topic Re: Managing your health treatments in Discussions & Feedback

Managing your health treatments

Martin-O2 — Fri, 03 May 2019 16:32:35 GMT

Hey everyone,

We all get sick at times and some conditions require ongoing treatments which can be quite complicated. There are many ways to keep on top of your treatment regime from online services at your GP practice to order repeat prescriptions, pill boxes to manage your daily medicines or a simple calendar to remind you which treatment is needed that day.

As technology gets better there are more and more ways to manage your treatments and we'd love to hear what's working for you!

Do you use an app to manage any treatments?
Do you use online services provided by your GP or private health care provider?
Do you prefer a basic calendar to manage your treatments and do you prefer digital or paper?
What are your future predictions for tech to help manage ongoing health issues?

Re: Managing your health treatments

Glory1 — Fri, 03 May 2019 18:21:10 GMT

My health treatments are very simple @Martin-O2 as my health issues require taking pills 6 daily plus 1 twice a day. And as I have been doing this for some years now, I've got it down to a fine art. I need no reminders, calendars etc I just take 8 pills every day. My local pharmacist, next door to my doctor regularly delivers refills of my prescription every 4 weeks like clockwork without my having to ring them. So I am sorted.

For people with far more serious conditions than my own, I cannot speak. Though I'm sure @Cleoriff will, as a former nurse, have some useful information to impart.

Re: Managing your health treatments

Cleoriff — Fri, 03 May 2019 18:58:24 GMT

@Martin-O2

I don't make use of any of the online services. I prefer to 'control' everything myself.

I'm not particularly keen on the online Pharmacy ordering system. I tried it once and had the pharmacist phoning me querying why I was on 2 similar types of medication. As they had no idea of my medical history I found that particularly intrusive. So I sent him off with a flea in his ear and since then I have just sent my repeat prescription to my GP.

I don't use any apps.

I'm really not sure about future predictions for technology to manage ongoing health issues. I think about the elderly. How will they manage? I'm sure the highly technical people of today will be fine as they get older. However, as it stands currently, the elderly of today won't be.

I'm also a great believer in doctor patient contact. Technology is fine for some things but it can't diagnose. I'm not sure I would ever trust it to take over this part of your health.

To some extent I have seen it with nurses in ITU years ago. Making a decision based purely on what the ITU equipment says/reads, without looking at the patient. Often a big mistake.

Re: Managing your health treatments

TallTrees — Fri, 03 May 2019 19:12:45 GMT

Hello @Martin-O2

I have never had any meaningful Doctor/Patient contact especially with a 5/10 min window at the surgery.

I have always thought (throughout my life) I would much prefer a Computer like (not making fun) a robot ~ sample below

C-P30 type of robot who was highly skilled in diagnostics.

So roll on robot doctors

Re: Managing your health treatments

jonsie — Fri, 03 May 2019 20:48:00 GMT

Sod the robots!

I must have been very lucky with all my doctors and medical staff both here and in Thailand. I don't want a computer diagnosis...ever. I want to speak to and discuss my options with my doctors or speciaists. I know this will never happen in my lifetime but I've no doubt that it will some time in the future

Re: Managing your health treatments

Glory1 — Fri, 03 May 2019 22:41:54 GMT

I have to agree with @Cleoriff and @jonsie about computers diagnosing and 'robot' doctors. I want any diagnosis comcerning my health from a human being not a machine. You can't talk to a machine and a machine can't look at you and see how your feeling and/or how you look.

I'm very lucky to have an excellent doctor who takes his time to talk to me, ask how I'm feeling, check the medication I'm on and based on my blood tests, blood pressure and so on continue my medication or add, remove medication based both on what the readouts tell him and what I tell him.

My doctors and nurses my 3 times in hospital were wonderful and looked after me very well. They listened to me and, while my last time in hospital I had every test imaginable without success, the doctors did there best to find the cause of the problem. That they couldn't was unfortunate but they did try everything possible. Machines won't go that extra mile; they can't understand how you feel, the pain your in and so on. They can simply produce readouts based on the tests they perform without any understanding of how we humans actually work.

Nothing can or should take the place of human contact with a medical professional. I too imagine that some day it will all be run by machines. But fortunately I won't be here to see it or have to deal with it.

Re: Managing your health treatments

jonsie — Sat, 04 May 2019 00:22:00 GMT

Well an instance only this afternoon...

