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how often are you suppose to see a nurse?

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eat2live

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi Friends

when i was dx in may this year, i was told by the practice nurse that i would need another test in 3 months...so ok i had these done last week..went for the results the other day to be told the test had failed!! (spme of you may have read this on my other thread)
so they took some more bloods, i was a little annoyed as i wanted a fasting test, cholesterol, anemia, and Hbc....just like i did in the beginning so they had a true refference to compare,
i was told by the receptionist i could have my results over the phone!!
i said i would like to see the nurse so i can talk about my diabetes,
she huh and owd about it, but seemed ok..

am i being unreasonable?!! should i be seen by a nurse after a Hba test?
i thought they would want to chat to me, weight me, blood pressure etc?

thanx for letting me rant and ask xx
 
No, I don't think you are being unreasonable. Diabetes (currently!) is something that will be with you for life, so it is very important that you are happy with your knowledge of how things are going and where you may need to make improvements. I found my early days and discussions with my medical team hugely important and helpful. I think that the problem is that not all health care teams come up to 'gold standard' - some are decidedly tarnished :( You, however, are the head of that team, so what YOU expect is the most important thing - don't let people brush you off with sub-standard responses and do all you can to look after Number 1! 🙂
 
thanks very much northerner,

maybe theres some confusion between the nurse receptionist and me!?

but i hate going to the GPs, infact the other day when i thought i was getting my results i had terrible panic attacks, on my way to the surgery, only to be told the test failed and they took bloods again...but it wasnt fasting!!! and thats what i wanted to get an accurate comparison from my very 1st test,
fine for the anemia and Hbc, but surely the cholesterol should have been fasted for!!?
when i was 1st dx, they was great, had pulse tests, cholesterol feet checked, eyes checked...i get the feeling they would quite happy to give me the results over the phone...but they cant check my blood pressure and weight that way,

so frustrated these past few days
 
Fasting for cholesterol isn't considered necessary these days, so don't stress too much about that 🙂 I hated going to the doctors before all this, but I have persevered and found that I feel more in charge now as I know when I am being fobbed off and don't stand for it 🙂 This will come with experience, and if you are not happy with your treatment then change doctors or stand your ground - in the long run things do get easier as (hopefully) your team recognise your knowledege, motivation and experience 🙂
 
thanx northerner, as always your kind and understanding words have helped x
 
Hi

You have my sympathies - I to have just had a blood letting - but they only made 3 holes this time - and all in the elbows!!!
the thought of going back for more!



eat2live said:
Hi Friends

when i was dx in may this year, i was told by the practice nurse that i would need another test in 3 months...so ok i had these done last week..went for the results the other day to be told the test had failed!! (spme of you may have read this on my other thread)
so they took some more bloods, i was a little annoyed as i wanted a fasting test, cholesterol, anemia, and Hbc....just like i did in the beginning so they had a true refference to compare,
i was told by the receptionist i could have my results over the phone!!
i said i would like to see the nurse so i can talk about my diabetes,
she huh and owd about it, but seemed ok..

am i being unreasonable?!! should i be seen by a nurse after a Hba test?
i thought they would want to chat to me, weight me, blood pressure etc?

thanx for letting me rant and ask xx
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, I have never heard such a load of old boloney in all me born days - how can a blood test 'fail' - and this was several blood tests, not just one. How could they possibly ALL fail simultaneously together at the same time? Answer - they couldn't. It isn't possible.

Are they still using the same lab? WHY?

Or did the nurse who took the blood put it in the wrong containers, because they all have different stuff already in the tubes, depending on what the test is for - A1c gets one thing added, TFT another etc etc, some use powder, some liquid.

Or what might have happened is that some numpty lost the sample either before it got to the lab or in the lab. And test results also can get lost somewhere in the system. If so - say so.

So not only would I be going to see the nurse, the first question I'd ask her is, Now tell me nurse before we start, what REALLY happened to my first tests? And if you don't believe her, tell her so. And if you still can't believe her when she does answer, OK ask for your results - and then come home and take steps to change your doctor.
 
Hi

I see the nurse every 3 months. At each appointment she checks my weight and BP and asks if everything is okay. She then does a whole load of tests particular to me but these include HBA1c and Cholesterol for which I don't have to fast for.

I then ring a few days later for the results and am given these over the phone. If anything is amiss the receptionist tells me I need to see the GP.

