The phone itself is very durable, the operating system crashes near daily. I need something that just works. Nothing complicated or crazy expensive just a good user experience that's likely to stay stable for 3 years.
I'm looking at vitality pretty much just for the GP consultations. My NHS GP is great, but the waiting times have caused me trouble during multiple chronic illness flares, and I keep getting sent to A&E by NHS111.
I'm specifically looking for:
- Same day appointments
- 24/7 advice on home treatment options
- A medical professional to help me decide which of my many prescribed medications is appropriate for each symptom flare ASAP
They say appointments within 48 hours and a 24/7 line. Does it work well in practice?
For comparison, my pet insurance has a 24/7 vet hotline and it's invaluable, the few occasions I've needed to use it for minor issues it's been fast (usually under an hour in the queue) and reassuring, despite technical issues that are commonly with these services.
I've just been diagnosed coeliac. I understand that the machine pretty much cleans itself apart from the section that sticks out, but I now can't have traces of gluten and unfortunately I've used biscuit mix ins many times.
I have to throw out/donate my toaster because it's impossible to clean safely but I really don't want to have to sell the creami 😭
Can it be cleaned sufficiently? And is there any way to tell?
I'm stressed because eating gluten feels wrong, not eating gluten feels wrong and I'm having a flare up so bad that I'm struggling to stay hydrated and I've barely got out of bed.
I'm using all the tricks I know to stay hydrated, I'm just sleeping enough that I'm not awake all day to drink fluids slowly and drinking fast hurts. Obviously I'll go to the hospital if I need to, but I'm really hoping to avoid it.
Anyway, I'm supposed to carry on as normal until Friday, but now I know 'as normal' isn't healthy for me I'm kinda struggling.
I'm managing to eat because I'm thinking of it as my last chance for some of my favourite foods. But I do not feel great, I don't always get stomach issues but they have been getting worse over the last 6 months and right now aren't good.
I was diagnosed 2 days ago. Haven't spoken to the doctor yet, I've got an appointment on Friday.
I generally only need my safe foods for a few weeks when I'm sick or anxious, but the huge changes scared me so I'm struggling with it right now. I had planned to eat normally until Friday but I'm having panic attacks about gluten so if that doesn't calm down I'll need to reassess.
I had my carer this morning check safe meal replacement/protein shakes I can buy from Tesco, so at least there is something, I can usually find some that I can drink when I'm this stressed as long as the texture is ok.
Mashed potato and meat should be ok as long as I'm careful with burgers and sausages.
I just got myself into a loop where I couldn't check if any of my safe food was gluten free because I didn't want it taken away, but I also then couldn't eat it because I hadn't checked.
I also have visual processing issues so I often can't read packaging or menus. I'm slowly figuring out I can check online for some places, like Tesco, but not others like McDonald's because of the way the information is laid out, and I can only check at home, outside is too bright.
Hello,
So I've tested positive for coeliac disease Tissu transglutaminase IgA lev: 85 u/mL, IgA: 1.62 g/L.
I'm aware there is usually more testing and a referral to a gastroenterologist, the wait time in my area is 40 weeks or longer.
I have multiple health issues/disabilities, and I am under about 5 specialists at the moment. I also wouldn't be able to cope with an endoscopy/biopsy without general anesthetic I don't think.
I'm considering just taking the blood test result as a diagnosis and going completely GF including traces as soon as I've spoken to the doctor next Friday. I would follow up with the specialist in a few years when hopefully some of the other medical conditions are more stable.
That has it's challenges, especially if something gets missed because the right person didn't look at my file, but the main concern for me is getting any possible neurological symptoms under control asap.
Did anyone else have mostly neurological symptoms before the stomach issues started, it might be a coincidence I guess? Fatigue and hypersomnia, headache/migraine, balance issues, eventually chronic pain from nerve over sensitivity.
I'm oscillating between 'yay we might have found the problem' and how on earth do I avoid traces of gluten when I'm unable to read or cook in most circumstances. If my post doesn't make sense it's because I'm anxious and not sleeping well.
I have an AC unit that is struggling with the heat, but does seem to be managing the humidity, a neighbour is selling a swamp cooler.
I've got a small flat and I'm thinking a swamp cooler at the end of my bed might help me avoid having to use my improvised cold festival tent solution.
Disability means I'm very sensitive to heat, but also don't leave the flat much.
Just trying to gauge if it's worth £70
I have the unit from Lidl and because of how warm my building still is days after the heatwave I genuinely can't get the temperature in my flat below 25.
During the heatwave itself I bought a second hose, inspired by you all, except that I put it on the cold outlet and put the other end into a cheap tent on my bed.
It worked.
It looks like I'm going to be stuck with this setup for a while, and I need to make this tent livable and the AC unit 'adaptations' a little more robust in a way that won't damage the unit.
I've cut a hole in the side of the tent so I can put things on my bedside table and charge my phone and I have a little lamp.
Obviously I can leave the tent to shower and cook but I need to be able to spend the majority of my leisure time in there in order to not get sick.
Edit: I'm stuck home inside due to a disability. I need 1:1 support to go out and don't have a garden. I get out plenty enough for me but just sitting somewhere like a coffee shop that's cooled to work isn't an option.
I got my neurologist letter this afternoon, and I can't even process what it says because I'm already exhausted from my pain physio appointment today and a back pain flare up that started yesterday.
It's not really a surprise, it was always an option and we slowly ruled everything else out.
I know that a lot of the overwhelm is just timing, medication changes this week >!tapering off antidepressants !< has left me more sensitive than usual.
Part of it is that I avoided learning almost anything about FND for fear that I'd influence the diagnosis.
There are things in the letter that we can do, like CBT and resources I can look at. I just need a bit of emotional hand holding while I get used to the idea.
Now it's in black and white I think I've stopped hoping it would all just disappear on its own.