The community nurse came just after lunch (I say lunch merely to give you an idea of the time - I don't eat until evenings) on her thrice weekly visits. Over the last 18 months she has come to know every little thing about me. She knows things I have never told anyone, not my parents, not my wives, not my boys. She has this knack of lighting up my world and I swear to God that she's a mind reader.

Things happen, big life changing events, small irritating niggly things like dropping a jar of beetroot that shatters and soaks carpet tiles and cupboards in red stain. The craziness is that the small irritating things accumulate to such an extent that they evolve into a major issue mentally.

I digress, sorry. Anyway my point is that this lovely lady sits there and more importantly LISTENS to me rambling on feeling sorry for myself, puts a comforting arm round my shoulder and tells me to get my coat on saying she knows what I need (now is the time to lift your minds away from the obvious)

This ~~probably~~ definitely is against all protocol and guidelines. We get into her car and she takes me to a very comfortable homely pub and restaurant just out of town. I have two beers while she has a lime and lemon. More talking and trying to sort out my head and suddenly once again I'm looking forward instead of backwards and the world seems a better place with me in it (her words not mine).

It's late at night, well, early morning, so please excuse the witterings of an old fool.

Now tell me a robot or computer that could do all that.....

Once I get on that plane to carry me home, they will probably throw an office party!

Re: Managing your health treatments

Glory1 — Sat, 04 May 2019 00:34:04 GMT

@jonsie wrote:
Well an instance only this afternoon...

The community nurse came just after lunch (I say lunch merely to give you an idea of the time - I don't eat until evenings) on her thrice weekly visits. Over the last 18 months she has come to know every little thing about me. She knows things I have never told anyone, not my parents, not my wives, not my boys. She has this knack of lighting up my world and I swear to God that she's a mind reader.

Things happen, big life changing events, small irritating niggly things like dropping a jar of beetroot that shatters and soaks carpet tiles and cupboards in red stain. The craziness is that the small irritating things accumulate to such an extent that they evolve into a major issue mentally.
I digress, sorry. Anyway my point is that this lovely lady sits there and more importantly LISTENS to me rambling on feeling sorry for myself, puts a comforting arm round my shoulder and tells me to get my coat on saying she knows what I need (now is the time to lift your minds away from the obvious)

This ~~probably~~ definitely is against all protocol and guidelines. We get into her car and she takes me to a very comfortable homely pub and restaurant just out of town. I have two beers while she has a lime and lemon. More talking and trying to sort out my head and suddenly once again I'm looking forward instead of backwards and the world seems a better place with me in it (her words not mine).
It's late at night, well, early morning, so please excuse the witterings of an old fool.

Now tell me a robot or computer that could do all that.....

Once I get on that plane to carry me home, they will probably throw an office party!

Not 'the witterings of an old fool' at all but sound good sense. A machine or robot won't talk to you like a human being. Nor will it talk to you giving sound advice or just talking to you about every day things to get your mind off your troubles. As I said, and your post underscores my comments above, give me a human every time!!

Re: Managing your health treatments

Cleoriff — Sat, 04 May 2019 00:47:55 GMT

Sounds like a damn good nurse to me @jonsie .

Probably will miss you like hell when you go back to Thailand

And no...a robot couldn't give that in depth level of care, empathy and understanding x

Re: Managing your health treatments

Mi-Amigo — Sat, 04 May 2019 08:52:11 GMT

Robots? Surely that cannot be a serious suggestion?

On a personal level, I have to go for a full CT scan every six months. The computerised-systems says I must have a fluid injection so the results of the scan will show up. But I am needle-phobic and am terrified of needles and dreaded this before the scan, which I have no problem with.

Fortunately my consultant is aware of this and over-rides the "system" with instructions that I can drink a suitable dye which will also show up and give the same results of the scan, which is what I have.

I need medical supplies for my condition. The repeat prescription is done by phone call with a customer adviser at the supply company, who knows and understands my requirements and if I need by supplies, for whatever reason, before the normal date. Something which no robot or computer system could take into account.

The nursing staff who treated and looked after me in hospital, the surgeon who operated on me, my consultant, the scan team, the supply company representatives, the carers who come twice daily to provide my needs - all of them - care, show empathy and understanding, and "go that extra mile" to make my life a little easier.

None of that can ever be done by a robot and no matter what advances in technology robots cannot and must not replace these wonderful people without whom I wouldn`t be here or have some degree of a life for which I am grateful.

