Attention Squad....You seem extremely helpful with peoples health issues on here...

[icemaiden]

Hope you don\'t mind me asking for your opinion (or anyone else). Trying to get an appointment at my Doctors is just about impossible and cost me a fortune in mobile phone bills due to 0844 numbers.

Generally I am a healthy active person however in the last few months I have often felt nauseous, no pattern to this. Could be in the morning, evening, after a meal or between meals. I come over hot and very sick although never actually vomiting. Also occasionally I have felt dizzy, lasting 5-10 seconds, followed by a headache/ pressure feeling in head. Today had a really bad dizzy spell this morning and again about hour later. Nothing since. I am definately not pregnant and my eating habits have not changed. I am on lanzoprazole daily (have been for 20 years or so) and I am on Cerezette contraceptive pill for a few years. Had major back surgery 18 months ago (two level spinal fusion). Had sinuses cleared three years ago. No problem with them at all.

Sorry to sound like your patient! Hope you don\'t mind but if you do, I will understand.

Many thanks

[jno]

just as an aside, Ice, you may find this a helpful prospect

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8259165.stm

I certainly do. Also, you may be able to find a cheaper alternative to 0844 numbers here:

http://www.saynoto0870.com/

[Bbbananas]

I can't understand why your surgery is an 0844 number? It should be your local dialling code surely? Can't you go in personally to make an appointment?

I work myself at a docs surgery, so understand how frustrating it is for patients to get through - especially first thing in a morning. But at less busy times, and if you want to make an appointment days in advance you shouldn't be having too much trouble.

[icemaiden]

Thanks jno. Heard this on the news this morning. Very good idea as I work quite a way from my Gp, so this will be extremely helpful to me and others no doubt.

I did look for my surgery on the "Say no" website but sadly it wasn't listed. Be pleased when they eventually scrap these numbers as my dentist is also a 0844 number!

Thanks for your reply.

[Robinia]

Mine's an 08 number too...I've noticed that lots people who are able to are calling in the sugery to make their gp appts over the desk...not so easy for the rottweiller behind it to fob you off when you're glaring at her. Always worth asking if there are any cancellations that you could fill.

[Robinia]

oops, surgery...not sugery, lol

Speaking of sugar though, maybe sugar levels are causing your problems? just a thought.

[icemaiden]

hi sallabananas-Not only is it a 0844 number but once connected you are charged for the call, even if it is busy, forcing you to try again and again.
Difficult to go in and get an appointment as I work Mon-Fri, full time and Gps surgery is and hour away. Doesn't help that it is a small surgery with only two doctors, so getting an appointment is very difficult. Time to change me thinks.

[Gromit33]

Hi Icemaiden,
You're not feeling stressed about anything particularly right now? Just an idea. Hope you get it sorted whatever it is.
Sorry to join the GP surgery soapbox, but I also hate it when the receptionist asks what's wrong with you....

[icemaiden]

HI robinia-Your receptionist must be related to mine! I have never met a nice one yet.

I did think of sugar levels. I had a diabeties test about a year ago, came back negative, not sure how often you need one.

[Bbbananas]

Yes - time to change sounds about right !!

[icemaiden]

Hi Gromit-Thanks for your answer.
I think many people, including myself, are stressed in some way. Children, work, the home and relationships. I am constantly on the go until I collaspe in a heap about 9pm in front of the telly where I eventually fall asleep.

I am looking for a week off work soon and will be booking a cottage in the middle of nowhere, peace and quiet hopefully.

[jno]

my GP has also dumped his local line and replaced it with an 0844 line. The sooner I can dump my GP the better, though it may well turn out they're all just as bad (expensive phone calls and can't see you for 5 days).

[Sqad]

Ice maiden my love, sorry to be a bit late, but Thursday is my snooker day, but it is a pleasure to give zyou my opinion, for what it is worth.

First thing ...the practice Receptionist......her function is to keep the Dr.away from taking telephone calls and to organize appointments so that the Doctor is not overbooked. If she is a miserable cow and performs these functions well, then she is worth her weight in gold.

Back to you Ice.

Thank you for that full history, it is much appreciated. The obvious thing that comes to mind is hypertension, BP and there may well be a hormonal cause for this which will need investigation. The symptoms do sound hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar) and there are many causes for this.
This would cause your transient attacks of dizziness.

No urgency, but do try and get an appt to see your GP as you will certainly need a batch of blood tests.

Keep me informed Ice and don't hesitate to ask further questions.

[Bbbananas]

No jono - they're not "all as bad" and Dragons At The Door... however they have to adhere to the Practice's rules regarding appnt making etc - and like sqad says, keeping the docs away from the telephone & all the admin as much as possible!

I'd recommend our Practice to anyone - but of course, I can't mention names or address, I would be in soooo much trouble - even by giving them nothing but praise!

[Bbbananas]

sqad - did ya win today?

[Sqad]

salla...this load of "Labour Cock" about signing on with any GP in the country.....the practice just has to say NO to the patient....then what will the Labour Government do?

[Sqad]

salla...NO......lost 3-1 going through a bad phase and having all the bad luck.....LOL

[Bbbananas]

I don't see how it will work without having to impose restrictions - first of all, distance. You can't expect a GP to do home visits say 20 miles or so away. And what about ambulances? At the moment we hav Practice boundaries for a reason - if the area covered is too vast, it would be impractical. Surely they would have to say that anyone could register anywher (if, of course, they were accepted by the GPs) - but that if they lived more than 15-20 miles away, they could not expect home visits etc.

[Bbbananas]

sorry icemaiden to distract - but I agree with sqad - hypertension, hypoglycaemia or hormonal changes are very likely. Some routine blood tests and a Bp check would be the first line of investigation - I'm sure it is nothing to worry about. x

[icemaiden]

Many thanks Squad for taking the time to answer, and everyone else. Hope you had a good day snookering!

Hormonal? interesting. I will make haste and arrange an appointment with my GP. And will treat the receptionist as I always do with utmost respect. (Just a smile now and again would be nice though)
Thanks again

[Sqad]

salla...the NHS is the Labour's baby......and the doctors (well GP's) always do well under a Labour Government, I think it was Harold Wilson who said during a dispute "Give the Drs what they want" and that prat Patricia Hewitt who caved in big time to the Gp.s demand, much to the mirth of the Drs. This is just another Labour pre election knee jerk reaction.