Dr Le Fanu"s online health clinic, Friday 4th July 2014

I thought it really worth mentioning in situation you desired to inform your readers that there is an different supply. I understand it it also offered in Spain.

I discover your column really useful without a doubt.

Greatest wishes

Dear Anon,

Thanks for that most useful and indeed critical observation. This trouble in obtaining Cholestyramine is typically attributed to ‘production problems’ which can scarcely be the case if it is obtainable in France and Spain. This would recommend its non-availability in Britain is a marketing and advertising ploy to advertise the income of much more costly variants. I will mention this in the column.

ALAMY

Concerning Monica O’B"s leg pains, I am a woman now aged 71 who has suffered for many many years with excruciating nighttime pains/cramps in my feet, ankles, calves and thighs (which are the worst). It appears that practically each other lady I meet has this same dilemma, specifically females more than the age of forty.

Anyway, in my personal situation I have finally traced this to sugar, and if I never eat something with sugar in it after my evening meal, this dilemma doesn’t normally happen. If I have e.g. some chocolate or biscuits in front of the Tv, it does. Drinking lots of water before going to bed also helps.

Just believed I’d let you know.

LW

Dear LW,

Thanks for getting in touch and that most intriguing observation about the prospective causative part of sugar in nocturnal cramps. I was unaware of this and search forward to mentioning in in the column in the near long term.

Dear Dr Le Fanu,

My daily life is becoming significantly compromised by my osteoarthritis, especially in my knees, and most mornings I can hardly move for the very first hour or so. I consider not to take discomfort medication as fairly honestly, it just isn’t going to work. I go through and meant to tear out a reference to a treatment that can be helpful and of course lost it! It was a handful of weeks ago in your column and I would be quite grateful to have it once more.

Thank you,

Lisa RR

Dear Lisa RR,

Thanks for your query. I am not really positive which is the reference you allude to – maybe how the (very) well-known Glucosamine could paradoxically exacerbate the pain of knee arthritis – which improves when it is discontinued. As your signs and symptoms are worse in the morning I did wonder no matter whether it may be advantageous to get a prolonged acting anti-inflammatory (this kind of as 50mg Diclofenac) prior to retiring.

ALAMY

Reading about the magnet remedy this morning reminded me that a handful of years ago I study in your column of an individual who kept a bar of soap in their bed for the identical explanation. I reasoned that “never knock it prior to you consider it” was a good dictum, and have never ever had cramp in bed since I have had a tiny white companion close to my feet! If it’s all in the mind, that Ok? It still operates!

A lot of thanks Dr James

Rev Barbara S-P

Dear Rev S-P,

Thanks for becoming in touch and delighted to hear you benefitted from the soap bar remedy.

Dear Dr. Le Fanu,

I was interested to read the part on Ghostly Goings On. I bear in mind my Mom, on more than a single occasion telling me about how she had a dream (details of which I can’t recall getting told) about her 19 yr outdated elder brother being killed in France. The up coming day the telegram arrived. My Mother was 16 at the time.

(Some years ago when you had been investigating folks seeing spots as they have been in the previous, I lent you my guide(because returned!) on the Moberley sisters seeing Versailles in the 18th Century. I was disappointed that you did not adhere to up on these paranormal experiences, or probably I missed it.

For very good measure it was your write-up a lot of years in the past on a patient on statins going on vacation in the West Indies with a wheelchair who forgot his statins and returned property without any want for the wheelchair which encouraged me to stand up to my GP in obtaining him to alter my medication when I located myself with severe muscle fatigue. Some twenty many years on, at 82, I am nevertheless ready to stroll miles.

Thank you for your lengthy series of intriguing content articles.

Regards

Dear Anon,

Thanks for getting in touch and your account of your mother’s premonition of her brother’s death – presumably, I suppose, on the battlefields of France. It is extremely hard to imagine her feelings on obtaining the telegram. I am delighted of program that you, like so a lot of other people, have been inspired to discontinue their statins by that item in the column you mention and twenty many years on are still going powerful.

I read that someone had a ache following urinating at night for no apparent cause. I had the very same, and had the typical tests etc. In the end I took a pint glass and filled it with cold water and “dangled” my bits in for 4/five minutes. It has worked a deal with.

Good luck

Richard W

Dear Richard W,

Thanks for getting in touch however I am a bit puzzled as to why the uncommon manoeuvre you describe ought to have alleviated your bladder ache.

