right nonsense).

Anyway, looks like it's on the mend now

This is certainly a problem. Many people have avoided going to their GP or a hospital due to COVID-19. This includes people who are seriously ill - https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/apr/13/government-campaign-will-urge-seriously-ill-not-to-avoid-hospitals

The lockdown has also been negatively impacting the mental health of a lot of people and they're finding it difficult to get help from services that were already overstretched before the start of the outbreak. The lockdown has led increased inactivity and as a consequence a rise in obesity, which can lead to further health issues. Being overweight 'has [also] been found to increase the severity of COVID-19' if you catch it - https://diabetestimes.co.uk/obesity-found-to-increase-covid-19-severity/

Yeah I needed some cream which I ran out. The hot weather is not great for my skin and need a certain cream. I need to pay for prescriptions anyway so decided to buy my own from Amazon. A couple of quid more but no big issue

No we've not done the doctor at all although to be fair we're not regular visitors. My little girl is overdue her yearly jabs but we're not really going out so it didn't seem a huge thing to delay them. Should probably call and schedule them in.

My surgery advises to message them online and doctor messages you back with the answer. I like it better, you skip sitting in a waiting room and still get same advice and prescription if needed. I would likevit to stay this way.

Although, dentists are opening soon (have opened) not sure why GP's aren't - well atleast in my area. I have contacted my GP and they say 'we can't check anything further until you are allowed to come into the GP' (because of lockdown). I am defintely one of the confused members of the public, where they are telling people to go to their GPs/NHS to get treated but then they can't really treat me..

Yes my doctors are useless anyway theyve refused me my epilepsy medication for months. One minute they tell me theyve sent it over to pharamcy then i go to pharmacy and they havent sent it over and i spend ages going back and forth to try and find out where medication is. Never end up leaving with my medication.

I had cause to phone surgery this morning, 9am (on going problem that has intensified over weekend) Doc phoned back 10.10. Outcome go to surgery tomorrow for bloods and await appointment for MRI.

I have chronic illnesses so I have to speak to my doc every 3 weeks, luckily I do this on the phone although had to go to the hospital once at the height of the pandemic.

Also waiting for a hospital appointment but they are delayed now