First Experience Using the NHS - American in England 

WHAT?! That is so scary! I'm really glad to hear that you had such a positive outcome. Bless those NHS workers from the ambulance team to the surgeons and assistants... they did exactly what needed to be done! Hopefully the operation that was moved was just for a knee replacement or something that could wait a bit.

I've read that the USA don't have a good record with outcomes. Your Maternity is on a par with Pakistan.

@@iriscollins7583 To me that sounds like an insult to Pakistan!

I've had exactly the same experience 3 times now. The first when I was 37, not overweight and thought I was in peak health/fitness, until for about 5 weeks I just couldn't stop coughing. Long story short it got so bad I could hardly breath so I rang 999 at 10.30pm after suffering all day, within 10 mins the ambulance was there and I had no clue what was wrong with me. The female paramedic (in fact they were both female) asked me if id had pains in my neck or shoulder, and yeah, I had for weeks. They then immediately put me in a chair, and I'm 3 stories up, but these two ladies wouldn't let me take another step and they carried me down the twisting super awkward stairs. They then gave me a 500ml aspirin, never once telling me their suspicions which by then they must have known. I did an ECG in the ambulance, then they hit the siren joking with me how they only do that when its bad traffic and they have a break coming up (lie lol) and all the way there they were talking to me about mundane things having a joke, anything to take my mind off any stress. When we got to the hospital I was immediately rushed into the resuss room, a bunch of doctors and nurses swarmed round me, did some medical speech which was like a foreign language then a doctor came over and said 'hi Darren, first off, don't be alarmed by what I'm gonna tell you but you're having a heart attack ok, but don't worry cause it's very easy to treat and you're young and otherwise healthy so I have no concerns at all. After the initial shock of "I am having a heart attack wtf" I was then taken for xrays, which they even do while you're in one of their portable bads, some blood tests, I waited around half an hour and I was then taken into theatre. There they put a long stent in my artery and when I woke up I already felt 1000x better..by morning I felt as though I'd had nothing at all wrong with me. Since then every 3 months I see my cardiologist to discuss any issues or to tweet my meds. I had a second heart attack I'm January 2021 and same experience again. Only they also discovered I had a congenital heart defect so I now i also have an implanted defibrillator, which is ironic as it comes from Boston. With this I can also download the info it had gathered each week then email this data off via like a box they give you that sends the data to the hospital 15 miles away and if they see anything on it they regard as dangerous they will ring me straight away. Apart from all other treatments I've had on the NHS. Broken legs, wrists and umpteen different things beyond the scope of this text. But my experience of the NHS, after what I'd consider a wide experience of the service is first class. I wouldn't be alive without it. What better testiment is there than that

And you still have your house and your shirt.

There's an expectation that waiting times are just down to how busy a place is. These units will tend to 'triage' by treating people in order of seriousness or allowing lesser skilled staff to deal with low hanging fruit that can be dealt with quickly. It means some people will wait a very long time because they could potentially keep getting bounced to bottom of the list as more serious cases come in and doctors will also spend their time bearing in mind dependencies on other units like MRI or Xray or availability of specialists. Waiting 'in turn' is what we are used to and it can be frustrating if you dont realise that's not the way it works. In my cases they have always got priorities as right as they can but i have seen people treated as drunks when they seemed actually concussed and badly bleeding and not treat as urgent as they should.

@@Lucieyk do you mean that you had a cut on your head or do you mean that you fractured your skull. Two very different scenarios.

Wow I’m impressed! In North Wales you often sit in A and E for 20-24 hrs. Ambulance waits vary from 2- 16 hrs.

If it’s an emergency there is no waiting, my brother was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis at 14. When he first showed symptoms my parent took him to our local hospital, they had to rule certain things out stomach bug etc but he was watched closely as the suspected UC and had him in every other day for fluids. From first symptom to diagnosis was 3 weeks. Transferred to Royal London and the next year he spent so much time in hospital as they tried to control the condition, but all treatments failed. A year later he had surgery to remove his colon and stoma bag fitted. He has his life back and is thriving. Still under the hospital and always will be. Even after losing 16 months at school he still passed his GCSEs with Grade 4s + and moved on to his A’Levels with his friends. He now hopes to go to the US to study if he can get a scholarship. Just nice he has dreams again and it’s all thanks to the wonderful NHS.

