h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Seems my little yellow pills aren't working as well anymore as they did once. I've been on hormone pills since June, and they seemed to make a real difference with the Mystery Illness that's been annoying me for years.

But lately, it all seems to be coming back. I sleep too much, and can't get motivated to do much of anything productive, my immune system isn't doing its job very well, the stiff achy joints are back, and I'm losing hair and seem to be gaining back the weight I'd lost in the last six months.

Been waiting for an appointment with an endocrinologist since June, too, and starting to wonder whether the NHS has simply lost the letter... Urgh.

You should really call them if you are waiting since June already!

I hope you can find an answer.

I hate hormone pills. I had to take those for 7 months and I lost half of my hair and gained 7 kg. First they seemed to work but in a long run they just lost the magic. (I have some sort of autoimmune disease.)

Oh bugger. I was hoping you had it whipped now.

Hospital letters can take a while to arrive, yeah - it's happened before that I've had a letter in the afternoon telling me that I have an appointment the previous morning. But they do also have massive waiting lists unfortunately. Waiting months can be usual for lots of procedures...

I would chase it up with your

Tablets are bugger to get right, nasty side effects or not doing their job

Sorry to hear that, Mala.

Mal, I hope you get it sorted soon. Is it via German hospitals?

If not, could be ages. Mine's taken a year!!!

And probably, after 5 years will still be no further forward.

I really do feel or you, and understand the frustration!

and

MMF

Sorry to hear this, Mala

I hope you get that appointment really soon, but it sounds like you'll have to make a nuisance of yourself to get it.

Yes it's so important you get yourself well Mala. Back to the and get him/her to sort out the right medication for you.

In the meantime <--only the one note!

I agree with all that has been said, but whichever place you're waiting for treatment in/from, pester them and find out if they can hurry your appointment along. Tell them your condition is getting worse.

Hope it all gets sorted pdq.

Adds a for Mala.

( I've just eaten two donuts)

I understand that you mean well, lanza, but please do not pester them. That won't make things happen quicker. It will just mean that they are pestered. If anything, it slows things down when people pester them.

In that case, maybe it would be a better idea to make an appointment in Germany, where it is usually possible to get one BEFORE your condition worsens?

...because they have to sit and have a discussion with you rather than dealing with the letter they were sending you, and while they are talking to you, someone else's friend is advising them to pester their doctor too and it becomes a vicious circle.

Lanzababy's right, though. It's not 'pestering' if you're reporting that your condition has worsened. Your appointment schedule should be reviewed as a result. I'd call it 'escalation'.

I've rung them, they never got the letter That explains why it's taking so long.

That's between Mala and her doctor - a lot of people shouting "pester them" is what adds to problems and makes the waiting queues as long as they are.

See, *everyone* has a friend who says "Check up on it! Pester them!", and I'd imagine that it does more harm than good.

Aaaaand I rang the old GP, whose secretary confirmed that none had ever been sent out! Thanks for nothing This being the same doctor who told me "it's your own fault, just eat less".

Right - I guess what she means is that there wasn't a letter sent out from that surgery. (I'm pretty good at the guessing game by now Was it a hospital letter you were expecting?

No, what she means was that they'd never even tried to make the appointment for me!