Useless Doctors
 

I've been feeling unwell for about a month now, been feeling really drained and keep falling asleep when i shouldnt, so i went to the doctors this morning, didnt see my own GP but saw another doctor who i have never seen before and who is very new to our practice...the conversation went something like this


Dr S..sit down how can i help you?

Me..i'm constantly feeling tired and drained and cant be bothered with anything

Dr S..what do you mean?

Me..i'm lacking in energy and feel really weak

Dr S..how long has this been going on for?

Me..about a month now

Dr S..i see you are on anti-depressants

Me..yes i'm trying to come off them

Dr S..well i think we should up your dose

Me..why? i'm trying to come off them

Dr S..because you are depressed

Me..i want to come off them not go up a dose, this has nothing whatsoever to do with me feeling tired all the time

Dr S..lie down on the couch

Me..erm ok

she proceeds to examine my tummy for some unknown reason, i then get up and.....

Dr S..there is nothing wrong with your tummy

Me..(felt like saying something sarcastic) yes i know there is nothing wrong with my tummy thats not the reason why i came here

Dr S..well what do you want me to do for you then?

Me..well if i knew that i would be a doctor wouldnt i?

Dr S..well i will give you some more anti-depressants and see how you go on



i was gobsmacked, then i left


it makes me wonder if that woman is actually qualified

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Did she ask you anything about your menstrual cycle, or offer to check your Haemoglobin levels or your Thyroid function.....if the answer is 'No' then perhaps you should make another appointment - see someone else and ask for these tests to be done.

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well actually i had to ask her if i could be tested for my thyroid Margaret, before i went up my dad said it might be that thats making me tired, the doc said 'well if you think it might be that then make an appointment for a blood test'

i was tested for my thyroid two years ago and for the blood test i was asked to starve for twelve hours which i did, when i booked the appointment for the blood test today i asked the receptionist if i had to starve and she said 'did the doctor tell you to'? i said 'no she just said if you want a blood test then book one'


i wont ever be seeing her again, and if anyone on here goes to any other cornerstone practice, Rhyddings etc then i suggest you avoid Doctor S if you can, my own Dr (Dr Murdoch) is a lovely man but unfortunately since he has opened several other practices he isnt available at mine much :(

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Aah Dr Murdoch......heck he trained on my ward, many many years ago.

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ah he's lovely, been my doctor for the last 12 years, pity i cant see him as much now though

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When i suffered from those symptoms I was told that I was aneamic? and put on iron tablets (this was days after having the boys) so that may be whats wrong, but im not a doctor although am wondering if I am more qualified than the one that you saw lol

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you probably are more qualified than her Emzy lol

i thought about not going for the blood test, which she wasnt bothered about giving me, and i think i'll eat some liver instead, that might just pirk me up hey :D

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Flashy, you should also have the blood test for diabetes too.

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25years ago I asked for a doctor to look at a baby, he refused the first day, second day (even though the baby was not keeping food or fluid down), he refused, when I insisted, he said it would be later in the day and he would remove us from his list, I said ok, just get out to him, he walked in the door, the babies mother opened babies top, doctor looked, didnt examine, and rang for an ambulance, it was pyloric stonosis (if I have spelt it right), hospital said the baby would have died if he had been left another night. A doctor recently told me that the new doctors were tarined very quickly, and to be honest dont have much idea, but they can ring me or my colleagues for advice, most proffessions are like this now, my apprenticeship was seven years, it is done in 3 years max now, no wonder doctors etc dont know thier backside from thier elbow.

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oh my goodness Derek, thats awful, thank god you where there to insist on the doctor coming out to see the baby

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He did take us off his list by the way, and I reported him to the general medical council, who responded by telling us that they would proceed with the report, but that we
should be aware that it would take years, cost us a vast amount of money, and would involve lots of days off work! Talk about put you off?

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I think its like any profession, there are good ones and bad ones, it just seems the bad ones are taking over. My doctor is great...when my wife went to see him when she was about sixteen he said she wasnt ill she was pregnant. After about 20 seconds of the pause he said "Nah only kidding you`ve got XXX". He always makes me feel at home, seems interested and can remember things I`ve said before.

Nowadays though who would actually want to be a doctor ? Years ago people went into the field to help others, but look at it now....Long hours, not great pay, and if you make a mistake straight into the courts to have your life under a microscope. As a society we are making it less attractive for people to go into certain careers, ie Police,Fire,Medicine.

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Doctors hours are quite dramatically less now than they were, they are limited.