Yes, the comparisons are very interesting. Just like I think that it's interesting Aussies have Medicare for everyone, and in the states it's only for people age 65+

The best NHS system in the world, and the best health care system in the world is the French one. They do everything Churchill the father of the NHS wanted, Bevan cocked it up here as do Labour every time they get into power.

Like the Tory government : Privatisation is coming @@thetruthhurts7675

The nhs is rubbish.

Why

That certainly seems to be what we've observed with our family and close friends here in the UK.

​

I can attest to that. When I needed a nephrectomy there was no waiting around... And if you're wondering what a "nephrectomy" might be, I would suggest you do NOT look it up on Google 😐

@@NuclearFridge1 I know what that is and I hope you are ok now.

Absolutely! My grandad had a severe stroke back in 2015 completely out of the blue (no risk factors apart from age). Luckily the person he was with recognised the signs and called an ambulance which rushed him off to the nearest hospital. The hospital gave him some emergency medication and confirmed the stroke but realised how severe it was so immediately sent him off in another ambulance to a specialist hospital. The specialists gave him a cutting edge treatment which few people in the world had received at that point - this not only saved his life, but also improved his chances of recovery. He spent some time in hospital including physio and occupational therapy, which carried on after he went home. He also had a home help for a while. He recovered well and now you would struggle to notice that he'd even had a stroke if you didn't already know. None of this exemplary care cost him a penny out of pocket nor were there any admin hoops to jump through or non-medical people to convince - the same goes for his cancer treatment a few years earlier or his recent pacemaker or the various medical procedures other family members have needed over the years. I love the NHS and hope that it never goes away. It's hard to fathom that the NHS was only formed when my grandad was 11, as it just seems like such a logical way to do healthcare.

I'm so glad to hear you received the care you needed and are doing OK now!

​@@MagentaOtterTravelsI think You're Starting to learn, Most Healthcare systems around the World, it's about preventing a Life OR Death situation. Even here in Canada there's no Cost for minor operations. There is some long wait times for specific operations, for broken Arms/ Legs it's usually the same day with maybe an overnight stay, with NO cost. Personally, I've had a Heart operation 10 years ago, I was in the Hospital for Two and a half weeks, to This Day, I still Don't Know the Totally cost. In the States it'd Cost me OVER $15 000 For that Whole time/ operation.

@@andynieuwenhuis7833 oh yes, a heart operation would be so expensive in the states! I'm glad you received good care without going bankrupt 😉

In the USA you'd have had to sell your house to pay the bills !

I agree.

Fortunately no one is advocating introducing the American system here.

@@rplea I’m sorry to tell you - but England NHS is now delivered by 42 U.S American Style Accountable Care Organisations, called Integated Care Systems. These organisations use the same risk-reward sharing arrangements, dangerous discharging practices and American utilisation management processes. Americas largest healthcare insurer UnitedHealth Group is already in many of these ICS risk stratifying and segmenting the ICS population, and even vetting people’s referrals to secondary care. The Centene Corporation is Englands largest single provider of primary care, although they are now withdrawing from the Englands ICS NHS We must demand the original Beveridge NHS. #RenationaliseNHS #NHS_NOT_ICS

Easy,you get an insurance policy If you have the money!

God forbid that the Tories win the next election because that will be the end of the NHS

Healthcare is usually frustrating... especially as we age and have greater need for it! But it's nice when you find a doctor you can see consistently. And when your medical bills don't bankrupt you.

Exactly. it's only good for anything urgent/immediate. If it's not, you're screwed....

Bless those folks who work for the NHS and save lives every day. I'm glad to know that you and your family have benefited from their service!

I'm happy to know the NHS will be there for you to.@@MagentaOtterTravels

I'm very happy to hear that you've been well cared for! Thanks for your comment, John. Cheers! Dara

Re ear of bat: Is this something you’ve experienced ? You have a very low bar !

Medical care in UK will always be honest with you, you will not pay out unnecessarily. Tennis elbow gets better on its own I think. How do you know, if you pay, that the work you are having is always needed. I am not impressed with you wanting work just because it's free.

