Hi i'm really confused as to why this would not make me high risk to the covid 19 disease..I first spoke to a receptionist who said it made me high risk and need to follow government guidelines. My work has me down as a high risk colleague. So i just did the lockdown thing. Then work asked for a letter from a doctor.

I spoke to a Doctor who said i was higher risk but not part of the governments high risk.. meaning i can't get paid for isolating.

Are you kidding me? My chest is in pain all the time, without a respiratory disease.I actually miss being at work but i genuinely believe if i catch this thing i'll be straight in an ICU ward. I thought i was the sort of person the government didn't want catching it.

I work in a supermarket and i feel like ive been basically told i'm expendable. Because if i could work from home obviously i would. I'm actually shaking now at the idea of going back. I know how rubbish people are at social distancing. Some people are just to stupid to realise whats going on as well.

I'm thinking of calling again for a second doctors opinion i don't know what else i can do.I'm curious as to what anyone else with Pneumothorax is doing with themselves.

​

Update: Turns out i have pop corn lung and that's the cause. Doc said its mainly people on medication for severe conditions which i don't take. So i guess i still wouldn't fall under the governments high risk category.Its hard to dispute it not making me higher risk then someone who doesn't have pop corn lung though.I could take extra precautions at work yes, but its obviously not the same as complete shielding which I'm essentially not allowed to do.

Also someone at my work has already been coughed on intentionally by the public.

It just feels like our lives are not valued, we're not even getting anything like a tax relief for being made to work through it.And yes it is forced. If any of us resigned we wouldn't be entitled to benefits and trying to find a from home job is next to impossible.

So I want to book an emergency appointment with the GP later today (it's 2:10am) or tommorow. A month ago I had a pretty bad UTI and now I have bladder problems that are not painful or anything (need to go more frequently and never feel like am done) but I waited a week to see if my symptoms would improve, but now I have this wierd tightness in the left side of my lower back and when I put pressure on it (i.e. sit or lie down for long periods of time) it turns into a faint dull pain. The urination problems have improved a little bit but the tightness in my back is still there. (Also sorry if this isn't the right thread for the details)

I just want to know if this is enough of an issue to warrant an appointment with the GP, especially considering the pandemic going on, I really don't wanna be a strain on the NHS. Thanks in advance for any advice.

I hope this message finds you safe and well. I've started a time-capsule to document the UK's collective COVID-19 experience.

How is your life impacted by the coronavirus? I'd love to hear from you. You can add your story by leaving an anonymous voice message any time: 0333 050 9502 (there's a greeting to guide you). Thank you!

https://preview.redd.it/iqyxh7bcazr41.jpg?width=2943&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=26d6f26a76b569ec35d05eb7244cdce5cdf459f0

The story so far: Instagram // Website

Hi Reddit,

Please consider participating in this online study we are conducting at the University of Liverpool aimed at promoting understanding about the mental health & wellbeing impact of COVID19 on people living in the UK: https://livpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1YQ8W0390SmZG8l

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/covid19mentalhealthsurvey/

Thank you!

Hello, we are a group of psychology researchers at University of Kent, UK. It would be a huge help if anyone interested would fill out our quick survey about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the politics surrounding it: https://kentpsych.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cXU9FA9IXLac5Ux

The survey takes less than 10 minutes, and we're happy to answer any queries or questions you may have!

Thanks for your time.

Edit: Thanks for anyone that took part. If you’re interested, our findings have now been published (open access) in the British Journal of Social Psychology: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjso.12397

I woke up this morning with a very localised pain In my upper left abdomen which has not gone away and is causing me problems.

​

I don't have a GP and would rather not go to the UCC, what would you advise would be a sensible route to seek attention? I would like not to put extra pressure on services seeing primarily Covid patients and real emergencies, but i also don't think I would be wise to wait too long. Are GPs taking new patients right now?

​

Many thanks all

Sorry if this kind of question is being asked too often here. It's my first time on the subreddit.

To cut a long story short: I was recommended to start the acne medication Isotretonin (Roaccutane) by my doctor in England, but due to the virus situation I have had to move back to my family home in Scotland.

The whole lockdown situation would be the perfect time for me to start this treatment, with no temptations of alcohol or sunlight and no fear of having dry skin at a social event. Alas, it also seems to be an impossible time to start since my GP isn't taking appointments nor private dermatologists.

I do have a letter from my old doctor recommending I start the treatment. Can anyone think of a way I might get around this? Is there an online Dr or something where I can be given a prescription?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

My flatmate in London works in the A&E department of a major hospital. I’m young, late thirties, in good health and only occasional asthma (during hayfever season) - but I’m wondering if I should move out for the duration of the quarantine? What are the chances she’ll catch the virus and bring it back with her? And what is my risk in that regard? Am I being silly?

For frontline NHS teams affected by the virus, Rotageek are offering access to their Digital Scheduling Solution at no cost, no obligation, and no strings attached for the next 3 months.
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Hey guys!

