Medication supplies

I wonder at what point your health woes are your own fault. Is it once you become an adult, when you reach your 50's, 70's? My very active, healthy eating son has managed to damage his back quite significantly. He is congenitally disposed to this type of thing and ironically the key to wellness is by keeping as fit as possible. However, once damaged, repair takes much longer than the norm and IF he can't, he will be forced to take a much more sedentary lifestyle. If he gets bowel cancer, will it be his fault? Now I am starting to worry that he has been completely feckless.

Gone I rather think she thought it was amusing which is what strike throughs are usually used for. If so she was wrong. But then what do I know, only a family whose lives were devastated by bowel cancer.

GabriellaG you say, "Mother died aged 75, after 3 ops over 10 years from long sitting standing bowel cancer".

What does that mean?

This thread has posts from people concerned about the supply of life saving medicines. I don’t care whether their need springs from genetics, bad luck, lifestyle or outlook ( whatever that might mean). What I do care about is that someone thinks it’s OK to post on here about being the only one not on meds. It’s akin to going on a bereavement thread and asking if you’re the only one on the thread who hadn’t been bereaved.

More than 90% of those of us over 70 are on prescribed meds. Definitely mostly genetic (evidence based) with some lifestyle and luck thrown in. We can't choose our fore bearers.

I appear to be one of the few or the only on here who are not on any meds whatsoever and never have been nor any ops

Likewise, not counting 4 C-sections
Luck not “healthy living” and anyway I reckon Paw more than used up my “share” of the NHS as well as his own

I appear to be one of the few or the only on here who are not on any meds whatsoever and never have been nor any ops.
Pure luck or....diet, outlook?...who knows.

You're right, who knows! Just thank your lucky stars or pat yourself on the back for getting it right GG.

Your post is unbelievable GG but what a shame there isn’t a drug people can take to develop compassion

Genetics do play a part but perhaps you inherited the best genes from each side of the family.
Luck, then?
Although some illnesses can be exacerbated by lifestyle, much cannot be explained about why one person does not develop illness yet another living a seemingly perfect lifestyle does.

Jalima1108
Father died aged 45 (atherosclerosis)
Mother died aged 75, after 3 ops over 10 years from long-sitting standing bowel cancer, so genetics plays no part as paternal GF died aged 44 and maternal GPs died in their 60s/70s after short illnesses.

I have noticed that medicines we buy over the counter have been in short supply lately, but not sure whether down to Brexit because this does occur periodically, and internationally when drugs in short supply. However I do think Brexit has caused much worry for those who depend on medication which they could not manage without, or even cope with switching to a similar drug. I know at least two people who are stable on anti psychotic meds who are very worried about this. As far as I know for years GPs have only given a month's supply because they are audited on practice drug spending.

And luck

It's genetic Gabriella

Should read 'only one'.

I appear to be one of the few or the only on here who are not on any meds whatsoever and never have been nor any ops.
Pure luck or....diet, outlook?...who knows.

My husband is T1 also. I tell myself that the Government just can’t not ensure the supply of life saving drugs like insulin. I also tell myself that other countries will ensure we get our supplies as it is a logistics not production issue. I tell myself all this because partly I believe it but also because I haven’t the emotional space in my head to not believe it. I know some drugs are much more problematic and some posts above demonstrate this. I am so sorry for everyone that is being or is frightened of being affected by drug supply and I’m full of contempt for anyone who rubbishes these understandable fears.

My DH is type 1 diabetic and is very concerned about medicine supplies being restricted, or for there to be a shortage.

He first rang the chemist to ask whether they expect supplies to be disrupted and, although they couldn't be sure, they said they are expecting disruption and possible rationing (his supplies come from Germany in the main). Quite how rationing will work when you rely on medicine to stay alive is disturbing to say the least.

He then rang the GP surgery asking the same, and the practice manager said DH was the first person to have asked this question. They are to have a meeting and get back to him...we shall see if they do.

nanamacgeek I sympathize. My friend fears a similar situation. It seems a great coincidence that a successful treatment regime of a decade has been thrown out of the window at this precise time. And it is definitely not for medical or safety reasons. My friend is a very confident and articulate person. He asked all the hard questions of his specialist consultant and his GP's both the old one and his new one.
No point me posting the answers he received as I'll be pounced on for scare mongering.
But I know what he was told. And he IS scared as a result. Furious too. And I don't bloody blame him.
We watched dear friends die horribly of his condition in the 80's and 90's and the sweet relief of these new drugs given in monitored, lengthy prescriptions to sensible, compliant patients was manna from heaven. Normal life became an achievable goal. And now he, and others, are plunged back into fear and uncertainty.

My prescriptions are written by a hospital specialists and their team arrange for equipment and the blood products I need to be delivered to my home for me to self administer on a regular basis. I am monitored and have to keep careful records which I email to the team looking after me on a monthly basis. These products are incredibly expensive but, without them, I am likely to end up in intensive care, which my nurses assure me would cost a great deal more than my current regime.

I still haven't heard when I will get these products again after I run out tomorrow. After a year of relative stability, I'm pretty depressed, but I'm obviously one of the stupid remainers carrying out scare tactics and trying to stop the democratic process by telling you how I am being affected.

There are people who want to remain and will say and do anything that they think might stop it happening. They are stupid and wrong to interfere with a democratic vote and all they succeed in doing is fill people with worry. I do not think any of the scare tactics will happen. Some surgeries do not want to dispense large amounts of drugs in advance. I have only ever had a month supply at a time. Some medicines can deteriorate if not kept in the same temperature and there is a real risk of someone breaking in and stealing drugs in the homes of people who pick up large quantities at a time.

Hello all. Thankyou for your many and varied responses. Much food for thought. Wishing everyone with health conditions all the very best

It could be that the drug the man is taking is in very short supply so in order for everyone who takes this drug to continue taking it he has been restricted to two weeks at a time. I would suggest he goes across county to see the new specialist and see what he has to say.

We dont live in the UK but there have recently been drugs that are unavailable due to problems at the manufacturers. I went to the pharmacy to get my prescription based glucosamine tablets to be told that there aren't any at the wholesalers and its not known when it will be available. So I have ordered some from my vitamin supplier in England. Also some brands of blood pressure medication have been withdrawn making that in short supply.

I don't understand, Hollydoilly10 - are you a practice nurse or are you talking about a specific patient who cannot obtain medication because of age?
That is, in fact, something I have never encountered.

Most medications for chronic illness are on repeat prescription so trips to Dr's are only usually necessary for a review (which the pharmacy can often do). If you use a pharmacy such as Pilltime you can have the prescriptions delivered to your door and some local pharmacies will offer the same service. I am hopelessly scatty so Pilltime put every morning, lunch and evening dose in separate sachets so I can see at a glance what medication I need to take.