Oh yes, and glad he didn't recommend bleeding with leeches!!!

I was being a bit tongue in cheek... please don't take that seriously.

@@MagentaOtterTravels It's funny that you should say that, but apparently the use of leeches (medical ones) is making a limited come back in some situations. And more than that - and I don't want to put you off your breakfast - the use of maggots as well. In some applications where there is a wound that is not healing properly because of dead tissue, they've (the medics) used maggots placed on the wound to eat the dead flesh leaving clean tissue that heals better.

Thanks Anita!💖

Thank you Anita!

That's always nice to hear when something is effective and lasts for years!

We do have private health care in the Uk, it varies in cost and is usually a monthly subscription. It usually means access to treatment is a lot quicker than the NHS

@@chriscox4023 - I used to work in a physio clinic and so many people now have BUPA etc and use that to pay for treatment. On my last trip to my GP I even got asked if I had private medical insurance so I could get a minor op done quicker, which was quite shocking to be honest. God help the NHS! 😕

Wow, that is a great outcome!

Thank you! He went to the chiropractor today and had some soft tissue work, an adjustment, and some acupuncture. We will see if that provides any pain relief! 🙏

If anything really serious Private will probably refer you to your NHS practitioner, they seem to skirt round the serious ailments.

Thank you. I'm sure it will. Most problems I've had in the past have eventually gone away or become manageable with time.

He has tried literally everything. Thankfully, over the nine years since he first started having the problem things have gotten much better. The thing that helped the most was rest. The second most effective remedy was time. But yes, neither of us ever ever ever ever walk around the house in bare feet! I have different foot problems and cannot walk on hard floors. This summer we both bought Oofos, which have been great for house shoes. Super cushiony and amazing arch support!

@@MagentaOtterTravels Danger, Will Robinson! Walking around the house with bare feet can be extremely hazardous! Back when I was 8yo a stood on a needle which embedder itself in the sole of my foot. It was sticking our like an arrow. 😲 My dad removed it with pliers. At least I think he did. There was only half a needle. Either it was already broken, or I've still got half a needle in my foot. 😁

I have a number if foot problems including peripheral neuropathy, I have had plantar in the past. My daughter recommended Crocs to me and I have worn them for over four years with no problems recurring. I wear them all the time now as I am housebound.

​@@Poliss95this happened to me when a child but still always had bare feet both indoors and the garden, when walking by the seaside too. Now it's Crocs which give me some arch support

@@loopywren sorry to hear about the peripheral neuropathy! I have a brother and a cousin who suffer from it, and I know how painful and debilitating that can be!

True. And I was probably wrong to want to push for a steroid injection :(

The person you want to make you better profits from your illness. 🤦

@@Trebor74 yeahhhhh... tricky that

Very good to know! Thanks for sharing. Cheers! Dara

I have found admin in the private sector to be appalling. Husband was charged twice for one thing, and I swear I got a gap yah daughter of the Doctor’s friend answering his phone. My important interactions with the NHS have been very smooth by comparison.

Sorry to hear that you have dealt with such serious health challenges, Julie... but so nice to hear that you received good care. Hoping that the coast remains clear on your future oncology appointments! Thanks for watching. XX Dara

Tonsillectomies are coming back into fashion. They've discovered that for those who get tonsilitis repeatedly it's much safer to have them out.

@@Poliss95 Hello, thanks for your reply. In the late 50’s even though the NHS was well up and running I had just started school and was missing days with tonsillitis. The waiting list was too long so my parents just paid for private treatment. A few years later my younger brother had the same problem and he went private also.

Peter, can I just say how much I LOVE that you talked about food you got in the hospital stays. Even though it was so long ago! You crack me up. I'm exactly the same! And OF COURSE you had leek & potato soup on offer... it's WALES fergoodnessakes! LOL I'm so glad to hear that the NHS is keeping you alive and that the dialysis is working for you. It is AMAZING that the NHS transports you back and forth... I cannot see that happening in the US.

@@MagentaOtterTravels Our biggest seller was nutrition supplements for hospitals because the food was so bad.

Thanks, Julie! We are in frantic "wrap up" mode... you know the drill ;-)

We will. Thank you Julie!