I am a user researcher at a healthcare startup. Our app allows cancer patients to track their medications and symptoms.

We're now trying to test it and get as much feedback as possible to see how we can improve it; and are running a competition to win something that could make a lockdown a little easier. So if you or anybody you know is going through cancer treatment at the moment take a look at https://www.vinehealth.ai/competition! and hopefully we can help you feel a little more in control amidst all this chaos.

Unfortunately we're only UK based for the time-being, but we appreciate all the love we can get. Let me know if there are any questions?

Look after yourselves, stay healthy - much love.

A

My mum is over 50 and has previously had pneumonia. My brother lives with my mum and has self isolated today as he's showing symptoms of flu and has a fever. I've advised my mum to stay with friends whilst my brother is in isolation, but she isn't having any of it. I'm worried that because she's had pneumonia previously and is over 50 it will affect her worse. Am I right to be worried? I've tried to search for answers online but it's not coming up with anything helpful.

I have some preexisting conditions and I get generics from my GP on the NHS. I need to go out of the country for four to five months. The NHS will only provide three months of meds - that's fine, I understand that. How can I get the other one to two months privately?

My GP can't write a private prescription because all of the meds are available on the NHS.

The local Bupa clinic won't prescribe anything for preexisting conditions.

It seems the online doctors only focus on certain narrow areas of healthcare.

I will be travelling to the US where the cost of doctors visits and meds are astronomical in comparison to the UK, so that is not an option.

Travel insurance does not cover prescription medication even if preexisting conditions are covered.

Thanks!

Posting on behalf of my mother who is 65 years old, diagnosed with copd many years ago but recently due to flare ups and other changes has become bedridden. She has been slowly losing bladder control and is now wetting the bed very often, unable to get up and clean herself. does anyone have suggestions as to charities or other outside sources that we can contact for advice &or help. She lives with me and my brother, her 2 sons and for obvious reasons is not comfortable with us helping her wash etc. We're really at a loss for ideas and have received no help at all for many years, but have managed to get by. Now things are just becoming a bit too much and we're unsure of what to do or who to speak to.

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Edit: had the GP out today and he has sent off some referrals to see what help is available for us, so hopefully something comes of that.

Firstly thank you in advance for reading this, I wasn't quite sure where to go for answers but thought this place might be helpful.

Basically in May 2018 my mother was rushed to A&E after suffering some severe side effects of radiotherapy treatment for oral cancer. She unfortunately passed away and to cut a long story short since then I have been attempting to get hold of the medical records from that A&E visit. I was told that the notes had been lost - obviously this is not okay and I have asked numerous times for the records to be found to no avail. I have been told that the only thing they are able to provide me with is a discharge summary, but this doesn't solve the problem.

What can I do about the lost notes?? This is obviously not acceptable but ultimately I know that nothing will come of it. It is just an extremely frustrating situation to be in.

Hello all,

Me, with another moan.
English isn't my first language but long story short - I had a blood test earlier this week because it hurts when I wee. Anyway, I got a text today with the result, it looks like everything is fine but I can't quite work out what it means and it has a spelling mistake in it.

“Further to your recent blood tests, please repeat them in 3months due to mildyly raised liver test. Fairfax Group Practice.”

Does this mean everything is fine? Is mildyly a spelling mistake, I searched google and it appears there is no such word.

Thanks again.

Hello everyone,I'm not seeking medical advice here, but seeking advice of how to navigate the extremely bizarre British healthcare system (or lack thereof)

Tl;DR I want to go back onto a medication I was already on, but new GP won't prescribe. The private mental healthcare system in the UK has no power to prescribe (unless your public GP agrees). Where do I go? In Germany I would just book a private psychiatrist, get an appointment tomorrow, pay 80EUR and they would have the expertise and power to prescribe an acute solution AND the public system would respect the opinion of the private practitioner and fully pay my medication.

I'm a German citizen who moved to the UK in 2016, when I came here I was on antidepressants with a small dose of antipsychotics (Fluoxetine 60mg/Quitapine 25mg) I came here presented my medication and continued with the course primarily due to the insomnia symptomatic of massive depressive disorder.

I asked to come off in 2018 due to weight gain. I've lost the weight but the insomnia and depression is back and bad.I've just been to a new GP (I've moved area, I can't see my old GP the UK works on a catchment system basis) and he said he won't prescribe Quitapine even though I was on it, in the UK and Germany very safely for years.

There's no viable option to go private in the British system, I can go to a private psychiatrist but they cannot prescribe, I asked my GP "if I get a private second opinion will you prescribe?" he said no "he doesn't feel comfortable prescribing Quitapine" even though it is perfectly safe especially in dose 25mg (normal dose 300-600). I left the room, as is the case pretty much every time I use the British healthcare system with no solution, no answers, nothing.

I'm feeling very bad – how do I get a solution in this country without having to fly to Germany and see a private practitioner and get a course of antidepressants.

