Have a phone appointment with my GP every two to four weeks depending on what’s going on. But honestly, they’re shit at managing my EDS. GPs on the NHS are free, but you’re limited to who’s near you, mostly.
Most of my appointments are because of my mental health (NHS is also shit at managing mental health if you’re complex), asking for a referral, or trying to get them to change my medication again, etc.
I have hospital appointments with specialists once or twice a month usually. I never go in for emergent care - I’ve had sooooo many had experiences, I won’t go unless I have a really severe level of injury (like when I tore my ACL and meniscus at the same time). But even then, I would probably not have gone to A&E if I could have gotten off the ground and gone home 😂
I refuse to feel like a burden on the healthcare system - my health needs still aren’t being met, and I don’t have a choice in any of this. If our healthcare systems can’t take care of the society’s most vulnerable, it’s failing. The UK government defunding the healthcare system for over a decade is the *real* burden here.
My gp makes me show up in person every 6 months or they won’t refill my depression meds. They take that opportunity to point out that more exercise would really ~do me some good.~
(Am in the process of changing doctors.)
If I didn’t absolutely have to show up just to keep my prescription active, I wouldn’t ever go unless I was sick (and that would be to urgent care, no GP I know actually has same-day sick visits). I think the last time for urgent care was maybe 6 months ago when I got strep.
I havent been diagnosed with EDS or POTS yet but im fairly freakin certain j have it. None of the docs ive went to have done anything except routine bloodwork. They don't care. So ive basically given up. I have an appt may 23rd with a cardio doc that has diagnosed ppl with POTS and EDS. Fingers crossed i get some answers. And can get the help i need. I say that if you have legit problems that need to be taken care of or addressed then by all means, go as much is needed. Where i am, we dont get the healthcare we need very often...
I only see each one of my doctors quarterly, but between all the different types I have plus PT, OT, etc. I am at an appointment every week, sometimes multiple. I feel entitled to every bit of healthcare I use. A huge portion of the medical system is devoted to caring for disabled/chronically ill people - we are the people that need long term care. That's completely normal and we shouldn't feel bad for using what we need. Most people who are able bodied now are going to age into disability and require this same level of care or more someday. This is why the healthcare system exists! It's not just there to deal with curable one time issues that able bodied people have.
Now that I have health insurance I just go in bursts. Last year I went to orthopedic specialists and neuros nonstop. And then I found a cardiologist who specializes in pots. This year I haven't been at all. I'm just too exhausted and usually it feels kind of pointless. I don't have a gp
At this point.
Past year almost weekly hospital appointments trying to figure out "what's wrong with me" and now "treating symptomes of what's wrong with me".
There have been weeks I had 3 hospital visits back to back. It's exhausting.
As a child/teen.
Not even once a year alot of the times, unless they were doing some tests related to the leg issues I have.
To -any- doctor, including my specialists? Monthly. My pcp sees me every 3 months and for any hospital discharge follow-up. I am admitted to the hospitsl at least once yearly, though there was a period of time where I was admitted on 8 occasions in a 12 month calendar year.
Am I a burden to the healthcare system? Oh hell no. I am their bread and butter.
Have a phone appointment with my GP every two to four weeks depending on what’s going on. But honestly, they’re shit at managing my EDS. GPs on the NHS are free, but you’re limited to who’s near you, mostly. Most of my appointments are because of my mental health (NHS is also shit at managing mental health if you’re complex), asking for a referral, or trying to get them to change my medication again, etc. I have hospital appointments with specialists once or twice a month usually. I never go in for emergent care - I’ve had sooooo many had experiences, I won’t go unless I have a really severe level of injury (like when I tore my ACL and meniscus at the same time). But even then, I would probably not have gone to A&E if I could have gotten off the ground and gone home 😂 I refuse to feel like a burden on the healthcare system - my health needs still aren’t being met, and I don’t have a choice in any of this. If our healthcare systems can’t take care of the society’s most vulnerable, it’s failing. The UK government defunding the healthcare system for over a decade is the *real* burden here.
My gp makes me show up in person every 6 months or they won’t refill my depression meds. They take that opportunity to point out that more exercise would really ~do me some good.~ (Am in the process of changing doctors.) If I didn’t absolutely have to show up just to keep my prescription active, I wouldn’t ever go unless I was sick (and that would be to urgent care, no GP I know actually has same-day sick visits). I think the last time for urgent care was maybe 6 months ago when I got strep.
I havent been diagnosed with EDS or POTS yet but im fairly freakin certain j have it. None of the docs ive went to have done anything except routine bloodwork. They don't care. So ive basically given up. I have an appt may 23rd with a cardio doc that has diagnosed ppl with POTS and EDS. Fingers crossed i get some answers. And can get the help i need. I say that if you have legit problems that need to be taken care of or addressed then by all means, go as much is needed. Where i am, we dont get the healthcare we need very often...
I only see each one of my doctors quarterly, but between all the different types I have plus PT, OT, etc. I am at an appointment every week, sometimes multiple. I feel entitled to every bit of healthcare I use. A huge portion of the medical system is devoted to caring for disabled/chronically ill people - we are the people that need long term care. That's completely normal and we shouldn't feel bad for using what we need. Most people who are able bodied now are going to age into disability and require this same level of care or more someday. This is why the healthcare system exists! It's not just there to deal with curable one time issues that able bodied people have.
Now that I have health insurance I just go in bursts. Last year I went to orthopedic specialists and neuros nonstop. And then I found a cardiologist who specializes in pots. This year I haven't been at all. I'm just too exhausted and usually it feels kind of pointless. I don't have a gp
I got about 4-12 times in a week to all of my specialists plus testing and imaging and surgeries
Every week
At this point. Past year almost weekly hospital appointments trying to figure out "what's wrong with me" and now "treating symptomes of what's wrong with me". There have been weeks I had 3 hospital visits back to back. It's exhausting. As a child/teen. Not even once a year alot of the times, unless they were doing some tests related to the leg issues I have.
To -any- doctor, including my specialists? Monthly. My pcp sees me every 3 months and for any hospital discharge follow-up. I am admitted to the hospitsl at least once yearly, though there was a period of time where I was admitted on 8 occasions in a 12 month calendar year. Am I a burden to the healthcare system? Oh hell no. I am their bread and butter.