I have been really impressed with the focus on preventative care and all the screening tests (like mammograms) that are offered for free. Thanks for the well wishes!

Thank you!

A friend of mine had a breast removed many years ago,both her mother and grandmother died of breast cance Her two daughters have regular checks. Also their daughters, will also be aware, and follow suit. Three generations looked after.Gid bless the NHS.

I'm glad you got relief! 👍

Thank you 😊

Oh goodness, your comment brought a lump to my throat! Bless your dad, and bless you for surviving such a scary cancer! God bless the NHS and may they continue to save lives and support the sick despite all the challenges they endured through the pandemic! BTW... I grew up in Dundee. Illinois! ;-) Cheers for your comment! Dara

@@MagentaOtterTravels I’ve just looked up your Dundee. It doesn’t look much like mine I have to say. Dundee in Scotland is a city of around 147,000 people, situated on the northern side of the River Tay. It was once famous for the three J’s - Jute, Jam and Journalism. Keillers marmalade well-known brand of marmalade originated there - hence the J for Jam. I have a friend in Pittsburg whose husband has dementia and I believe very little care is provided by the state which is the complete opposite of my father’s experience in the south of England. I enjoy your uploads and hope you keep them coming.

@@markshrimpton3138 yes, my Dundee is definitely very different from your Dundee! I was born in Elgin, which is a larger town. But it has changed a lot since I was born nearly 60 years ago!🩷🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I'm glad it resolved for you 👍

Thanks, Tracy! We might give that a go. Today Ian had his 2nd chiropractic adjustment to the elbow, and acupuncture needles, and KT tape. We are trying everything ;-) Cheers! Dara

@@MagentaOtterTravels Just wondering did you have to pay anything for those procedures, and if not and it was covered by insurance were there any co-pays, or do you have an insurance monthly fee. We non Americans are totally baffled by your system with its endless layers, and bureaucratic non medical people making decisions. I understand if this is asking for to much private information you are not comfortable giving out, so apologies in advance if so.

Yes, it really does require commitment to manage it. My husband has had it for nine years, and stretches every day. At least it's much better now than it used to be!

I've been travelling to the UK for 31 years, and have always just paid privately in the past. This is our first time trying to use the NHS. Ian has had a British passport since he was born, but just hasn't ever had an NHS Number until now.

You don’t need insurance for private treatment, you can be self funding, If you watch a recent video Dara made she describes how this process was used for non nhs procedures.

@@MagentaOtterTravelsDoes a British passport automatically give you access if you’ve never paid into the system?

@@nicolad8822 no you have to prove residency

I was very interested to learn that the same doctors see patients through both the NHS and privately.

Interesting!

What to have your eyes ‘done’ how?

@@nicolad8822 I had lens replacement surgery because of a cataract . NHS only offer clear lens replacement, Private offers a huge choice including refractive lenses.

That is great! I'm glad you received the care you needed. Brilliant!

I keep trying to get Ian to try one of those!!!

I’m a self employed landscaper, so can’t afford to be out of commission, I was a bit skeptical when it was suggested I try one of those, but the pain relief was instant and it allowed me to keep working without discomfort or aggravating my elbow any further. I think over the course of 25 years or so I’ve needed to use one three or four times? Usually for less than a week. And you know other people who swear by them too. It’s strange that you can get straight back to work without pain and still heal, but it works. It’s not magic, it obviously just redirects the stress off the point that is hurting - and I haven’t had to use it for years

@@adrianmcgrath1984 thank you for a very persuasive testimonial! I have just read it to Ian 😉

I am glad you found a remedy and healed!

@@MagentaOtterTravels just dont play tennis anytime soon lol.

Get it, lad!

@@MagentaOtterTravels But there's no way am I going to Texas to get treatment

Thanks! Yes, doing lots of massage and Voltarol and ice. He might need some physio done when we get back to Texas.

There are varying degrees of PF. Ian's is super bad. He did the frozen water bottle thing along with 27 other treatments... 9 years later he is somewhat better but not fully cured.

Yep, those socks were one of the 27 remedies for PF that Ian has tried over the past 9 years of having the condition. Only rest, stretching, not walking barefoot, and TIME has helped to finally make the problem less bad. Hoping he gets over the tennis elbow sooner. I've heard similar things about backache... some of that is psychosomatic/mental stress related.

