What do you do when...

ps - looked up rampiril and it's an ACE inhibitor. I was on something similar and my doctor changed it when I first started with a cough. That did help for a long time, but this time the cough is different.

Hope you're feeling better soon Jings - keep trying different things.
I'm rather horrified hearing about the "one appt. one problem" system in the UK. If I went to the Dr. there now I would need about 10 appts !
I have the cough again but put it down to pollen allergy this time - I cough and retch for a while then sneeze a few times and it's all over.

Tanith, I'm on ramipril too. My GP didn't even mention that as a possible cause, but I don't think she was looking at my existing meds when she spoke to me. Is coughing a known side-effect of ramipril? I've given up reading the information leaflets as I could easily talk myself into all kinds of potential problems but I'd be interested to know. However I've been on it for over 5 years and this latest bout of coughs has only recurred over the past year. I have had bloods and chest X-rays btw. I'm guessing losartan is more expensive than the ramipril. Did he suggest the change or had you done some research? I felt very much fobbed off at my last visit,
and to be fair I rarely go to the GP.

Well my GP changed the meds as he agreed the cough was probably down to the Ramipril so now he's trying me with Losartan. This the 4th BP med I've tried fingers crossed. He did say all meds may have side affects hmmmm!! Doesn't mean I have to put up with them!

Thanks Iam. Will definitely send off for some of those tablets. I don't want to be getting this too often.

I am determined to keep the lost weight off. something good's gotta come out of it! Had a boiled egg for brekker, so won't get fat on that!

So many people seem to have had this sore throat/cough/exhausted/no appetite bug, that drags on for weeks. One of our GP's advised me to take vitamin C and zinc, in combination form. She said the research is clear, it helps support the immune system. I bought one from Boots, it wasn't expensive and I took it for over a year, remaining bug free. Inevitably I forgot to replace it and got the horror bug I moaned about on another thread.
It may be worth a try Jing - hope you're soon feeling more the thing. As for that weight loss, when I began to recover all my clothes were lose, not any more they aren't

I used more asterisks than that. Ipad has a mind of its own

At my practice we are definitely not allowed to broach another health query. You should have booked a double appointment they say, when the five minute appointment is up. Going back to the virus we had a similar thread a couple of months ago. I remember saying then that I kept getting the bug back and was left with an overwhelming lethargy. Sadly,the *** thing does keep returning and as someone earlier said, you can be okay for a bit and then the hacking, dry cough comes back. I haven't been on the Internet because I might find something to really worry about so I just keep taking the prescribed steroid inhaler, the antihistamines and the lozenges. As someone mentioned, I am sure a spell of summer weather would be helpful. The tiredness is just as bad as the symptoms, too.
I hope everyone gets over it soon!

I'm hoping my silent/non-silent reflux will go when the virus buggers off departs, and I eventually get a bit of strength back.

I want to be able to eat cake food again without it tasting like poison.

As I mentioned on another thread, adult silent reflux can cause symptoms such as a sore, dry throat, persistent cough, phlegm and feelings of a lump in the throat. Gaviscon Advance is often prescribed.

I don't think the sort of virus type symptoms being described on this thread can be attributed to that, though.

Coolgran he wanted to Double up my omeprazole but I said no. I'm not usually poorly like this. He gave me a bottle of gaviscon advance stuff instead. It's horrible. I'm going to wait it out. DD2 been here today. She cooked a dinner mostly chicken and veg so that was nice.

I was told that I must not mention another ailment when discussing another. I had to make a separate appointment which was 5 weeks later.

btw my friend has had this virus and she was really ill, I couldn't help her as I cant drive and she lives in the country, she was ill from February till recently, she is 76 and normally quite fit.

I had continuous virus and colds, sinus etc since December. Antibiotic sorted the sinus and gradually thing improved, except the continuing cough. This cough really worried me so made appt with Dr. Made sure my appt was with the doctor that I trust and respect. He asked about my tummy, any acid?
Yep, now and again. I told him I took Lanzoprazol, prescribed two per day but try to only take one.
Dr explained how a continuing cough can often be the result of reflux from the stomach, even minimal reflux that we aren't always aware of. I upped the Lanzoprazole to two daily and within two weeks, no cough

Jings that would be good if we could 'save' them. I think I've solved the 'coughing' mystery, I got a 'lightbulb' moment this morning and yes when I checked online its a well known side affect of Ramipril my new BP medication. So as I shall see my GP to check my liver function tomorrow I can mention the cough as its all related to the same meds.. and he can blooming well prescribe something else I'm not putting up with this cough for ever.

Thought I had posted this already - oh well give it another go

Even the Dr doesn't connect symptoms at times. I suppose that you could always make as many appointments as symptoms. Which just shows what a lot of nonsense it all is.

I hadn't thought of Post Viral Syndrome. I will look that up. Thanks Flickety.

Weighed this morning and I have lost 6 lbs since this started! Silver lining or what?!

Tanith you've made a good point there. I always seem to be on and out in less than five minutes. There should be a system whereby we can 'save' our unused minutes!

It5 wasn't a 10 year PVS but 10 years during which I got it after each bug, but it did eventually go and I haven't suffered from it now for about 10 years

But Tegan how can one know whether two ailments are related or not? In the example I gave most people, and doctors, would assume the ailments were entirely unrelated, but they weren't.

It's ok if two problems are related; it's when people book an appointment for one thing and then go on to ask about something completely unrelated that it causes problems. An appointment only had a certain amount of time allocated to it and a doctor can't deal with two unrelated problems in that time; at least, not properly and, if they do there's a knock on effect on the following patients.

Our surgery doesn't have the 'one ailment per appointment' rule, thank heavens. I know people whose surgeries do and I find it worrying. Exactly as you say, FlicketyB, how can we be expected to know whether our apparently disparate ailments are related? That is why we go to our GP. I would never have connected a stomach pain with a weak arm and thank heavens your friend was able to mention both to her GP.

Our apointments are always well in advance especially if you want to see a specific doctor.
The nurse practitioner can be a good bet for an earlier appointment depending on the complaint.

Best of all, our health centre has now got a Walk In Clinic on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning, just arrive before 10.30 and you will be seen by a doctor.
I did it a few weeks ago, arriving at 9.30am. It was 11.10 when I saw the doctor. Yes, it's a long wait, but I went prepared with a bottle of water and my Kindle - decided in advance that I'd use the waiting time as 'me time', enjoy a good long read without wondering what needed to be done.

In my old GP Practice you could always get an appointment the same day or at least the next day.

The new practice where I live will only give you a same day appointment if you are an Emergency or a doctor will speak to you which means you have to sit by the phone for ages.

It's OKish for me because I'm retired but it must be a nightmare if you're working.

FlicketyB 10 years? don't say things like that, we can't take it!

Our surgery allows for one ailment per appointment. I have more or less given up except in an emergency because it takes about three weeks to get an appointment anyway. Notice on the wall this week " we apologise if you have to wait for an appointment, there is a national shortage of Doctors " we use to have about six or seven and now there are two and some nurse practitioners.

I have heard this 'one ailment per visit' rule, a friend's surgery has it.

What puzzles me is how the patient is meant to know whether a particular set of symptoms is one ailment or two separate ailments.

For example a friend went to the doctor about stomach pain and also complained about a weak arm. Two different ailments? No, she had lung cancer in a part of her lung where the tumour pressed on a nerve to her arm and it had spread to her liver, the stomach area pain.