tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6617769193456682768.post2787111832642897894..comments2023-10-16T13:53:39.622+01:00Comments on At Both Ends of the Stethoscope.: Sometimes it's zebrasFLOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03915180799635537099noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6617769193456682768.post-73227496794587250722011-09-16T13:37:42.826+01:002011-09-16T13:37:42.826+01:00Blanket refusals to prescribe sleepers is really i...Blanket refusals to prescribe sleepers is really irritating. I did placement at a practice who had signs sayingthat they would only prescribe in exceptional circumstances, and instead offered (same week) appointments with a psychologist who taught relaxation techniques / sleep hygiene. I thought that was a great system. But it wouln't have been useful for me, nor for you, and they recognised that.<br /><br />I had a locum tell me a couple of months ago that all I needed was to take ibuprofen and lose some weight. She then admitted that she'd never heard of EDS. *sigh*FLOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03915180799635537099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6617769193456682768.post-30445643673152576302011-09-16T07:07:52.909+01:002011-09-16T07:07:52.909+01:00Speaking as a fellow Zebra, I know what you mean. ...Speaking as a fellow Zebra, I know what you mean. I half-dread meeting a new doctor or nurse, because they invariably end up asking about my condition, which is a 'once in a career' type thing. Not only do they invariably fail to understand it (to the extent they have no idea what physiological process is messed up), they try to rediagnose me with something they've heard of (narcolepsy, depression or apnoea, with only the first being within arms reach).<br /><br />I actually changed GPs because of my Zebraness. Recently they've started putting up signs saying they won't prescribe hypnotics, sedatives or opiate analgesics to 'young men'. As a 'young man' with a very rare neurological sleep* disorder, that's... alienating, and a good way to ensure I'm not comfortable discussing my condition with them. Not to mention the insinuation that I'm a crime on feet isn't particularly welcome!<br /><br />*which is particularly fun, because you get to constantly hear about peoples aunties who drink warm milk before bed, which means you just aren't trying hard enough.Jonhttp://twitter.com/#!/IamMrJnoreply@blogger.com