@@MagentaOtterTravels It was a consistent theory that back ache was partly psychosomatic too and possibly persists but a study was done of a large number of complainants that regularly claimed sick time due to their bad backs. In the study the subjects were subjected to detailed scans and infra red heat detection. In nearly all cases there were problems found.

We paid for treatment at a chiropractor... the adjustments and acupuncture and physio really helped him start to recover 👍

Thank you! Good to have that 111 resource.

Yes, I was good and kept my mouth shut in the doctor appointment... I didn't recommend any treatment ;-) Although I did talk Ian into trying a visit next week with my chiropractor here in Cheltenham. Chiropractic and acupuncture can be very effective on tennis elbow. It's worth trying! It worked on my tennis elbow 17 years ago ;-)

We talked about all the hassle you had with finding a good specialist and getting an appointment a while back... it really can be difficult!

@@MagentaOtterTravels I saw your other videos…but this is the one thing that really frustrates me 😩😂

@@JohnandCaraRetiredTravellers yes, navigating healthcare systems and getting proper medical care as we age turns into a full-time job, doesn't it?

Thank you Cara! I'm sure it will eventually get better. Most problems I've had in the past have, with enough time.

In the UK it can take six months. And that's for phone consultation.

Yes, I have heard excellent things about the hospitals here... Cheltenham has a fantastic one. It's an ugly building, but apparently a great hospital! As for the video... it's definitely a dumb one. Ian hates when I do videos like this. But at least it was only 5 minutes you had to miss of cricket... and with as slow as cricket is, that means you probably didn't miss much! LOL

@@MagentaOtterTravels Slow? They've invented a new format that lasts for just 90 minutes. 😝 I much prefer the 5 day game. 🏏 (It just so happened that they were having a break just as I started watching). 😂

How can a GP practice be a little too good?

@@michellemaine2719 They suggest that you do things that you don't really want to do, such as join an outdoor walking club. 😂

That is so interesting! Something I didn't know until I published these videos ;-)

Cheers, Vicky!

@@MagentaOtterTravels my late Grandad was an osteopath and he swore by it.

Thank you Vicky. Will give it a try once back in the US.

What?! I didn't know you could get acupuncture through the NHS! We are going to try it next week paying cash... but in the future we will remember that as an option. Thanks so much!

I've had it once for a back problem and it did provide instant relief. I was quite surprised. Hopefully it will work again.

@@MagentaOtterTravelsYep bit it might not always be widely available but some GPs are trained in it themselves.

@@nicolad8822 we are paying privately to get the chiropractic and acupuncture treatments done. But that's good to hear that some GPs also do it.

So glad it cleared up 👍

Ian did a lot of rest, and some physio, along with some chiropractic and acupuncture! It's doing much better now. Thanks for commenting. Always nice to hear from someone else in Gloucestershire! Cheers! Dara

I'm going to try some other alternative therapies this week... chiropractic, acupuncture, and KT Tape. In addition to the massage, ibuprofen gel and icing... I'm hope it helps in the meantime before we return to Texas.

Ian went to a great chiropractor and acupuncturist and started doing some Physio exercises. The pain has improved a lot!🙏

True!

I'm dragging Ian to a chiropractor/acupuncturist this week to see if that might provide some relief. Obviously, I will drag him by his good arm ;-)

Thank you. If it's like all the other problems I've had in the past I'm sure it eventually will. The most effective cure is the passage of time.

Ian has had his for 9 years... pretty tiresome!

@@MagentaOtterTravels 5 years with the same doctor is quite enough i think…

Shoes with support for the arches, bingo away it goes.

I had it for ages. Yoga and good lifestyle made it go away

@@lewissparkes you just need the yogi Ian…

We ended up with a great painter in the end but it was touch and go!

Yes, last time I had to pay for one it was $600! Now you know why my father took a taxi to the hospital on the morning he died! Crazy.

@@MagentaOtterTravels Wow!!! I had no idea the charge would be so much, I'm shocked.