Once a year I have the thorough check - which includes feet. I also have a retinopathy eye test once a year.

I hope this helps 🙂
 
LOL Trophywench!! are you free monday morning?

there was only 1 lot that failed!! they was telling me 2 yesterday morning, turns out they got confused with the failed lot from last friday and not the ones i had this wednesday, took them all day to figure it out though🙄

the practice nurse said to me at my dx in may, we will see you in 3 months and hopefully my Hba will be 6.4 if not less!

in the meentime any probs ring us...fair enough i thought...within this time i had my feet checked, eye test...all running smoothly till now...not sure if its the receptionist at fault or what, i was having a bad anxiety attack so just wanted out,
the person who took my bloods that failed is a young lad who use to be on reception, who now takes bloods and does M.O.Ts:confused:

well he wont be taking mine anymore, !!
i just basically thought they would WANT to see you every so often!!
and just take bloods and then want to give you the results over the fone!! maybe see you and check things are ok etc?
it got me right stressed along with other c**p going on...but i'll get over it, but will surely tell the nurse on monday..thanx everyone xxx
 
Does your practice have a handbook - some tell you the level of care they offer for certain conditions - and how often when all is ticking along you will be seen.

Having not long been diagnosed I would think it would be beneficial for you to be able to speak to your practice nurse. Mine actually referred me to the retinal screening programme after a flu jab - because I said I hadn't heard anything - must have slipped the Dr's mind.
 
I get to see my DN twice a year and get checked by the GP annually so i have just had my 6 monthly review (without the GP) and then will see my DN again in February (with GP check). I also do not get feet checked by my practice, if i want to get them checked i have to pay for that privately which is something i keep meaning to do but haven't got round to it yet.
 
thanx foe the replies Carina and Margie,

i really dont know if our practice nurse is a DN nurse!!, i just know she is the top nurse and when i was diagnosed it was her i had to see, she talked me through and arranged my other appointments, and said maybe in 3 months my Hba will be down to 6.5, ...the other nurses take the bloods ect, Carina, i havent seen or been offered to see a podiatrist, they just prodded my feet with flixible straw looking thing, then tapped a tuning folk and put it on my ankles etc,

i am finding this process the most stressful at the moment!!😡

bloods failing, them making the wrong appointments for me, saying my bloods need repeating!! when they mean the 1st lot that failed not the ones i had on wednesday...then not ringing me back to confirm !!! then asking me why i need to see the nurse....i felt like saying COS I HAVE WORKED MY BUTT OFF TO GGET MY NUMBERS DOWN!! LEAST THEY COULD DO IS SHOW SOME INTEREST!!!!!!😡
i will be asking some questioned on monday!! thats if i dont have another anxiety attack, then i wont bother just going and get out asap:D
 
Right now I'm down for seeing my practice nurse in my GP clinic 6 monthly and the DSN/Consultant at the Diabetes clinic also every 6 months (but intertwined so I see someone every 3 months).

Although, when I see the DSN/Consultant in a couple of weeks time I have a suspicion they might change me to yearly if my HbA1c is in range (based on the fact the the hospital clinic is mostly for Type 1's, Type 2's on insulin and GD).
 
They only have to see you once a year to get all your bits done, feet, bloods etc to get their points for you. So if things are going well depending on the surgery they might not call you sooner than that. It will be up to you to book in if you want to be seen. If your control is not good then they probably will ask you to go in more often.

I saw my GP practice nurse over a year ago and haven't seen my specialist DSN for over a year now but have had email contact with her. If I wanted to see her I could do but haven't felt it necesarry.
 
I have only ever seen a DSN once when my GPs surgery was doing a survey. I put down I'd like to see her more often, then she just seemed to disappear out of the surgery door. I can see the practice nurse as often as I like but she is about as much good as a sieve in a leaky boat most of the time.
 
Because I'm such an awkward customer I'm currently having my HbAs done every three months with a yearly foot check and retinopathy screening. This means a trip to the surgery to have blood taken, get weighed and have my BP checked (not necessarily in that order). All this is followed a week later by a trip to the clinic to discuss the results with the Consultant and the DSN where they do my BP and weight again - not sure why.

There seem to be a lot of different factors involved, the main one begin the standards of the NHS Trust/PCT you're attached to. Also, how well you're doing will determine how often they want to see you, but since it's early days yet for you, I'd expect to be seen every three months.

If you have an appointment booked, take along a list of questions so you don't forget anything important.
 
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