Referral criteria and how I met them

Started 3 January 2025 · 15 replies · 162 hearts · read 2.3k times

NualaArmagh, NI · 3 January 2025

1.5 years ago

Starting a thread on this because it keeps coming up in ones and twos: Referral criteria and how I met them

Anyone else here in my part of the world? I would like to compare notes.

My prescriber has been fine, genuinely. The problem is that I get nine minutes twice a year and there is no version of nine minutes that covers this.

What I would find most useful is not advice. It is somebody describing what their version of this was, and how long it went on for.

What I keep tripping on is not the physical bit. It is the not knowing whether what I am experiencing is normal, and having nobody to ask who is not either selling something or frightened for me.

Thanks all. Genuinely.

RowanInverness, UK

Practical, boring answer: write the three questions down before you go in. I have never once remembered them otherwise.

11me too 8

OllyReading, UK

the opening post said something I want to sit with for a second.

I did exactly the same and felt terrible about it. You have not done anything wrong.

VivLuton, UK

The thing that changed it for me was going slower, agreed with my prescriber. I am not suggesting you do that. I am saying the conversation exists.

AdaFacilitatorManchester, UK

Two things, both boring. First, none of us can tell you what to take. Second, the conversation you want to have is with your prescriber, and we can help you write it down.

FionnualaDundalk, IE

What helped was lowering my own expectations of the week rather than trying to hold the week together.

GwennoPwllheli, UK

My experience was very boring, which I offer as data. Some of us just get a dull time of it.

8me too 4

RuaridhFort William, UK

Building on what the reply above wrote rather than answering the original question.

I am the person who had the frightening version of this. I went in, it was investigated, and it was not what anyone feared. Going in is the whole of my advice.

GwynforLlanidloes, UK

Coming back to this a fortnight later to say it settled. Leaving the update because I hate reading threads that stop.

OrlaithDonegal, IE

My pharmacist was more use than anyone. Ten minutes at the counter, no appointment, no charge.

GwythFishguard, UK

#10

Can I gently push back on one thing? Not the substance, just the framing — you have written twice that you should be coping better. Who told you that?

GwenBangor, UK

#11

It got worse before it got better for me, which I wish someone had said. About ten days of worse.

IslaOban, UK

#12

For what it is worth, the trial data on this is thinner than the confidence of the internet would suggest. Worth knowing when you read the posts.

HettieLancaster, UK

#13

the reply above — yes, and the bit that took me longest to accept was the next part.

I am about four months behind you and I have been dreading exactly this, so thank you for writing it down before I got there.

12me too 1

AdaFacilitatorManchester, UK

#14

Noticing out loud that this conversation has drifted into comparison. That happens without anyone intending it and it does not help anyone. Let us come back to the person who asked.

LarkGalway, IE

#15

Yes to the burping. It is real, it is unbeautiful, and it does settle.