I'm forcing Ian to go to a chiropractor and acupuncturist this week. I won't do a video about it, but I'll try to reply here and let you know if it helps! Cheers! Dara

An Hex ray would be informative ,a looksee is necessary as it could be a rose thorn or metal splinter travelling to your heart…

Where does that Physiotherapist practice? He sounds the business…physio i think is the way forward…in my humble opinion.. Will you have to Strongarm Ian across the threshold of the establishment ? If you do make sure you do not restrict his breathing.. Texas needs him..

@@MagentaOtterTravels Acupuncture I get. I can understand how it works. I'm a bit more sceptical about chiropractors. If Ian does decide to see one make sure they're registered with the General Chiropractic Council (GCC). My first port of call is always the NHS site to see what they advise.

I've had a good result with acupuncture when I had a back issue so I will be giving that a try in this case.

Oh yes, the medical malpractice insurance that the doctors have to pay for is crazy expensive! Almost as expensive as what we have to pay for doctor appointments and prescription meds!!

First of all, I find your username to be quite amusing! I'm sure there's a story behind that! Thank you for the suggestion. Ian has been doing that since 2014. He has a pretty bad chronic case! Thankfully it is somewhat better now after nine years. He's at least able to do some hiking. Several years ago he couldn't walk around the block...

@@MagentaOtterTravels I found walking downhill causes it on it's own so one must counteract it by walking uphill as much if not more. It's a bit like training just your biceps without training your triceps.

Yes, I discussed that in my prior video about "Doctor Appointments" if you'd like to check that out. Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment! Cheers, Dara

I agree. I'm glad that your family has received the care they needed 🙏

Yes physiotherapy can be so helpful for most joint injuries. I'm glad that you have a good one in your area! I've had both really good and really bad experiences with them... really depends on the person 😉. Ian got treatment from an excellent chiropractor in England, and with some chiropractic, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and rest he is doing much better now 👍

Ian got his from doing pullups! And typing on the computer keyboard. But it's getting better now with rest and stretching and chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture. Thanks for your comment! Cheers! Dara

Ugh! That's not good to hear. Sounds like my wrist. It gets better when I rest it, but then when I get confident and try push ups or burpees again... the pain comes back! The joys of navigating how to not injure ourselves as we age... LOL

Yes, absolutely! Much respect and gratitude to everyone who works in these healthcare facilities to care for those who are ill.

Wow, thanks for the tip! We are willing to give it a go ;-) Glad your pain is gone. Cheers! Dara

It's a motto I honestly try to live by! When I started my channel almost 4 years ago, I tried to think of some sign off that I would be willing to say on every video. I couldn't think of anything that would be better. I'm trying to stay optimistic in a very challenging world 🌎💖. Cheers! Dara

Hi Yumi, good to hear from you! That is a very good question about shingles shots! I have had both of mine in the US, so I didn't even think about getting it here. They are very expensive in the states, but I don't know the cost here. Typically if you go see a doctor at the NHS you don't pay for the office visit at all. Obviously, British taxpayers pay a lot of money for the NHS service to be provided to everyone. But the national health service as a group is able to negotiate costs of medical procedures and pharmaceutical medications down to more reasonable levels, which is a good thing! That's how the system works differently than the US.

Covid immunizations have been free in the US but otherwise they seem to be very expensive. I paid $450 for the two doses of the shingles immunization and that was with US insurance (which was useless).

You become eligible for shingles vaccine on the NHS programme (ie free at the point of use/need - if you are eligible for NHS services, which is almost all people who are legal residents of the UK) depending on your age and your current medical history. The age eligibility was previously 70 but currently reducing to 65, and for those over 50 who are immunocompromised. You can pay for it privately if you wish, and/or if you are not otherwise eligible, but you must be 50 or over. Neither of the two vaccines available are cheap if you are paying for it yourself. Hope that helps.

Wow, what a story! Glad you're ok and received such good care! 🙏

The NHS WILL have to be changed with insurance policies because it cannot survive the way the way it is financed.The British public take it for granted,and don't deserve the NHS because they take it for granted,and have no idea how much treatment costs!

Yes, the chronic pain can inhibit one's ability to do every day tasks.

I made an appointment for him to see a chiropractor and acupuncturist this week. Hoping that helps!🙏

Was that an NHS Chinese acupunturiste?