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My GP has lost 30 years of blood test results!

I despair

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A more fun way is half a guiness a day. keeps your iron levels topped up nicely, tastes nice with blackcurrant, and even lime in the summer ;)

worry about the alcoholism at a later date lmao :P

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lol i used to drink that when i was in my teens, i dont think i'll have anything till i've pondered over having these blood tests, it may change the results if i have anything with iron in it before i have them done

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My doctors surgery is being done up at the moment, and its dusty, dirty wires hanging from ceiling, walls stripped. Its bloody awful, but saying all this it doesnt really matter because it would be very rare if you came into contact with the surgery, because you cant get an appointment for love nor money!

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Im pretty sure your supposed to fast before the blood tests. i always have

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Emma, look at post number 3


dads just bought me some liver anyway, i know now that when i eat it i will have the shakes later, it always makes me hyper lol

i've just called the doctors and cancelled my blood test anyway

either way i cant win, the doctor didnt have a clue why i wanted the tests in the first place anyway, so whats the point?

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You should have the blood test Flashy, you are being silly.

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but Bernie the doctor didnt even offer it to me, i had to ask for it, so it wasnt her that made me have it, so it doesnt matter, i've just had some liver and onions, it was luffly, i'll let you know when it starts making me fly :D

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you get that blood test booked!! its clear that you need checking otherwise you wouldnt have gone to the drs and they didnt do a reet good job so listen to us accyweb medical experts and get it done

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Don't care get back and get it done!!! Blood tests can show a host of different things, better to be safe than sorry!!!!

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Ya do as yer mothers tell ya flashy, or you'll have a thick ear girl. pmsl

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lol they'll have to catch me first ;)

ok i'll re-book an appointment for next week


the liver was good by the way :D

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Please do re-book it

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I have to agree flashy, re-book the test.

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flashy go and book a blood test and soon.
it could be two are three things.
let us no how you go on.

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I understand that the blood will only be tested for certain conditions as specified by the doctor .. so she will have to narrow it down for testing.

Other tests are not allowed (like H.I.V.) unless asked for .. a sort of medical rape if you understand me.

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My lack of trust that a doctor or paramedic actually know whats / what is high.

A good few years ago I became ill one evening, really bad stomach ache and I mean really bad I put up with it for a while until it got to the stage I cold hardly move (after a few hours) I had the ambulance out twice and then the emergency doctor all said its just a bug and I will get over it.

As soon as It was morning I manage with great difficulty to get to my mums house where she drove me to my local docs.

Within 5 mins he had sussed what was wrong and I was rushed to BRI for my appendics removed.

So 2 x Ambulances and a Call out doctor wrongly diagnosed me.

I have little trust now.

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Can I interfere here? Well I am going to anyway. As someone who has suffered from anemia all her life go to your doctors and insist they test your iron levels

I have had to do the same on a number of occasions recently and each time I have been proven right. I have also had to ask for a B12 test and again the result came back saying that I needed treatment.

Iron is such a little thing but affects your day to life so greatly. Do it today

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its ok Polly, you arent interfering, i will ring the surgery again tomorrow

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I can only go off what happens at my GP's surgery but when a blood test is booked the GP fills in a standard form on which he has ticked appropriate boxes for the conditions he wants you to be tested for. If the GP doesn't do this the nurse, or whoever takes the blood, can't know how many samples are required and the lab can't have a clue what they're looking for. See another doctor and ask them to refer you for the test - properly.

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Just make an appointment and see one of the good Doctors like Smith or Prout and tell them you were not happy with the first Doctor answers and you want a second opinion.

Make sure you tell them which Doctor you want to see or they will fit you in with anyone free

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right so i should make another appointment first? then tell the doctor again about my symptoms then take it from there? it was Dr Prout who sorted my last bloods out, and Dr Smith is just a div lol

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Sam Prout is lovely, and very competent too. As for the guinness...it isn't the same for iron content any more as it is manufactured differently....something to do with Cask conditioning......so Flasy, do as you are told by several of your mothers on here.......GET THE BLOODY TEST DONE.......sorry that was a typo....I really meant blood test :D :)

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Yes I understand that but don't imagine the doc will be asking for HIV to be tested for. If it were me I would want the test just for peace of mind.

As an afterthought if you are diagnosed as anaemic should your doctor not investigate the reason why rather than just offering Iron Tablets???

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Dr Smith is actually very highly regarded and I would have no hesitation in seeing him, he has been my mum's GP for a good few years and I know of a few pharmacists who speak very highly of him, that is high praise indeed from them !:)

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I agree Lindsay, and I have worked with enough of the other sort to know the difference.

