Grounded! - for a Specialist Appointment
 

A blood test reveals an underactive Thyroid, a need for more blood tests and to see a specialist before treatment.

When I pointed out that it was a bit drastic to medically downgrade someone, just to ensure he was present for his specialist appointment the Doc changed his tune.

Until I see the specialist, my thyroid problem is 'undiagnosed' and therefore....blah blah blah....duty of care (covering your arse more like)

Restricted to UK flights only (maybe we could declare war on Wales)

Minimum 2 month wait for appointment!

Now, its not my business if the medical branch have recruiting problems (or have suffered cut backs) but you can't downgrade someone and then put them on an NHS waiting list.

What's a poor boy to do?

Go private?

Meantime, plenty of time for gardening, ppruning and the Rugby World Cup. I might get used to it.

You could always fish out your denims and spend a few weeks on the line.:D

Well I'd love to help out but....I've got this underactive thyroid.

When they discovered a heart problem that had been present since birth (and for the duration of my 17 years flying to that point), they made me "2-pilot only". RAF sent me private and fixed it PDQ. Mind you, took a year to get a RAF medical board convened afterwards to confirm my "single-pilot" status. Ask the medics to send you private and queue jump. You're a valuable commodity being wasted while you wait for the NHS.

Valuable commodity?
 

No he's not.


:ok:

SS, your either boasting, trying to impress or both. STOP IT.

I know a fellow with a bad leg (actually there are a lot of old boys on the Sqn, and most of them are falling apart). Said leg required an op, followed by 2 weeks leave, and back to flying duties. No, that's not what happened. The waiting list to see the specialist was 6 months, and then it was on to another waiting list for the op. As the old fellow was in a digital crew position, and the Sqn only had enough of his ilk for one per crew, the boys were struggling to meet ends meet. End of the war for my mate, despite the most expensive field hospital that ever stood on sand sitting idly round the corner.

Not impressed, he made a justifiable fuss with the medics and asked for private attention, but there are no funds for it.

What happened to the promise of the NHS taking over when our own hospitals were cut? Seems that the queue-jumping deal was only valid for the first year, and we are all the same as the general public nowadays.

Oh well, the war was nearly over by then.

MG

Pardon? Not sure what you're on about....

I thought we were already at war with Wales!

Just to add doom and gloom to your despondancy, the NHS waiting list will be even longer now, because all the medics in the MDHUs were shipped off to the last desert bunfight. At Peterborough alone this caused the closure of two wards.

So be prepared to wait in line behind Mrs Smiths bunnions, as they clear a big swathe through the quick and easy jobs, in order to bring the 'time waiting for an appointment' stats into line with Il Presidente's promises to slash NHS waiting lists.

Any chance you can SMS me the rugby results, as I will be way out west when RWC starts!!!!

CC

If you join BUPA whilst still in the mob, you'll get a good discount which stays once you've left.

I joined because I'd lost any faith in the current medical system following its downsizing in recent years. More staff dragged away to Phony Tony's bring-a-bottle wars, fewer permanent facilities......and no sign of things improving. To rely upon the overstretched NHS seems to invite problems, so I'm paying £61.14 per month for peace of mind.

And yet we once had an excellent RAF medical system - but isn't that the way most things have gone?

SS, your present location!! :sad:

Like BEagle, I too joined BUPA before leaving the RAF and, what with one thing and another - creaky bones etc - I've had more than my money's worth ever since with no waiting, private ward etc. My dearly beloved, and the wife, are also included on a considerably discounted RAF 'family' scheme.

Would appreciate a link to the BUPA scheme mentioned above.

Oh, and can you get Dental cover. And also what about going to live outside the UK.

Ta

Stan - try www.bupa.co.uk/ and for expat etc info, try www.bupa-intl.com/ .

Not sure about fang-farrier insurance. Most people reckon that the cover isn't worth it as you may as well pay for treatment if/when you need it. Plus, unlike medical insurance which can be compared to breakdown cover being insured after you've produced evidence of having a current MoT, dental insurance seems to be more like "Yes, OK. If you fit 4 new tyres, have the engine overhauled and that dent in the door repaired first, then we'll cover you....." Unless someone can correct me?

I too, joined BUPA whilst still serving, attracted by the low rates. However, this year's increase was an eye-watering 14%!
At that rate, my spreadsheet tells me that, in 2028 (in the unlikely event that I'm still alive), my monthly premiums will be £2,939.12.

SPHL don't wish to depress you any more but the treatment for thyroid problems seems to be a Black Art.

My missus has a underactive thyroid and the treatment prescribed was increased incrementally until a desired blood reading was found. She went from being as lethargic as a dope smoker to as wired as a cokehead! She then took it into her own hands in the end and varied her pill intake until she felt OK. She'll be taking them for the rest of her days as I understand it. This was after going through the rigmarole of seeing a GP then a specialist and finally a third specialist. :hmm:

"SPHL don't wish to depress you any more but the treatment for thyroid problems seems to be a Black Art.

My missus has a underactive thyroid and the treatment prescribed was increased incrementally until a desired blood reading was found. She went from being as lethargic as a dope smoker to as wired as a cokehead! She then took it into her own hands in the end and varied her pill intake until she felt OK. She'll be taking them for the rest of her days as I understand it. This was after going through the rigmarole of seeing a GP then a specialist and finally a third specialist"

For years I had a hypothyroid condition that had me low on energy to put it mildly. My AME got me referred to a Serious Medical Expert who put me on Thyroxine to raise the level. After 6 years of experimentation and second opinions I am now off Thyroxine as apparently my level is OK now. A BA 747 Captain with a similar condition was grounded by the Company as a result of negative cardiology results [ the two seem somehow linked] Four years later with views from another cardiologist he was fully reinstated. Flew 747-400's until he retired last year.
IMHO Thyroid conditions need more than one view and whatever the intial findings I would get a second or even third opinion for what it's worth. The heart seems to do odd things with low thyroid levels in some people.
I was always told that once on Thyroxine that was it for life.

B J

"I spend my money on aeroplanes, women and booze - the rest I just waste"

Thankyou all for your comments - keep 'em coming

News from the Lovechild camp is that I made my points to the Civvy locum doctor, and quickly established that the SMO has the power to over rule and give special dispensation, so I'm still a gnats cock short of being grounded.

2nd set of blood samples getting done and interview with the SMO coming up. That's where I get to argue against medical downgrade whilst waiting to go to Peterborough.

All info on this subject gratefully accepted, but I'm nowhere near the pill popping stage yet.

SPHLC
Our 'Harry the Staish' used his own funds to send aircrew individuals with long term back/joint problems off for MRI scans. The waiting list to see a specialist was 4-6 months followed by further wait to get MRI. The bottom line is how valuable an asset are you to the sqn/stn? Can they afford to have you off flying?
If you get into that situation of having to wait then Push to Test - go see the Big Man and see if he is willing to cough up the dosh to send you private.
Best of luck