@@griswald7156 no, we didn't do it through NHS. We paid privately for a really good chiropractor I've been going to who also does acupuncture

@@MagentaOtterTravels do you think that some chiropractors are not good at all ?

Yes, the NHS is a hot topic! But this is my last healthcare video for now... I need to get back to some other topics and videos I've been working on! Sorry about your bathroom reno gone wrong!!! Thankfully after an incompetent plumber AND psycho painter we were able to get a really good plumber and painter on board. Both of them have sorted out the work and the bedroom is all back together now. It's my new editing suite! YAY!

So far I have only used private medical care in Britain and paid cash.

I'm glad that you were able to manage the PF pain and continue with your profession. We have often thought about how hard it would be to have chronic PF when your job required being on your feet all day...

Not on my feet nearly as much as a Nurse, but I didn’t bother going to the Doctor for what I could tell was likely PF pain. I did the stretching exercises recommended, dropping heels down whilst standing on a step and rolling my foot over an iced water bottle etc. I also bought some inexpensive orthotics from Amazon for my slippers at home and some partial foot compression socks which really helped. It went and luckily hasn’t come back in 2 or 3 years.

@@nicolad8822 yes, nine years later Ian is still doing those stretches on the stairs every day! He hasn't had to do the ice bottle in a while though, thank goodness!

I'm glad you are getting relief! It can be pretty debilitating!

We own property and have proof of residency. And a British passport

Yes, I agree with you! In the end, I had Ian go see the excellent chiropractor I found in Cheltenham. He did adjustments and acupuncture and gave him some exercises. Between doing all that and more rest, his elbow is doing better now, thank goodness!

He was very unwilling. But I had a video to film! LOL

There wasn't a lot of choice involved.

He has been resting it for over 6 months... he really needs to try a simple elbow strap that you get from the pharmacy.

The current complaint is tennis elbow... the GP would have referred us to a specialist if we were not headed to the US so soon.

Dental care is a whole different matter. I agree it is super expensive and difficult to find good care nearby.

Yes, I'm glad that Ian avoided that.

OK, that was a funny joke about your body remembering your youth better than your brain! haha That is an amazing story about your Uncle Buddy! Thankfully we found a NEW painting company, here in Cheltenham, and they were GREAT! I'm now sitting in the room that is painted, carpeted, and all put together. Yay!

Yes, I really think it is optimal to be able to use the NHS in most situations, but also be able to go private when needed. I'm glad you received the care you needed promptly!

Yes, particularly if you have a non-urgent, non-life-threatening ailment!

It's tolerable, but still giving him trouble. Especially when he uses the computer or does pull-ups!

@@MagentaOtterTravels I'm assuming he has tried different types of wrist/arm 0ads and rests for computer work??

@@jamesbeeching6138 yes. It's a long term battle...

So interesting! I didn't know that until I published this video and several people commented. We will always try NHS first but if we have to wait a long time for a follow up specialist appointment... we may go private. Great private hospital in Cheltenham 👍. I talk about that in the Doctor Appointment video. Here's the link if you missed it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-siutTIM3x6c.htmlsi=WaR5tNGps3S7rw5r

My husband is very reluctant to go to the doctor! I assure you it was long past "trivial" stage before I dragged him to the surgery. He had stopped doing pull-ups, the activity that caused the pain, for months. But he was still in constant pain.

Yep, we went to a great chiropractor for adjustments, acupuncture and physio... that helped 👍

I can see your point!

Usually appointments first thing in the morning are more on time. I hate going to a doctors appointment at 2PM and they're already running an hour late...

Not fully. He did a good job plastering all the walls and he was paid for that labour and materials. Then we fired him and got new painters to finish the job after he no-showed 6 times. 😳

@@MagentaOtterTravels must have got a more lucrative job somewhere,else..or a rectification job.. Be interesting if a problem develops with the plastering and you recall him for rectification.. Which pub does he frequent…? If you know that you could ask his mates what the problem is…

Very sensible! Ian actually got his doing pull-ups 😬

@MagentaOtterTravels ... and pull-ups ! LOL. Exercise can seriously damage your health.

@@grumblewoof4721 definitely. I injure my wrists on a regular basis from burpees, mountain climbers and push-ups! 🙄

Yes, I agree! That's what I've always done in the past