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So can I say I told you so to Shaz and give her a big :tongueout

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lol
seems some people have misenterpited (sp?) my thoughts on Dr Smith, did the LOL at the end not tell you that :rolleyes:

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never mind that.....have you booked another appointment???????:D

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shush lol ;)

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I think we are going to have to go round and bodily carry this woman to the doctor if she doesn't get herself sorted out! :D

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NO WE WON'T shush, get it booked!!!

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Flashy said "been feeling really drained and keep falling asleep when i shouldnt"

I have the same and self diagnosed it as narcolepsy.
When I reported it to my doc, he replied "drink lots of coffee" :rolleyes:

After reading this thread I will be asking for anaemia and thyroid tests.
I can bypass the doc by making a direct approach to the district nurse clinic at his surgery

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I thought the lol was aimed towards his wicked hair :D

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no, it was his shortness ;)

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Whens your appointment flashy?

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Rope, lead boots and straightjacket it is then willow! :eek:

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and whats flashy gunna wear ;) :p

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Have you got yourself that appointment yet woman? :whack:

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO but i will i promise, first thing monday morning

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You better lady!!!!!

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i will mum

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You are useless girl

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absolutly amazing .........never mind the fact that the Doctor in question has probably had over 10 years training, plus some years of practical experiance in the medical profession .... No problem.... the system is 'free' , the original poster knows better ,(probably had a better education , than the doctor) and thinks its perfectly okay to further abuse the system by first setting up an appointment , then cancelling it ........then after an on-line chat decides to set up another appointment ............****** the fact that maybe someone who really needed a blood test at the time of the first cancelled appointment was out of luck , now some other poor sod is going to be inconvenienced by the time wasted by the second , not to mention the time wasted by the Health Center staff .
And you wonder why the National Health System is collapsing :rolleyes:

At times one can understand Dr Shipman :D :D

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Actually I think it is more important that the originator of this thread does not collapse.
Doctors are not Gods they can make mistakes like the rest of us mere mortals, they are often overworked and can not have knowledge of every illness.
We have an instances on this thread of a child who may have died had someone not questioned a doctors judgment.
Personally I now have a large number of food allergies because my GP did not not recognise my gluten problem.
A blood test is negligible in cost and time to the money we, as a country, are squandering on foreign invasions.

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just ignore him willow, i dont even bother reading his posts anymore

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I, too, think Dr. Smith is great - he suspected that I had pernicious anaemia and sent me for tests which proved positive - I now have a B12 injection every 3 months - which I have to have indefinitely, but I feel fine.

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my doctor is great , ive been haveing alot of problem with my op, and my doctor gave me his very own moblie number, he,s been very helpfull , i would never change my doctor for anythin he,s been great with my r,a also,

Re: Useless Doctors
 

The last time i went to see a doctor was a few weeks ago....and that was for my daughter.....the last time i have seen one was about 4 years ago for my sciatica....I only go if needed, im very stubborn that way:rolleyes:

I always say...ya know if im ill...i'll fall asleep during the day!:D, thats because i NEVER fall asleep during the day...So Flashy if i was you, i think id go now;)

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I am a typical male, dont do doctors! :rolleyes:

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I have bypassed the doc and just had 'half an armful' taken in 3 syringes by the nurse - will know in 7 days whether or not I have-
diabetes, thyroid problems or anaemia.

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You have gone very quiet Flashy, you better have made that appointment!!!

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You obviously know Doc Smith Flashy!!!! Go and see the 'div man' he's great, when I see him we sit and chat for ages about all sorts of stufffrom education to politics and the gym!!! I even call him Graham now. The patients in the waiting room must get really fed up waiting! He's a good GP, as is Sam Prout, I worked with her when she was a mere SHO, shes lovely. Be assertive and tell them what you would like them to do to find out the cause of your tiredness. They cant really say no, its your body after all. Good luck X

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Have you made your appointment yet?

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Yes but the great thing is, this is one of the few things thats bettes than the states, the fact we can ;)

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right i'm off to the docs at 1.30 today to see the nurse practitioner, i suppose if i need blood tests she can give me them there and then

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Ask her about them!!!

