I've had 6 sessions of acupuncture and it hasnt helped the T
Usually means "Pain in the ass"
...which wouldn't surprise me at all, I mean some ENT doc thinking their tinnitus patient was a PITA. Geez if a patient wants to explore all options instead of going home thinking nothing can be done or tried, for example.
Ayurveda is an ancient form of Indian medicine. All natural.
Another TLA! I know what that one means though
Ha, then my doctor definitely thinks Im a PITA
It's ridiculous! Damn! The same thing happens all the time here in Finland. Docs working public sector (equal to the NHS) have often ridiculous standards! I've even officially reported one doc for being blatantly ignorant and self-conscious, not listening to a word of mine (my suggestions and knowledge on the matter were ignored totally by that doc!). Two days later a higher up called me and apologized, and I got everything I wanted after that.
Ah, felt good to vent! 
Do you mean that the Q-Tip actually caused the perforation in the tympanic membrane? Did you go to the emergency room when it happened?
It's ridiculous! Damn! The same thing happens all the time here in Finland. Docs working public sector (equal to the NHS) have often ridiculous standards! I've even officially reported one doc for being blatantly ignorant and self-conscious, not listening to a word of mine (my suggestions and knowledge on the matter were ignored totally by that doc!). Two days later a higher up called me and apologized, and I got everything I wanted after that.
This kind of BS seems to happen too often in our country.
But! What if you go private. Pay out of your own pocket or have insurance. There are tons of doctors in Finland who work both public and private sectors. A couple of hours a night at private practices to make some more money. Well, now that you go to their private practice, all of a sudden they do every test you can imagine of, they listen to your concerns, actually often seem to care and pay attention.
The same doctor. Two different attitudes and personalities.
I choose private every time I've got the money for it, or if I can't wait for a proper diagnosis. By going private you can at least choose the specialist you want, but by going public here first you will need to pray that the general practitioner will refer you to a specialist, which they try to limit as much as possible. And if you are successful in getting a referral, there's a waiting time which supposedly depends on how critical the referral is (a maximum of 6 months, which is required by law, and they even break that oftentimes!).
I know they have strict guidelines on the public sector what to do and have increased pressure not to refer the patient further or order expensive tests unless 199% necessary, but it more than sucks, that's for sure. Especially as we taxpayers pay for it, and what we get just isn't enough in many cases.
I very much am sorry for you. I wonder whether Pregabalin is as expensive in the UK as it is here. It's called "Lyrica" and costs an arm and a leg. Very expensive stuff.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT THROUGH THE NHS. It really makes me mad you had to go private.
I know Markku, I feel every single ounce of the frustration you've vented here. And what you have said above happens here in the same way ALL the time. Most doctors are so arrogant. I've turned up to see my doc in some bad states, clearly suffering, and still I get the cold shoulder. Arent they supposed to be trying to heal? Shouldnt they be working WITH us?
The guy I paid to see said there is NO REASON why my doctor could not prescribe Lyrica for anxiety. It IS licenced for that so its not even an off-label use of the drug. I asked my doctor for it as an alternative to Clonazepam as its supposed to not build a tolerance like the Benzo does. But, no, he wouldnt do it. I wanted it as well for the anti-convulsant action to see if it reduces the noise but I didnt tell the doctor that, I just asked for it as an alternative to the Benzo.
It cost me £108 to get the prescription filled (one months supply), plus it was £20 for the private prescription, all of which I should have got free.
The psychiatrist I saw privately does work for the NHS and then does a few hours after his day job, like you said. I think he still had a little of his NHS attitude as he wouldnt look at the two drugs that I really wanted even though I'd printed off studies and anecdotal evidence. Lyrica was about my 4th choice. So even after shelling out to see him I still didnt get what I really wanted.
My hat is off to you for complaining about that one doctor and getting a good result. Good for you. More of us should do it and then they'd maybe think and adjust their attitude.
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