Re: Managing your health treatments

jonsie — Sat, 04 May 2019 14:03:55 GMT

Simply put, sympathy, understanding, remedy and aftercare. People jobs!

Re: Managing your health treatments

Martin-O2 — Tue, 07 May 2019 14:53:02 GMT

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on managing health treatments @Glory1, @Cleoriff, @TallTrees, @jonsie, @Mi-Amigo. It's great to learn about the different approaches that people use and the experiences you've had with health care professionals.

On the subject of robots and computer diagnostics I think that they should never replace the human element of health care as it's very important to have a human interaction in the process but computer diagnostics definitely have a place as computers can do some things so much better then humans.

I think it will become more common to have technology at home or in your phone to alert you to potential problems that should have a second look by a doctor.

Re: Managing your health treatments

TallTrees — Tue, 07 May 2019 16:18:51 GMT

Yes @Martin-O2 my point was, of course, computer diagnostics ~ if a person could go for a regular check up with a computer ~ futuristic style stand in front of a panel that could assess you for problems (if any) bit like a CT scanner ~ then this could be sent to GP if something needs attention, then it is a positive visit to Doc. for discussion and referral.

Tech. at home ? I hadn't considered this. Have you seen the Dental Brush that stores info and sends to Dentist? Something like that

Re: Managing your health treatments

Glory1 — Tue, 07 May 2019 17:36:18 GMT

I totally agree with you @Martin-O2 about computer diagnostics. Mine and others' concern is that they take the place of human interaction. Which I also agree with you should never happen.

As I saw in hospital with all the tests I was put through. Yet none could pinpoint why I suddenly couldn't walk. And when I say suddenly I mean just that. Still, I am walking now, thanks to 2 physios, one in hospital and the other in rehab who never gave up on me. I can't walk far or for long but I can walk. So am so grateful to them both, and no computer however good could have achieved that.

Re: Managing your health treatments

Cleoriff — Tue, 07 May 2019 17:45:24 GMT

We already have all types of computer type diagnostics in use now.

Absolutely excellent.

Currently they are used as an aid to achieve better diagnosis for human specialist intervention.

In my lifetime, that's how I would like things to remain.

Re: Managing your health treatments

Glory1 — Tue, 07 May 2019 18:29:04 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
We already have all types of computer type diagnostics in use now.
Absolutely excellent.
Currently they are used as an aid to achieve better diagnosis for human specialist intervention.
In my lifetime, that's how I would like things to remain.

Amen.

Re: Managing your health treatments

Martin-O2 — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:15:20 GMT

@TallTrees yes exactly like the toothbrush that can sore info for your dentist! You could have a mirror at home that could alert you to potential skin or eye conditions or toilets that analyse your waste for any concerns which you can then bring to your doctor.

@Glory1, @Cleoriff yes I certainly agree this sort of tech should be used to aid human doctors rather then replace them.

What do you guys think about home assistants like the Echo or Alexa being used to help people manage treatments?

Re: Managing your health treatments

TallTrees — Wed, 08 May 2019 12:37:00 GMT

Hi @Martin-O2

Those ideas ~ Mirror yes Toilet fantastic! Really futuristic.

Echo/Alexa management being used ~ ok

on BBC News today heard that GP's can't cope.

So well up to the minute really "managing your health"

Each person needs to be more informed and

take an interest in their health, how their body works

and their own parameters as @Cleoriff mentioned.

Everyone is a little different even the beats of your heart

may not conform to the so called "norm"

Re: Managing your health treatments

jonsie — Wed, 08 May 2019 13:05:06 GMT

Maybe we will have toilets in the future that can detect cancers in faeces or urinary infections. Now that would be a logical way forward. These will detect problems early so that treatment would be more successful. Bowl cancer is one of the biggest threats we face and one of the biggest killers due to people not checking for signs.

Re: Managing your health treatments

Glory1 — Wed, 08 May 2019 13:43:47 GMT

Now that @jonsie is a great idea. I could see that working brilliantly, particularly as you say detecting bowel cancer and urinary infections.

@Martin-O2 Alexa and Echo could certainly help people manage their pills, ensuring they take the right pill at the right time, where, unlike me, the amount of pills and the times to take each are rather complex. Also for those a bit forgetful.

Alexa or Echo could be programmed to give a message, say 5 minutes before a pill is to be taken, reminding a person it's time to take a pill, and which pill to take. What an excellent idea @Martin-O2, I like it and it's where technology in health could prove rather useful.