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i'll definately be asking her about them Bernie, i'm glad i'm not seeing a doctor actually, they would have only passed me onto the nurse, and this nurse practitioner that i am seeing can give prescriptions out too(not that i need anything), i've not seen one before lol

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It seems a lot of surgeries are getting nurses who can do prescriptions and such like, just be sure and tell her how you he been feeling. Hope everything is ok

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will do, thanx Bernie x

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When I saw the nurse on Wednesday it was at a 'blood clinic' where you can just turn up and ask for a blood test.
I asked for a pernicous anaemia test and after discussing my symptoms, she decided to do two more as well.

ps - I am glad I read this thread or I might just have continued feeling grim. Polly who said she has vitB12 injections put me onto researching more.

just got back, she did my bloods and was a lovely woman

she tested me for......

FBC, TFT (tiredness, anaemia and thyroid function)
FSH (periods)
V + E (kidney function) well i think thats what it says on the paper(it could even be L + E)
LFT (Liver function)
ESR (infection and or inflamation)

the only reason i know all these is because i asked her to write them down for me, i was half expecting her to write BBC and ITV on there too ;)

i have made an appointment with Dr Mitchell on the 22nd for my blood results
i was also telling the nurse about that 'doctor' i saw last week and she said she has finished her training now so she will be off to another surgery...TRAINING!!!! i just hope she isnt coming to a surgery anywhere near you lot, good luck if she is :)

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Glad you got sorted:)

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thanx Bernie :)

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Well done Flashy for doing as you were told ... hope the results are good, although there are times when you wish it would be something that can be put right though don't you.

Can't give you any Karma at the moment for being a brave girl, but here are some Brownie Points... :D

Attachment 12175

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The V+E are actually U+E (for urea and electrolytes) and they do give an indication of kidney function........not being a smart bum...just giving you the full info :D

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I'm glad you have been......hope the results are good.

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i knew you'd know what i was on about margaret :D i just cant quite make out her writing lol thankyou :D

the ESR one is to do with my PCOS just incase my ovaries are even more buggered up than i thought they where

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Way to go flashy, let us know the outcome if ya please. good luck!

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will do Derek, cheers cocker

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On my fifth doctor now - the other four died:hidewall:

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Seconded

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update -
I am rather annoyed to hear that the main reason for requesting blood tests last week has not been tested :mad:
I will have to go again for another test for B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia)

At least it is nice to know that I don't have- ordinary anaemia, diabetes or thyroid problems.

They commented that my cholestrol is high at 7.2 and that I should switch to skimmed milk and cut down on butter and cheese.

I suspect that I have pernicious anaemia due to food absorption problems as a result of pseudomembraneous colitis (E-coli) many years ago.

I have been breathless and exhausted for a year now.
I suppose another week like this doesn't matter much :(

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why didnt they test you for that in the first place then Margaret?

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She said the blood would be sampled for anaemia, and since we discussed a possible B12 absorption problem I presumed it would be
... seems that a seperate test is needed and she didn't ask them to do it :mad:

I take a daily B vitamin pill that has B12 in it.
If I take double dose, I find that I am not as sleepy the day after.
I am convinced that this is my problem.

The only other things I think it could be are-
narcolepsy (been thinking that was it for past yr)-incurable
or, emphysema (incurable)- which doesn't seem to fit because I don't wheeze.
My blood pressure is normal, and my heartbeat/pulse rate is OK

I am impatient to find out what it is.

I have websearched B12 deficiency and it fits my symptoms and history.
I have also found that it is not toxic when overdosed, so I have ordered, online, some B12 patches, which work like nicotine patches, and after I have given another sample tomorrow, I will get them soon after, and will start using them.
Vitamin B12 pills have a limited use because, if I am right, the problem is in poor gut absorption.

OK - you can all call me hypochondriac :)

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After a blood test proved that I was anaemic, I had an appointment the next day at hospital when a doctor took a bone marrow sample from my breast bone which proved I had pernicious anaemia. I then had 3 B12 injections in the first week, then one per week for a month, now I only have one every three months. I believe that injections are more effective than pills or patches as B12 is not easily absorbed by the body. Good luck, Margaret.

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Thank you for posting in this thread earlier.
It was that which made me consider the possibility that I had misdiagnosed it as narcolepsy
Karma sent

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Another side-effect of pernicious anaemia was that my finger nails became flat or even curved upwards - it's very strange.

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Margaret are you going to make another appointment to have the other test done?

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Going tomorrow - another week to wait for result, but in that week the B12 patches will arrive, and, if I am right, I should see an improvement within that week

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ah thats good then, i hope you get it sorted

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I hope you do too.
I hope I haven't scared you with what it might be.
At least with you, they can't say 'old age' :D