Dear Medical professional

When individuals ask me how I am I reply that I am fine from the knees up.That is since ,despite the fact that I do not seem to have any respiratory,heart,blood and so forth issues, I do endure from neuropathy in my reduced legs and feet.

I have gone from getting a match and lively 71 year previous in 2009/10 to a badly disabled 75 yr previous now. I was advised that the problem is down to a stenosis of the spine and in 2010 a laminectomy was carried out aimed at preventing additional deterioration. As I have received older nonetheless my mobility has worsened. My stability is negative and I can stroll only quite brief distances with the support of sticks or arm crutches. The only issue recommended for me has been occasional physiotherapy but I do admit to getting not very disciplined in which exercise routines are concerned.

I ask as a result for your views please on this situation all round and whether you are mindful of any kind of medicine or remedy which you have heard of which may supply some succour? I must say that I do not, fortunately, have significantly soreness – it is the lack of mobility and seeming inevitability of becoming confined to a wheelchair before long which frustrates me.

I thank you in advance for your observations.

Sincerely

Geoffrey L

Dear Geoffrey L,

Thanks for being in touch and my sympathies for this severe mobility difficulty which you describe. It surely sounds that your lumbar stenosis has critically damaged the working of both the motor and sensory nerves to the legs. There is no medical therapy for this even though I wonder clearly whether a couple of sessions with an osteopath might have some modest result in bettering the mobility of the reduce spine. I would advise, if you reside in the south east, contacting Dr Clifford Harley who is quite knowledgeable in these issues. HIs phone quantity is (Tel 07810 620058)

In the winter of twelve-13 I acquired chilblains on the index &amp middle fingers of my left hand just behind the nail.

Right after they cleared up the nails began to deteriorate and have never ever recovered. The index finger is the worse, with an very thin nail which keeps cracking &amp has vertical splits. It is not feasible to let this nail grow to its total length due to the fact it cracks or bends in excess of &amp breaks off. This is inconvenient as it can make items this kind of as choosing up small objects, carrying out up buttons and so forth. difficult (I’m left handed).

I don’t know whether this is just an age issue (I’m 80). My GP says he doesn’t feel something can be completed about it.

If you’ve any concepts I’d be really grateful.

Derek B

Dear Derek B,

Thanks for your query it certainly sounds as if your chilblains have broken the growth bed of the nails – for which to my information there is regrettably no specific remedy. It may with luck improve with time. I would advise against making use of the formaldehyde primarily based nail strengthening preparations – although reputedly typical moisturising of the nail with a lanolin primarily based cream (this kind of as Cutemol) can be of value.

On the subject of night cramps may I supply yet another remedy. I have had agonising night cramps for many years and while in South Africa in January somebody suggested I consider corks beneath my pillow! I will not drink so had to collect corks from other sources! It is like a miracle! No far more pain, thank goodness. My husband has also stopped suffering from the same issue.

Mrs. J. G

Dear Mrs J G,

Thanks for being in touch and your more affidavit for the cork treatment.

Dear Dr Le Fanu

I wonder if you can assist me. I am struggling from eczema and am so itchy regardless of applying tons of moisturisers, sporting only cotton or wool and sleeping in dream silk sheets. I will not have a rash. I consider warfarin tablets,Digoxin,Bisoprol,Esomeprazole. Citirizine Hydrochloride. The only thing that assists is a cold, moist flannel. Yours Sarah G-S

Dear Sarah G-S,

Thanks for your query to which I will reply in my next column at the beginning of August.

Good afternoon, I have been diagnosed with moist amd but my vision is too excellent to qualify for NHS treatment. I have had my first injection of avastin. It is an costly business and I am asking yourself if I can appeal in anyway. I am 65 and will run out of funds prior to lengthy. Exactly where can I get actually good information about the potential for my eyesight ? Thank you so significantly Mary P

Dear Mary P,

Thanks for your query. The rationale for prompt treatment of moist AMD in its early phases will be that it may well stop, or at least slow its fee of progression. There is however (to my information) no evidence that this is the situation – consequently the Nice suggestions to which you allude. I would have considered it wise to adhere to them on health care and financial grounds.

Dr Le Fanu"s online health clinic, Friday 4th July 2014

Tony Abbott now admits $one.8bn in hospital cuts will start from July

Tony Abbott has conceded the government is cutting a hospitals funding agreement with quick impact, contrary to his weekend declare that the cuts did not get result for many years.

On Sunday Abbott stated: “We’re not talking about following week or subsequent month or even subsequent yr we are talking about adjustments in three years’ time”.

