General Chat

That NHS advert. You know, the one where they tell you that, now you are over 65 you must go to the doctor if you are not well and wear clothes in cold weather or something equally as condescending.

FGS, if you have lived to be over sixty-five you must have done something right!

Can't say we've noticed it Sharron. Advert breaks are designed to give you time to nip to the loo or put the kettle on!

Younger pensioners might find it patronizing, but older ones living on their own might need a reminder. Quite a few older people still 'don't want to bother the doctor' and have to be nagged to make an appointment.

I only make a GP appointment if I feel it's absolutely necessary - I had a funny rash turn up on me this week - normally wouldn't have bothered but it is in the shape of a circle, about the size of a 50p piece - called in Boots and spoke to the pharmacist, she reckoned it was more than likely an allergy - it was the circular shape that bothered me = it's still there - if I don't appear for a few days it's probably; fatal :-D

I was at surgery twice today (and not cos I'm old before anyone says anything).

I'm dehydrated due to my bowel disease......."drink more" lolol

I am teetotal :-(

The advert would be a bit more plausible if it wasn't quite a chubby looking doctor doing the patronizing.

My doctor won't give me a repeat prescription until I have had a blood test. For the drugs that I have been taking for 13 years.

Well I am on blood pressure tablets and a statin one ,as well as have a huge hiatus hernia that needs omeprazole to reduce stomach acid

My doc has adjusted the doses over the years so the quantities I have at is all out of kilter

I used to order a three months supply even though i have some surplus on the blood pressure ones I need the hiatus hernias ones but cant order just them on their own

Now the docs have said we wil only repeat for two months .Still doesn't help

If I want to waste some of em I can get back on even keel but I feel reluctant to do that
I do a repeat prescription for all of em cos one will run out sooner than later

Oh gosh, I'm on omeprazole, and can actually feel a small, hard lump, that occasionally hurts.
Doc has just assumed it's a hiatus hernia.
I've got 3 months supply, try for a month, then go without - see what happens! :-S

You know some of us oldies just soldier on
We don't want to waste the docs time with something may or not be a health problem

After my hubby died I felt very vulnerable and any pain or I can't remember moment meant I was going the same route that was frightening

The amount of prescription drugs that are wasted is disgraceful

Doesn't the fact that everybody is discussing what medication they are taking and how they go about getting their prescriptions just go to prove that there is no need for some patronizing bloody woman in a nurses frock to come on the tele and tell you to go to the doctor when you are ill?

One would be expected to have worked that out by the time they have passed sixty.

Too true, Sharron!! :-D :-D :-D
I know when I'm being 'fobbed off' :-|

Sharron REALLY!!!!

Three years ago, when my Dad was 86 waaaaaaay passed 60, he would of died, and the only reason he went to the ER was because he had blood in his urine and it scared him, That was 4 MONTHs after he started feeling ill.

So No some people passed 60 hasn't worked out when to go to the doctors. In fact, he says he's feeling unwell now, but will he go NO he has an appointment to see his specialist in May. Mum used too, sometimes be able to talk him into going but now that it is just me, well he won't listen.

Some older people are very stubborn

Becoming older is treated by some medical 'professionals' as a disease to be controlled with drugs and platitudes :-|

RMS, not just older people!

A number of years ago I always joked that it was too expensive to visit the Dr's and that they would find out what was wrong with me at my postmortem.

The joke was on me when I had a pulmonary embolism and was on my knees unable to breathe for a time :-(

Whilst being treated for that I was also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. That was back in 1999.

Since then, I see the Dr every six months for a regular diabetes[general health review

Yes, but that advert would not have sent you to the doctor if you were a bit off colour now would it?

No, Sharron.

But I would go now if I felt that there was something really wrong with me.

Just recently I suffered a viral infection that was neither a cold, although more serious, but was not the flu. Many people were suffering from similar symptons so I decided that the Dr would be under the pump.

After a couple of weeks my symptons disappeared. If they had continued I would have gone to my GP.

I actually haven't been to the GP for any other illness other than my diabetes since being diagnosed, although I will discuss other issues during those reviews

I think the intention behind the ad is good.
It's the people who are delivering it who are patronising.