It feels like the system here is more likely to punish someone misprespcribing, than neglecting someone and just kicking them out with no solution knowing they are suicidal and need sleep.

I'm feeling very bad – how do I get a solution in this country without having to fly to Germany and see a private practitioner who I used to see to get a course of antidepressants/antipsychotics.

I need sleep.

Hey!

My names Alex, qualified (newbie) hospital pharmacist in UK.

A while back, I took some interest in making pharmacy-education videos (seeing as theres not much material on pharmacy videos on Youtube).

Recently I made a brief guide video on 'what questions to ask when doing a drug history' - could be good stuff for pharmacy technicians / pre-regs!

Future videos may also benefit doctors / nurses!

Please could I borrow some time and ask if you could have a look! :)

Feedback would be well appreciated! Please subscribe!

Heres the link!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYRgpQRPoIg&t=401s

Hope it helps!

Thanks :)

Hello there,

My wife and I recently moved to the UK under work and dependent visas. We have our IHS numbers due to needing to pay that surcharge ahead of time to get the visas, but we dont have NHS numbers or cards yet.

My question is: If we visit a hospital, will insurance pay for our visit if we only have the IHS number, or would we have to pay completely out of pocket until we receive the full NHS details?

Hi, my dad a few years back suffered with pneumonia. Which left his lungs in pretty bad shape. He struggles to breathe and his oxygen levels are suffering.

Does anybody know where I can buy a legitimate oxygen tank to help him? TIA

Hello everyone,

A small question if you dont mind. My fiance is from the US, however, we plan to marry soon and he will be living with me in the UK with the corresponding permit.

He is a kidney transplant patient and thus requires immunosuppressants and a few other meds. We are aware that as long as the permit isnt 100% official (it will only be after the marriage), he needs to either bring his meds to have sufficient supply or we'd have to pay for it privately.

My question is, once he has his permit and is an OFFICIAL resident of the UK, living together with me, will the NHS cover his medication costs or will we have to continue to pay it in private or find a private health insurance?

Many thanks for any input!

A hot bath is really essential for our body because it helps us to reduce our body pain and make yourself stress-free. There are some more benefits of a hot tub:

1. It lowers blood sugar. A warm bath can burn your calories, and it will help to maintain your blood sugar.
2. Lowers blood pressure. Nowadays, most of people have high blood pressure. For everyday work pressure, they can not regularly walk to maintain their high blood pressure. If you talk a hot bath, it will help to keep maintain blood pressure.
3. Fall asleep faster. At present most of the person is facing Insomnia. A hot bath is perfect for them. If you take a regular warm bath, it will be sure that you can overcome this problem.
4. Relieves muscle pain. If you have any kind of muscle pain, a hot bath will help to relieve your pain.
5. Moisturizes your skin. One of the best things about a hot bath is it will help to moisturize your skin. Sometimes it helps to prevent skin disease.
6. Reduces headaches and improves blood circulation

Hi

My partner is suffering from a slipped disk plus a swollen disk sitting on a nerve causing daily pain. She has had MRI scan to confirm all this and is down as urgent. Even so, the waiting list takes her up to October 2020 to be seen by a specialist.

We do t have private health care at the moment.

What options does she have in order to get treatment much sooner?

Thanks

Hello there, my sister in law just moved to the UK from the US and told us her friend had a terrible time with her child’s birth while there. She claims her friend wasn’t allowed to have her husband in the room for the birth of their baby if she opted for an epidural. She said that was the policy. I call ridiculous on that. But wanted to check with you guys. Any truth to this? Can you really not have any family in the room if you want an epidural?

Having read various articles about preventing ill health, I think that the best things to focus on are smoking, drinking, sleeping, exercising, and weight management. To this end, here are the apps that I recommend using on Android:

• Don't smoke, find an app to help you quit smoking
• Don't drink much alcohol if at all, if you do drink, monitor your intake with AlcoDroid.
• With regards to sleeping, try Sleep as Android. You can configure the alarm as you like, I have it set up so that I can't snooze it forcing me to get out of bed, turn the computer on and scanning a QR code.
• On the exercise front I use Google Fit. Try to reach the WHO's recommended 150 minutes a week (heart points inside the app). Sleep as Android and FatSecret can be synced to Google Fit.
• As for weight management I recommend Fat Secret. This is one of the latest apps I've installed and marks a big improvement over MyFitnessPal just because of how much faster it is. Use Fat Secret to lose weight if you're overweight or obese or to gain weight if you're underweight.

Other health apps: Ada, BMI Calculator, Brush DJ, Couch to 5K, Deepstash, Digital Detox, Heart Rate Monitor, HearWHO, Implex life expectancy, MIMOSYS, Moodpath, MyTherapy, Patient Access, Stoic Reading (F-Droid only). These apps help with possible causes for illnesses, brushing your teeth properly, checking your hearing, monitoring you heart rate, tracking your mood, tracking your medication, and other tips for improving your mental health.