But Abbott now agrees the nationwide partnership agreement on public hospitals, which begins on 1 July, has been lower. Spending budget paperwork say it has been cut by $ 1.8bn in excess of the up coming four years.

The prime minister says the reductions should be blamed on Labor simply because the former government had previously revised the agreement.

“There was a nationwide partnerships agreement which the Labor get together hadn’t funded on [hospital] beds and we have decided not to renew it, but this is a Labor minimize, it is not a Coalition lower,” Abbott advised the ABC.

But the price range document is clear that cash has been cut by this government, stating: “The government will conserve $ 1.8bn over 4 many years from 2014-15 by ceasing the funding ensures underneath the nationwide health reform agreement 2011 and revising commonwealth hospital funding arrangements from July 2017.”

The determination cuts $ 217m from hospitals in 2014-15, $ 260m in 2015-16 and $ 133m in 2016-17 just before the big cuts get started in 2017-18, when the commonwealth ceases its contribution to the growth in hospital expenses due to the ageing population and greater therapy costs. From that time commonwealth investing increases only in line with inflation and population growth.

State premiers say the cuts eliminate funding necessary for 1,200 hospital beds and they have no capability to fill the gap.

Abbott was flying to Rockhampton on Monday morning with the Queensland premier, Campbell Newman – 1 of the most outspoken critics of the cuts – to attend the funeral of Graeme Acton, a prominent Queensland grazier.

Later on in the day Abbott returned to his earlier argument – that hospital funding is still increasing 12 months on yr.

“For the following three many years hospital funding increases … and then in the fourth yr commonwealth funding will boost by 6%, so we are not cutting funding, we are growing funding … all we are not undertaking is not agreeing to the pie-in-the-sky funding promised by Labor,” Abbott said.

The budget paperwork reveal virtually $ 3bn worth of funding agreements with state governments in the well being portfolio alone that have been lower, deferred or abandoned – with the cuts starting up this 12 months or up coming year.

These cuts are on leading of the $ 80bn in lengthy-term funding reduce out of wellness and education, and on top of savings from the new $ 7 Medicare co-payment (which could force folks to look for help in state-run emergency departments instead of seeing a basic practitioner) the extra $ 5 co-payment for medicines the pausing of indexation for medical advantage routine charges and other price range savings. As well, numerous partnership agreements have been axed in other portfolios.

• The national overall health reform agreement, signed by all states and the commonwealth in 2011. (This cuts $ one.8bn from public hospital funding, beginning this 12 months. Income to be put into the health care study future fund.)

• The dental flexible grants program. (Cuts quantity to $ 229m, starting this year. This program was to aid dentists set up in outer metropolitan and rural locations. Money goes to the Health care Study Long term Fund.)

• Grownup public dental services. (Cuts equal $ 390m, commencing this year, by deferring a nationwide partnership agreement signed with the states, which was supposed to help clear the 400,000-robust waiting lists for public dental care. Income goes to the Health-related Analysis Future Fund.)

• Strengthening public hospital companies. (Cuts of $ 201m, starting up next yr, from cash that was supposed to aid the states reduce waiting instances at public hospitals. Funds goes to the Healthcare Study Long term Fund.)

• National partnership on preventive well being. (Cuts of $ 367m, starting up this year, from agreement that was supposed to fund preventive overall health schooling applications, this kind of as anti-smoking campaigns. The government is also conserving $ 6m by abolishing the nationwide preventive well being company. Money from each goes to the Health-related Analysis Long term Fund.)

The spending budget also ends federal contributions to a range of pensioner concession schemes. Abbott mentioned: “We made the choice in a very challenging budget that if the states needed to continue those concessions they could do it themselves.”

As two polls showed a dramatic slump in his very own and his government’s standing right after the budget, Abbott repeated that, despite his pre-election pledges not to lower education and overall health and not to modify pensions, voters had been “on notice” about the cuts unveiled in final Tuesday.

South Australian premier Jay Weatherill stated the price range eliminated funding for 150 hospital beds in his state from July.

The premiers have demanded an emergency Coag meeting. The prime minister’s spokeswoman says there is unlikely to be a meeting before the up coming scheduled gathering in September. She says the prime minister has spoken to most of the premiers by telephone. Weatherill mentioned the prime minister had not spoken to him.

Tony Abbott now admits $one.8bn in hospital cuts will start from July

Tony Abbott now admits $1.8bn in hospital cuts will begin from July

Tony Abbott has conceded the government is cutting a hospitals funding agreement with fast effect, contrary to his weekend declare that the cuts did not take effect for many years.

On Sunday Abbott stated: “We’re not talking about subsequent week or subsequent month or even subsequent year we are talking about adjustments in three years’ time”.

But Abbott now agrees the nationwide partnership agreement on public hospitals, which begins on one July, has been minimize. Price range paperwork say it has been minimize by $ 1.8bn above the up coming four many years.

The prime minister says the reductions must be blamed on Labor simply because the former government had previously revised the agreement.

“There was a nationwide partnerships agreement which the Labor party hadn’t funded on [hospital] beds and we have determined not to renew it, but this is a Labor reduce, it is not a Coalition lower,” Abbott advised the ABC.

But the price range document is clear that income has been reduce by this government, stating: “The government will conserve $ one.8bn more than 4 years from 2014-15 by ceasing the funding guarantees beneath the nationwide health reform agreement 2011 and revising commonwealth hospital funding arrangements from July 2017.”

The choice cuts $ 217m from hospitals in 2014-15, $ 260m in 2015-sixteen and $ 133m in 2016-17 just before the huge cuts begin in 2017-18, when the commonwealth ceases its contribution to the growth in hospital costs due to the ageing population and higher treatment expenses. From that time commonwealth paying increases only in line with inflation and population development.

State premiers say the cuts eliminate funding necessary for one,200 hospital beds and they have no capability to fill the gap.

Abbott was flying to Rockhampton on Monday morning with the Queensland premier, Campbell Newman – one of the most outspoken critics of the cuts – to attend the funeral of Graeme Acton, a prominent Queensland grazier.

Later in the day Abbott returned to his earlier argument – that hospital funding is nevertheless increasing yr on 12 months.

“For the subsequent three many years hospital funding increases … and then in the fourth 12 months commonwealth funding will enhance by six%, so we aren’t cutting funding, we are rising funding … all we are not undertaking is not agreeing to the pie-in-the-sky funding promised by Labor,” Abbott said.

The spending budget documents reveal almost $ 3bn well worth of funding agreements with state governments in the overall health portfolio alone that have been cut, deferred or abandoned – with the cuts starting this 12 months or up coming year.

These cuts are on prime of the $ 80bn in long-term funding reduce out of health and schooling, and on best of cost savings from the new $ seven Medicare co-payment (which could force folks to look for support in state-run emergency departments instead of seeing a common practitioner) the additional $ 5 co-payment for medicines the pausing of indexation for medical benefit schedule fees and other budget financial savings. As properly, numerous partnership agreements have been axed in other portfolios.

• The national overall health reform agreement, signed by all states and the commonwealth in 2011. (This cuts $ one.8bn from public hospital funding, beginning this yr. Income to be put into the health-related study future fund.)

• The dental flexible grants program. (Cuts quantity to $ 229m, beginning this year. This system was to help dentists set up in outer metropolitan and rural regions. Funds goes to the Healthcare Study Long term Fund.)

• Adult public dental solutions. (Cuts equal $ 390m, starting this year, by deferring a nationwide partnership agreement signed with the states, which was supposed to support clear the 400,000-strong waiting lists for public dental care. Funds goes to the Medical Study Future Fund.)

• Bettering public hospital providers. (Cuts of $ 201m, starting up up coming 12 months, from cash that was supposed to help the states minimize waiting occasions at public hospitals. Funds goes to the Health care Study Long term Fund.)

• National partnership on preventive health. (Cuts of $ 367m, starting up this yr, from agreement that was supposed to fund preventive well being schooling programs, such as anti-smoking campaigns. The government is also saving $ 6m by abolishing the national preventive overall health agency. Funds from both goes to the Medical Study Potential Fund.)

The spending budget also ends federal contributions to a range of pensioner concession schemes. Abbott stated: “We produced the choice in a really tough budget that if the states wished to proceed those concessions they could do it themselves.”

As two polls showed a dramatic slump in his very own and his government’s standing right after the budget, Abbott repeated that, regardless of his pre-election pledges not to lower schooling and overall health and not to alter pensions, voters had been “on notice” about the cuts unveiled in final Tuesday.

South Australian premier Jay Weatherill stated the price range eliminated funding for 150 hospital beds in his state from July.

The premiers have demanded an emergency Coag meeting. The prime minister’s spokeswoman says there is unlikely to be a meeting before the subsequent scheduled gathering in September. She says the prime minister has spoken to most of the premiers by telephone. Weatherill explained the prime minister had not spoken to him.

Tony Abbott now admits $1.8bn in hospital cuts will begin from July